Best Frame Sliders Reviewed
Did you finally get the bike of your dreams? Perhaps a bike from Ducati? As good as its looks, and as fast as it can go, superbikes also have expensive and delicate parts that can be easily damaged by an accidental stationary fall, perhaps while parked or while you’re working on it. In that scenario, a frame slider also known as crash bobbins or fairing protectors is a part that’s simply a no-brainer to get and install. It’ll protect your bike even from high-speed crashes while turning. Find out more as we discuss our top picks.
Our first frame slider is one of those puck style frame sliders which is pretty much the easiest to install, but what makes the R&G Aero Style Frame Sliders great to jump in on this list?
First, the R&G Aero Style Frame Sliders as the name suggests has an aerodynamic teardrop design, which believe it or not, no matter how small a non-aero frame slider can have a very slight impact on your bike’s aerodynamics. While it is barely noticeable, some people will crack into those factors so it’s worth mentioning.
Other than that, R&G Aero Style Frame Sliders are also made from high-density polyethylene which is the ideal material for these frame sliders. Using HDPE will prevent any premature cracking that can make the frame sliders useless. Besides that in the event of a crash, these HDPE frame sliders won’t snap or twist as it will simply scratch the plastic.
It’s installed to the mainframe of the bike using thick and durable steel bolts that have been de-embrittled to prevent snapping on impact. And if you’re bike has a fairing, you can use an included spacer. To finish, you can cover up the bolt with the removable R&G endcap to have a clean look.
In the end, I’d recommend this frame slider the most as it requires little work to be done, no drilling, and no fairing cutting, all you need to do is bolt it in and you’re pretty much set.
- Includes de-embrittled hardware
- Has a simple aerodynamic design
- No drilling installation
- Fitment is a gamble for some motorcycles
Our next pick for the best frame slider came from Evotech Performance, and unlike the last frame slider, this one will replace and utilize an existing shaft found on the motorcycle. But, first, let’s find out more about the design and functionalities of this frame slider.
The design is simple, it’s composed of a stainless-steel shaft that holds two simple cylindrical pucks made with a high-performance engineered polymer that can sufficiently slide on the pavement in an event of a crash. But, inside the puck, the design might not be that simple, underneath the layer of black polymer, there’s a solid CNC machined aluminum mount that will hold the frame slider intact in an event of a crash.
Do note that each Evotech Performance Crash Sliders have a different listing for each model, and each frame slider is specifically designed to be used with a certain make and model of motorcycle. Once you got that all done and sorted out, installation is next, which can be a bit daunting but it’s fairly simple. You just need two tools, a socket wrench and preferably a rubber hammer. All you need to do is pound the shaft into a certain slot near your engine. And you just need to bolt your sliders in. While putting the shaft in may be a frustrating process, it’s well worth it for a much more secure fit for your frame sliders.
If you’re getting one of this and you have no prior experience with working on your bike, I’d recommend having a professional install this for you since getting the shaft wrong may affect parts near the engine.
- Ensures more protection
- Frame slider mounts are made from CNC machined aircraft-grade aluminum
- Shaft to hold both frame sliders are made from a high-quality stainless steel
- Not a one size fits all solution
The Xitomer Frame Slider may be the last frame slider on our list but it’s certainly not the least, even though this will fit most Ducati Motorcycles, like the last frame slider, all you need to fit this to other motorcycles is a different sized shaft that you can also order online. But for now, here are the specifications.
Unlike the other frame sliders, the Xitomer Frame Slider mostly utilizes high quality anodized aluminum alloy parts. And wrapped around the frame slider you’ll find a bit of material called POM or Polyoxymethylene which provides very high strength while it is also a low friction material which is ideal for minimizing a crash.
Although in an event of a crash, the aluminum parts will have the first point of contact which is a bit counter-intuitive for the POM parts. Moving on, this is also a shaft-mounted frame slider, and the shaft that this comes with is made from stainless steel, and this kit also comes with matching aluminum spacers to ensure a snug fit.
Installation is similar to the last frame slider we mentioned. You need to replace the shaft found near the engine and replace it with the longer shaft that comes with the kit, and let’s end that there. As for my final verdict, this will look the best compared to everything we mentioned, but I’m not sure about the functionality especially with the aluminum contact point which is not ideal for sliding safely in a crash.
- The anodized aluminum finish looks great
- Made with high-quality aluminum and POM
- The initial contact point in an event of a crash is aluminum instead of the POM
A frame slider is a great investment especially in a sports bike, and if you’re interested in finding out more about these frame sliders, make sure to check them out using the links provided above, and get one to protect your bike now. Have fun, stay safe!
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