Frame Sliders, '06 GS500F

[jbsprocket]

Hey all,

I just bought my first bike and wanted to know if it was possible to put frame sliders on it. Are there any made for the GS500F? Please help a newbie out!

Thanks!

[afplayboy18]

i was looking for the same thing when i bought my '06 GS500F...havent been able to find any yet.

hopefully they will come out eventually

[jbsprocket]

I found ones for an '04. From what I've been told, the bodies are the same for both years.

http://www.newportcycleparts.com/categories/body_fairings_etc/LP_frame_sliders.htm#frame

[melloGS]

As far as i knew, there wasn't any available...ppl have just been doing case guards, but it looks like it's in the works...i dunno though, the fairing is far from the frame, they seem like they'd have to be super long...

[Cal Amari]

^That's probably why they want you to call first; those sliders seem to be made out of unobtanium... Parts411 lists them also, for only $9875.56...

Good luck tracking them down; you'd probably be much better off contacting Lockhart-Phillips directly, rather than try to deal with a middleman...

http://www.lockhartphillipsusa.com/

Call them, or send an e-mail and inquire about availability...

[flyingbeagle71]

Pretty cool, good find jbsprocket.





These, and all other frame sliders, just attach where your fairing bolts are?  If so, would they really offer protection in a crash.  The mounting points are pretty week, at least the upper side fairing one is.  I can bend it pretty easy with just a pair of pliers and no force.  In a crash, isn't that mounting point just going to fold back in on itself and crush the fairing anyway?

[jbsprocket]

^That's probably why they want you to call first; those sliders seem to be made out of unobtanium... Parts411 lists them also, for only $9875.56...

Good luck tracking them down; you'd probably be much better off contacting Lockhart-Phillips directly, rather than try to deal with a middleman...

http://www.lockhartphillipsusa.com/

Call them, or send an e-mail and inquire about availability...

Cool - thanks for the heads up! Does anyone know about getting a dark smoke windscreen too? The dealer didn't list any available for my bike. 

[aplitz]

Sliders are not intended to protect yor fairings, but rather are there to keep the frame from making any contact with the ground.  If the fairings happen to be protected as well, that is just a side benefit.  The GS500F probably will not be able to accept true sliders unless Suzuki adds bosses to the frame on the down tubes to accomidate them.  The sliders posted above are simply for posing, and will do little good.

[jbsprocket]

My purpose for wanting them is to protect my farrings during my "training". Not for major crash protection.

[Cal Amari]

My guess is, those GS/F frame sliders will probably require using a holesaw to make an opening in the fairing, then drilling holes in the frame itself to install the mounting bolts... just a guess, but I can't see them working any other way short of welding some brackets / mounting bosses on... Of course, aplitz might be right... they might be purely ornamental...

[annguyen1981]

My search for frame sliders for my '04f have turned up empty.

I wouldn't trust this site yet...  I have the 2006 Lockhart Phillips catalog, and I cannot find the item listed on the Newport site.
Here's a screenshot of the page from the catalog...

[melloGS]

I have a double-bubble dark smoke windscreen on the way...you can order here...exoticsportbike.com
I'm sure they're the same for 06...

[Slowe30]

this question seems to come up often, but never gets an easy answer.

last i heard, srinath was working on a case protector that can be fitted with sliders.  not sure on the status of that.

if you want to protect your fairings as you learn to ride, TAKE THEM OFF THE BIKE.  it shouldn't be that hard.

[gypsy]

I think the sliders shown would be more accurately called 'tip over guards'. They certainly aren't going to protect in an 'at speed' crash. They will probably save some paint/body work though should you drop your bike in the driveway. I have tip over guards and actual R&G sliders on my FJR...I installed them shortly after dropping my bike in the driveway...Doh!

gypsy

[annguyen1981]

this question seems to come up often, but never gets an easy answer.

last i heard, srinath was working on a case protector that can be fitted with sliders.  not sure on the status of that.

if you want to protect your fairings as you learn to ride, TAKE THEM OFF THE BIKE.  it shouldn't be that hard.

It is very easy to remove the lower fairings for learning purposes.

[rangerbrown]

My purpose for wanting them is to protect my farrings during my "training". Not for major crash protection.

in that case, i would remove the fairings af the first 3 months or 6k miles which ever comes last. you should then feel good about riding the bike and put them on.

[annguyen1981]

6K miles??  I feel comfortable after only 2500 miles.  And I had my fairings on since day 1

[aplitz]

My guess is, those GS/F frame sliders will probably require using a holesaw to make an opening in the fairing, then drilling holes in the frame itself to install the mounting bolts... just a guess, but I can't see them working any other way short of welding some brackets / mounting bosses on... Of course, aplitz might be right... they might be purely ornamental...

The holes in the fairing are a given, but if these are the ones people have posted before, they don't tap into the frame, but rather screw to the fairing mount.  Thus providing no real protection for frame or fairings.  Look at those sliders, they are all bling.  Now look at some real sliders, they are plain and purposeful.  Real sliders mount to the frame by a boss built in to the frame, or by having an engine bolt pass through it.

Rashing fairings is part of riding a bike with plastics.  If you fall, nothing short of a stunt cage is going to keep them off the apshalt.  Sliders are only to keep the frame from sustaining any damage.

[Cal Amari]

Of course, you're right about that aplitz; I was trying to break the news about cutting holes in the fairing gently... some people hate the idea of making changes to something they perceive to be "perfect", such as the paint job on a new motorcycle. I've run into noobs who thought that frame sliders could be rigged onto a frame with hose clamps and prayers, but if they think that will work, it would probably be just as effective to mount them with chicken wire and chewing gum...

Anyone who wants to protect their plastic should remove it and store it in a safe place, then follow the advice provided by rangerbrown (and a cast of thousands (OK, at least two other members so far); ride the motorcycle naked until you get some serious mileage under your ass, and reinstall the plastic when you feel more confident in your skills.
Alpha and others have converted their '04+ rides, and nervous noobs should follow their example. The price of new plastic will put a nasty dent in your wallet, so riding naked for a while can really save you some serious cash...

[Alphamazing]

Alpha and others have converted their '04+ rides, and nervous noobs should follow their example. The price of new plastic will put a nasty dent in your wallet, so riding naked for a while can really save you some serious cash...

Actually, I think I'm the only one so far. I didn't do mine to protect the plastic, either, as it was already scuffed from the previous owner. I took mine off because I like naked bikes.