Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone has purchased frame sliders or some sort fairing/engine protection for their 500F model.
I saw the ones on the wiki and those look great (I don't mind cutting a hole in my fairings), except I searched google for the past hour and can't find them anywhere in the US.
And I'm thinking the currency exchange rate + s/h from the UK isn't in my favor.

So if anyone knows where to get those state-side please let me know, or if anyone has an alternate solution (not going naked....yet..) let me know!

Thanks,

this is a project I am undertaking very soon.  There is no good bolt on solution that will actually work like you would want it to.  So what me and a buddy came up with is the following:
1) buy a generic set of sliders.  I think mine are Lockhart Philips
2) buy a measure of square tubing that will be used as a mount cross bar
3) buy a couple nuts that will fit the slider bolts
4) weld the bolts inside the square tubing
5) weld the square tubing to the frame at a point thats high enough to create a triangle between the slider and the wheels as these are the points you want touching the ground when you go down.
6) match the sliders to the fairing and cut the hole are reasemble fairings

Now you will have a set of sliders that will withstand a decent fall with out using the engine mounts.  DO NOT use the sliders that have fairing mounting brackets, they will not hold up and will break or bend and destroy your plastics.  And to have sliders that mount to the motor mounts that are long enough to reach outside the fairing will cuase 2 issues.  First being that in order for it to be long enough to get to the outside of the fair makes the bolt weak (the longer the bolt, the easier to bend), second being the motor mounts are too low, this will cause the triangle mentioned above to be too shallow and the bike will tip forward and the handlebar ends will dig in and catapult the bike (neither scenario favourable).  So if you're looking for asthetic sliders, there are bolt ons out there, if you're looking for functionality (which I am cuz I might be going on the track this year) I recommend the steps above.  Sounds like a lot of work, but its not really, and pales in comparison to broken mounts, frame or plastics.

If I remember, I'll post pics when I get it done.

If you cut holes in the fairing, I have a simpler solution.
Replace the front top motor mount bolts with these long ones I have (10 bucks), then use regular sliders, or I can add a set of hand made ones for ~20.
$30 and shipping for em. But no cutting = more thinking. I am on the case, Have a plan, just not done yet.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: Infinite Dimentia on March 05, 2009, 07:20:28 AM
5) weld the square tubing to the frame at a point thats high enough to create a triangle between the slider and the wheels as these are the points you want touching the ground when you go down.

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!

DO NOT weld anything to the frame of the GS!!! Especially if it's the front down-tubes! The left-hand downtube NEEDS to be able to come off if you ever have to remove the motor... Also, there is a lot of FLEX in that part of the frame.. if you go welding oh my goodness to it the welds my crack or fail due to the stress there.

What you need to do is what buddha said.. get a LONG (14-16"?) bolt and replace your front motor mount bolt with it and simply put the silders on the end of that bolt. That way you retain stock equipment, proper frame flex and they're stupid easy to remove if you scratch one up.

Here's some pics of what he's talking about:
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.FrameSliders

QuoteThe left-hand downtube NEEDS to be able to come off if you ever have to remove the motor...

I didn't realize this, I try to come up with something a bit different.

However, the pics that are shown in that website provide no functionality as the sliders sit way too low on the frame.  In the event of going down, the triangle between the sliders and tires is too shallow and will tip the top end to make the triangle with the slider and handlebars which is worse than not having sliders at all.  Wonder what I can come up with when I get the fairings off.

Quote from: Infinite Dimentia on March 05, 2009, 05:12:49 PM

QuoteThe left-hand downtube NEEDS to be able to come off if you ever have to remove the motor...

I didn't realize this, I try to come up with something a bit different.

However, the pics that are shown in that website provide no functionality as the sliders sit way too low on the frame.  In the event of going down, the triangle between the sliders and tires is too shallow and will tip the top end to make the triangle with the slider and handlebars which is worse than not having sliders at all.  Wonder what I can come up with when I get the fairings off.

They'll work if you use Handlebar sliders in conjunction with these.  The higher you try to mount them the wider they're going to have to sit in order to keep the plastics from hitting asphalt...

Why not weld-up a 8x5x4 foot steel cage and place the bike inside?  How about not being a maniac and not crashing?    Unless you're going to the track you don't need them, and Danny's right.  NEVER weld ANYTHING to the frame! 

Quote from: bill14224 on March 07, 2009, 08:30:40 AM
Why not weld-up a 8x5x4 foot steel cage and place the bike inside?  How about not being a maniac and not crashing?    Unless you're going to the track you don't need them, and Danny's right.  NEVER weld ANYTHING to the frame! 

But the whole point of going to the track is to push the limits of your bike and your ability.
I have been to the track 4 times and crashed on all but one occasion. In fact one time I crashed 3 times on the same day,But the bike was built to withstand a crash and I only bent a foot peg and the gear lever(it slide across the piano strip). I wear full leathers, back protector, supermoto boots and a shoie helmet. wearing all of this, I also get up to continue with the day at the track.
I don't see why some one would go to the track if they wheren't going to try and go faster than they do on the road.