V7 Frame Sliders

[Kev m]

I've always preferred to have some form of crash bar or cylinder protector on my bikes and they've paid for themselves at times.

But as much as I don't mind the look of crash bars on some bikes I've started to embrace the more minimalist look of frame sliders in some applications.

Considering that my new Stone is going to be decked out with HBs, I easily could have gotten away with crash bars. But I saw some sliders from Over Racing in Japan and thought to myself WOW, that's looks pretty good. I bet a number of the V7R guys would like this solution, ESPECIALLY since the new valve cover design precludes the use of the head mounted guards.

They're available in one or two different styles/mounts. My wife Jenn decided to order a set for me for X-mass and opted for the slightly more expensive but beefier set. I think along with an inexpensive pair of goggles (ordered so she'd make the free shipping) they came to about $400. Not a cheap solution, but again, kinda neat - smaller, lighter.

This is nicest – AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE REDUCED THE PRICE SLIGHTLY FROM - $352 - to $311

http://japan.webike.net/products/20310046.html

These are the cheapest at $275 (but they don't look at sturdy)

http://www.satoracing.com/framesliders_motoguzziV7.htm

Ironically the first guys also sell the same ones and have reduced their price on that too from $314 to $278 (almost the same as Sato)

http://japan.webike.net/products/20890873.html


Shortly after installation I realized that the NEW SINGLE THROTTLE BODY MOTOR appeared to have thicker/wider jugs and therefore the stock width of the sliders which was FINE for the dual-throttle body motors might be insufficient for the new V7 Stone/Special/Racer editions.

My solution was relatively simple - I had a local machine shop cut me two new spacers about 25mm in length and the same thickness as the center part of the slider mounts, I think it was about 30mm in diameter. Along with a longer mounting bolt it extended the sliders just enough to better protect the cylinders but helped to keep them from becoming a visual eyesore. I'll have to take a better photo of the overall bike to show how they still seem to disappear into the overall look.

I'm pretty happy with the results.

Here are some shots detailing the before and after changes to the mounts. Please excuse the poor photography and quickly cobbled-together photoshop. It was the easiest way to get multipe shots uploaded to one source. Let me know if anyone has any questions.



Here's a close-up 3/4 shot after the spacers were installed.




Here's an overall with the spacers were installed that gives you an idea how small the sliders really are visually.

[rboe]

I'm sweet on the Tangerine and White Special but after seeing a White Stone in the box and now your bike again; damn it's pretty.

I do have some concerns, perhaps unfounded, that in a slide, the extra long bolt will increase bending forces on the slider and bend it back. It won't be as stiff.

[Kev m]

I'm sweet on the Tangerine and White Special but after seeing a White Stone in the box and now your bike again; damn it's pretty.

I'm fond of it.  ;-T

I do have some concerns, perhaps unfounded, that in a slide, the extra long bolt will increase bending forces on the slider and bend it back. It won't be as stiff.

Nothing's full-proof.

BUT, we only added 25mm here - and there are definitely longer levers out there that have survived more force. I'm thinking the highway peg mounts on some Cali models like my old Jackal.

and I did make sure the new longer bolts are Grade 5 (not sure what the original was).

Not to mention the alternate brand slider I listed above looks like is uses a much thinner mount - so we're probably still ahead of that.

I suspect we're fine, and if not, well, we were in for worse anyway.

Either way I hope I never find out.

[Tazturtle]

Nice work Kev. Quality product.

Like everyone I don't *plan* to crash mine - but useful protection in the garage and driveway with the new head design!

[geeseman]

Calling Joe Kenny  :+=copcar I bet he could do it better and a might cheaper

[Kev m]

Calling Joe Kenny  :+=copcar I bet he could do it better and a might cheaper

The whole slider or just the spacer?

I would believe the spacer, but hey, mine's done lol.

[Pfaff!]

Nice bike, Kev.

Wouldn't a slide on those affect the frame?
So, then the question would be what's most expensive; a new head or a new frame....

I've been down on my Breva, not at speed, though. The cost was a scratched mirror and a slightly bend side stand tread-on-gadget-whatever. Can't find a word even in own language.. (Hello again, Mr Alzheimer!)  ::) ;D
At lower speeds probably the steering bar and other protruding gadgets will take the impact. I doubt anything will do at higher speeds.
Nice and expensive looking sliders, tho.  :)

[Kev m]

Nice bike, Kev.

Wouldn't a slide on those affect the frame?
So, then the question would be what's most expensive; a new head or a new frame....

This is the eternal debate with sliders and crash bars. I'm of the opinion that:

1. They are primarily to prevent damage in standing or low speed drops.

2. They are unlikely to damage the frame being the contact point is derlan or some other sacrificial plastic.
 And the plastic is mounted to aluminum, which is then mounted to the frame so the aluminum should hopefully be weaker than the frame if push comes to shove.

3. If the hit is hard enough to go through or past the plastic/aluminum and actually does damage the frame you would have had just as big problems with hitting the head, or at least it's so hard a hit you'd likely be looking at a write off anyway.

4. Things like this provide some small safety net to hopefully prevent minor and annoying cosmetic or light functional damage.

But bottom line, there are no guarantees either way.

[Pfaff!]

So they'll serve as bumpers, not sliders, then..  ;D

[Kev m]

So they'll serve as bumpers, not sliders, then..  ;D

Lol, I hope they'll JUST serve as bling and just hang there.  :BEER:

[jas67]

Lol, I hope they'll JUST serve as bling and just hang there.  :BEER:

 :+1  ;-T

[Kev m]

:+1  ;-T

How you feeling man? Get that MRI yet? Know if it's really a disc?

I sorta put our spring ride plannig on hold for obvious reasons.

Keep me posted though and feel better!

[jas67]

How you feeling man? Get that MRI yet? Know if it's really a disc?

I sorta put our spring ride plannig on hold for obvious reasons.

Keep me posted though and feel better!

My primary doc sent me straight to physical therapy without bothering with the (expensive) MRI.    Disc or muscle strain, PT is the the first thing to try to fix it (oh, a course of prednesone, valium, Tylenol and ibuprofen).    I started PT this past week.   It is slowly improving.   I still get some occasional numbness and mild pain in my right leg, but nothing like last weekend.   I'm keeping up with the drugs and the stretching exercises from PT.    They also gave me a 5lb lift/carry restriction.    That one is kinda tough to follow.  My work laptop in it's bag weighs about 6 lbs.   Heck, a gallon of milk (or water, or any drink for that matter) weighs 8 lbs, so that is a pretty tight restriction.   :+=copcar

  Kim has been a trooper   :wife:, she's been doing all the heavy lifting;  2 or 3 40lb bags (per day) of pellets to be put in the pellet boiler for heat and hot water, and the fire wood that needs to be brought in for the wood stove.

In any case, if I follow the PT and restrictions, they said I should be "good as new" in a few months.

At least I'm not missing out on good riding weather, as there is no way I'd attempt riding for a while yet.    I'm hoping that by the middle-to-end of March that I'll be back in the saddle.   ;-T
 

[Kev m]

Luckily you only have to lift beers one pint at a time.

Let me know of you have any heavy lifting needs and we'll take a trip out that way.

Heal up!

 ;-T

[tigertom]

Thanks for all the info Kev.
Have a happy and healthy New Year!
Tom

[Kev m]

Thanks for all the info Kev.
Have a happy and healthy New Year!
Tom

And to you too...shiny side up!

[Triple Jim]

Nice, I'm a slider fan too.  I made mine from pieces of aluminum bar and some PVC bar.  I haven't made any for my Guzzi yet, however.

[threebrits]

I saw on AF1 racing's website the other day, they have crash bars for the new V7 heads.

http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=60959

[Jason416]

This is a really helpful thread Kev.  Thanks for sharing.  I'm looking for the right solution as well but to be honest, not in the biggest rush since I'm enjoying the look of the bike so much this early in the ownership experience.  I think the sliders are a good compromise between having some sort of protection for minor spills and bumps vs crash bars.  It's hard to imagine adding anything to alter the look of the V7 just yet, but these accessories certainly have a purpose. 

I'd definitely to be interested to know if anyone comes across sliders that will fit the new single throttle body engine in the future. 

[Cal3Me]

A grade 5 bolt is hardware store strong a # 8 or #12 would be better :BEER: The sliders don't look bad.  ;-T


Tim

[charlie b]

I like sliders, head guards and crash bars, but.....

I usually drop a bike where there is something else there, like a big rock, that is in just the right spot to miss all the guards and hit something important, like the gas tank!!

[Kev m]

I like sliders, head guards and crash bars, but.....

I usually drop a bike where there is something else there, like a big rock, that is in just the right spot to miss all the guards and hit something important, like the gas tank!!

Yup, there are no guarantees, just a little insurance to try and make us feel warm and fuzzy.

[cruzziguzzi]

Though not V7 nor even Guzzi in general... Thanks for the WEBIKE link Kev as it's led me to a couple things I really wanted for my track day, fake Yoshi/AMA Katana. Notably, those pulsar covers as I can't find nor care to cast Yoshi versions. Then there's the NOS "White Power" bits scattered about on their site.

[right_slide]

I saw on AF1 racing's website the other day, they have crash bars for the new V7 heads.

http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=60959

Can't decide on sliders or the full on crash bar.

[BugSpatteredJacket]

I decided to resurrect this thread because I didn't see the point in starting a new one about the same topic. In any case, I picked up a pair of these and was thinking of complimenting them with a pair of sliders. The list/links Kev provided are still working and as you will see, the prices have dropped in some cases. Particularly option 3 (SATO) is 220 in Japan as opposed to 274 at Af1. As for the crash bars I purchased, they seem to fit on both the original heads and the newer ones.







In any case, I was wondering if anyone has ever supplemented their crash bars with sliders or if this is really just overkill? I am probably being over protective of my new baby. For more info on 70tre's kits and crash bars check out their website: http://www.70tre.it/tubo_protezione_testata_nero

More Pics of the guards on the new V7 heads:

[Kev m]

You gotta do what makes you warm and fuzzy, but it sounds like overkill. And this from a guy who has had sliders or crash bars on most of the bikes he's ever owned.

[BugSpatteredJacket]

You gotta do what makes you warm and fuzzy, but it sounds like overkill. And this from a guy who has had sliders or crash bars on most of the bikes he's ever owned.

Yeah, you are probably right! Warm and fuzzy is beginning to be rather expensive at this point. 

[jas67]

I'm going to order another set of these for my V7S (already have a pair on my V7R).   
http://japan.webike.net/products/20310046.html

The price is $246.40.  Shipping is $66, but, shipping is free on orders over over $440, so, shipping on TWO pair is free.

SO..... if anyone here is interested in saving on shipping costs, I can order two pair and them ship yours to you.   Shipping from me to anywhere in the main 48 should be under $15, and I'll pay half that, since I'm saving on shipping too.

As an added bonus, if you're buying them for a 1TB bike (new heads, '13 and newer), I'll even include a set of spacers and longer bolts to extend them as Kev M did (I did this as well for my '13 V7R).

[Kev m]

Mazeltov Jay "sucha deal" 

[Seamaster]

Do they fit V7 II ?? Thanks.