Do I really need a swingarm protector?

kismetcapitan · Sep 25, 2015

I'm prepping my bike to hit the track and have started adding protective pieces. The last part, which I haven't done, is a swingarm cover. I've already got plenty of carbon in that region of the bike; I feel like a swingarm cover would just go too far.

But in left-side sliding lowsides, is the swingarm always damaged without a protector+slider?

cosmok · Sep 25, 2015

I feel the same way. Another $400 is not only too expensive, but it starts to look gaudy IMHO. It also doesn't really protect anything. The foot peg will bear the brunt of any lowside.

wilkson · Sep 25, 2015

I have replaced the replaceable slider on mine it touches . It's the most important bit of carbon you can have on your bike if your trying to not look gaudy get rid of some of the dress ups .

BrisDuc · Sep 25, 2015

There's only one other question you need to ask yourself to answer your original question...
Is it carbon fibre? If the answer is yes, apply this answer to the original question...problem solved.

Claymore · Sep 25, 2015

I have tried to be modest with the application of cf and have failed. I am one gaudy son of a bitch. Prince Albert send ArseHammer over for spankies please.

reganc · Sep 25, 2015

Have you looked into carbon fibre tape

JArnold · Sep 25, 2015

I'm not entirely sure if it is indeed required... I have the T-Rex Slider kit on my bike (Front/Rear Axle and Mid "Frame" slider). I also had a lever guard on the left side (It's my street bike, so it was for aesthetics)

About six weeks ago at the track I low-sided on a left as just over 100km/h (Around 65MPH). The bike slid across the tarmac nicely and even went through the grass (Didn't flip over which is a typical issue with frame sliders) and as luck would have it; Sliders and lever guard took ALL of the damage. The (stock) bodywork and swingarm never touched down. The front and rear axle sliders ground down right to the mounting hardware bolts.

With that being said, everyone's results will be different as each off is different. Personally, I'd not worry about the swingarm protector... Provided you have beefy axle sliders in place.

youngR · Sep 25, 2015

JArnold said:
I'm not entirely sure if it is indeed required... I have the T-Rex Slider kit on my bike (Front/Rear Axle and Mid "Frame" slider). I also had a lever guard on the left side (It's my street bike, so it was for aesthetics)

About six weeks ago at the track I low-sided on a left as just over 100km/h (Around 65MPH). The bike slid across the tarmac nicely and even went through the grass (Didn't flip over which is a typical issue with frame sliders) and as luck would have it; Sliders and lever guard took ALL of the damage. The (stock) bodywork and swingarm never touched down. The front and rear axle sliders ground down right to the mounting hardware bolts.

With that being said, everyone's results will be different as each off is different. Personally, I'd not worry about the swingarm protector... Provided you have beefy axle sliders in place.

You may already posted pics and I didn't see it but could you post pics if you have them?

Mutt1979 · Sep 25, 2015

Yeah, my low side experience told me otherwise...... but I didn't have the sliders.

Then I suppose there's all the crap that gets thrown up out of the gravel traps.

If there was one thing that came at me after that, if you are even talking about it, don't, just go buy the damn thing because I'm telling you, when you're looking at it after the event you'll wish you had got that protector!!

I nearly bought a tank guard/cover, probably $200 (approx.), didn't bother. After, it then needed a new tank!!!

You can quite clearly see the guard has taken a bit of flack.

JArnold · Sep 25, 2015

youngR said:
You may already posted pics and I didn't see it but could you post pics if you have them?

As requested... This is just pics of the sliders that did their job. Sorry, it's all I have readily accessible on my phone.

sexparty · Sep 25, 2015

When I binned my 14R the swing arm protector was cracked, ground down and essentially destroyed and the swingarm was damaged from underneath the protector, so needed a new swingarm. I would absolutely recommend getting a swingarm protector for track days.

fireman1251 · Sep 25, 2015

I think it's not necessary but Chaz's bike has one.

On my 3rd Pani and a combined 45k km's and the swingarm is about the only part I haven't damaged yet. "yet" is the part of the sentence you should focus on.

Cheers!

kismetcapitan · Sep 25, 2015

fireman1251 said:
I think it's not necessary but Chaz's bike has one.

On my 3rd Pani and a combined 45k km's and the swingarm is about the only part I haven't damaged yet. "yet" is the part of the sentence you should focus on.

Cheers!

that settles it. If Chaz has got one then that's all there is to it

ETA: is the point of "axle" sliders to protect the wheel rims from damage?

double0 · Sep 26, 2015

As well as the bottom part of your forks....unless it's the rear you're referring to.

Jonny · Sep 26, 2015

What kind of damage has the exhausts had from crashes, if any? would be costly if akra's were getting scratched or worse.

Zelnik · Sep 26, 2015

kismetcapitan said:
I'm prepping my bike to hit the track and have started adding protective pieces. The last part, which I haven't done, is a swingarm cover. I've already got plenty of carbon in that region of the bike; I feel like a swingarm cover would just go too far.

But in left-side sliding lowsides, is the swingarm always damaged without a protector+slider?

It scratches like hell and will need a repaint at least.. But good luck.

Mutt1979 · Sep 26, 2015

JArnold said:
As requested... This is just pics of the sliders that did their job. Sorry, it's all I have readily accessible on my phone.

Incidentally, are the T-Rex sliders any good? They look quite substantial

kismetcapitan · Sep 26, 2015

DP swingarm protector ordered. will look at axle sliders and will need them before my trackday.

Squidzilla · Sep 26, 2015

I took a riding class with Can Akaya, who was a MotoGP racer back in the day. He stated that rear axle sliders increase the risk of bending your swingarm in the event of a crash. I guess they can act as a lever and torque the swingarm? I took mine off the next day. I'm not sure how true that is, but it's something to think about.

fireman1251 · Sep 26, 2015

Axle sliders are good to prevent damage from tipovers. On high-speed crashes , protruding pucks and sliders will dig in the dirt and get your trusted steed into an airborne barrel-roll. Thumb rule is a grand of damage per flip.

Do I really need a swingarm protector?

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