Frame Sliders vs. Crash Bars

[kmoney_imp]

I used sliders on 2 bikes: Speed Triple and CBR250R.
Both were 'tested' in 0 mph tip over incidents and they did a good job keeping things from damage.

I was going to get sliders for the ZX-14, but then I read about a bike that was 'totalled' in a low speed slide because a frame slider bent/broke the frame that it was mounted on.
Because of that, the ZX-14 gets no sliders (and of course there are no crash bars)..
Replacing bodywork is cheaper than a ruined frame (which should NOT be 'straightened' or rewelded IMHO).

For the CB1100 I chose the Honda crashbars.
Some have preferred a bar with more bracing to make the crashbar more rigid, but I tend to regard the crashbar as being like the expanded poly in a helmet: it is MEANT to be crushed in order to save the head.. So I prefer a 'weaker' crashbar that will deform on impacts and thus absorb the shock, rather than a braced crashbar that might transmit more of the shock to the motorcycle..
It doesn't hurt that they look really nice too :-)

This happened to my R1 with frame sliders. They bolted to the engine and subsequently cracked the block when the bike went down on the left side and tore the bolt right out.

On our CB's though, I don't think you can really go wrong as they have dedicated mounts for these on the frame and it's steel not aluminum. I've always like the metal crash bars, cause they seem to fit the bike more (I think the plastic pucks look too modern sportbike) but I don't think either is better from a protection standpoint.