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After trashing both upper front fairings on my recent trip, I decided to invest in a set of frame sliders/ AKA crash bobbins. These are from R&G Racing, ordered direct from the UK. They came surprisingly quickly, in less than two weeks. The cost: £65 and two one-inch diameter holes in the middle fairings. Seems like a lot, but it's a small price to pay since the upper fairings alone cost about $300 each. Here are the frame sliders, just out of the package. The slighly longer one goes on the left hand side. |
| The photo shows the mounting location on the right hand side. The procedure is the same for both sides, according to the instructions. Back out the engine mounting bolt until it would touch the inside of the fairing. Then re-install the fairing and the bolt will hark the spot to drill your hole. I used grease to mark the spot. |
| Despite what the instructions say, the bolt is too short on the right side, so I stuck a 3/8" drive extension into the hole instead. |
| Installed frame slider fastener bar and distance collar on the right side. The spanner slot in the bar accepts either an 8 mm combination wrench, or an adjustable wrench. |
| Installed frame slider fastener bar and distance collar on the left side. Not the disparity in length, but it all seemed to work out in the end. I did follow the instructions and put the longer bar in the left side. |
| View with the middle fairing reinstalled. There's a little slop around the hole and the fairing will give a little, if you don't get the alignment perfect. I cut the holes with a 1-inch hole saw, which gives a pretty snug fit to the bobbin. Instructions say cut a 25 mm hole. You could use a 1 1/8" or 1 1/4" hole saw if you're worried about the alignment. Use a small drill bit to make a pilot hole, then use the hole saw from the outside face. |
| View from the front of the completed installation. Slide the bobbins onto the fastener shafts and tighten. It's a very solid installation. The fastener shafts go right through the frame and into the engine mounts. |
| Close-up view on the right-hand side. Note already damaged fairing; a locking of the barn door after the horse is long gone. |
| The finished installation from the rear. Depending on your limberness, and your progress through yoga classes, they might just work as highway pegs. Overall, about an hour-long job and a minimum of tools, just an adjustable wrench to tighten the shafts, 17 mm 1/2" drive socket and ratchet and a one-inch hole saw and 1/8" drill bit. One thing to keep in mind, put a 17 mm socket and ratchet in with your on-the-road tool kit. You can't get the fairings off without the right tools. It looks pretty good, for a piece of protective equipment. Should make those minor tipovers and bigger oopsies a little less painful to the wallet. |
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