No Cut Frame Sliders Vs. Cut Frame Sliders

Cut-style frame sliders offer improved protection on the track at the expense of increased installation time.

Motorcycle frame sliders are available in two distinct forms, racing-style cut sliders and street-oriented no-cut sliders. While each type offers its own protective quality, choosing the right frame slider for your motorcycle depends mostly on your riding style and environment.

Function

A frame slider's primary duty is to protect the motorcycle's frame from damage in the event of a slide or crash. Both forms of sliders employ a plastic puck that is mounted to an aluminum bracket, preventing the frame from contacting the ground. The major difference between a cut or no-cut frame slider lies in the way the puck is mounted to the motorcycle. Cut frame sliders require modification of the motorcycle's fairings--cutting a hole directly above the engine mounts where the frame slider will be installed. Conversely, a no-cut slider's mounting base extends outward and beyond the fairing, allowing the frame slider to protrude without the need to alter the motorcycle's fairings.

Benefits

Because racing-style cut frame sliders are solidly mounted to the motorcycle's engine mounts, they provide a higher degree of resistance to bending or breaking on impact with the road surface. On the other hand, no-cut frame sliders are easier to install for the average motorcyclist, allowing the rider to fit the frame sliders without having to worry about cutting holes into their machine's expensive fairings while providing adequate protection against low-speed slides.

Considerations

Installing a set of cut frame sliders requires precise measurements to properly align and cut a hole through the motorcycle's fairing panels for the frame sliders. An incorrect measurement can cause a costly mistake--permanent damage to a fairing panel. No-cut frame sliders, while easier to install without the need to modify the fairings, cannot offer the same amount of protection due to the design of their extended mounting brackets. While the mounting brackets are secured to the motorcycle's engine mounts, the puck's extension is typically left unsupported, creating a tendency to bend or shear off completely during a crash.

References

• "The Professional Motorcycle Repair Program"; Professional Career Development Institute; 1995

Resources

• maincity: How to Install No Cut Frame Sliders on a 07 CBR600RR (YouTube video)