Knee sliders - advantages/disadvantages [Archive]

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Mully Clown

14th January 2009, 00:27

Gremlin

14th January 2009, 01:13

Handy for kneeling on, for whatever reason... stops the knees of the leather getting some odd minor knocks.

Handy for hitting things as you brush past (they stick out).

Also came in handy when my knee hit the ground as the bike low-sided, and I managed to save it. Wouldn't like to think of the damage if there hadn't been knee sliders.

On the whole, I prefer having them, even if they aren't used much. If you look at it another way, they are often the same price, so you're getting free stuff :clap:

LBD

14th January 2009, 03:31

I'm looking at buying some leather bike pants at the moment. What are the advantages/disadvantages of having knee sliders?

Riding a Scorpio so I probably don't need to worry about getting me knee down at this stage. If I turn into a weekend warrior or track day addict I'd probably end up purchasing a 1-piece anyway.

.

Mate, I have well worn sliders and talk about serious kudos and presence when with other bikers, at the track or just or coffee stop. (Big advantage) I mean, can you imagine walking into a gathering of bikers with unworn sliders...un cool.
What you do is this, :msn-wink:get your girl to drive the car along a quiet country road, open the door and hold the sliders down on the tarmac for a k or so, no risk of dropping the bike in the process. If your worried about the safety aspect of leaning out of an open car door, get a 4 x 2 (100 x 50) and stick some velcro on the end, then attach the sliders to that and hold the 4 x 2 out the window with the slider on the ground.

If you do it right the first time, a set of well worn sliders should last a life time of riding.

Worked wonders for my esteem.

(Sorry mate I could not resist it)

But on a more serious note, if you get sliders, you will want to touch them down and may find your self pushing the limits to acheive this, you see very few riders on the road with sliders. I am not slow (definately not the fastest either) 35 years road riding and I have never needed them or wanted them.

MsKABC

14th January 2009, 07:18

What you do is this, :msn-wink:get your girl to drive the car along a quiet country road, open the door and hold the sliders down on the tarmac for a k or so, no risk of dropping the bike in the process. If your worried about the safety aspect of leaning out of an open car door, get a 4 x 2 (100 x 50) and stick some velcro on the end, then attach the sliders to that and hold the 4 x 2 out the window with the slider on the ground.

There is a much easier way than this - take them out to the garage and go at them with the angle grinder :msn-wink:

I've got knee sliders on my new gear, simply because I wanted gear with full armour, which happened to have knee sliders. I want the best protection I can get for the minimal amount of road roading, perhaps some bucket racing and track days that I plan on doing. If that makes me look like a wannabe or a knob jockey or whatever, then so be it. I don't happen to give a knob of goatshit what anyone else thinks.

Mully Clown - just get the most protection you can afford, and if it happens to have knee sliders, then so be it. If you plan on doing track days or racing, then you might as well buy an appropriate suit for that now.

motorbyclist

14th January 2009, 09:00

I have knee sliders....

and no intention of 'getting my knee down'

i have found them useful in protecting your leathers from would otherwise been a fair bit of damage though - ironically while cruising at 40kph on a straight road

kiwifruit

14th January 2009, 09:05

No good for sidecar action

motorbyclist

14th January 2009, 09:51

what are you on about? me and piratejafa got the peg (and his knee) down last time we rode it :D

HenryDorsetCase

14th January 2009, 10:33

My levva pants have the velcro for sliders, but no sliders. the problem is insects and grit and stuff lodges in the velcro and it is a bitch to get out. I am going to put either some leather patches (velcro savers..) or some sliders on the pants just to make them easier to get the bugs n shit off.

But as for using them on the road as they were intended? No way.

michael

14th January 2009, 10:44

Get sliders, they're free. And if you dont like them you can take them off! But if you do go to a track and wana touch down you have the choice. I've got a two piece and its fine for the track (only track days not racing). Pretty cool feeling sliding the first time too. I've only ever done it on the track, too scared of hitting a oil patch or something on the open road, but I still have them on just incase......:eek5: They kinda give you a bit more confidence just incase you get into those sticky situations where you have to lean more than intended.

Quasievil

14th January 2009, 10:45

I'm looking at buying some leather bike pants at the moment. What are the advantages/disadvantages of having knee sliders?

Riding a Scorpio so I probably don't need to worry about getting me knee down at this stage. If I turn into a weekend warrior or track day addict I'd probably end up purchasing a 1-piece anyway.

The cost difference is pretty minimal so I guess it must come down to a comfort issue? Apart from the obvious one of whether they make you look like a pillock or not. Have been looking at the Qmoto gear if that makes a difference. But I could end up with something else.

The thing is to consider what your riding style is now and in a few years, leather pants will last you for a far period of time so you need to allow for it.
Best thing is to buy a Knee slider set and then your covered, you can always take them off and ride without them for a while.

It could be argued also that the knee slider gives you a little more protection from side impacts on the lower leg, which is a bonus.

As far as disadvantages well there arent any really.

Good luck and if you want to try QMOTO gear give us a yell and we are only to happy to help you.

nodrog

14th January 2009, 10:47

i got some with my new leathers, i find they are useful for holding household bills down on the kitchen counter, and rather accurate when the neighbours cat trys to take a dump on my lawn.

jrandom

14th January 2009, 11:49

No good for sidecar action

Bum sliders ftw.

slofox

14th January 2009, 11:55

My levva trou don't have knee sliders or velcro for the fitting thereof...so I spent $30.00 on a pair of knee protectors that go under the trou...bit of a nuisance to put on and off but I do find them handy when I have to kneel down to squirt lube on the chain or check tyre pressures...have had no other call to use them so far...

madbikeboy

14th January 2009, 12:33

They're super good for protecting your knees during doggy style. Also, you can get on one knee to propose in comfort.

And, hell, when you're scrubbing floors on your hands and knees - just perfect.

Quasievil

14th January 2009, 13:47

They're super good for protecting your knees during doggy style. Also, you can get on one knee to propose in comfort.

And, hell, when you're scrubbing floors on your hands and knees - just perfect.

:laugh:Nice theory but the knee sliders hang to the side on the upper calf

slofox

14th January 2009, 13:51

:laugh:Nice theory but the knee sliders hang to the side on the upper calf

Which is why the under trou versions are better...(for doggy style anyway...)

madbikeboy

14th January 2009, 14:01

:laugh:Nice theory but the knee sliders hang to the side on the upper calf

Are you also the Grinch who stole Christmas?

Mort

14th January 2009, 14:41

There is one further benefit. There is a nerve which runs exterior to the knee joint to the muscles below. In an heavy abrasion type accident this nerve can be damages. The result is a permenant bow legged type limp.

The knee slider covers the location of this nerve quite precisely. Thats why, knee down or not, I always wear 'em.

GOPSTER

14th January 2009, 15:27

Get the knee sliders a little bit extra protection never hurt. I have just got a suit with none and they are another $100 for a pair so if you dont want yours.....

Mully Clown

14th January 2009, 21:39

Looks like sliders win the battle then.

LBD

15th January 2009, 03:02

i have found them useful in protecting your leathers from would otherwise been a fair bit of damage though - ironically while cruising at 40kph on a straight road

Wanna expand on that for this (Me) rather dense individuals understanding?:stupid:

motorbyclist

15th January 2009, 11:08

well my bike decided to flip out from under me one fine day, and my knee sliders took most the damage - damage that otherwise would have ruined my leathers

the irony being that my kneesliders, intended for sliding round corners at high speed, have only ever come into use on a straight road at low speed

so i'm glad i left them on - the OP might want to do the same

LBD

15th January 2009, 15:26

well my bike decided to flip out from under me one fine day, and my knee sliders took most the damage - damage that otherwise would have ruined my leathers

Roger that, did similar at walking speed with the XT500....Bugger, but then no one was watching either....

jrandom

15th January 2009, 21:02

And, in addition to all the above... when you're riding quickly round a corner and shifting your weight off the bike, they're great for, y'know, sliding your knee on!

Not that I'm obsessed with touching my knee down everywhere. I've never even done it on the road. But it's good to know that you don't have to keep it out of the way.

celticbhoy

21st January 2009, 09:33

Not sure on your budget but I got some Dainese Mekong pants that have good protection around the knee but no sliders so you don't have to walk around with a furry velcro patch as most guys I know end up taking them off anyway!

Chrislost

21st January 2009, 09:48

i had knee sliders.
found them good at smashing roadsigns.

MsKABC

21st January 2009, 14:37

I thought of another advantage to sliders - they make a very useful "handle" for getting your pants on and off :D

talbertnz

28th January 2009, 08:01

I took my knee slider of my leathers recently finaly figured out they where the couse of my legs being pushed outwards at high speeds on my suzuki DR650!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But still happy to have the option just in case
So I say get with sliders! Get good quality gear!
Its only YOUR ONLY body your playing with

CaMo

28th January 2009, 09:55

Quasievil

28th January 2009, 09:57

heres a question for you fellas. I have the textile type pants which I just payed 270 for. Figured I wouldn't be getting my knee down too soon but infact I did by accident twice so I need knee sliders for the odd occasion and protection. Is it possible to rig some onto mine or do I gotta break the bank and fork out for new gear :)

You could sew in a velcro patch but the fabric (cordura) isnt that strong, the knee slider will move around your leg with the road contact and possibly rip the fabric anyway, it could actually hurt your leg.....possibly

You would be better served in getting some Leather pants really.

cowpoos

5th February 2009, 09:05

There is a much easier way than this - take them out to the garage and go at them with the angle grinder :msn-wink:

I think I have seen attempts at this...on quite a few occasions...melted plastic is the first sign...and the most obvious one...is the dumbies that get the grain on the slide wrong [like a few KBers I've seen]...lol!!

MsKABC

5th February 2009, 09:07

I think I have seen attempts at this...on quite a few occasions...melted plastic is the first sign...and the most obvious one...is the dumbies that get the grain on the slide wrong [like a few KBers I've seen]...lol!!

As I said when somebody else suggested I'd get the angle all wrong - I'll just tell people I've been stunting and riding backwards/upside-down with my knee down ;) :bleh:

Nah, of course I would never bother. My knee sliders still have the 'Q' logo on them, and they will probably stay that way. Unless I have a go at bucket racing, and then all bets are off! :laugh:

Geemsee

12th February 2009, 11:56

Sliders were a must have back in the UK, haven't found any roads here in NZ where you could really use them, so they're really only any use on track days (maybe i'm looking in the wrong place.....or just getting too old?!) ! My personal preference was the hard leather ones as they give more feedback and smell like burnt steak!

What we really need is for Transit to build a highway interchange like this baby: http://www.therevcounter.com/blogs/mrfiction/252-cloverleaf-redditch-worcestershire-now-working-link.html hey maybe we should get a petition going?!

motorbyclist

13th February 2009, 21:03

What we really need is for Transit to build a highway interchange like this baby: http://www.therevcounter.com/blogs/mrfiction/252-cloverleaf-redditch-worcestershire-now-working-link.html hey maybe we should get a petition going?!

yeah but then we'd need another petition to remove the cheesecutters on both sides of the roadway