Knee sliders - advantages/disadvantages

**Mully Clown** · 14th January 2009, 00:27

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.

**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

**LBD** · 14th January 2009, 03:31

Originally Posted by Mully Clown

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,

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

Originally Posted by LBD

What you do is this,

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

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

**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......

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

Originally Posted by Mully Clown

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:Me** · 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

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

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

Originally Posted by madbikeboy

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.

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