Looked into GSG Frame Sliders, US Distributor Twisted Throttle replied:

Hi Bob,

We are no longer purchasing products from GSG and only have what remains in our stock. R&G racing has already produced a full line of crash protection for the 2012 ZX14 you can view the parts at the following link: http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productlist/908/

Thanks
- Greg G.

...so, looks like TT is done with GSG. I tried GSG direct, their website is in Swiss German, only, and do not show a ZX-14R model for sliders. No Love...

After waiting patiently on LSL to finish manufacturing frame sliders for the 2012 ZX-14R, I got word today from Spiegler (LSL US dist.) that LSL will not be making them for the 2012 and later ZX-14R.

No word as to why, they're just not gonna make them.

This info obtained from Spiegler, who said they got it as a "press release" from LSL on 8/24.

I've got MC Enterprises Canyon Bars on the front of my Concours 14, but want a set of sliders for the front axle to protect the Denali D2 LED lights down there.

Does anyone make such front axle slider (same same ZX14 C14) with the long slider cones? I need it to stick out a bit to combine with the Canyon Bars to keep the lights off the pavement.

At least is the worst happens, and I low side at 20 or 30 mph, the Canyon Bars will protect the rest of the bike very well. One of my COG buddies went down at 20 mph and all it did was scratch the Canyon Bars.

Which is why Barrier Bars are way better than frame sliders. Lay frame sliders down low side at 20 mph and you are buying a new frame.

@mbegardner - we've had this sort of problem all along. The problem is, KHI doesn't sell enough ZX14s (or any year) to make it cost effective to manufacture many kinds of parts for them.

Some kinds of parts make money if you can sell 10,000 of them, but not if you can only sell 1,000 of them. The larger the number of potential customers, the better, and you will never get more than 10% of them as customers in most cases.

I decided to go with these:

T-Rex ZG1400 Front Axle Sliders

Picture :

@Privateer:

Do you have an opinion about whether or not these would fit the 2012 ZX-14R:

#1400-410
Canyon Cages (Kawasaki Concours 1400 2010-2012)

...it's the only one they make for a 2012 1400 model.

Thanks.

I've decided to not give up on obtaining GSG product line, tho they are not available through "normal" channels (TT).

I'm looking here:

http://www.gsg-mototechnik.de/

...and note they now have a line of product for Kawasaki ZZR 1400 2012-

...which I think is the European spec for our US spec ZX-14R.

I've contacted them (my Swiss German is terrible). I'll let you know how it goes.

Since LSL has dropped out, I'm also looking at the Twisted Throttle replacement: The R & G frame sliders.

I looked at the installation instructions for their product, and I noted that there is a difference in their product from the likes of those sliders that attach to just one point, the engine / frame bolt.

The difference in the R & S line is that they use a "transfer bar" that mounts both slider sides through the frame via a large (and long) bar shaft.

I like this method of transferring energy (an impact / drop) to the frame. I wish it was not tied into the engine / frame bolt points, but at least they use both sides.

They are gonna be my go-to source if I cant get anything from GSG, which is looking like I'll have to order via Europe somehow.

@mebgardner - I will be darned if I know the answer to whether Canyon Guards will fit a ZX14R, but I'm guessing the answer is "no".

The 2012 Concours 14 is still based on the ZX14 frame and engine, so if the engine mounting points changed on the 2012 ZX14R to accomodate the new engine, then they wouldn't fit. You guys with new ZX14Rs will have to figure that out.

You might mention it using Contact Us to Ryan at MC Enterprises, and see. They built the Canyon Guards for the 2010-2012 Concours 14 bikes based soley on the existance of a group buy for 30 units. So if the ZX14R people put together a request to MC Enterprises, you never know, they might make a production run of units that fit your bike.

If I had a ZX14R I would put Canyon Guards on in a heartbeat if they were available, they are actually better then Barrier Bars, but hug the bike enough not to look like bathroom grab bars. LOL.

The good thing about the Connie, the mid-fairing has like near horizontal slots for vents, and the front of the slots are tied together with a vertical piece of plastic, which slides into "hooks" on the front fearing. So all we have to do is make one cut on the vertical piece between two arms of the slots where the Canyon Guard upper mount passes through, and then we can pull the mid-fairing off without removing the Canyon Guards. Almost 100% of the service actions ever needed on the bike can now be done without removing the Canyon Guards.

And they come with much better quality bolts than OEM, so if you have to take them off, you can reuse the bolts quite a few times.

* Last updated by: privateer on 9/6/2012 @ 10:15 PM *

I decided to go with these:
T-Rex ZG1400 Front Axle Sliders
Picture :

Very nice, priv. T-rex makes good stuff. Just got a kick stand for the busa fronm T-Rex....as solid and still lighter than stock.

Just ordered these today off ebay. $80 for the front and rear axle. Not exactly a big name in the industry but I figure some axle protection is better than none. They sorta match the concept of my LSLs I have on my 08. Billet covered by delrin.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Rear-Axle-Fork-Carsh-Sliders-Cap-Kawasaki-ZX14R-ZX-14R-2006-2012-Blue-/110907118018?_trkparms=algo=LVI&itu=UCI&otn=3&po=LVI&ps=63&clkid=1884809151247219263&_trksid=p4506.m7&item=110907118018&vxp=mtr#ht_5034wt_1099

* Last updated by: Rook on 9/7/2012 @ 3:00 PM *

@Rook - cool find, can't argue with price.

I don't need rear axle sliders because I have the MC Enterprise rear (bag) guard already. But I may put them on anyway to be extra sure.

@Privateer:

Thanks for the quick answer and opinion. That sounds like solid data to back your "no fit" reply, and so I'm intrigued about the potential for a group buy for Canyon Cage.

Since there's no harm in asking, I've put the request to Ryan in email today, as a general request to gauge their interest in the overall idea (I did not say, "Hey, if'n we get 30 buyers together for ya...").

Thanks for the tip!

@Rook:

Yup, I've been eyeballing their eBay frame slider LSL wanna-be's, too. I'm gonna play out the GSG / R&S scenarios, first, for top grade equipment. Then, if all else fails, all hail to the lowest bidder!

Still, that does look like good stuff you've bought for the front...

...and MC Enterprise's reply:

"Bob;

Thanks for your email. I am forwarding it to Ryan and he will get back to you on Monday (we work Mon - Thurs 6:30 to 4:30 PST). We will certainly look into making Canyon Cages for your bike if there appears to be enough interest. We finished the Gen 2 Concours back in May I believe, moved right into the Gen 1 and just finished our prototype for the Yamaha FJR 1300. We need to take a short break to get caught up with production, but will be ready to start on a new bike probably in October. Your input would be appreciated. Ryan and the rest of the R & D staff were just talking about the Honda ST1300, but nothing has been decided so you contacted us at the right time.

Thanks for your interest in our products.

MC Enterprises
866.886.2368"

... so I would say that's promising. At least, they're willing to discuss it.

So, may I suggest we discuss it? I'm thinking I would like to hear from BG to understand if I may broach the idea with the rest of the forum?

Tell him the ST doesn't need these things. The way it's built it has nice protection right from the factory.

Rook, that rear axle slider goes through the axle correct? Does that eliminate the cotter pin securing the axle nut?

Does anyone have a picture, or installation instructions, for the GSG frame sliders?

I've looked all over their website for the pictures of what their frame sliders look like, but tho I find lots of pictures of various sliders they make, I dont see anything identified as specific to the ZX14. I also dont find any installation instructions (that might have pictures).

What I'm trying to figure out is about those "copy-cat" sliders on eBay. I'm wondering just how good of a copy are they? A picture of the "real deal" might help me make up my mind about the differences...

I'm waffling on the R&S equipment. On a 2nd examination and study, I'm now not so keen on them, as I study the pictures and think about how the energy would be transferred almost totally to a single engine frame point (on the same side as the fall occurs). On study, they're not much better than the single bolt-up point sliders.

"Why is this guy being *so* anal about these things?"

It's because I'm not carrying comp and collision insurance on this cycle. It's my money for the repairs if this cycle hits the pavement. It's driving me to be more cautious about the equipment that I buy and fit to help alleviate crash damage. That's why...

* Last updated by: mebgardner on 9/8/2012 @ 4:25 PM *

@mebgardner - it would be great if you decided to try to get something going like a group buy so you can tell Ryan at MC Enterprises how many he could sell right away.

Imagine if 20 of you got them, and posted pictures here and on bikeland, etc., how many he would sell.

He will powdercoat to make your bike color if you want, as close as he can get. He did neptune blue for the COG guys with the blue 2010 bikes and the pictures look really good.

EDIT: it would be tough to get a group buy going here, there has never been one in all the time I've been a forum member that I can remember. This group is not as cohesive as the COG folks, we do group buys many times every year. I got my Canyon Cages and rear guard bars on a group buy, saved hundreds of dollars.

* Last updated by: privateer on 9/10/2012 @ 7:08 AM *

@Privateer:

Yeah, I was afraid of that. You dont mention how often it (a group buy) was attempted, but I get the idea from your post count you've been here awhile...

It's not looking any better from my viewpoint of MC Enterprise's situation. They're moving their business to a new location (under same mgmt), and they're not sure they can get to building this before they move. Earliest availability for them to do anything is "about Oct, maybe a bit later...".

And, they're interested in how many we think we would buy, which leads into your point.

*When* did it get *so* hard to buy a simple, quality part??

I got a response from Germany this morning. GSG will ship what I requested as soon as I pay them. Their parts are available now, today.... in Germany... but, I think mebbe they dont take VISA. I'm not sure how to pay them, they want a "bank transfer", probably bank-to-bank wire. Well, I've lived overseas, and I know how that works. <small PITA>.

I'm probably going the GSG parts route. I'll post about how that goes when I know more.

They need a ZX14(R) group buy to pay for the tooling. Then they can afford to engineer it in CAD, prototype it, and make the number pre-purchased.

This is fairly normal, and for the low number of ZX14Rs compared to Concours 14s, if they do it for you, you should consider yourself lucky and blessed. But MC Enterprises and Ryan in particular are good people.

And if you drop your ZX14R at 20mph in a lowside, Canyon Guards (and maybe they can make a rear guard which doesn't stand out - ours for the Concours 14 sticks out past the side cases because most of us leave them attached all the time) will almost assuredly prevent all damage except possibly the mirror.

They are every bit as good as the old Stuntworx sport cages, but look better.

Rook, did you ever get those axle sliders? I'll ask again, doesn't the rear one eliminate the cotter pin? what are you substituting (if anything) for the cotter pin?