Should I buy a back protector for trackdays?

FreshAL · Sir Crashalot Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Karma :

Possibly might be doing my first trackday in a few weeks. My lid, leathers, boots, gloves etc are all fine, but I was wondering about getting a back protector?

I've weighed up the pro's and con's and decided that I don't want to use one on the road.

Is track very different? If I come off, I want to end up sliding on my back, so a back protector sounds quite attractive (but then, so does not falling off)

Are some back protectors better suited to track use than others? Any recommendations?

thanks Karma

Davo · Davo To The Rescue! Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Karma :

Entirely up to you.

I wear a back protector when out on track, as I don't feel too comfortable without it.

If you do crash on track your likely to be sliding a bit further than you can on the road.

As to fitment, just make sure that it fits properly otherwise it's possible it'll cause more damage than good.

What track you looking at going to?

FreshAL · Sir Crashalot Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Karma :

Zimbo · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Karma :

In a word, yes. I wouldn't go on track without one, though I don't use one on the road.

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

I have one, came from the NEC for £15.

My leathers also have some sort back protector in them anyway.
So it's up to you, they do recommend it though.

Gaz

thedbf · L Plate Warrior Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Back protectors are generally to prevent your back being injured from impact.

Sliding on your back isn't a big problem as there's a quite big surface area of leather to wear through - only a few seams have gone when I've crashed at 100+ and slid on my back.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Personally I have a foam back protector which was supplied with my Crowtree leathers.

It has the advantage that it is reasonably soft and so won't damage my spine as has been reported that some 'hard' back protectors do.

It is a CE back protector so should be a good one, and I believe that it only cost me an extra £40.

I usually use it on track but forgot to take it last trackday Embarassed

.
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Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

I have a Knxo back protector which I got from Hein Gericke, I made sure to buy it from a shop to ensure I got the right size which I did. I have worn it occasionally on the road for long journeys, mostly because it feels quite snug and warm. Tried using it for one session on track and it got pushed to one side, it restricted my movement too much and felt uncomy when trying to get my body positioning right when coming towards a corner.

I've not heard many people complain about them though to be honest so it might just be the one I got that's a bit shit.

Annabella · Like a person, only smaller Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

mrtEE · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

jay12329 · Dr. Evil Joined: 02 May 2003 Karma :

I have a top of the range knox jobbie, has honny comb bits to take impact and is quite flexable to prevent the dmage cuased by hard protectors.
I dont ride on track without it and use it on the road when ever i'm in my leathers. Crashed twice with it on but not tested it by hitting anything.
HTH
J

BorderHooner · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Karma :

I have a knox richochet - I wear that with my textiles and my two piece leathers. I give it to my pillion when required and I put the CE back plate armour back into the jacket. Very comfy - can get a bit hot in summer but it does breath.

I also have a Alpinestars Tech Race protector, it came with my MX-1 race suit. The only problem with it is it has no shoulder straps as it press studs into the back of the suit (and often pops out!) - they are all like this. It is however a far more superior back plate to the Knox (imho) as it flexes for better comfort. I'm going to get some elasticated straps sewn into it so I can wear it with other gear. This way I and the pillion can both have the protection.

Comments such as "They are not suitable for road use, only for teh track" appear to have absolutely no relevance whatsoever and offer little in way of support for such an opinion.

They do a job, choose to have additional protection or dont. They help prevent spinal injuries and that's really all there is to it.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

mrtEE · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Karma :

Comments such as "They help prevent spinal injuries and that's really all there is to it."

appear to have absolutely no relevance whatsoever and offer little in way of support for such an opinion.

Please don't pipe up on a subject unless you actually know what you're talking about, especially if you use your ignorance to try and belittle and informed opinion Very Happy

Cillit-BANG · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Karma :

Make sure you go to a shop to get it sized. You must take along your leather jacket to make your it fits underneath. As with helmets, different manufacturer's will suit different body shapes.

Personally I wear a Knox Ricochet, but only on the track. It fits very snugly and with my leathers over the top creates a nice tight suit but has worn-in nicely enough to be able to still move around on the bike without a problem.

I should think that probably 75% of the riders you see there will be wearing them.

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Think the main problem for back protectors causing injuries is those that do not fit / are not located correctly. They can catch, moving up rapidly and catching on the back of the riders lid. Wrenching their head forward hard and breaking the poor bods neck.

All the best

Keith
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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

I'm sure I've seen riders after races with leathers hanging down with back protecters etc, and do you really think they remove all the armour from their leathers? They obviously don't all swap for 2 piece suits.

Saying the TT/NW200/Macau has 'soft road furniture' designed for riders to crash into is ridiculous.

T.C may have the experience, but I'm not convinced he lives in the real world. For example he once said he would charge someone pushing their bike home on the pavement if they weren't wearing a helmet or had no insurance for that bike. He also said the same for someone working on a bike in a carpark - if they weren't wearing a lid they'd be done.

The reasoning was that they cause accidents - that's a pretty warped sense of reality.

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

There's no 100% conclusive answer in either direction, so you pays your money and you takes your choice.

A protector that may help in 95% of accidents might make it worse in the other 5%. What might help in a track crash might make a road crash worse. Or it might not.

There's similar debate on the subject of neck humps in leathers... if there was one conclusive answer that x was better than y then all suits would come with x, would they not?

Personally I do wear a back protector on track, but it's a softish one (Knox Stowaway). Can't vouch for it's effectiveness cos I've never had an identical crash when not wearing it.

swaffs · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Karma :

I crashed on my first trackday, and wasn't wearing a back protector Brick Wall

I broke a couple of ribs although I suspect this was more to do with me tumbling. I did however get one before going out on track again.

I got a Knox X2000 jobbie or some number like that, HOWEVER....
I brought it at the Ally Pally bike show and wasn't really measured up properly. I do find it uncumfortable and it does ride up and push into the bottom of my lid. If I wear it on the road, I find it worse when looking up at traffic lights, and generally any time not in a full on hunched 'racing' position.

I'm not sure if it is a little big for me or if thats just the way it is supposed to be.

I do however wear it on the track, where it is much more cumfortable, due to the riding position I adopt.

Thankfully I've not had a need to test it.

Swaffs
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Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

Friend of mine 'paulodd' on this forum hit a car and broke 2 vertibrae.

He /will not/ leave home without his knox back protector now. Whether it would have saved his spine or not, I don't know.

His experience points me in the direction that they can't be a bad thing. Mine's hard aswell.

Gaz