Back Protectors

[Weedy]

Wondering how many of you wear back protectors everytime you go out, even if it's just for a mile or two?

Also, what ones are good for women to wear?

Ta,

Weedy
____________________
<CBT passed 16th Sept 2007><Theory Test passed 11th Oct 2007><Practical Test passed 19th Apr 2008>
OWNED: 2008 Aprilia Pegaso Strada CURRENT: Bikeless :'(

[Itchy]

you mean the proper strap on ones or the integrated ones in the jacket? ,

I've got integrated Knox in my textile jacket and some HG one for my leather top,

hard ones are iffy in that they may be the thing that breaks bones , at the top and bottom where they end.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Weedy]

The ones you wear under your leathers/textiles. Sorry, should have put that in the original post
____________________
<CBT passed 16th Sept 2007><Theory Test passed 11th Oct 2007><Practical Test passed 19th Apr 2008>
OWNED: 2008 Aprilia Pegaso Strada CURRENT: Bikeless :'(

[P4LERIDER]

All the bike kit I've got (leathers & textiles) has back protection built in so I'm always wearing some when i'm out on the bike. They're probably not as good as separate protectors but have got to be better than nothing at all.

One of my mates always wears Knox armour under his leathers. They have loads of different stuff on their website, may be worth a look

[DEN MONKEY]

Funnily enough after reading a thread on here about the stuff in the back of jackets only being for "display" purposes only and not being very effective in an accident, when I brought a new leather Jacket I also picked up a ufo back protector as in the pic below.

They suggested taking out the padding in the jacket and use the protector instead, which is the way Id planned anyway.
Stange thing though is that the padding in the new jacket is actually stitched in and has no "sleeve" for a protector.
People dont believe me until I show them.
Luckily the one I got is a strap on kind.

However when wearing the BP with the new jacket it can be a bit tight and force the jacket to rise up and the back of the collar to touch the bottom of the helmet pushing it forward.
That was when the jacket was brand new and might try again now its worn in.

I have 4 jackets now all up so might be worth trying it under them when i get around to it.

Thanks for the thread.

Might make me start to wear it a bit more.
____________________
meh

[Itchy]

the race ones like the KN2000 (?) are pretty thin go high up on the back and down to your kidneys , the ones inside textile jackets , only go down about 2/3 of the way.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[krebsy]

ride mag. did an article a few issues back where they tested all kinds of body armour and found that the best protection was the Marks and Spencers pre-packed cheese and pickle sandwich....

Still looking out for a soft armour insert for the back of my fabric jacket though... I could load it down with sandwiches and have something to eat at the end of a long ride.. :0

K.
____________________
What's my New Year's resolution?

1280 x 1024.

[Itchy]

better than nothing , I've come off quite a few times armour walked away , jeans it hurt lots
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[mark83]

I always wear my one.

If you haven't got one, you should get one. And make sure it's long enough to cover your whole spine because most are too short and don't cover the base of your back.

My one is a Zandona.

https://www.zandona.net/
____________________
Kawasaki ER6n -> Honda CBR600RR -> Honda VTR 1000 -> Moto Guzzi Norge 1200
Buy my Mercedes 350 Sport AMG Evo

[Zimbo]

I wear one on track, always, but not on the road.
I believe some of the Dianese ones are good for wimmen, and I also believe Knox do a ladies one.

[Bru]

Hi. The RiDE magazine indicated that a plastic-wrapped sarnie offered the same protection as a basic foam insert, as I recall. Not quite the same as a Level 2 piece of armour.

From our friend Wikipedia.org: "Because of the more delicate nature of the spinal column, back protectors require that lower levels of force be transmitted. However, in the Cambridge Standard for Motorcyclists Clothing, Roderick Woods asserts that the majority of spinal injuries are caused by blows to the hip and shoulders. In the rare circumstance that a motorcyclist received a direct blow to the back the damage would be unmitigatable by armor. The concept of a "back protector" is therefore not endorsed."

https://www.bmf.co.uk/briefing/BMF-Briefing-PPE.html

is an interesting link to consider. Best not to think too much about falling off.. BTW, I have a standard Knox (foam blocks construction) pear-shaped protector in my jacket. Not crashed that one yet, but the earlier plastic and double-foam type; after half a dozen city-speed prangs, I can recommend that you at least have something, because I never suffered more than a bruise to my unprotected inner leg in those events.

[Wooly R6]

Knox Ricochet every time my leathers are on!!!
____________________
R6 has been sold - 2004 Honda VFR VTEC now sold too - no bike at the moment

[Street Fighter]

Came off in September last year riding off road and ended up with lower back injuries due to the inadequate protection in my Bmw Ralleye 2 suit. Had I been wearing the Knox Richochet that I now own I would of walked away relatively unscathed. Never ride without it now and really comfortable (only weighs 680grammes).

Have a look at the Knox website and read some of the testimonials. You wont want to buy anything else! Your local dealer will fit you out so make sure you take your clothing with you if you go to buy one.
____________________
03 Triumph Speed Four

[ncrn]

I have a knox back protector in the back of my jacket, its a bit restrictive sometimes, but I don't notice it when riding, just when I'm walking about town etc.

I've not come off at a high enough speed or with any form of impact, so I can't really comment on what protection it offers. But I will say it does make it a little comfier when your lying on the floor staring at the sky thinking (ffs not again)
____________________
Past: 55 Sym Jet, 91 ZZR250, 03 NSR125R. Present: 97 ER-5.
https://www.nsr125.co.uk - NSR Owners forum.

[Paivi]

I've got the Knox Ricochet 5-plate (I'm about 155cm tall). I don't even notice I'm wearing it and it's served me well in one accident. It's a multi-impact one, so you don't need to replace it after an accident, just get it checked by authorised Knox retailer for damage.

https://www.planet-knox.com/images/ricochet-ladies-s.jpg
____________________
My other bike's a Monster...

[veeeffarr]

there's one that's supposed to be better than knox but can't remember the name now... sideswipe or something...

By the way if you do think your jacket came with a protector please check that it's not a thin piece of foam as that is very much like the cardboard you get round the collar of a new shirt

[TomR6]

*Digs out old ride mag*

Says 'forcefield' was the best performer.

Edit: Linkage:

https://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.co.uk/
____________________
2005 Yamaha R6

[Weedy]

[wilbur]

I have an of road one I bought after I broke my back.

Foam and carbon fibre.

I trust my jackets armour now which is probably a mistake.

For a race day I'd wear it again.

My jacket stands up by itself I sorta take armour seriously.

[Paivi]

Well, as you can see from the pic (providing you can see it?), it reaches all the way from the neck to the coccyx. It'll take you a couple of days to get used to the tightness, but it has to be tight, otherwise it'll move up and down, hitting you in the neck/helmet or getting caught in the trousers...

Check their website for correct sizing advice and check it out in a bikeshop.
____________________
My other bike's a Monster...

[olionel]

hmm kind of off topicish but here it goes, do they do better back insterts for spada jackets, I got the ergh cant remember now, its a winter jacket I think its the Spada ciruit jacket, and its back insert seem well flimsy, I wonder if I could get a replacement one?
____________________
1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[Weedy]

Awesome, thanks for that Couldn't see the pic before but I can now Looks great, might wear it clubbing
____________________
<CBT passed 16th Sept 2007><Theory Test passed 11th Oct 2007><Practical Test passed 19th Apr 2008>
OWNED: 2008 Aprilia Pegaso Strada CURRENT: Bikeless :'(

[TomR6]

[olionel]

well its got the zippy bit where i can insert a new back insert or maybe another one of the flimsy ones... i tried an alpinestars textile jackets back insert but its different shape...and couldnt see it on their website (im blind at times though, may wel have missed it)
____________________
1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[Method]

Because of my racing background, i will never ride without any form of back protection.

Basically what you have to understand is that your spinal cord is the mainstay of your body. It controls every single part of your body's systems basically. If this is damaged then you will be very sorry. Not only that but i can only imagine that it is damn painfull.

I have seen people go down in front of me on the track, followed by the rider behind him going straight over his back. At almost full whack. What you have to understand is that any bike is capable of crushing and breaking your spinal cord, let alone the fact that in my type of racing the rear wheel is spinning by up to 3/4 times as much as the front wheel is turning. So it would undoubtedly tear your back apart. But the riders just get up and walk to the center or back to the pits, winded admittedly, but not broken. Maybe bruised a little.

I hear so many people say that they are uncomfortable and that they dont need them etc, im sick of it. You do need to protect your spine, and they are not uncomfortable. I have the pleasure of having knox back protectors in a wide range at my place, and have also had the pleasure of the knox rep giving me training on them, and Knox themselves put a lot of R&D into making them comfortable. They have a deal with a big thermal company and have developed heat management and regulation for your back, so that heat is kept in and allowed to escape to regulate your back temperature, so that you dont sweat. They have designed a range of different protectors to give you optimum protection but at the same time optimum comfort. They have skin thin ones, such as the ricochet which is designed to fit underneath the tightest of leathers, and larger contoured ones to suit the more upright touring riding style. There are plates out there for every single rider, and they are designed so that they dont rise up and push your helmet up, i was showed how they are designed to rise as high as neccessary without ever coming into contact with head movement etc...

I also have charts at my disposal so i am able to properly suit someone up with the correct back protector for their requirements. There realy is a whole world out there to be explored.

Hit me up if your after more info
____________________
CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.