Am I worried about nothing?

[smackfiend]

Hi all!

When I started taking lessons one of the first things I bought was a back protector, I read all the reviews, scanned the web and then after reading a review in Ride magazine bought a Forcefield Pro L2 protector. I have since been informed that the bloke who tested the protectors in Ride and said it was the best was involved in the production of it.

I have also thought of how good this protector is at protecting your back from overextending as it is quite flexible.
Has anyone got experience using this protector? (had an off? – sorry got to ask) Is there anything better on the market?
I know that there are risks with biking but I’m just trying to limit the consequences as much as possible.

Cheers any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[tinfoilhat]

Well it has to be flexible. Lets hope you never need the protection eh.

[Alex-RS]

Ahh the back protector. The thing I keep telling myself I seriously need to get but still don't own one.

[Pete.]

Always a good idea to protect your spine. I have a very good friend in hospital with a severed spinal chord and parylised from the waist down after an accident 3 months back. He didn't 'verextend' his back he smashed it in 3 places. A protector might have saved his legs.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Im-a-Ridah]

There's also a concern when your wearing it, that it would rideup and hit your helmet

Am still deciding whether to wear one or not!

[MinhDinh]

not sure if it will help in your life, unless you actually crash, but then that could be said for all our gear. i bought a cheap 40 quid one from ebay and it gets very sweaty under a jacket. make sure you get a decent one mate with good reviews.

i also didn't try it on so the fitting is perhaps a lil too tight.
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Hit the G spot.

[Tricolor Fan]

I can still walk/live because I wore one.

No I haven't answered the question.

That is all.
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Give me ambiguity or give me something else.

[NiteMare]

never had one, been over 2 or 3 car bonnets, slid down the road a couple of times at 80 plus and chopped a telegraph pole down with a combo ....

i'm still walking and riding, maybe just luckier than some folks
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it ain't broke...

i ain't fixed it enough

[Moonie]

With a name like smackfeind I think you have bigger things to worry about..
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[calum17]

i have the forcefield pro one you are on about and i find it very comfortable, winter and summer. o tend to do the waist strap up just under the belt of my trousers to stop it riding up my back when i fidget about. i have found if i rush getting ready i can notice it more than other times and then i spend a lot of time adjusting it - put it on properly and you'll be fine.

i can say, i've never had to use it yet.

last year at the NEC show when i bought the forcefield pro, i also trie don one or two of the knox ones and in comparison i found them very uncomfortable - so i think the forecfield pro is the best - from the ones i've tried on anyway.

[Villers]

I wear one every time I go out.

Mines a KNOX KC2000 thats no longer in production. Knox measured me up for it so its a perfect fit for me. It doesnt ride up against my helmet as it would have to get through the neck and shoulders of my snug one piece first.

Its been with me through two offs where ive landed as opposed to slided. The first was reasonable quick and the second quite slow. In both ive had no back bother, whether this is down to the protector or not is speculation however. Having said that the doctor in A&E who was examining me whilst I was on the spineboard seemed quite impressed. Ive since had it checked for damage by Knox and its still good to go thankfully.
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Blau Zedong]

Never owned a back protector and I think they look gay.

If I end up paralyzed I'd be the first to say "told you so".

Still a fan of basketball boots and jeans I'm afraid......
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Ariel Badger]

[deanoet]

they bend to let you bend forwards, but wont bend backwards (the way the back isnt supposed too)

I have one but have only worn it for a track day, admittedly i did need it on the trackday
Whether it helped or not
It didnt cause anymore damage to me, and i didnt have any back injuries at all afterwards.
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[Catalyst]

This is a an annoying area for me, i'd imagine your going to be safer wearing one otherwise people wouldn't sell them/buy them.

My commute is only 15-20 mins to college and 5 mins to work so it would be a bit of a hassle taking it on and off constantly, except statistically both of my commutes are in the area i'm most likely to crash as i know it so well. Bit of a dilemma whether to wear one just for safety of mind but have a lot of hassle with it at college or not buy one and take the risk.
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|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[ncrn]

I have one built into the back of my jacket, its not like a full on back protector but its better than nothing, and it is a proper knox one which was cool I thought.
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Past: 55 Sym Jet, 91 ZZR250, 03 NSR125R. Present: 97 ER-5.
https://www.nsr125.co.uk - NSR Owners forum.

[The Tot]

I've got a knox gillet - perfect for the road, but it's not full coverage. It stops just above my lower verterbrae, but perfect because that's where i carry my spare visor in a waist bag - considering that the late Barry Sheene did make THE first back protector using visors. It fits well under my leathers and i can ride with relative comfort. Back protectors are meant to allow your back to bend one way, and not the other.

Suffice to say, I've got a CE approved boblebee megalopolis back pack i use on a day to day basis that's a Level 2 back protector.. and my laptop bag too. It saved me from going under a truck when i had my lowside so i'm thankful for it!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[kawakid]

[s44678]

You'd have to be a tad naive to think that any review in any bike magazine wasn't commercially biased in some way.

Although this seems particularly blatant.

[NiteMare]

one question for all you wearers of assorted protection devices....

do you think you would ride in the same manner if you didn't collect/wear all this gear ??
____________________
it ain't broke...

i ain't fixed it enough

[The Tot]

I probably ride a bit more vigorously if i WEREN'T wearing it, purely because i can move around a bit more. Granted, it's probably not as bad as having a back protector in, but I generally ride a bit more restrained with my back protector on!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Dalemac]

[Pete.]

Definately more confident riding with gear on.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[calum17]

[Rockhopper]

No back protector is designed to stop your back bending the wrong way, the Knox style don't even claim to do that. All any of them will do is to reduce the amount of impact force transmitted to the bones in your back and hopefully reduce the chance of breaking a bone.