Back Protector?

[SamJL]

Hello everyone

I seem to have broken my back protector so it no longer fits, I don't quite know how its happened but I need a new one! Only looking at spending around £40 for now, its just going to be for road use, I'll get another one next season for track use. Just wondering if anyone has got any advice on whats best to get for around £40?

Ive seen this one that looks like its quite good value for money:
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OXFORD-MAX-PROTECTION-MENS-MOTORCYCLE-BACK-PROTECTOR-M_W0QQitemZ320436219093QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=340bad361240a0aad243aa93ffc8aa1d

Any advice would be much appriciated, not really sure what I'm looking for!

Thanks, Sam

[Pernig]

I use this which was around £20 from Lidl. Seems to be very good, however I haven't crash tested it!

To give you an idea of sizing, I am 6'2" and mine is a medium. The shoulder straps are adjustable and elasticated as is the waist band, so I'd only go for a large if you have broad shoulders or are taller than me.
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H100 Breaking for spares

[G]

I would expect fit is still very important for a back protector (especially as it seems you have an issue with yours ), while they are flexible, there are still important considerations.
For instance, my one (got free on freecycle) rides really high if I don't position it properly once my leathers are on. I suspect it could easily break my neck in this position. I'd definitely go for fit first, then look at other considerations.
So far, personally I'd say in my experience back protectors are over-rated.

[SamJL]

Thanks, I'll see if I can find a shop that stocks the Oxford one and try one on.

Im only 5'8", I thought a medium would be OK, best to try one on first I guess!

Thanks for the advice guys

[Alexio]

You've made me seriously considering buying one of these now with the amount of miles I do. The only time I came off I thankfully had a rucksack on stuffed full of clothes (3 day trip) which saved my back when I hit the ground and rolled three times until I stopped.

I can't remember what part of me hit the ground first to be honest.... that part of memory is blacked out

Generally how effective are these things? I think I might go for one of the £40 jobbies too.
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[Mystery]

are they worth getting? i got the pad in the back of my leathers but thats about it and i don't tend to wear a bag or anything? i have considered one for the extra protection but heard mixxed views on them as well
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Carbon knuckles assure you maximum protect against debris and unfortunate accidents or if someone cuts you off, their side mirror.Mopeds are like chubby chicks.. they are really fun to ride until you're friends catch you on one

[SamJL]

Personally, I think that any extra protection you can get can't be bad!

If it will save my back in the event of an accident, then its £40 well spend

[G]

There's some question if they can cause more damage in some cases, especially road accidents.

This is my worst accident no back protector other than in leathers. Had a bike hit me in the back at the beginning of the season at the same track with the same leathers. Bit of pain, but then spending a week in an office chair also does my back in.
Might work better for other people.

[Devils Advocate]

I`ve got the whole kit and kaboodle covering chest ribs,back,arms,shoulders,forearms,knees,hips and thighs.

If i came off i know with 95% certainty that it`d all help coz it basically turns me into an invincible ironman ...but the problem is i never wear most of it coz it`s too much hassle for a commute and my rides lately havent been long enough to warrant putting it all on.

[Ariel Badger]

I wear one hillclimbing or on a twisty sprint. The rest of my bones are no big deal, they can be bolted back together. The spine is different.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[cyclops12]

My doc told me if had been wearing one i wouldnt be in a wheelchair now
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hayabusa trike

[Ariel Badger]

Indeed, spinal damage is something I fear.
That looks a hell of a crash G! You were very lucky to have a decent photographer on hand, how is the girl?
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Alexio]

https://www.triumphtriplechallenge.com/images/GGG530/Swaffs-GG-Lydden.gif

I think that if I were on the track there's no doubt I'd be wearing as much protection as possible. On the road it's so easy to get lazy though
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[G]

Taken from this thread:

[Mystery]

[G]

[cyclops12]

Even though tc is a very clever man he aint a doctor/surgen so he cant tell you those people are paraplegic because they had a back protector on , [ most tetras are neck breaks ]
much the same as people who say i can still walk because of wearing one , all they know is they had an accident and can still walk who knows if it was the protector that saved them or not ? however he can say they had a back protecor on and they are paraplegic ie the protector didnt work !!

my doc/surgen told me most backs break through the swist / snap when you first hit the floor and a protector can help stop this , he said even though i rolled down the road in his opinion i broke my back when i first hit the ground and did the other damage with the rolling after the first break [ broke my back in 3 places and all my ribbs ]
like said your back is more likely to go from a twist rather then other impact
i suppose they work different , in some situations and can cause some injury's but they do work in other's

when i was in hospital more people had broke their back by falling down some steps than any other way
and dont forget guys its still quite rare to break your back jsut got to get shit unlucky
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hayabusa trike

[Ariel Badger]

I remember the arguments when helmets and seat-belts became compulsory, people said that they cause injuries. They can cause injuries under freak conditions but in general they have saved thousands of lives. In my sport (at my level) the risk tends to be lowsiding and sliding into track furniture like trees surrounded by tyres or straw bails. I would rather have a woodlouse take the impact than my spine.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[G]

A neck break seems quite possible caused by a back protector. Personally, I'm not sure a surgeon would know more about the *cause* of accidents; I presume T.C did consult them as well as other sources.

As ever if you really want to protect yourself on the road, the best bet is to practice good observation and so on to prevent getting into the situation in the first place.
Some people will happily spend massive amounts of money on top of the range kit, which they've worked tens to hundreds of hours and more to earn; yet won't spend a bit of time trying to learn to avoid the danger in the first place.

Ariel: with the racing I've done low sides are relatively little worry - it's getting thrown off the highside, or impacts with other riders (possibly after the lowside) that cause the big worries.

[Ariel Badger]

G..
In the real world most accidents are at relatively low speed such as sliding out on a roundabout and impacting the curb or a tree. Back protectors can help keep your legs working afterwards.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[G]

[Ariel Badger]

LOL, my leathers are just that, leathers. They were made in the 70s the only padding inside is me.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Mystery]

where is tc these days? not seen him in a while
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Carbon knuckles assure you maximum protect against debris and unfortunate accidents or if someone cuts you off, their side mirror.Mopeds are like chubby chicks.. they are really fun to ride until you're friends catch you on one

[Dr. DaveJPS]

i wonder if TC was refering to the hard back style ones, which i can see potentially causing a risk, or all (including the forcefield, halvarsons, etc types) back protectors.

Personally i don't think i'll be riding without mine any time soon.
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"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[cyclops12]

The police and the accident experts had nothing to do with why i done the damage i did
they told me why i had the accident how fast i was goin when i had the accident , showed me pics of the exact spot i hit the ground , how my bike had spun and the direction it went even how many times i rolled down the road

i thought i'd just locked up the front and didnt touch the back brake but they showed me that both wheels where locked at the time i came off
they was brilliant when they explaind every aspect of my accident , they said people had said i was screeming down the road but they was wrong and i was going X speed

im not putting down TC's expert knowledge because the bloke's that dealt with me was just that 'experts ' and they was fantasic

but when it came down to why and what had caused me to break my back that was down to the surgeons and the orthopaedic experts and like i said my surgeon told me had i wore one its quite possible i wouldnt be in a chair now [ i dont think anybody can say for sure ]

i dont know what happens in most cases this is just what happend to me
in the last 13 years ive not come across any paraplegic's who have said my back protector is what broke my back and i do meet lots , but in sayin that ive also not met any that say i had one on and still done themself's
most ive met are like me and didnt have one on , but that also doesnt mean there isnt lots out there that are injured because of a protector , just ive not met any

would like to see a proper studie done on weather they cause more injurys than not , and if they offer the protection they claim too
if they dont they need to be banned or at the very least need a warning on them

and for the record mine was a slow spill at only 30mph would one of helped at that speed and not at a higher speed ?

i would say though that if not worn correctly i would of thought that yes it could break a neck [ shifting up with force ] and if thats the case yet again why arnt they banned

what i will do is the next time im at the hospital ill ask my surgeon if he's come accros any people who are para's because they was wearing a back protector
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hayabusa trike