Knox Fastback

[rac3r]

Does anyone have one of these? are they OK to wear under a textile jacket or would that be too uncomfortable. Price seems pretty good and it looks a bit more comfortable than the other stuff

https://www.knox-armour.co.uk/product.html?product=fastback

If you have any other recommendations fee free
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[nowhere.elysium]

I was given an Aegis by a work colleague, and it's perfectly comfortable, not to mention distinctly higher-quality armour than the foam crap you usually get in jackets.

It'd be fine under a textile jacket, certainly. I've not had a bad experience with any Knox product as of yet, so I reckon it'll be fine. I'm sure that someone will contradict me with a tale of woe, though.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[rac3r]

Hmm interesting, I did read that hard armour isn't always good at absorbing the impact whereas the foam stuff is. I guess it depends on which part of the body as well. Does anyone know if the Knox protects the chest as well?

Alpinestars seem to do a similar one as well but it's double the price

https://www.alpinestars.com/Track_Protection_Vest/pd/c/170/np/170/p/650848.html
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[nowhere.elysium]

[rac3r]

[MinhDinh]

I bought a back protector, and never use it. A bit over the top for me, and honestly, I got sick of carrying so many things when I took my biking gear off. Literally you can end up taking 5 mins to get everything on.

Also stopped using my kidney belt!
____________________
Hit the G spot.

[Rogerborg]

Oh, pfft. My back protector has a loop for hanging it up, which I stitched to the jacket's loop so I couldn't get out of the habit of wearing it. I put them on and take them off together, and it takes 5 or 10 seconds extra to sort the straps and do up the velcro.

Get out of bed 10 seconds earlier, or finish up your morning wank a bit quicker.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[MinhDinh]

Prefer to spend the extra 10 secs cleaning myself up.

Back protectors can get hot and uncomfy for me, and I don't have much space in my locker at work, but quite simply, I am too lazy.

Also, I dislike having to leave so many bits and bobs when I go somewhere.

But if it's good for you, then do carry on.
____________________
Hit the G spot.

[MinhDinh]

Bits I carry before you ask.

Helmet.
Neck warmer.
Jacket.
Trousers.
Boots.
Bag or tank bag.
Gloves.

Pretty standard, but it does make a mess when I visit someone.

Add a back protector, and kidney belt and it was just tedious doing it every day. Thay being said, maybe stitching it to a jacket would be easier.
____________________
Hit the G spot.

[rac3r]

Minh you get ones which go inside the back of your jacket to replace the foam one, I know what you mean by carrying loads of shit all the time
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[The Tot]

I've got a Fastback Gilet which I've been wearing since 2008.

It's very comfortable and supportive and has a broad, large surface area to distribute any energy of impact.

The armour is pretty much high density foam which has been perforrated - 1 hole every 5 or so cm vertically, and every 2cm horizontally to aid the ventilation. The armour is homogenous meaning that it isn't flexible as say the ricochet or aegis but it's still pretty good. It's relatively dense as a result. In terms of protection certification it's a level 2 - so not as high as level one. That said, it's better than NOT having one. Armour is removable so the vest is washable.

The gilet itself is brilliant. It sits nicely on my back every time I zip up. The waist adjusters act as kidney belts too. If you have a perforated suit, this gilet makes sense. For the £45 i purchased for it, it's been pretty good. Though none of my spills have tested the back protector properly.

However, I ALSO have an alpinestars tech race back potector which I got free with my race suit. I don't like initially it because it doesn't have shoulder straps, instead it's connected with those neck push buttons. Every time I try to put it on my back using the snaps which attach to the back of the neck, it always gets undone. So until very recently, I preferred to use the Fastback over the alpinestars gp stuff.

SO solution to that was to use the gilet and get heavy duty velcro to attach it to the vest. Result is that I have an level 1 back protector that sits nicely on my back... yet retain the option to use the fastback armour.

Anyway, check out the pics of my mod. You can see the difference in the protected area. The Fastback protects more of your upper back/shoulders. However, more importantly, my modded Tech Race covers my coxyx. Both are equally comfortable, but I feel the Alpinestars is a bit more rigid and has less give in the opposing direction, i.e. the direction in which motion is meant to be minimised.


https://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/182906_10150152669180712_500990711_8125305_7228499_n.jpg

https://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/182993_10150152670450712_500990711_8125308_6055641_n.jpg

So what I've effectively created is a bastardised track vest for free! I don't really need the soft foam padding at the front because my MX-1 race leathers have them in abundance, so I'm not adding anything.

To be fair, the tech back protector covers a larger portion of your spine compared to the bionic I wanted to make sure I kept my free purchase. If you have a close look at Casey Stoner's back during a race, you can clearly make out throuh the contours of his leathers that he's wearing a Tech Race back protector because of the broad plates and long coverage. If the bionic was good, then why isn't HE wearing it? I'm comfortable with the arrangement I've got since it means that my back protector is seated properly in my suit.

If you want more coverage on the fastback with the lowers/kidneys, make sure you carry your spare visor around your waist! Does the trick.

And here's how my modded contraption fits on me. I'm about 5'9 - 80kgs so a shade under 13 stone - 40" chest and 32" waist, rather stocky and it fits me pretty nicely - the vest is an L and there's plenty of adjustability.

It's well comfortable in my stretchtastic size 50 EUR MX-1 leathers and still as supportive in my not as flexible size 52 SX-1 leathers.

https://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/185939_10150152671945712_500990711_8125319_7125286_n.jpg

https://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/183181_10150152674670712_500990711_8125355_5975820_n.jpg

In short, good value for money. If you can get the contour gilet then it's worth it! I think they discontinued it. If not, fastback for 50 quid is a good shout.

I seldom wear textiles, but nevertheless, my gortex textile jacket has Hein Gericke's own perforrated multi-layer high density foam back protector. So the fastback is used solely in my race leathers. My Alpinestars SMX Jacket has it's foam padding, but since it's my commuter jacket, I don't wear a back protector because my Boblbee Hardshell backpack doubles up as a level 1 back protector - THAT saved me from going under a flatbed when I had a lowside.
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[rac3r]

Looks a good mod to get the best of both but you got one for free!
Thanks for the info mate
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636