GP Pro Armour Review

[Fladdem]

Right here we go,
At the motorcycle show in November-ish time, I did buy some body armour!

https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/gp-pro-protector-jacket-677-p_zpsf0a1f9de.jpg

I've now been riding in it and think I should do something for anyone else interested in this sort of thing, I couldn't find a review for this armour, but I haggled the bloke down to £40 so a deal was struck.

I can't stand armour in jackets, no matter what adjustments are made, it keeps flopping about in the shoulders, in the elbows, even the back, it doesn't matter, even when the jacket's the perfect fit, I hate it.

A short while back, I had a major accident down a green lane, I didn't have my phone, no one knew where I was and it was getting dark, basically I crashed into a gate, I was out cold for a couple of minutes, I'd guess. I broke my wrist and my knee, took all the skin off my knee. I was wearing a hoodie and jeans, but my MX boots. I was sore for days all round my left shoulder and my boss reckons I broke one of my ribs cos I was wincing every time I breathed in, being a mechanic, I have to take a deep breath every time someone asks a question.

So I needed armour.

I saw it at the bike show and had been contemplating it for a long time. I tried the two sizes on, the S/M and the L/XL. I'm 6'4" and 13 stone, I have fairly long arms and about a 39 inch chest. I eventually went for the small, it's a bit short, but the kidney belt still sits over my kidneys. The large just swamped me, even with all the adjustments tight as possible, and the medium was a bit tight, but I reasoned it would stretch and fit me perfectly with use. It has.

It's fairly comfy, it takes a bit of getting used to, but after the first 15 minutes of my first ride, I forgot it was there. I had to adjust my jacket to allow for the armour underneath, but it's no more adjustment than is needed if I want to squeeze a hoody underneath. I wear a long-sleeved thermal, a t-shirt, my armour and then my jacket, with a liner. It keeps me very warm, I'd imagine in the summer it may be too hot, but it keeps the body heat in, even on just long road rides, when I may have had the hoodie on underneath the jacket and started to get cold.

I haven't crashed in it on my motorbike yet, but I have done on my dirt jumper mountain bike. I went up the step up on the local track, cranked it over for the berm and hit some leaves on the apex. I did spot the leaves on my sighting lap, and I tried to clear them up, but just smeared the rotten leaves into the corner some more. I low sided at probably 15ish MPH, landed on my left shoulder, again. And didn't feel anything, I did smash my left knee up, again, but I need to get some knee pads. I did also get my mate to punch me in the chest while I wore it, I felt it, but it didn't hurt. I also punched him while he wore it and hurt my hand.

I can unfortunately say that the stitching on one of the elbows looks rubbish and the armour pad looks like it is coming loose. I don't know when it happened, but I only just noticed it, it may have been like that for some time. I have got mother to re-stitch the armour back into place. Seems to be OK again.

I can also say, I experienced arm pump for the first time in a while when I was wearing it. But I did take my bike round the woods out the back of work, it was quite gnarly and wet. I hadn't rode in a while, so that may have caused it as well. I think I may have had the elbow straps a bit tight, I have loosened them off. I don't experience arm pump on the local lanes now, because they aren't that tricky, but when I start to push hard round an enduro track, I notice it, so could be the armour, could be riding harder than usual. I'll have to ride more, conduct more tests.

TL;DR
For cheap armour it seems reasonable quality, fairly comfy and pretty protective, it certainly beats flappy armour in a jacket at any rate. However, the elbow did come loose and the sizing isn't very clear, i.e. if you were to buy it on t'internet. I'm going to see what happens after I've had it for many crashes and a long while. If it lasts well, I'll probably buy another, especially if I can get it for such a good price again.

Adam.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[_Iain_]

If you're stick thin & lanky then go for the L-XL size as pictured above.

If however you have a belly (like me) then you want the 2xl version which isn't as good with the protection, but i've been fine with mine. Crashed Paddys monkey a few times with it on too and bounced! Was most impressed with the chest armour after I failed KD on the monkey and got the bars smack on it.

https://www.fastbikebits.com/shopimages/products/normal/PROMXJ18.jpg

I'd also highly rate Viper knee armour;

https://riderwear.net/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/k/n/knee-shin-elbow-pad-guards_1_1.jpg

I paid £10? So it's not at all expensive. Fairly comfy and following my crash on the GS500 I'm always worried about smashing my knee up again. Fit's good inside MX boots, only thing is to make sure the straps are in a comfy position - they did ride up a bit at one point and got uncomfortable.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I have the same thing. Have crashed whilst green laning in it, and I'm still here. Good stuff for the money.
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[Fladdem]

I've been thinking about those knee pads. Do you think I could cycle in them?

I need most of my protective gear to double up their duties. I crash the mountain bike more often, probably to do with riding it harder than my TTR. Although I go slower on the MTB, relatively, I am pushing the bicycle closer to its limits than the 250.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.