Armour upgrade, yes or no?

[HondaPaul]

I recently treated myself to some new leathers. I ripped the side of my jacket open on two screws sticking out of a door frame during a toilet break. How stupid did I feel. I have had them for a while and I fancied an upgrade anyway. I went with the RST blade jacket and trousers. all seems well so far but I am wondering if I should/need to upgrade the armour. as far as I know the armour is just RST contour plus which is an elastic memory foam. is there any need for armour that is memory foam with a hard outer shell? if so does anyone have any recommendations for armour that will fit all the pockets of my RST blade jacket and trousers?

[grr666]

RST armour is quite heavy, but seems decent enough quality.
Forcefield stuff is better though, lighter and cooler. That 3DO stuff seems well thought of. Got a couple of jackets with knox hard armour pieces, but that can break pretty easily. It is pretty light weight though.
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[Snowdonia Rider]

Don't RST do their own upgraded armour?
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[MarJay]

if it's CE and comfortable I'd stick with what is there. Hard armour tends to dig in and be uncomfortable. The best type of armour (IMO) is soft armour that doesn't stay permanently deformed after an impact like Hein Gericke Hiprotec armour, but there isn't a lot of that around these days with HG UK going under.

Excellent armour is no good if it's uncomfortable, or if it will shift in an accident and dig in. So mediocre soft armour is always better than excellent hard armour in my opinion. The same is true for back protectors. I've heard many stories of 'hard' back protectors shifting in impacts and actually doing more damage than they save. That's why I have a CE foam back protector in each of my jackets and leathers.
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[grr666]

Probably right, the few rst bits I've had have had 'contour plus' it was CE1 whatever that means.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[NJD]

I have the textile version of both the jacket and trousers and find the amour to be sufficient, ok I've never had a spill, but I certainly don't feel that it has any weaknesses. Always stayed in place during a ride, doesn't move around and covers (and hopefully protects) the areas its design to. I've certainly used jackets with worse stock armour than RST. I'm sure there's better out there on the market for protection but that also means more budget whereas RST (from what I've gathered) is reasonable middle ground currently. I'd just ride on happy as Larry with your purchase. Oh, the only upgrade that may be possible is to purchase some hip armour for the trousers, you probably wont know the pockets are there if you haven't looked but it's something to buy if you've got money you want to spend.

You could go full race mode and get the RST Trachtech Evo II jacket. I may own one. One day thou shall tuck in on the slowpoke tiddler and make noises inside the helmet simulating that of faster speeds than 31mph in a 30 zone.

[HondaPaul]

I did consider the tractech evo 2 jacket and trousers, but I managed to get a good deal on mine. The trousers were just over half price brand new, although I can't remember the original price. the jacket was just under half price too, bought from a friend who had worn it once because it was too tight for him. the jacket fits like a dream, although finding a pair of comfortable gloves to fit over the sleeves was tricky. in the end I went with a pair of RST stunt 2 gloves which I got a good deal on too. the trousers are a little tight on the thighs and a little loose on the waist as I find myself between a 32 and a 34. I was advised to go for the 34. which isn't too much of a problem with the pants zipped to the jacket.

Thanks again for the advice guys, and sorry for the long winded post.

[Doink]

I've got.armoured jeans and jacket, couldn't even tell you what make they are but I've done about 14,000 miles in the last year in them.

Didn't even know you could buy aftermarket armour, if you come off, which I have, then the pads will move anyway, so.i wouldn't worry about what you have, just make sure you have something.

[BTTD]

[Doovy]

My RST blade jacket pocket seam ripped open the first time I wore the jacket. The neoprene + velcro wrist cuffs cut into my wrist too and was most uncomfortable.

I took it back and bought Alpinestars. Much better armour in there and so much more comfortable.
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[HondaPaul]

Would there be any benefit of replacing the level 1 armour in my jacket with level 2 armour?
its lighter and offers better protection than level 1 without needing the hard outer shell, as far as I have been able to find out.