Back Protectors - Clever gits needed

[bs16]

Having had some hassles with the insert back protector on my jackets moving around a bit I have decided to buy a proper back protector. By coincidence this months Ride mag did a review on them and in classic magazine styleee they had 3 joint firsts. Fortunately two were the same under different brand name and so it was down to the Forcefield and the Held, and they awarded the best but to the Forcefield as it was £80 compared to £120 for the Held.

Obvious choice I hear you say but then you read a bit deeper and find that the Forcefield transferred an average of 5.6kN whilst the Held only transferred 4.9kN. Now being Shelock Holmes I can figure out that the difference is 0.7kN but what I don't know is what that actually equates to in the real world. I am aware that sometimes these measurements are logarithmic rather than linear and so an improvement of 1 could actually means 100% improvement.

So the big $64,000 question for the people who understand this sort of stuff is, is 0.7kN worth a 50% price hike?

[Tristan.]

I havent read the article, but it seems from what you say, wheather the extra force transfered is important, would depend on what the original force was, ie if the original force applied was 10kN and one transfered 5.6 and the other 4.9 then you have a different of 7%, wheras if the original force was 100kN then the difference is only 0.7%

oh and for refrence 0.7kN is about the weight of 70 bags of suger, with one Newton being ~ 0.1KG

[The Tot]

F=ma

Force in newtons is equivalent to the mass (kg) multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (g) - which depending on where to take your measurements is 9.81.... m/s^2. To be fair, it's then rounded up to 10 for mental arithmatic purposes, hence the notion that 1kg=10Newtons.

Based on the fact that they are effectively similar in construction, but the Forcefield has a larger area (Held was more sporty so it sacrificed the protection for fit and manouverabilty around the waist), it consequently means that there is more "mesh/elastic material/protection). The force concentration would have a greater effect on the smaller area, hence why the held is rated at a much lower load. Granted they are constructed/utilising the same essential material, the energy absorbtion characteristics are identical, but as previously mentioned, the smaller protection area on the held would constitute to a greater loading density - forces are seldom transmitted uniformally, so it also depends on where it is transmitted on the protector.

I just assume that the 4.9kN is a uniform load distribution on the held, and the 5.6 is the uniform load distribution on the Forcefield - Same force/Area = your result. I don't think it'll make much of a difference since these tests are conducted in a controlled environment anyway! Price hike is non-justifiable and it only catches out unsuspecting people who only like big numbers! As I said, the construction and shape/profile of the back protector, ergonomics is also a critical factor in decision making - i noticed the dainese wave was pants!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Noxious89123]

I'd spend the extra money and get the slightly better one tbh.

That tiny difference in price/performance could make a really important difference between life/death being able to walk/not.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[The Tot]

Before you MAKE any decision, question the ergonomics too. The Forcefield may allow a greater net force to be transmitted and it MAY also be ergonomically sound for your purposes. I'd test both before buying. Any back protector is better than no back protector at all and whilst these tests are done in lab conditions, they're are no emperical results for these protectors. Load transmission doesn't effectively replicate real life crashes- IIRC, the forcefield has more lower back protection anyways whilst the held is scalloped out around the waist/hips?

Personally, i use my boblbee sled backpack/rocketpack as my back protector since it's approved to the same EN standards (1501-2?) so it passes the minimum requirements - i always have the need to carry about a backpack.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Itchy]

I had one once I found I overheated and my back got all sweaty ever since I have used inserts , but am thinking about a full length one....

I have thoughts though that another full length one will also be sweaty and hot and therefore make me lose focus on the road.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[The Tot]

Simple answer to that is to wear and under liner - somethign like EDZ/Craft/Hein Gericke which do them for 20 quid. Wicks away the sweat and cools you down with the breeze, then wear your back protector over that! I think using an underarmor coolbody undershirt will also do nicely - also serves the purpose of making you look built like a shithouse!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[cyclops12]

all ill say is
if i had one on i wouldnt be in a wheelchair now [doc told me that]
so if you aint got one
GET ONE NOW!!!!!!!!!
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hayabusa trike

[Villers]

Ive been wearing a knox full length one for a while now. It is lined so the sweating isnt a problem. Very comfortable and reassuring!!

I would definately get another knox one, they seem to know what they are doing and have been making them a while. Plus theyre based just up the road from me!

Like paul above I have also tried one out in anger, bashed my knee/head and elbow but not a mark on my back!!
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[G]

[Noxious89123]

[crphillips]

I've got a Dainese back protector.....it's strong, light and comfortable........would highly recommend.

Did they test dianese in the bike mag? If so what position did they come?
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CBR600RR8 Hannspree Colours, beautiful!

[G]

[crphillips]

Integral ones are better than nothing but don't work so well.........for best results it should be strapped tight to your back.

I find them very comfortable but then i'm used to wearing body armour when off-roading.
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CBR600RR8 Hannspree Colours, beautiful!

[St0rmer66]

I have a Knox Contour and it's really comfortable apart from the fact that I bought the "touring" one which has a part that protects your tail bone (I forget the proper name for it) which makes it hard to lean off the bike. I don't know whether to buy the one without and sell this one (but I'd lose some money) or just hack off the bottom bit and risk it being crap while still needing to buy a new one.
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:: Honda XR 125 L ('53) => Kawasaki GPZ 500S ('02) => Suzuki SV650S ('00) => Aprilia RSV-R ('51) ::

[The Tot]

If i remember correctly the dainese ones came stone dead last!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[crphillips]

last?.......oh dear........thats a bummer.

Stick with the one that protects your tail bone.........thats the most vunerable part.
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CBR600RR8 Hannspree Colours, beautiful!

[SoND]

That 0.7kN won't mean shit in the real world. Don't let it lull you into a false sense of security.
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Go back to bed - You have no rights - "Streetfighters ~ Mainstream motorcycling's crackwhore sister."

[St0rmer66]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[crphillips]

St0rmer66.....you should maybe try some different makes then.......mine comes down to my ass but i can bend over no problem......it sounds like yours is maybe one solid piece. Mine is very comfortable....i don't even notice i'm wearing it?



It depends what the test was based on......a lot of bike mags usually compare products against their price.......you could do a review on cars and say which is the best car......a Ferrari 360 or a Ford Fiesta...........the Ford Fiesta would probably win as things are always compared to price and a Fiesta is cheap........if you asked the question......which is the fastest, best handling, most fun to drive car you'd get a different answer.

You might find that the best back protector was £300....therfore it came last.

I really think that when reviews are done the branding and price should be removed so the reviewers are not influenced.

I'm only making assumptions though as i've not seen the article.
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CBR600RR8 Hannspree Colours, beautiful!

[The Tot]

[St0rmer66]

[Moonie]

The problem is that the amount of force transfered is really not that important, it's where it transfers it to and across how much of an area. It would take a serious amount more info for me to choose either one on anything but price, when I would go for the more expensive one as you generally get what you pay for.
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[bs16]

Thanks for all the info folks there's plenty for me to think about. Guess I'm going to have to see which feels the best so I need to track down a dealer in the Bristol area who stock the Held.

Here's the results of the Ride tests
1= Forcefield Pro L2
1= Halvarssons Track
1= Held Reica (Salvo for blokes)
4 Oxford Max Protection
5 BMW Back Protector 2
6 Alpinestars Bionic
7= Knox Gilet Fastback
7= Knox Contour
9 Knox Richochet
10= Knox Stowaway
10= HG Hiprotec Back Protector
10= Held Solid
10= Dainese Wave