Body Armour

[manuka]

I have been considering upgrading my motorbike gear to provide a bit more protection in case of an accident/spill. I have been fortunate so far in that my only injury has been a bruised big toe when i fell off my bike as a learner.

The one piece of kit that I was looking in to is a strap-on dorsal body armour suit (the same make as horse-riders and freestyle skiiers wear). It retails for about 80 pounds.

My jacket is a HG with 'hiprotect' padding in the back, and I always wear a kidney belt (for warmth really rather than protection).

I wondered about people's experience of the body armour, and general 'added extra' safety gear that you would reccomend using.
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"ouch!" said Mr Bump

[G]

First off, if you really want to avoid getting hurt, spending that money on doing your IAM certificate (if your local IAM group is good) or similar would probably be money much better spent.
I’ve used such armour on off-road bikes I suspect. It should be remembered that all armour will do is distribute the force over a big area and longer time.
This can be enough to save what would have been a break, but all the force is going to be transmitted, so if there’s enough there it will still do the damage.

Personally, if I was worried I’d go with decent leathers with appropriate armour fully in, only ‘extra’ bit I’d really worry about is a back protector, though I’ve been fine with the in-built ones (including having another bike/rider hit me in the back more than once, landing after flying over a tyre wall at some speed etc.)

[manuka]

I wear motorbike trousers with the armour pads inserted. It was a forcefield L2 back protector in particular that I was looking at. But actually, I suspect it won't provide much more protection than the insert in my jacket after checking it just now!

I have considered about the IAM course. Prior to getting my motorbike license I decided not to do my advanced car test, as I had this (unfounded) concern that it would spoil my enjoyment of driving. I know this is silly as it can only make my time on the bike safer. Additionally I do spend less time on my motorbike than in the car, so have less 'road-time' experience.

I have just been reading the website of my local advanced motorcycling group, and I'm intrigued. Its certainly something I wil check out in more detail and less expensive than I was expecting.

thanks for the advice.
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"ouch!" said Mr Bump

[ToGGoT]

I wear a back protector, more because IMHO the more you can do to protect yourself in the event you DO come off, the better. IAM courses might help you, but in the end, if you're going to come off, or someone is going to pull out infront of you last minute, its going to happen whatever.

All i will say though, is TRY THEM ON! I found some uncomfortable, or restrictive, and i can imagine some of them getting very hot on a long ride. I've got a Knox Aegis at the moment, and im very happy with it, but it is all personal preference when you get down to it. Also, sizing is very important. I ALMOST bought a 7-plate online, but didnt as i was off the the NEC a few weeks later. Spoke to the knox guy there, and he measured me, and it turns out i actually want an 8. Went home and bought that online, saving ££'s, and am comfortable and happy.

ToGGoT
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2005 BMW R1150R

[G]

Once I got into doing trackdays I found it kinda runed road riding for me anyway – I would never be riding as fast as I could (on track), so there was a lot less point.
‘Advanced’ riding offers a different set of skills to learn/challenge yourself, but I wouldn’t say makes it more boring.

Some IAM groups apparently aren’t that great, but I’ve quite liked my local one, with some reservations.

[Kal]

I like my body armour, although I only tend to wear it on poor confidence days or long distance trips. Like everything else it is a little strange when you first wear it but you soon adapt and stop noticing.

Mine cost me £40.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[fra-zzr]

although its obviously very intrusive the benefits of choice pieces of body armour are pretty clear. The chest is particularly exposed on a bike as i found out when i came off. broke most of my ribs hitting the bars, the day before i had been trying on a chest protector and chose not to buy it....

dont know if it would have helped, and either way the ribs were healed by the time i was out of hospital so.. yea not really much to say
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04' Hyosung Comet Gt125
96' zzr600

[G]

[manuka]

My local IAM group meet weekly at a biker cafe, so it's a nice easy way to pop along and meet them before I commit to any involvement. I just hope they don't insist I wear a white helmet and a sam browne belt.
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"ouch!" said Mr Bump

[LeanIt]

There are arguments for both the armour and the advanced training .

The training will make you a safer rider , but not protect you against the 'a' hole that doesn't see you .

The armour will help to protect you , but wont make you invincible.

For invincible you must press 'Caps Lock , Shift , Ctrl and Enter' while standing on one leg

In the perfect world we'd do both
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Life is like a shit sandwich. The more bread you have, the less shit you eat.

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[Ingah]

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[G]

From what TC has said in the past I think he believes that often the foam ones tend to offer generally better protection on the street. I believe there was the added suggestion that in a lot of cases it may be the more expensive ones are more likely to seriously injure you than protect you in a lot of situations.