Protection - Buy a branded name or not?

[Gazz]

I'm just going to keep this message as short as it needs to be.

Have been looking at getting some armour (possibly Oneal) which costs over £100, but found this on ebay at a 3rd of the price which looks pretty much identical to the oneal one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Motorbike-Body-Armour-Motocross-spine-Protector-Guard-Bionic-Jacket-/272150778467?var=&hash=item3f5d735263:m:mE1E3VYBWCHVMvRDPzq6VVQ

Should I buy cheap or go for the branded name?

Here is the Oneal one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oneal-Underdog-Protector-Armoured-Motocross-Off-Road-ATV-MX-Jacket-Body-Suit-/381076304595?var=&hash=item58b9eaf2d3:m:mOpfl8PLC9Z6aFDak6Jjmdg

Also, would these be protective enough if you were to come off on the road?

[Beehive Bedlam]

Neither you will look like a gimp.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Piercee100]

Does seem a bit ott. What type of riding do you do?
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[Gazz]

[Gazz]

[Gazz]

[Beehive Bedlam]

[Ben90]

Motocross armour isn't made for road, ergo there's no abrasion layer. I imagine the road would eat those armour pads and their straps for breakfast soon as you touched the tarmac - then all that's separating you from being skinned alive is a string vest and whatever you had on top which, if it isn't a bike jacket, will already be in shreds.

Buy an armoured textile/leather jacket and trousers instead.
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[ZX-7R]

[Val]

[Rogerborg]

It's hard armour for landing on soft ground to stop scrapes and cuts. There's essentially no energy absorption in it. I have a £25 set that I wear under my tweeds[*] but any protection on hitting tarmac would be barely better than nothing.

[*] Not a euphemism.
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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

[The Tot]

I use the Leatt 3DF when I go downhill riding and enduro racing, because I know how much cracked ribs and a fractured collar bone hurts when your joints take the brunt of the impact.

https://www.leatt.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1100x1100/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/img_3549_1_3.jpg

Rather don on a jacket for the road because like most people eluded to earlier, you need the abraison resistance!

Put simply, if the synthetic fibre can get snagged by a branch or barbed wire at 10-30mph on the trail or track, god knows what tarmac would do to it.

I've stacked numerous times with the Leatt stuff and I can say that it's done the job when you land on your back or side down a gnarly chute or rock garden, but again, this doesn't translate to the road.

It's comfortable as mind!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Falco]

As a standalone, I think others have already mentioned that is a bad idea. However the armour The Tot uses would make more sense.

I use the Pro ShirtX-V under my normal biking jacket (with the armour taken out) because I too, know the pain of cracked ribs. (That Leat3DF looks like it might have better chest protection but oh well).

https://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com/img/products/large/ProShirt-XV-front-L2.jpg

Which ever armour you get, I would say that you want something with some softness to it, otherwise (as Roger says) it will have no energy absorption to it (plus you will have to replace it if/when you do crash). Under a proper jacket to provide abrasion resistance though I think it is a good idea (well since I use something similar, I would).

[talkToTheHat]

I've upgraded most of my kit to forcefield or d30. It's much more comfortable than cheap stuff. I'd not ride on the road without an abrasion layer over it though, so get a jacket with it all in, or throw a reasonable jacket over something like the forcefield kit. I prefer to have a seporate back protector and contemplated a forcefield vest as shoulder armour never feels quite right in a motorcycle jacket as they are usually cut for fatter less athleticly shaped people once you approach my size, although im slowly spreading to fit the waistline of my kit. I digress. It's hard to find an adequate abrasion layer without most of the armour fitted to the jacket. It's less of a faff to throw on a jacket that has everything in it and my newer kit has sensible back protector pockets.

The ebay item claims to be "made of hard". I think advert was made by someone hard of thinking and item is made of cheapnasty. Look at seller's other stuff. Noname piss cheap kit of dubious quality. Been there, had a pair of trousers fall apart on me and another shred in a low speed off.

Also seller is claiming "bionic" as an attempt to impersonate alpinestars range. Probable trademark infringement sugggests the CE marks on the kit may well have been bought as separate ebay fakery. See the CE thread in rumours and issues.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[RE8ELD0G]

I have pretty much the exact same armour as the OP.
I use it for short stints in summer as its nice and cool but i do use a Kevlar hoodie underneath it so i get impact and abrasive protection.
Saying that i only use it for short hops on 30-40mph roads and if im doing anything on fast roads i will put on my usual bike gear.

But its great for nipping to the shops or your mates in summer as you can keep nice and cool.

Bear in mind these are usually in Chinese sizing so if you want to wear anything under it go a couple of sizes larger.
I take a large jumper/jacket but had to get this in xxl and its still pretty tight over my hoodie.
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