Back protectors - Do you use any?

[vyruz]

Hey fellas

 

I was just wondering how many of you ride with some form of back protection? For those with armoured jackets, are you relying solely on the standard foam protector or did you upgrade to hard armour?

 

I am currently looking at dumping the useless foam pad from my jacket, and investing in proper back armour. I've shortened my list to two:

 

1. Knox Aegis - Knox is rather well-known for their armour and this one looks great, is thin and breathable and is CE Level 2 certified. It's sold by the Knox distributor at Block 541 Jurong, West Avenue 1 #01-1046C. Price is the online price (GBP89 = S$185).

 

http://foto.scigacz.pl/cache/imgs/_w750/gallery/akcesoria/Knox_AEGIS_8_Plate_Race/Knox_AEGIS_8_Plate_Race.jpg

 

2. Forcefield Pro L2 - Forcefield's armour is soft compared to Knox's and I believe it's thinner and lighter as well. Upside is that this has won a lot of awards and rave reviews by reputable bike magazines. Downsides are that it doesn't look like it'll breathe as well and that its coverage is smaller than the Aegis. It's sold by the Wildroses, Sigg and Briko store in Novena Square. Price is S$249 before any discount.

 

http://static.blogo.it/motoblog/paraschiena-forcefield-pro-l2-e-pro-sub-4/ForceField_ProL2_2.jpg

 

I'm most likely going to try both this weekend and, if one fits rights, will be buying that. Any one else with any thoughts/experiences they'd like to share?

 

PS: I am aware that the back armour reduces only impact/abrasion-type injuries on the back. It does not reduce compression-type injuries (i.e. when you hit the ground head/shoulder first, and compress your spine).

[captain_des]

the address you gave seems familiar, it could be adventure on wheels or something person in-charge is choy i believe

[Demon]

Hey fellas

 

I was just wondering how many of you ride with some form of back protection? For those with armoured jackets, are you relying solely on the standard foam protector or did you upgrade to hard armour?

 

I am currently looking at dumping the useless foam pad from my jacket, and investing in proper back armour. I've shortened my list to two:

 

1. Knox Aegis - Knox is rather well-known for their armour and this one looks great, is thin and breathable and is CE Level 2 certified. It's sold by the Knox distributor at Block 541 Jurong, West Avenue 1 #01-1046C. Price is the online price (GBP89 = S$185).

 

http://foto.scigacz.pl/cache/imgs/_w750/gallery/akcesoria/Knox_AEGIS_8_Plate_Race/Knox_AEGIS_8_Plate_Race.jpg

 

2. Forcefield Pro L2 - Forcefield's armour is soft compared to Knox's and I believe it's thinner and lighter as well. Upside is that this has won a lot of awards and rave reviews by reputable bike magazines. Downsides are that it doesn't look like it'll breathe as well and that its coverage is smaller than the Aegis. It's sold by the Wildroses, Sigg and Briko store in Novena Square. Price is S$249 before any discount.

 

http://static.blogo.it/motoblog/paraschiena-forcefield-pro-l2-e-pro-sub-4/ForceField_ProL2_2.jpg

 

I'm most likely going to try both this weekend and, if one fits rights, will be buying that. Any one else with any thoughts/experiences they'd like to share?

 

PS: I am aware that the back armour reduces only impact/abrasion-type injuries on the back. It does not reduce compression-type injuries (i.e. when you hit the ground head/shoulder first, and compress your spine).

 

Standalone back protector will definitely provide more support and protection than any riding jackets with armour. Moreover, standalone protector will come integrated with kidney belt which is very important for riding long distance, especially for older riders.

[haoKR]

wah,nice tread

was wondering b4,if theres any thing to protect riders bak

[donutbiker]

i upgraded my RS taichi foam to a RS taichi hard protector integrated into the jacket.

 

Reasons for my choice:

- Cheaper cost (within my budget)

- Its part of the jacket hence more functional than the stand alone forcefield for me.

- I am also aware that this RS taichi is not rated to CE level2 (not stated, or I didn't understand the japanese) but hey some protection is better than none.

 

I will upgrade in the future but not sure if it will be the stand alone or the jacket type with better rated protection. SPend within my means is impt to me.

[kmax]

i used before, 2 different brand..

 

one is Rjays... from Regina.. less than 100$

 

http://www.rjays.com.au/home/products/protection/back-protector.jpg

 

cant complain, does the job and (like Demon said, kidney belt helps back pain after long rides)

 

and it really feels hot during day riders as it sticks to rider, and no air flow between backprotector and rider's back.

 

 

second one is alpinestars Tech back protector..

 

http://www.alpinestars.com/store/productimages/regular/650402.jpg

 

which i found it uncomfortable for my bike and seating posture.

 

this one has longer taiil section, which is meant to cover all your back till tail bone. But my bike has raised pillion seat, and sitting posture is upright, so it does not fit properly.. and backprotector is pushed upwards or awkward in jacket.

 

i sold it to one racer and he told me no problem on his R6.

 

so, check your seating posture on ur bike and tail end clearance.

 

Daineser has pretty good backprotectors too.

 

http://www.dainese.com/media/catalog/product/cache/209/front_image/520x600/8a02aedcaf38ad3a98187ab0a1dede95/1/8/1875761_001_B.png

[vyruz]

Thanks guys. Very helpful replies so far.

 

it really feels hot during day riders as it sticks to rider, and no air flow between backprotector and rider's back.

 

This is a very important point I believe. If it's uncomfortable to use, we won't use it and it'll be a waste of money. Either that, or we'll use it and get distracted when riding from all the heat build-up. I'm hoping once I try on the two I shortlisted I will have a better idea of how hot they'll be (although I won't know for sure until I'm in my gear in traffic in the sun!). The Aegis will most probably win in this department, I think.

 

check your seating posture on ur bike and tail end clearance.

 

Thanks. I'm bent over a sportsbike, so clearance should be ok, although I've read foreign forums that have people complaining that protection that is too long (covering the coccyx fully) will be annoying because it will dig into/press against you while riding. Some have even said it'll give you the bruised coccyx that you're trying to avoid in the first place by wearing armour with coccyx protection! The other complain seems to be against the Forcefield Pro, as the neck portion extends quite high and can come in the way of your helmet when you're tucking in on the bike, which could lead to neck aches (since you're fighting the force of the protector pushing against the back of your helmet).

 

I'll post my updates in the weekend hopefully once I've tried them on.

[SpiritualRain13]

Upz for KNOX :thumb:

[dotless]

do u guys actually use the standalone back protectors in singapore or only when u go overseas? because, if u have an armour jacket and the standalone back protector, where do u actually keep all of them? i'm presuming the standalone back protector won't even fit into the biggest top box there is in the market

[ulysses_sc]

Pay close attention to the CE certification level, and whether the armour is a "one-use only" type or "reusable" type. I have also narrowed down my choices to the Knox Ageis and Forcefield Pro L2.

 

I broke my sacrum after a bad endo. That was the only non-protected body part then. So maybe it's not a bad idea if your riding stype allows a longer protector to be used.

 

Do post back here on the fit and comfort of the 2.

[superspeed123]

Any idea how much is the Forcefield Pro L4??

[vyruz]

Any idea how much is the Forcefield Pro L4??

 

I didn't ask the Wildroses shop this, but can extrapolate based on known information. The L2 online price is GBP85. Wildroses selling at S$250. Ratio is 1 : 2.94. Using the same ratio on the online price of the Sub 4 (GBP130), you can expect it to cost about S$385. Definitely expensive but it is the only back protector that has test results where the transmitted force is under 4kN (hence the name 'Sub 4'). 4kN is the magic number that most experts believe is the force above which you will start suffering serious injuries.

 

I will see if I can try that one on as well this weekend

[kmax]

do u guys actually use the standalone back protectors in singapore or only when u go overseas? because, if u have an armour jacket and the standalone back protector, where do u actually keep all of them? i'm presuming the standalone back protector won't even fit into the biggest top box there is in the market

 

most riders use back protectors on race tracks or long trips..

 

armor jacket and back protector ? keep in on ur body ?

 

why should u put back protector or jacket into the box ?

[vyruz]

most riders use back protectors on race tracks or long trips..

 

Singapore riders or worldwide? If latter, the trend from what I can see from foreign forums is that back protectors are used all the time, including daily commutes. The road is no softer and the conditions no less dangerous for daily commutes, so protection is still required. I completely understand that some things may be impractical for daily use in Singapore (e.g. leathers), but I would like to think some form of back protector (standalone or insert) isn't too inconvenient. I may well be proven wrong when I try the Knox and Forcefield this weekend. But I really want some protection beyond the flimsy foam in my jacket. Apparently a cheese and cabbage sandwich has better armour properties than some standard foam type armours! See paragraph two of this article especially - http://www.johnsonleather.com/Downloadable_Articles/RideArticle_2-07.pdf

[dotless]

most riders use back protectors on race tracks or long trips..

 

armor jacket and back protector ? keep in on ur body ?

 

why should u put back protector or jacket into the box ?

 

hmm, only on race tracks and long trips? how to define long trips? more than 1 hour ride?

actually, in my mind, wearing protection for a 15 min or a 1 hr ride does not make a difference.

so what about in singapore itself? do we need to wear protection? i believe we do.

 

well, lets say u are going out to town for a meal, movie and shopping. would you wear your jacket and back protector around? if not, keep in box?

 

There is just 1 thing that i noticed about the Singaporean biker that i don't really understand. Are the roads harder in Malaysia compared to Singapore? Because, many riders wear some form of protection when they head into malaysia but in singapore, they don't care.

Is crashing at 100km/hr on the Malaysian highways any different from crashing at the same speed on ECP?

are the roads any harder?

Edited September 24, 2010 by dotless

[kmax]

well... i am referring to local riders only. riding is dangerous business but many of us are taking the road with tshirts and berms...

 

let's not deviate the backprotector discussion to ATGATT issue..

 

Singapore riders or worldwide? If latter, the trend from what I can see from foreign forums is that back protectors are used all the time, including daily commutes. The road is no softer and the conditions no less dangerous for daily commutes, so protection is still required. I completely understand that some things may be impractical for daily use in Singapore (e.g. leathers), but I would like to think some form of back protector (standalone or insert) isn't too inconvenient. I may well be proven wrong when I try the Knox and Forcefield this weekend. But I really want some protection beyond the flimsy foam in my jacket. Apparently a cheese and cabbage sandwich has better armour properties than some standard foam type armours! See paragraph two of this article especially - http://www.johnsonleather.com/Downloadable_Articles/RideArticle_2-07.pdf

[kmax]

long trip ? more than ur back can tahan and start giving problems... that's how i'd define long trip

 

you can hang it on shoulder and carry around if you want, where do you keep your current armor jacket ? shoulder pads, knee and shin guards, riding boots, riding pants, long leather gloves, full face helmet ? from your signature, i do not see any top box...

 

singapore, if you crash, you can get ambulance within 10min, malaysia you do not.

 

 

hmm, only on race tracks and long trips? how to define long trips? more than 1 hour ride?

actually, in my mind, wearing protection for a 15 min or a 1 hr ride does not make a difference.

so what about in singapore itself? do we need to wear protection? i believe we do.

 

well, lets say u are going out to town for a meal, movie and shopping. would you wear your jacket and back protector around? if not, keep in box?

 

There is just 1 thing that i noticed about the Singaporean biker that i don't really understand. Are the roads harder in Malaysia compared to Singapore? Because, many riders wear some form of protection when they head into malaysia but in singapore, they don't care.

Is crashing at 100km/hr on the Malaysian highways any different from crashing at the same speed on ECP?

are the roads any harder?

[vyruz]

let's not deviate the backprotector discussion to ATGATT issue..

 

I'm trying to gauge how many see a back protector as part of the "G" in ATGATT, so naturally the thread will have an ATGATT flavour. But I do agree that the thread shouldn't go into general ATGATT (i.e. full face vs open face, gloves vs no gloves etc).

 

TBH, I'm not expecting many to go down the standalone back protector route as part of their daily gear. I'm not even sure I'm going down that route myself. But for those that do, I'd love to hear their experiences, especially those who've used them and tested them in a crash.

[KeraKing]

in sg too much red lights put so nearly and too slow cars hogging up a lot of roads making it very hard to wear a lot of safety gears as it will be uncomfortable and frustrating,

and in turn can lose composure, concentration and enjoyment.

 

That made me think into the put in the jacket kind of protector.

Is this kind inferior to the stand alone type?

 

Anyway last tym an insurance company offering free knox back protector to those signing up (motorcycle insurance) with them.

I gave my particulars and my insurance expiry date to them,

but never got any calls.. Haiz.

[thenation]

ATGATT is something that riders in temperate countries and long commuting distances can practice. Much of the riding there is also done on a casual, not daily basis. Understand their situation before trying to transplant the idea wholesale into Singapore and onto every rider.

[KeraKing]

ATGATT is something that riders in temperate countries and long commuting distances can practice. Much of the riding there is also done on a casual, not daily basis. Understand their situation before trying to transplant the idea wholesale into Singapore and onto every rider.

 

yeah we're talking about casual riding here..

[vyruz]

Understand their situation before trying to transplant the idea wholesale into Singapore and onto every rider.

 

Take it easy. No one is trying to "transplant" ideas. The whole point of a forum is to raise possible ideas and discuss them. If you don't like reading other people's thoughts and ideas, don't. No one is forcing you to read the threads posted.

 

In any case, your argument holds little water. The temperature in temperate countries can hit 30-40C during summer. There are still riders that practice ATGATT and bear the heat and sweat to avoid bleeding.

[vyruz]

Is this kind inferior to the stand alone type?

 

Some of the forums I've read seem to suggest it is slightly inferior if the protector pocket is loose enough that it may move to a position where it doesn't really protect. Standalone ones that are secured to your back won't suffer from that problem. But in Singapore I get the feeling the standalone will make things hot and uncomfy, especially if they don't ventilate well. So it's the usual tradeoff - more protection and less comfort, or more comfort and less protection.

[lacrimosae]

Take it easy. No one is trying to "transplant" ideas. The whole point of a forum is to raise possible ideas and discuss them. If you don't like reading other people's thoughts and ideas, don't. No one is forcing you to read the threads posted.

 

In any case, your argument holds little water. The temperature in temperate countries can hit 30-40C during summer. There are still riders that practice ATGATT and bear the heat and sweat to avoid bleeding.

 

That's true. I travel to Europe a few times a year, and I've never seen a motorcyclist riding without his gear, even in the full heat of 30deg Celsius summer.

 

I ride ATG Most Of The Time. But as my girlfriend and I weekend riders, we can afford to. I personally have 4 pairs of armoured riding jeans at home. They don't make you look like a twat like leather pants do, and still get the job done.

 

But for back protectors, I used to wear them. I have used the Dainese one in the picture, Icon, and currently Berik. I do find them cumbersome and even though I am a firm believer in ATGATT, I also always say "Do as I say, not as I do". I admit, I am guilty of being a safety advocate but I do cheat by not wearing a back protector as it is too hot.

 

These days, I wear my mesh jacket with my raincoat folded and tucked into the back protector pocket, I know it won't provide any protection, but it'll come in handy when it rains...

 

I only wear my back protector when I go for track days.

[kmax]

well... there are casual riders in every continent..

 

i always like to check out http://killboy.blogspot.com/ and often sees goldwing rider with full leathers, or tshirt and jeans on sportsbikes..

 

not to mention typical leather vest harley dudez...