Back protectors - who wears 'em?

[Mav]

Just bought a new jacket that has shoulder and elbow armour but no back armour - how many you guys add back armour to jackets like this?

I was thinking about getting something like this which can roll up to go in the pannier - anybody got any experience with it?

 

[shready]

I've got a BMW back protector and I wear it about 50% of the time.

It makes sense.

(More sense if I wore it 100% though)

 

[Dee Tee]

I have a Dainese Back Protector (Hard Plastic,Armadillo Stylee) and never ride without it.

 

[columbus]

I have the original knox stowaway. I wear it all the time. I can vouch that it works as I was thinking to myself that I was actually comfortable as I rolled along the road after coming off around 60mph. My mate who fell off in front of me also had his on and would have faired better had his bike not landed on him.

Like most things its a personal choice but if it aint there it wont help. Also keeps your back cosy on cold days.

 

[Mav]

Thanks for the feedback chaps

Given the ability to pack it away once I get there, and therefore how much more likely I will be to wear it, the Know stowaway sounds good.

Thanks again

 

[STUBBS]

some times depends on how much of a hurry im in to get going

 

[zoltan]

I use Knox Aegis Back Protector all the time ( covers even the Coccyx ,not all protectors do ) .Good kit .

 

[Schtum]

Given the ability to pack it away once I get there, and therefore how much more likely I will be to wear it, the Know stowaway sounds good.

It depends on how you want to balance convenience with protection. The Knox Stowaway only meets CE Level 1 protection which isn't a back protector standard at all.

Possibly the lightest and most comfortable Level 2 back protector is the Forcefield one.

I have a Forcefield one in my textile jacket but I also have a Stowaway as part of my Knox Multi Sport Shirt and more which, if you're interested, you can read about here.....

http://www.bikersoracle.com/gs/forum/showpost.php?p=3568&postcount=2

 

[Mav]

It depends on how you want to balance convenience with protection. The Knox Stowaway only meets CE Level 1 protection which isn't a back protector standard at all.

Possibly the lightest and most comfortable Level 2 back protector is the Forcefield one.

I have a Forcefield one in my textile jacket but I also have a Stowaway as part of my Knox Multi Sport Shirt and more which, if you're interested, you can read about here.....

http://www.bikersoracle.com/gs/forum/showpost.php?p=3568&postcount=2

Thanks for the info Schtum

Couple questions: surely Level 1 is still better than a protector mounted in a jacket that is not secured to your torso?

Would love to read the extra info you posted, but your link seems to require username and password... any chance you can post it here?

Cheers

 

[Schtum]

Would love to read the extra info you posted, but your link seems to require username and password... any chance you can post it here?

Continuing the protection theme....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These day I adopt an ATGATT approach to my motorcycling. Some of the following may seem like overkill to you. For my part I'm going for the most protection that I can get, especially for my fragile bones. There are those members of the medical profession who seem to think that given the state of them, I'm daft to continue to ride.

So let's do body armour......

Every time I throw a leg over either of my bikes, or anyone else's, I'll be wearing fully armoured leather or textile motorcycle specific clothing. I'll also be wearing a back protector. Currently I use a Knox KC2000 back protector. That's the yellow one. I hanker after a KC2000 X1, however. That's the black and silver one that exceeds CE standards by 50% and incorporates Schoeller ComforTemp. My back gets quite sweaty when I'm making progress and I'd hope that the PCM might help this. My existing KC2000 is very supportive and, as it moulds to the shape of my back, very comfortable. It does restrict the mobility of my torso a bit but I find it an acceptable trade-off for the obvious protection which it offers.

The elbow and shoulder armour in all of my two textile and two leather riding jackets, my two pairs of textile trousers, my one-piece and two-piece leathers and my leather jeans is a mixture of the OE stuff with which they came equipped and Knox and Hein Gericke Hiprotec armour which I've added. Hiprotec is very flexible stuff both in a literal sense and in terms of its range of applications. For example, I have it studded between the lining and the leather on the hip areas of both of my sets of leathers.

I've recently been trying Knox Air X armour in the knees of one of my textile suits and although it fits quite well, it suffers from the usual textile suit problem of not fitting closely to my body with the consequent risk of moving off the point of impact in a spill. I have, in the past, considered armoured undersuits to overcome this problem. However, I didn't find the Knox Cross shirt to be completely comfortable and they appear to have ceased production of the armoured long johns, now only offering the Cross Shorts. I've yet to try separate strap-on Moto X style knee protectors which might ultimately be a good fit under my textile enduro trousers.

As well as the above, I have investigated chest protectors. I bought a lightweight and ventilated Fox Moto X one on ebay and have worn it once or twice. I'm not sure how much protection it would afford on its own and I've experimented with studding Hiprotec onto it at which point it becomes rather heavy and a bit less appealing to wear. This was also the reason for investigating the Knox Cross Shirt, the later models of which are fitted with a one-piece Knox armour chest protector. If you're wondering about the need for this, it's worth noting that the Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons who approve the Lancs Ambulance Service First Bike on the Scene course, have indicated that chest protection would go some way to reducing motorcycle fatalities.

As of July 2006, I've added a Knox Chest Protector which fits onto the straps of any Knox back protector and would probably work with other makes as well. I've also acquired a one-piece, over-the-head, back and chest protector made by T-Pro. I can just squeeze this under my one-piece leathers.

As of September 2006, I've acquired a Knox Gilet Air incorporating a Contour back protector and a chest protector in a light mesh waistcoat.

Early 2007 has seen me acquire a pair of second hand but unused Knox strap-on knee guards on ebay for not very much money. Like lots of bits of kit, they're still sitting here in September 2007 untried.....

July 2007 and I've just purchased a Knox Multi Sport Shirt. I was becoming a bit concerned about the apparent lack of protection in the elbows and shoulders of my HG MasterIV jacket. There's Hiprotec there but I wouldn't have wanted to impact the road with my elbows with just that for protection. I also intend to remove the armour from my Belstaff Adventure jacket and wear the Multi Sport Shirt under that. However, I'll probably use my existing Knox Gilet Air rather than the chest protector and Stowaway back protector which are part of the Multi Sport Shirt since the Air Gilet's Countour back protector is approved to EN1621-2 Level 2 as opposed to Level 1 for the Stowaway. Report to follow when I've tested the shirt on the bike.

September 2007 and I've now worn the Multi Sport Shirt for a fair bit on the GS. This includes a two day, 600 mile high speed trip around NE Scotland. The more I wear the armour, the more comfortable it becomes. It is sized somewhat small. With a 40" chest, I'm wearing a Large. I also find the elasticated Velcro straps at the wrist and above the elbow to be rather short, leading to them being a bit tight when done up. I have really quite slim wrists and my biceps are by no means huge. This would suggest that this Knox garment is designed for pretty slim chaps. The fit of the pre-formed chest protector plate confirms this as it wraps around the sides of my rib cage very closely. This tends to make it rather warm and I find myself getting rather hot and sweaty wearing just a thin long-sleeved Patagonia thermal base layer under the Multi Sport shirt and my HG Master IV, without its winter liner, over it, even in c. 10 deg F weather and with anything up to a 100 mph windchill. I have asked my local retailer, Forth Gear to feedback these comments to Knox. We shall see....

Jan 2008 and in anticipation of riding doing some riding in California and Oregon in June of this year, I've just bought a pair of Knox Cross Shorts.

 

[Schtum]

And the pics....

 

[the celt]

wear a Dainese Back Protector every day...
long or short ride its on me back...

 

[Mort]

I probably wouldn't bother (through lazyness) if it wasn't built into the jacket, I have CE approved armour in both my jackets, Knox in my Revit one and Halversons own in that jacket whuch feels far more substantial.

 

[MattW]

My Hein Gericke jacket has a CE one fitted as standard - I won't be taking it out....

 

[Urban Rider]

Mav,
I can vouch for the Knox range. 2 years ago my ex Bro-in-law was skiing in the French Alps with the Army as they were holding their annual downhill military competition. He is a very compatent skier and has been for long time. He always wears a Knox back protector for riding the GS as well as when he's Skiing competatively. Whilst hooning down the mountain he unfortunately took a rather bad spill and ended up hitting a tree back first. He was airlifted away and spent the next 6-8 months in crutches. When his back protector was inspected it had actually snapped in half from the impact and almost definately saved his spine from breaking....... I always wear one in one form or another. The twat jacket has a built in protector but if I'm out wearing a different jacket i'll always wear a seperate back protector....

 

[Pukmeister]

Got a Knox Ricochet 8-plate back protector(more like a vest), an excellent piece of kit. Previously always worn under my leathers.

Sadly the day I came off at 30mph I wasn't wearing it (I considered it too hot that day in Australia).

Luckily the BMW Savanna 2 jacket has a (not very wide) built-in rubberised spine protector which also works.

 

[Jockser]

I use a BMW Back Protector 2 all the time & find it comfortable & reassuring. Well worth the money IMO

 

[(RIP) MOTÖRHEAD]

All those flimbsy pieces of cack that come installed in the back of jackets and are loosely labeled as back protectors - Take 'em out and get a proper bit of back protection such as Knox & the like.
If it covers the spine and also lower than the belt line (A bit of protection for very low back & coccyx) as well as covering the kidney area and over the shoulder blades, then you've made a good choice.
The rectangular bits they shove inside & come with the bike jacket are a poor excuse. Some may be made of impact absorbent materials but they only cover a small amount of what needs protecting.

I'm no safety Nazi but I know from bitter experience what is the better of the two choices.

I'm still using one of the Knox KC2000 protectors like this one but the old yellow type

but will be getting something new soon as it's starting to see signs of wear & tear. I've had it for about 5 years. Top bit of kit.

 

[Mav]

Thanks for all the feedback chaps

I went for the Knox Stowaway in the end - it doesn't feel quite so substantial as the hard plastic protector like the Aegis, but it's not far off. It does cover some amount of the kidneys and shoulder blades, it's reasonably comfy, light, and it will roll away so that I can stow it when I arrive - which means I'm WAY more likely to wear it.

Ultimately, whether you will wear it or not seems the most important criteria

 

[sensitive]

@Zoltan,
Hi, I planned buying the Knox Aegis because the Knox Contour only exists in S and L sizes ( do not ask me why please ;-)
But I see 2 screws at the top and the bottom of the Aegis plate, outer face.
Is there any risk to damage the liner of the jacket ?
Many thanks.