Back Protectors

Few questions - can back protectors be worn over leathers? my leathers are rather snug - don't think theres room underneath.

Does anybody have furygan leathers - i do and there is a space for a back protector in the back - which ones fit (i have furygan imola two piece leathers)

what back protectors do people reccomend??

Originally Posted by LondonLad

Few questions - can back protectors be worn over leathers?

No. Before you buy leathers it's best to already have a back protector to try on with them.

what back protectors do people reccomend?

Knox are excellent but by no means the only good option. Just don't buy too cheap.


.

[northwind]

Knox do make a smaller protector designed to fit in the back pocket that your leathers almost certainly have. Remember when trying on protectors under leathers than you can remove the foam that's already in there if you plan on wearing the protector whenever you ride.

I wear a Know Stowaway whenever I ride- it's not hte most protective but as they say, the best gear is the gear you'll wear. I doubt I'd wear a Forcefield, or Knox Ricochet or whatever, every time.

The Odell Forcefield is apparently the best back protector on the market at the moment...

This is what I'll be buying to replace mine when the time comes

[northwind]

It's got a superb rep.,.. Though interestingly their website says "A back protector cannot prevent back injury in the event of an accident" which seems to be setting their sites a bit low

[embee]

I got a "forcefield T-pro" earlier this year.

Very nice piece of kit, super quality, very comfortable (feels rather like leaning against a wall to begin with ), they're ventilated but still a touch warm when the weather's over 25C unless your jacket has decent ventilation, which mine doesn't . They mould to your shape as they warm up, so don't judge the comfort immediately. Recommend it with no hesitation.

I'm about 5' 11" and have a medium size T-pro, seems just the right length for me. I'd say it would be OK from typical 5' 9" to 6' 1". Also come in small and large, plus kids sizes.

Got mine from Davies Odell direct
http://www.tprobodyarmour.co.uk/ff_back.html

but also stocked at Infinity motorcycles.

The forcefield is deceptive - it looks huge but it's thin and flexible. I had an old Akito jacket that was very "snug" and I expected to need a new jacket, but the forcefield went under it pretty easily.

I never felt it was that tricky putting it on/wearing it - once it's adjusted it's like putting on a rucksack. Only problem I had was if the belt bit isn't in the right place it can ride up a bit during the ride and then you notice it a little bit. I have a medium one and I'm 5'8" and it fits well.

When I came off last month I went some way down the road (70mph) and had absolutely no back problems. A&E even commented that they couldn't quite believe I'd had a crash at that speed and received no spinal or hip injuries (though hip was down to knox hip armour).

Not sure about others protectors but forcefield is just rubber, so can be re-used unless it's really badly smashed. I'll be wearing mine again when I'm back on a bike, but the knox knee and hip armour was just foam, so that's gonna be replaced.

Originally Posted by SVeeedy Gonzales

the knox knee and hip armour was just foam, so that's gonna be replaced.

Have you seen the 'Hiprotec' stuff HG do Thats stuff is pretty good TBH

Originally Posted by Cloggsy

Have you seen the 'Hiprotec' stuff HG do Thats stuff is pretty good TBH

Am getting replacements (free!) from Hood jeans so it'll be knox again... but I'd consider HG for my other gear.

The jeans were the only trousers I had that had knee and hip armour... both my leathers and textile gear had nothing, and I only just escaped having my kneecaps shattered - even with the armour doing it's job, I can't kneel down or put pressure on my knees, and the crash was over 5 weeks ago. Still better than being in a wheelchair or on sticks for the rest of my life though!

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Cloggsy

Have you seen the 'Hiprotec' stuff HG do Thats stuff is pretty good TBH

Tests less well than the Knox stuff though, usually. I've got some as hip armour in my FT leathers but it doesn't inspire confidence- I only use it because nothing else fits in the pockets. Still, it does meet CE so it's definately doing me some good.

Convenient moment to say again, if you have hip armour pockets and no hip armour, get it sorted out tomorrow- makes no sense to protect your knees if you end up fracturing your hips, and I was wearing my Belstaff trousers when I fractured mine while walking. If that had happened on the bike it would likely have displaced badly, and the best I could have hoped for is a hip replacement and surgery every 10 years forever.