Hip protection

I've got hip pads in my XTi suit retro fitted easily enough. and I go for the forcefield back protector to wear under it

As for tyres i can't help no SV anymore!! but it was conti road attacks! Other Half has the road smarts on his as the weather is more wet than anything else up here

[dizzyblonde]

They do Hiprotech stuff in Hein Gericke thats reasonable price. Its not hard protection, like a rubbery thing, that slides in that pocket. Dunno if it fits other makes, but worth a shot to pop in and ask if you can have a look and see if it fits in yours?

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I would actually be happy using an ST tyre on track, you can't go quite as mad, but the learning and the fun is still very much there. Sometimes even more so.

You're just mental though chris. Although you are probably speaking from experience, i've never had the bike on a track (yet) but maybe the hornet will be fun once i've got the boingy bits sorted for the weight of normal people.

[yorkie_chris]

No I'm not mental, I'm not even that fast. But novice group decent pace is comparable to a fast road ride and ST tyres are fine for that. If you are talented and confident then ST tyres would see you right to a very decent clip in fast group. Go to see post classic racing and you will see guys on those tyres putting in some good times.

Got to remember just how much grip ST tyres have got, foggy could have won races on them not too many years ago.

Just jokin, although reading the craggy island write up you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise! I have to agree that in my experience ST tyres are amazing on the road. I've always bought them when i needed replacements. But as I say having not been on track i don't know what kind of things are required. We are definitely spoilt for tyres now, can't imagine how lethal all those classic bikes must have been to ride.

[yorkie_chris]

Certainly exciting. But suspension was crap back then too, was less ground clearance, weaker brakes etc.

But it meant you had to learn what grip was and what not to do when you inevitably found the limit of it. That has got to make you a better rider than having endless grip all the time.

Totally agree, if endless grip was available i would be running round on an RC8!! As it is i get a bit freaked out when my road bike starts to do things my crosser used to on gravel! Although I suppose at least the feeling isn't totally alien to me.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

They do Hiprotech stuff in Hein Gericke thats reasonable price. Its not hard protection, like a rubbery thing, that slides in that pocket. Dunno if it fits other makes, but worth a shot to pop in and ask if you can have a look and see if it fits in yours?

This is what you want. Do not be put off by the fact it is so low profile that you forget it's there and that it looks/feels like an old car mat that has been cut up. It works exceedingly well. 16 stone of me landed on my hip from a 60mph highside. Thanks to the armour, I didn't even have a bruise there.

[Luckypants]

I'll back up Ceri on the effectiveness of hiprotec armour. I hit a road sign with my shoulder when I last crashed, only mark on me was a 'Hiprotec' shaped bruise. The hip armour is about the size of your hand and very slim, well worth spending a few pennies on it.

the standard ft stuff is thick and basically just a cut down knee armour. get the other stufff imo