Recommend me a back protector

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by sauluk

The forcefield looks a bit thin, does it really do the job? It's been done to death by ride and given top marks but so have their other kit which suggests to me that they're paying them off? Or it is just that good?!!

They do a demo at shows where they put the L2 on a glass tabletop then drop 2" steel ball bearings on it from about 3 feet.

They use the same glass for the whole weekend of the show...

[Nobbylad]

Originally Posted by sauluk

The forcefield looks a bit thin, does it really do the job? It's been done to death by ride and given top marks but so have their other kit which suggests to me that they're paying them off? Or it is just that good?!!

This was my concern, against the Knox and the Dainese, the Forcefield panels look thinner. I know that this doesn't necessarily mean less effective, but I'd love to see a head-to-head comparison of them all.

Pity there's no formal testing like the Sharp rating (even if people believe that is flawed, it's still a benchmark of some form).

[Nobbylad]

Spoke to Harper's race shop who advised that Knox are about the best and they actually have the CE testing equipment that is used by the other manufacturers for testing.

So they rate the protectors as follows:-

1) Knox - about the best you can get
2) Forcefield - good quality but not as good as Knox
3) Dainese - expensive tat derived from snowboarding protection

Just got a 7-plate (Medium) Knox off eBay, brand new for £50

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Nobbylad

Spoke to Harper's race shop who advised that Knox are about the best and they actually have the CE testing equipment that is used by the other manufacturers for testing.

So they rate the protectors as follows:-

1) Knox - about the best you can get
2) Forcefield - good quality but not as good as Knox
3) Dainese - expensive tat derived from snowboarding protection

Just got a 7-plate (Medium) Knox off eBay, brand new for £50

I read somewhere that hard plastic plated protectors are actually less protective due to the sharp shards you can get if the plate cracks/smashes.

Which is why I went Forcefield, even though there were better (cooler) looking protectors.

[JediGoat]

Please, please, please do not guess at what size you need. Go to a shop and get properly measured for one. Anyone who says their back protector is digging into their neck would arguably be safer not wearing it - in a head-on impact, if your head jerked back you'd likely break your neck.

After being nagged by Planet Knox for not wearing a back protector, I finally gave in (well, actually I ordered one too many for my stock, and thought, "Why not have one for myself?"), and now I wear the Knox Kompakt:

http://www.knox-armour.co.uk/product...roduct=kompakt

It's very comfy, and with the venting in it, it's not been too hot under my summer jacket. My concern was that I would be too lazy (am always running late wherever I go), and not bother to put it on. But when leaving home at 6am last friday to investigate my shop burglary, I still put it on without thinking. After only two weeks, it now feels odd if I don't wear it.

The important thing is that it is the correct size and shape for me, and without trying different ones on, you can't know what you will find most comfortable.

The safest back protector in the world will not help you in a crash if you leave it at home because it's uncomfortable

Jo

[Nobbylad]

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

I read somewhere that hard plastic plated protectors are actually less protective due to the sharp shards you can get if the plate cracks/smashes.

Which is why I went Forcefield, even though there were better (cooler) looking protectors.

The advice regarding the Forcefield was that the plates are actually MORE rigid than the Knox and therefore less flexible and less likely to fit snugly.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Nobbylad

The advice regarding the Forcefield was that the plates are actually MORE rigid than the Knox and therefore less flexible and less likely to fit snugly.

Erm the forcfield doesnt have plates.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload...tor%20test.pdf

Test is above, flexible ones all come top, plated ones not so much

[Nobbylad]

Originally Posted by Nobbylad

The advice regarding the Forcefield was that the plates are actually MORE rigid than the Knox and therefore less flexible and less likely to fit snugly.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Erm the forcfield doesnt have plates.

Sincere apologies, what I meant to say was the advice given to me by Harpers was that the Knox was more flexible than the Forcefield L2. Presumably because the Knox has multiple plates, whereas the Forcefield is one unit?

Either way, I bought a Knox and hope I will be happy with it. One thing for sure is that it will be better than the slip in Knox pad I had in my textiles when I was knocked off and that did the job.