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Body Armour? Body Armour?
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  #1  
Old 22 Aug 2010
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Body Armour?
While on a recent trip I crashed the bike on bitumen. Can't remember a thing but probably slid out on a gravel buildup. Speed was probably about 60 kph. I have a very heavily bruised shoulder and AC joint, fractured cheek, two black eyes and cracked rib which tells you how I landed. 3 days in hospital. I was wearing a padded leather jacket etc (all good, sensible gear) but was wondering if some body armour might be the way to go. It would have to fit over my jacket. Any suggestions or experience out there?

( I don't think an "undergarment" would provide sufficient impact protection and be hotter and presume an external exoskeleton type would be better. My crash involved shoulder and chest impact. My experience of textile jackets with built in armour has been poor)
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Last edited by Tim Wood; 22 Aug 2010 at 12:53. Reason: add
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Old 22 Aug 2010
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Ouch! How did you fracture a cheek - were you in an open face helmet?

Not sure I've ever seen an external armour suit. My resevations would be about it moving around in a crash and not being where it was needed - like all the outfits with built in body armour these days.

I use acerbis body armour, and EVS knee braces, which all fit snug to my body, and my jacket / trousers go over the top. They're the waterproof layer after all, and it makes sense to have that on the outside.

I wear an electric vest over the body armour if it's cold, and if it's seriously hot (30+) a mesh jacket / vented trousers instead of the waterproof kit.
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Old 22 Aug 2010
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body armour?
I was wearing a BMW flip front helmet. One of the side pivots was completely gone, I suspect because that side was not fully latched shut prior to the accident (I'd had trouble with it that day). I assume the face piece flew open sideways exposing my face to the ground. Can't remember anything. My thoughts are to improve my impact protection with armour as they do in motocross. However it should be comfortable and wearable in an enduro/long distance context. I don't think wearing next to the skin is practical.
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The only baggage you carry should be in the panniers
Last edited by Tim Wood; 22 Aug 2010 at 15:34. Reason: add
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Old 25 Aug 2010
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Friends of mine have body armor vests that they wear underneath their motorcycle jackets, the latter stripped of all protective bits and pieces. Usually they wear their usual t-shirts and their body armor on top of that. If it gets really hot they have mesh type jackets to put on top of the body armor, if it gets really cold the usual jackets with inner liners, waterproofs, etc.

Not sure if exoskeleton like body armor vests even exist. I thought they were all made for being worn underneath another jacket
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Old 25 Aug 2010
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Originally Posted by Tim Wood View Post
I was wearing a BMW flip front helmet. One of the side pivots was completely gone, I suspect because that side was not fully latched shut prior to the accident (I'd had trouble with it that day). I assume the face piece flew open sideways exposing my face to the ground. Can't remember anything. My thoughts are to improve my impact protection with armour as they do in motocross. However it should be comfortable and wearable in an enduro/long distance context. I don't think wearing next to the skin is practical.
I think there is a very good reason why Arai refuse to make a flip helmet ! There is NO WAY they can be as strong and prone to failures like you experienced.

Hope you're ok fella !!!
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Old 25 Aug 2010
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I've just ordered a forcefield adventure harness and knee guards.

Expensive stuff but wins loads of awards.
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Old 25 Aug 2010
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
I think there is a very good reason why Arai refuse to make a flip helmet ! There is NO WAY they can be as strong and prone to failures like you experienced.

Hope you're ok fella !!!
But Arai makes a Classic helmet.
Is that better that a flip-up.
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Old 25 Aug 2010
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But Arai makes a Classic helmet.
Is that better that a flip-up.
No, but it doesnt pretend to be !!! You get what you see !! No face protection...

People have this false sense of security that a flip helmet is as good in a facial impact as a single piece full face helmet !! It just isnt.... No one can argue any differently !
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