[abtech]

Originally Posted by WetShrub

How does riding in a crouch and riding upright on a cruiser make a difference when you are tumbling on the ground?

The tumbling part is correct (and noted). I just don't own a back protector that allows me to comfortably ride while sitting up, as they are "pre-curved" for a crouch posture. So are my leathers, but I seriously doubt that I would wear my set of team leathers while chugging along on the Vulcan anyway . . .

[WetShrub]

Bet you could make a bundle of cash coming up with a comfortable back protector for cruisers... maybe?

[phozed]

I always wear one when I'm on the bike - I have a dianese and it's got a kidney-belt kinda, it's actually more comfortable on long rides.

[oldgoat]

http://www.johnsonleather.com/
Click on Armour. I'm very pleased with the back Protector.
Don't wear it on the street. My Honda jacket has a built in back Protector.

[JWHT]

I always wear my Dainese Back protector, its probably the best investment i've made. Its the one that you wear under the jacket and its separate. It has straps that wrap around your body. Very comfortable, most times I don't feel that its even there. The back plates move with your spine up and down and side to side so it feels very natural. I was boiling my decision between this one and the Alpinestars one but chose this one instead. Either way I strongly suggest riders wear one.

[Chain]

I received my Teknic back protector yesterday from New Enough. Rode to work with it on today and I can honestly say it didn't bother me one bit. Matter of fact, I took to it immediately. Very nice piece of gear and a good price too.



I guess wearing body armor as part of my job for the last 16 years made it a snap to get used to.

Should have bought one of these a long time ago...

[abtech]

[TGZ13]

Originally Posted by Chain

I received my Teknic back protector yesterday from New Enough. Rode to work with it on today and I can honestly say it didn't bother me one bit. Matter of fact, I took to it immediately. Very nice piece of gear and a good price too.



I guess wearing body armor as part of my job for the last 16 years made it a snap to get used to.

Should have bought one of these a long time ago...

Looks like a nice protector for the price.

Looks kinda long at the bottom. Does it interfere at all if you try to sit up a little?

[Gblade]

I wear the Bohn Carbon/Kev Race whenever I ride. It fits under my snug fitting 2 piece Honda leather & tucks nicely the pants.

[Chain]

Originally Posted by TGZ13

Looks like a nice protector for the price.

Looks kinda long at the bottom. Does it interfere at all if you try to sit up a little?

It is.

Not in the least.

A great value methinks.

[Chindian]

Originally Posted by Chain

Hey, for you street riders, how many of you wear a back protector? I'm just curious. I'm sure most of us don't, but I'm giving it serious consideration. To abtech and the other racer types here, what sort of things should a guy look for in a back protector that will be worn on the street (i.e. worn while sitting up most of the time, not tucked, under regular riding gear like textile jackets and whatnot)?

TIA,

Chain

probably a little late to jump in here but in the event my comments help, great

I tend to wear at least a leather jacket most of the time when riding and my jacket has built in back armour however if it were a really hot day and I weren't going far, i'd slap on the body armor (downhill racer type) over a t-shirt... now since it's getting cold here and the t-shirts are a couple of layers under, I wear the back protector and the 2-piece and if i have to, my HRC fleece cuz I is so cool...the back protector also keeps me warmer by trapping in some body heat as I wear it.. which is always a bonus (never did get used to the cold)

I've tried a few protectors starting from a pink 10 plate model i bought out of a box of misc crap, it cost me 10 dollars canadian and I figured something is better than nothing... Eventually I got rid of it and opted for a Backspace G1 for my dainese jacket (now retired).. i got my brother one of these Backspace G1's and he unfortunately had to test it one fateful day and I am glad he had it on... no back injury what so ever based on the way he landed it could have been much much worse.

When I started doing trackdays, I bought myself a Dainese 1 piece and it came with the back protector option and a mini hump (Safety Pro suit) but never did get used to how uncomfortable it was so I decided to shop around for a better unit that I could wear under my leathers... my main criteria was fit due to my narrow but lengthy torso, i found what I was looking for, it is made by Knox and is called the Stowaway pictured here: http://www.harpersraceshop.co.uk/usrimage/cat746155.jpg

Extremely comfortable and form fitting, I believe I have found my choice in protection for years to come...

[Scout]

Speaking strictly Post-Crash (street), it was the first thing I thought of getting. I plan on getting one within next month. It would have reduced my (comparitively) minor injuries to nothing. Even though it was "only" blunt trauma to lower back muscle tissue, it would have been worth the cost... Hindsight 20/20...

[Zippy]

Personally, I favor a protector that is long at the bottom. Anyone out there ever injured your tailbone? I have, and it was bad. I was in extreme pain for months. My protector extends down to cover the tailbone. It is a Knox / Bohn style. I only use it with my sportbike, so I don't know if it would be the most comfortable thing if I were sitting up straight.

[Kidder]

Originally Posted by Chain

I received my Teknic back protector yesterday from New Enough. Rode to work with it on today and I can honestly say it didn't bother me one bit. Matter of fact, I took to it immediately. Very nice piece of gear and a good price too.



I guess wearing body armor as part of my job for the last 16 years made it a snap to get used to.

Should have bought one of these a long time ago...

I have that exact same protector. I bought it for the track. I don't wear it on the street only because I can't find it. I'd pull out the armor out of my Tourmaster and JR jackets and just wear it instead. Okay, I'm going to start looking more diligently for it.

[llhank]

Having just joined a few minutes ago I'd liike to add my first thread reply.
I use several different Vanson jackets with their standard elbow & shoulder armor but use a local product, Rhino body armor, for back and hip protection.
You can check it out here.

http://www.legal-briefs.com/rhino_body_armor.htm

Whatever you do, use SOMETHING as there's no cure just yet for spinal cord damage.

[MrFurious]

My daily commuter jackets have back armor but not a whole lot. Now my 1 piece suite has CE armor, with 2 back pads (1 is sewn in, and neither are hard shelled). But I dont wear that every day.

[Kidder]

Originally Posted by Kidder

I have that exact same protector. I bought it for the track. I don't wear it on the street only because I can't find it. I'd pull out the armor out of my Tourmaster and JR jackets and just wear it instead. Okay, I'm going to start looking more diligently for it.

I'm sure you were all waiting by the channel for the latest news on my missing back protector. Well, I found it on Friday while rummaging through a storage closet. So, I will now be wearing it religiously. Now, everyone can sleep at night knowing that I finally found it. Thanks for your prayers and words of courage.

[Scratch]

Any back protector is better than none. I couldn't decide on one and put it off and then crashed, really wished I would have bought ANYTHING at the time. After my 'experience' I would prefer a hard shell back protector.

+1 on the Bates, other than that Dainese but that would just be my personal preference(s).

[Whippet Goode]

I ride year-round; I have been knocked off from a "little old lady" who ran a stop sigm from the 9:00 position - she stopped because her front R wheel was on the front wheel & forks of my '00 R1. I flew over the hood of her car and land on my back inline with the flow of traffic, my soles of my feet pointing at her. She tried to keep going, but to no avail since her car was highsiding on my bike. I believe without a doubt I would have had severe spinal repercussions were it not for my full length Spidi Airback. And my Arai Haga RX-7 rep.

I had another experience when preparing to make a 90-degree left out in the country. A very steep cut-bank was just beyound a wooden barricade-on the shoulder off the road... then it dropped about 20-ft. I had just leant over toward the L when Bambi's biggest bad cousin came up the hillside and ploughed right onto my back tire. The impact snapped my '02 R1 over on it's R side; I highsided toward my front R, landing on my R shoulder and backside. Again I was wearing a new Haga rep & Spidi Airback (with full Spidi leathers & XPD-1 boots). My back was bruised - my shoulder suffered a complete separation of the rotator cuff.

Two dead R1's, two dead Arai's, two dead Airbacks, one dead
Spidi jacket, one dead set of Spidi leathers, me... I'm still back in the saddle and riding. My advice to anyone who rides: buy the absolute best safety equipment your pocket book can endure. Period!

Cheers

[CBRVFR]

Welcome, Whippet!

I think I'd change from the Haga rep to something less provocative..

Good post!

[Whippet Goode]

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

Welcome, Whippet!

I think I'd change from the Haga rep to something less provocative..

Good post!

I did. Went with a Nickey Hayden Corsair. I also wear a DuHamel Shoei in cold/rainy weather. The Aria is a noisy bugger, but is cooler in the heat, whilst the Shoei is much quieter and warmer/more coverage.

Cheers

[Graf]

I use Alpinestars Tech backprotector when ride in Alpinestars jacket and jeans

[Jahn Yah]

i have an A/S tech back protector and i wear it all the time under my A/S jacket. the jacket foam will not protect your spine, and honestly, your health is important, so get one...

the A/S tech i have is comfortable for everyday riding and it's not inconvenient at all. felt a bit tight under my jacket at first, but i'm used it now..

[Robert3RR]

I have an Fieldsheer leather mesh jacket with a built in back protector... I wear it all the time....

[Whippet Goode]

Originally Posted by Robert3RR

I have an Fieldsheer leather mesh jacket with a built in back protector... I wear it all the time....

I hardly believe it is in the same league as a race style specific spine protector ala: Alpinstars, Dainese, Knox or Spidi.

I have "built in spine protectors" in my Spidi Mask jacket, and in my Teknic mesh jacket and still always wear my Spidi AirBack.

Think about it, all the nerve path-ways coming out of your brain (excluding those in your head) trunk into your spine to go elsewhere. Physically speaking this would make it second in importance only to the brain. There are 3 regions of spinal vertebra which the spinal cord pass through: cervical, thoracic & lumbar, plus the lower end of the spine includes the sacral. Briefly put, if you severe or irreparably damage these vertebra these are the functions that go down the toilet:

Cervical: Breathing, head/neck movement, heart rate, wrist/elbow, hand/finger.

Thoracic: Sympathetic tone, temperature regulation, trunk stability, & ejaculation.

Lumbar: Hip motion, knee extenion, foot motion.

Sacral: Knee flexation, bowel & bladderactivity.

This was just a short list. Your world would be radically altered upon damage of your spine, including but not limited to paralysis. Wow, that all sounds real fun, doesn't it?

OK, I'll get off the soap box now .

Cheers

[Robert3RR]

The jacket that I have has everything from elbow, shoulder, back and other areas covered...in away it serves me good.. and at least I'm wearing one...in a way I'm gettin an Technic one piece suit pretty soon..

[ALVAROG1983]

I LIKE THAT ONE FOUND OUT HOW MUCH IT RUNS