Comments on: MD Product Review: Forcefield Pro Sub 4 Back Protector and Race-Lite Chest Protector (News) (Product Reviews)

By: snyfer

snyfer — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 22:44:33 +0000

Bob,
to be more specific, CE 1621-1 is about shoulders/elbows/knees/hips protectors (and it indeed allows a higher level -35kN- of impact being transmited to the body)

CE 1621-2 is about back protectors and is separated into level 1 (18kN max) and level 2 (9kN max).
There is quite a lot of 1621-2 lvl 2 protectors available : forcefield sub4 and previous pro L2; new dainese wave; tryonic; spidi warrior; alpinestars bionic; bmw ruckenprotektor…

Report this comment

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:23:37 +0000

Kjazz,
I never had the money for a custom suit when I road raced, so the off the shelf suit I had never fit as tight as I’d have liked. As a result, even the shoulder, elbow and knee armor shifted away from the area they were supposed to protect just from simply getting into a tuck or hanging off. My suits I have used over the years for touring were worse for the armor moving to another location because they were designed to be all day comfortable and fit much looser. You just can’t beat the compression suit to wear underneath. It doesn’t move at all.

Report this comment

By: Kjazz

Kjazz — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:41:49 +0000

I’ve become quite concerned about chest protection these days as I lost a life-long buddy last year due to blunt force trauma to the upper chest.

I have tons of gear but it seems everything falls short somehow. I’m just now starting to appreciate the need for (especially) the chest and back protectors to be fully separate from the jacket. This due to the fact that the ground will likely rotate the jacket around your torso and hence the protection with it, leaving vulnerable areas unprotected. May shoulders and elbows still work fine in the jacket. Is there any research analysis (white paper) that deals with whether this is fact or fiction?

Report this comment

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:25:40 +0000

I only ever wore an articulating back protector when I raced coupled with the armor built into the leathers. I never even thought about a chest protector until I got into off-road riding (woods)and was crashing on a regular basis. I became worried of small stumps on the ground and sharp broken branches piercing my body and breaking bones. I wear a compression suit that has the armor built into the back, chest, shoulders and elbows full time now. But back when road racing, I never considered a handlebar or footpeg driving into me. As they say…if I knew then what I know now…

I find the Forcefield chest protector interesting for the sole reason that the 3D latticework construction is extremely similar looking to the armor in my Rukka touring suit. As I live in Texas, I deal with lots of heat and humidity and this type of armor does not make me sweat. The other bene is that this kind of armor will take hits over and over rather than crushing like the typical crush-once GP armor, which IMO is better if you happen to roll and take a number of hits to the same location.

If I were still road racing today, I would opt for the compression suits under the leathers over the built in armor that may shift around and not be in the place you need it when you need it.

As for CE certification:
CE standard EN1621-1 is a lower standard than CE standard EN1621-2. EN1621-2 transmits about half the force to the body than EN1621-1 does. The only other back protector I know of with the EN1621-2 cert is the HighVelocityGear Juggernaught which I bought specifically for the certification. So the one is this review appears to have significant value.

http://www.highvelocitygear.com/motorcyclebodyarmor.html

Report this comment

By: Randy Dawes

Randy Dawes — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:03:58 +0000

I have a 6-6-1 chest protector since whenever I crash it’s frontally, where up until now I had no real protection. But since I got the protection I haven’t needed it yet on the street. I do wear it religiously on long trips. Don’t wear any back protectors even tho I have them. On most my long rides heat is a factor that concerns me.

Report this comment

By: cyclox

cyclox — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:12:12 +0000

I’ve been riding with the older Forcefield back protector for 5 years and I picked up the Sub4 this past season for racing. Both are excellent products. I “tested” the older model in a 80+ mph crash at the track that sent me to the hospital with a concussion. I guess I wish my helmet (a top of the line Suomy) was as energy absorbing as the back protector: despite signs of serious abrasion/impact all along the back of my trashed leathers, I didn’t have a single bruise or contusion in the area covered by the protector.

Report this comment

By: ABQ

ABQ — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:35:58 +0000

If these are that good for race day they must be great for the street. I’ve been looking for chest and back protectors that would be comfortable and practicle for everyday use. These could be it.

Report this comment

By: John McDowell

John McDowell — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:14:37 +0000

I am a strong advocate of a chest protector. My one ( and only )crash at a track day was a low side on a wet track. Somehow, I slid off the track, letting go of my bike. The bike came down on my chest, and knocked me out. After the Life flight to the hospital, I learned I had four broken ribs, and a contusion to my heart. Quite painful. Try breathing and keeping your heart rate low??. Fortunately, I healed. WEAR ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME. John McD.

Report this comment