The brain is the most critical part of the body. So it makes sense to protect it with a helmet when riding your motorcycle.
But what about other important parts of the human anatomy?
The cold hard truth is that a motorcyclist is a fragile meatbag that can get his bones or spine broken in an instant during a crash.
Sorry for the grim comparison.
But I want to drive the point that the only effective line of defense for a motorcyclist’s health and survival is to wear protection.
It still boggles my mind when I see motorcycle riders who completely ignore the risks and ride around with nothing more than a t-shirt and a prayer.
Ask any rider that crashed and survived wearing no protection gear how they feel about it.
They probably have regrets about a life-changing injury and how it could have been different if they had worn adequate protectors.
Please don’t wait until you regret yourself and it is too late.
The next best thing you can do after your helmet to prevent a severe injury or even save your life is to suit up wearing back and chest protection.
Are Motorcycle Chest and Back Protectors worth it?
This kind of protection is an effective way to preserve the life of a motorcyclist. It will significantly reduce the chances of lifelong consequences from severe injury or death in the event of a crash.
If the only thing that happens to your body during a motorcycle crash are road rashes or bruises, then consider yourself lucky.
It will hurt like a son of a bi#%$, but it won’t kill you.
The big motorcyclist’s killers are hard impacts on collision, not road rashes.
What if you crash and slide backward on the pavement? Good chances you would slam yourself against something back first. Lamp-post, highways barriers, or other hard obstacles, can all break you back.
Besides a head injury, one of the worst things that can happen to you during a motorcycle crash is
– Spinal cord Injuries
– Organs damage
– Internal bleeding.
And all these are sadly common motorcyclist injuries.
So are motorcycle chest and back protectors worth it against these kinds of threats?
I think they serve their purpose and are worth their weight in gold.
Think of it as cheap but effective insurance.
Would you rather buy 200 to 500$ worth of protection? Or cope with 100,000$ medical bill and possibly never walking again?
Plus, they can make you look like a badass.
I am a 90s kid, so I can picture myself putting on Batman or Masterchief armor from the Halo series every time I put on my gear.
Shush… Don’t say anything… don’t break my irrational and illusionary ”kid dream” moment.
Do Motorcycle Back Protectors Work?
Back protectors for motorcyclists will reduce and spread the amount of energy from an impact, reducing the chance of injuries. A ”spine protector” will physically restrict the angle a spine can bend backward, preventing a ”broken back” in case of a crash.
A Back protector and especially a ”spine” protector give you a fighting chance to walk away from a crash.
Spinal injuries are sadly a common motorcyclist injury following a motorcycle accident.
Furthermore, spinal cord damages are one of the most severe injuries. A human body likely won’t be able to heal on its own entirely, and that is if any healing at all is possible.
Guess evolution should have considered giving humans a turtle shell. That would have solved the problem.
Motorcycle back protectors do work and are proven to do so, and you should wear them.
So if you ride a motorcycle, I do recommend you get yourself an artificial turtle shell.
Dorsal Pads vs Spine Protector What Is the Best Back Protector for Motorcyclists?
A back protector is a cushy ”pad” that will absorb impact.
Many of these back protectors on the market are ”insert” type to fit inside a motorcycle jacket back pocket intended for this.
You may also come across back pad protectors worn with a harness like the Forcefield L2K Back protector.
A spine protector has the same cushy padding on the inside but with a hard shell on the outside. Most ”hard” chest and back protector vests will be similar. Soft on the inside hard on the outside.
But the most critical feature during a crash of a spine protector is that it will limit the angle your back can bend backward. Otherwise, a Spine protector is flexible when leaning forward.
A spine protector’s job is to prevent you from folding in the wrong way. In short, It will prevent you from breaking your back.
So which is better and which one should you get?
If you want the best protection, go with a spine protector.
But assume that It might be challenging to accommodate underneath a motorcycle jacket. So a coat a size bigger than your usual size might be a good idea.
For everything else
-flexibility
-ventilation
-price
-convenience
A dorsal protector pad might be the better answer for you.
Are Chest Protectors Worth It?
Chest protectors are your best line of defense against broken ribs, heart, lungs, and other critical organs damage by negating the force of the impact on your chest.
They also dramatically reduce the chance of something puncturing your torso like a sharp rock or vehicle debris in a crash.
Also very useful to negate the sting from those pesky rocks flying out of other vehicles tires.
However, it is worth noting that injury in the chest area for motorcyclists on the road is surprisingly statistically rare.
In an accident on the road, a rider is usually thrown from his bike and slides on his hips, shoulders, and elbows. Sometimes on his back.
When it feels in danger and can’t do anything about it, the human body has a natural survival instinct tendency to ”curl up” like the fetus’s position. Doing so, bring the arms in front of the chest to protect it.
That is a big reason why the chances of an impact on the chest during an accident on the road are low.
The second reason is due to the road itself being flat and a surface. That makes it easier to slide onto rather than impact other terrains irregularities on a dirt road and other trails.
Chest protectors are usually more popular for off-road riding for those reasons.
Here is a common riding incident that makes wearing a chest protector worth it; running into pointy tree branches, hitting a rider’s chest, and possibly puncturing it.
A second situation that happens often is losing control in rugged terrain at low or medium speed. The rider then falls over a rock, tree stump, or other obstacles chest first before a rider can protect himself by putting his arms in front of his chest.
Same scenario when a ”jump” goes bad at landing.
Thirdly, off-roader and motocross riders do commonly end up smashing their chest on their bike handlebars during manoeuver that went wrong.
Should you wear a chest protector for typical road riding then?
That is up to you.
You never know; the more protection, the better.
You are only limited by your budget and how much protection you can wear before you feel uncomfortable.
Plus, they hide my man’s boobs, making me appear way more in shape than I am. XD. So win-win for me.
Which Motorcycle Armor Is Best For You
For the best protection, the best motorcycle armor would be a combination of a spine protector, a chest protector, and an abrasion-resistant jacket on top of all of this.
This setup will offer the best protection, but it is also the bulkiest option. It will also include a steep price for all this equipment, and ventilation will be an issue in hot weather.
The truth is that the best motorcycle armor is a little more complicated than that because everybody is different.
For example, some people will want the best available protection no matter what. Others will focus on protection equipment that goes along well with hot weather.
Like myself.
Here are the main factors that to take into consideration that will determine the best armor for you.
- Safety rating
- Price
- Outside temperature, Ventilation
- Comfort, Fitting, and Weight
- Ease of movements
- Style, Look, and Visibility
Safety Rating:
CE, also known as the European Norm, is the only organization that will test motorcycle armors. CE and attribute a rating depending on how well it fared in testing.
So it is a good idea to choose your motorcycle protection based on a CE rating.
The rating are respectively;
- CE Level 1
- CE Level 2
In short, CE level 1 is still decent and perfectly acceptable armor for motorcycle usage.
But CE level 2 can be twice as good at negating impact force in a crash.
Keep in mind that CE rating is not mandatory unless the manufacturer plans to sell its product inside the European Union. So it is normal for some motorcycle protection equipment that CE rating is nowhere to be found.
You will have to go with your trust in the brand in that case.
Price
Everything related to motorcycles tends to be expensive. Sadly protection equipment follows that trend.
Money might be a minimal or big concern in your decision or not (lucky you) for motorcycle armor. It depends on your buyer profile.
A cheaper alternative similar to that chest and back protector vest you want might be what makes sense to your wallet instead. Know that is perfectly all right.
More expensive doesn’t mean better protection.
There is a bunch of equipment that is reasonably priced with more than adequate protection on the market. This is especially true in today’s age of the internet and online buying.
Temperature
You will have to balance the amount of protection you are comfortable wearing versus how hot of a climate you ride in.
Full motorcycle armor with a leather jacket over for good measure is a quick and easy way of not having fun riding and getting a heatstroke.
As a Canadian, I can take the cold and frisky wind on my bike with no problem at all. But warmer weather is, for me is an entirely different story.
I am susceptible to heatstroke and have to live with it.
Ventilation is something at the top of my list. Even if I don’t like it, I will sometimes compromise safety for better ventilation.
Comfort and fitting
Do not buy armor that feels loose and does not fit you well.
It is the same principle as buying a motorcycle helmet that is too large for your size.
You might be tempted to choose armor a size up to allow for better comfort and airflow; I get that.
But with an improper fit, the protection performance is going to be tremendously reduced.
Better to have a cheaper and less protective helmet than a high-end helmet that is too loose on your head.
Same thing for your armor.
Let say you buy a chest and back protector vest that is too large for you.
It will create a space gap between the armor and your body. In case of a crash, that spacing will compromise your safety.
I recommend you visit a motorcycle dealer or physical store that sells protection equipment for motorcyclists.
Get in the store and try on some different products.
If you buy online, keep that electronic receipt handy. Please do not be shy about returning it and ordering a different size.
Your armor should be snug and fit on your body. Not too much as to feel uncomfortable but comparable to wearing tight clothes.
Ease of movement
There is no way around it; wearing protective clothing will restrict how well your body moves. It usually gets worse the bigger and the bulkier the armor.
The problem might be amplified depending on your riding style and what type of bike you ride.
It will bother some people more than others.
Yet again, visit a store that sells protection gear, put it on, and try moving around in it.
Better yet, if you’re at a motorcycle dealer, ask to get on a bike of your choice with the equipment. Then judge for yourself if you feel too restricted, or you can live with it.
Style, look, visibility
Looking good on a motorcycle is a big thing for a lot of riders. Looking cool is a normal and powerful human instinct to boost our self-esteem.
And what might sound and look cool for someone might be the opposite for someone else.
We all have different tastes.
Motorcycle armor and spine protector is a modern kind of protection that doesn’t go well with an old-school biker’s look.
What a shame really to say no to adequate protection because of how it looks. But a great thing about motorcycle armor is that you can hide most of it under a jacket that fits your style.
***
Final thoughts on Chest and Back Protector
Motorcycle armor might not be as crucial as wearing a helmet, but it is a close second in my book.
I strongly urge you to wear some if you don’t already.
I know motorcycle gear is expensive.
It makes me cringe every time I realize I should buy something new or look for a replacement.
You might be tempted to skip on protection for this reason or another.
But I don’t know about you, but I would rather dry up the wallet for a spine protector than dry up my life being stuck in a wheelchair.
In doubt, do at least wear a back protector.
Ride safe.
