Body armour?

[Nathan S]

I've been running 'old school' - I've got the old style armour, body belt, seperate elbow guards, etc.

I always figured that the Dainese/661 style mesh suit would be a good upgrade.

One of the local bike shops is selling the 661 stuff cheap-ish, so I tried it on.

Now, I fully realise that walking around the bike shop bashing yourself with your own fists is quite different to cart-wheeling down the track, but I felt less protected in the mesh suit...
Specifically, there seems to be a lot more unprotected areas on your torso.

Myth or reality? The mesh suit was definitely more comfortable, particularly when doing non-riding things, but....

[Rossvickicampbell]

I had a soft just chest protector until I worked out whether the body could handle this "second" childhood I was going through.  After that I bought a 661 pressure suit.  A mate said 30 secs after you have it on you wont even know its there and he was right - was the best thing I could of bought - the helmet gets peppered as do the knees (coz I haven't gotten used to the knee guards yet) but the body survives relatively OK.

I swear by it now!!!

cheers

M2cW

Rossco

[oldfart]

Go for it mate  don't even think about it ......only draw back is getting it off straight after the race on a hot day

[Rosco400]

They get pretty hot Nathan, although I remember a post way back on the old forum about Hockey armour giving best protection although few guys thought anyone wearing hockey armour was a bit of a pussy and you ended up looking like a front row forward, hockey armour especially good up under the ribcage area where anyone whos had a cracked/broken rib will confess it hurts like all crap as the protection covers pretty well ,, Dainese suits and roost armour dont stop much of anything but rocks and mud and skin grazes, I even think the solid armours probably caused more injuries when ive hit the ground cause it always seems to dig in somewhere where it hurts. that spandex stuff might have advantages though if your  doing non riding things like wearing it to mardi gra (just joking, no offence meant), saying that though i still wear normal armour, maybe just accustomed to pain and dont like change

[yzhilly]

It's cheaper than gettings elbows and knee's stiched back together and i try my turtle back suit out regularly and have ripped up two jerseys recently without a scratch. I dont like wearing it but i have to go to work on monday.

[Lozza]

You proposing a VMX sponsored float Rossco

I won't ride without a back protector on.This was reinforced during the week when a workmates rings me and tells me a poor sod is half hour into a Watagans trail ride when he flips it and lands on a sharp rock. Helicopters to RNS the full bit,crushed vertebra, the bloke will be alright.But I reckon he would have been sore but not in hospital with a back protector on.

[jimg1au]

NATHAN
you know as you were there. i would not be alive today if i wasn't wearing my full body amour
cheers
jimg

[Quicksilver]

Full body armour would of more then likely saved me from last 7 weeks of pain plus months of recovery now to follow.
Makes sense to ware it even when play ridding. Next time I think I'll ware medieval knights full metal jacket suit of armour 

[Freakshow]

i have a copule of dainese suits i used for the road bike, ( scruitineering you needed to show you back protector )  i always used it trail riding and now its second nature on the VMX/flat track racing.

They are easy to use as your in them, kidney belts, back and armsgurds etc, you dont need to spend 10 minutes finding all the bits before you race like you will with the seperate armour.

Only downside is the mesh seems to need redarning every now and then as you can pull it or rip it.  But the mesh is very breathable and never get hot, although i ware a t-shirt under it then the armour then a MX jersy and it seems to be the right mix for comfort and practicality.

the only thing i would say against them is they dont have a collor bone protector, wareas the plastic ones seem to be sit higher and give them the cover over that bone. 

Although on the plus the lobster spine and kidney support is what you should be looking at as the single most benifit, you take a hit on your lower back ( not covered in a cage)and your MX carrier is over.  GO the Suit evertime !

if your looking to save some bucks i have a spare suit here, smells like sweat and might need to be darned on the cuffs some, but would be half the price of the new one , especially if you just want to see if they are the go for you and your riding style, but im sure you will be plesantly suprised and have no going back !  can post up pics if your interested

[Rosco400]

There you go Nathan, buy the full protector, seems like a lot more pluses for than against, youll just need some vaso for nipple rub but hey, if thats the worst injury you cop

[fatboycrash]

Mate, check these guys on flea bay
http://stores.ebay.com.au/4bp-For-Body-Protection
I've bought 2 sets from them and a couple of my mates have as well. Good stuff at the right price. I had the Dainese body armour at 400 odd bucks a few years ago and I don't think it was as durable as this stuff. Sure the dainese looks better but ya can buy 4 sets for one Dainese.
I'll second the bit about back protectors.... I've had mine cut off me in the ECU of Redcliffe hospital and was VERY grateful. The Doctor commented something like it was the most sensible thing he's seen.

Or maybe I'm just wingeing  cause the more open mesh on the Dainese gave me hell nipple rash.... seriously!
FatBoy

[Freakshow]

There you go Nathan, buy the full protector, seems like a lot more pluses for than against, youll just need some vaso for nipple rub but hey, if thats the worst injury you cop

 

thats why i were a t shirt under neath, feels real comfy and plus you can slip in and out of it in the pits betwween rides, and in your case with out showing ya man boobs 

[Noel]

Hi Nathan,
I've had to off's while wearing 661, and the interesting thing as far as I'm concerned
was that I could not work out where the point of impact was but I ended up with sore ribs,
particularly the little joint's at the ribs and backbone and whatever they call it at the front suffered inflammation.
It seems that all the impact loads on the extremity's  were absorbed and transfered through to the rib cage,
I suspect after talking with Les Richters after his incident at Nepean , a similar result for him?

so for me the Jury is still out,
No broken bones but a fair bit of pain,
Acupuncture ended up the best cure for these injuries
Cheers
Noel

[Wombat]

Freaky, I'm looking for body armour - can you post a photo and price for your spare suit?
I'm 176cm (5'9 ?) and a bit chubby; is it likely to fit?

[Freakshow]

im 6ft and not chubby but i thnk that its an XL, ill drag the newer on out and tack some pics, but like i said i think its the left arm needs the netting to be redarned, if your a needle point kind of guy.

PM me an offer, but i would have thought less than half a new one would be around the mark ? FN ?

the dainese one has the 2 zips AKA removable lobsta back etc, so it was a good one.