Need advice on armour

[Seight_Returns]

I’m coming back to biking after a 15 year break - my new (to me) VFR 800 is arriving this Thursday.

I have a selection of decent quality leather and textile gear from when I used to ride, with pockets for armour inserts. Most of my gear is Hein Gericke with their proprietary Hipotec rubberised armour.

I’ve read that armour has improved considerably over the last few years in terms of weight, flexibility and impact protection.

I’ve got a new Bering airbag vest with integral back protector, so I think I’m sorted for back protection - but is it worth upgrading the knee/thigh/elbow/shoulder inserts in the rest of my gear - and if so what do you recommend ?

[tjlazer]

Hein gerike gear had some funny fittings so you may not be able to swap in different gear. I think as long as it's ce rated you'll be fine the main difference is the added flex and reduced weight with newer gear.

[Cylon2007]

The hiprotec is still pretty good (age may have made a difference) You should be able to get Knox or D30 inserts to fit. Do you have a J&S accessories any where near you as the one near me has a good selection of inserts. To make sure you get the right ones either take the kit or just the inserts with you.

[loftylad]

I’ve also come back to riding after a 19 year gap!

I initially dug all my old gear out, thinking “it’ll do”, but I decided to replace the lot.

I’m so glad I did. Everything has come on so much. Weight, protection, comfort, etc.

I was shocked with the weight difference between my old Shoei lid and my brand new one.

[bogie]

Ive upgraded some older jackets to D30, its really flexible and comfortable to wear.

[abw280]

Heine Gericke leather is superb quality. I would remove the existing armour and wear a forcefield armoured shirt under it. You'll then get the added benefit of properly fitting armour as well as chest protection. £70.00 sorts you out......

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Forcefield-Body-Armour-...

[SteelerSE]

Just be careful that your old leather's have been properly looked after. If they've dried out then any elasticity will have gone which leads to burst seams if you're unfortunate enough to go down the road. There are numerous "How To" guides out there about reviving old leathers. Worth a look.

[Seight_Returns]

Thanks guys - all very helpful.

I pulled the inserts out of my HG 2 piece leathers and took them to J&S in Eltham - they only had the ForceField inserts but they were a match for the size and shape of my HG ones - I assume the D3O and Knox inserts will be the same shape also. I think the inserts in my textile gear are the same shape as the leathers. There is obviously a healthy debate as to the merits of D3O vs ForceField vs Knox and I think I understand the pros and cons of each.

I agree entirely that attaching armour to your body is a much better idea than attaching it to your clothing - and the fact that armour is now lighter and more flexible makes that far more practical than it was 15 years ago. I always worried that the armour wouldn't be where it needed to be in a crash, the knee armour in my looser fitting textile trousers particularly so. I do worry though that once the initial enthusiasm has worn off there will be a temptation to leave the armoured base layer in the wardrobe. Also since my gear has pouches - and the modern L1 inserts at least are so light, flexible and cheap, it would be silly not to put at least L1 inserts in them.

I had a good look at some new gear in J&S. I agree entirely that helmets seem much lighter and the affordability/strength/weight of composite materials make them compelling - will definitely be getting a new lid. But apart from upgrading the armour I'm unconvinced about the need to ditch my existing gear - leather and Cordura aren't any stronger or lighter than they were 20 years ago and the kit I bought then whilst not the very best available at the time was pretty good. Very happy to be challenged on that opinion though.

So my plan is:

Immediate purchase of Knox Flex Lite knee "socks" to give additional protection in addition to to the existing Hiprotec knee armour in both my leather and textile trousers. D3O hip inserts for my HG leather and textile trousers which are fitted for but not with hip armour. New gloves with D3O protection.

In due course replace the shoulder, elbow and back inserts on my leather jacket with D3O to give at least equivalent protection as the current Hiprotec stuff but much better wearability off the bike. My new Airbag jacket has an integral L1 back protector so an additional flexible L1 back protector in the jacket should suffice.

Leave the bulky Hipotrec armour in the textile jacket - it'll still be a bulky winter jacket whatever I do to it. Replace the "Mouse Mat" back protector with a flexible L1 .

I need to lose a few more pounds until my one piece suit fits - when I've done that I'll consider adding a ForceField base layer.

Only 3 more sleeps until my bike arrives ….

Edited by Seight_Returns on Tuesday 17th December 11:47

[SteelerSE]

Enjoy the VFR. I had an old 98 one and now have a Crossrunner. Lovely engines and a fun bike.

[Davel]

T-shirt, shorts and flip flops works for me...


No really don't

[Harry H]

oooh bikes and flip flops make me cringe whenever I see them. All those wiggly toes just waiting to be ripped off even in a low speed crash.

See it regularly in the summer. Usually a young lady on a Vespa

[Salted_Peanut]

Seight_Returns said:

There is obviously a healthy debate as to the merits of D3O vs ForceField vs Knox and I think I understand the pros and cons of each.

Talk to me about the pros and cons of D3O vs Forcefield vs Knox vs SAS-TEC.

I'm confused trying to choose between them. D30 seems to have a lot of advocates, but rumours of it splitting from normal wear and tear

[Wildfire]

Salted_Peanut said:

Talk to me about the pros and cons of D3O vs Forcefield vs Knox vs SAS-TEC.

I'm confused trying to choose between them. D30 seems to have a lot of advocates, but rumours of it splitting from normal wear and tear

Ok, I'm not an expert just an owner and haven't had to test any of them

D3O, nice and flexible, definitely the most comfortable. I took out the solid foam armour out of my A* jacket and put in D3O as the jacket was a little tight and it made it so much more comfortable. It doesn't feel bulky at all.

Got a FF back protector, it is flexible, but not as much as D3O and it is quite thick and warm.

SAS-TEC in my Dane Goretex suit. is less comfortable than the Forcefield and when the kit is cold it does get harder. In cold weather I have had some rubbing at the elbows as the armour has gone a bit hard. Once it's warmed up it moulds to your shape very well, feels a bit like the Hiprotec from HG.

Knox, I don't have any experience.

I don't think you'll go wrong with any of it. Go for the highest level CE you can.

[bogie]

Salted_Peanut said:

Seight_Returns said:

There is obviously a healthy debate as to the merits of D3O vs ForceField vs Knox and I think I understand the pros and cons of each.

Talk to me about the pros and cons of D3O vs Forcefield vs Knox vs SAS-TEC.

I'm confused trying to choose between them. D30 seems to have a lot of advocates, but rumours of it splitting from normal wear and tear

d30 is used in dozens of brands by default, ive had it in my gear for over 8 years for about 6k miles a year of wear. Its still like new.

All the CE certified stuff of different brands should perform similar. D30 key selling point is how flexible it is until impacted. Ive bought kit with different armour in over the years and because ive got used to the D30 ive replaced whatever came in a new jacket with D30.

Goto a shop that sells a few brands e.g. sportsbikeshop and they will let you try it in your gear. Some fits certain armour pockets better than others, with some gear manufacturers tailoring their kit specifically for a particular brand.