CrazyBiker
Superbike Champion
I have been looking for a few options but wondered what people recommend.
Good armored vest and jacket back armor?
- Thread starter CrazyBiker
- Start date
Roadstergal
Member
I'm not generally a fan of Alpinestars, but their Bionic pressure suit has been the exception; it has an EN1621-2 level 2 back protector, and has held up to a lot of dirt crashin'. It's snug enough to wear under leather.
Bionic 2 Protection Jacket - Alpinestars
For myself, I have Knox armor in my street jacket and my track leathers, and I have a T-Pro EN1621-2 level 2 back protector that goes under whichever I'm wearing. Other back protectors I looked at that met that standard are the Knox Contour (m'boy has that, nice piece) and the Alpinestars Race Shield; neither fit, so I went T-Pro. The Race Shield has a chest pad that integrates with the protector, which is a nice feature.
Bionic 2 Protection Jacket - Alpinestars
For myself, I have Knox armor in my street jacket and my track leathers, and I have a T-Pro EN1621-2 level 2 back protector that goes under whichever I'm wearing. Other back protectors I looked at that met that standard are the Knox Contour (m'boy has that, nice piece) and the Alpinestars Race Shield; neither fit, so I went T-Pro. The Race Shield has a chest pad that integrates with the protector, which is a nice feature.
I got this and love it! Icon Field Armor Vest :: New Enough, LTD
Roadstergal: what's wrong with Alpinestar? I actually love their stuff... my alpinestar jacket survived 3 crashes and is still protecting my ass!
Roadstergal: what's wrong with Alpinestar? I actually love their stuff... my alpinestar jacket survived 3 crashes and is still protecting my ass!
CrazyBiker
Superbike Champion
You wear it for daily commute too?
I don't commute on the bike anymore, but if I did, I would wear it. It's very comfy, easy to put on and take off, and you quickly forget that you are wearing it...
I do wear it for wkd rides in the canyons and @ the track though...
I do wear it for wkd rides in the canyons and @ the track though...
CrazyBiker
Superbike Champion
Thats a big change man! I am still commuting year round except when it snows/ices.
Good for you 
I don't miss riding the streets of LA too much, and it helps reassure my wife that I am not on the bike in rush hour traffic every single day of the year... as long as I get to ride the canyons on Saturdays, and go to the track every other month, I am happy :rockon:
I don't miss riding the streets of LA too much, and it helps reassure my wife that I am not on the bike in rush hour traffic every single day of the year... as long as I get to ride the canyons on Saturdays, and go to the track every other month, I am happy :rockon:
Roadstergal
Member
Supertech boots: after less than a year, the velcro is coming off of the fastener at the back, the stitching is coming apart on the exterior leather panels, the left toe slider won't stay on anymore and flies off the moment it touches a curb, and the heels are ground down to almost nothing. I compare that to my hubby's Sidi Flexforce (the previous gen of the Crossfires, and I so wish they came in my size), that have been to Hades and back and crashed a lot along the way; they're still in perfect working order.
The stitching on my only-a-few-months-old Stella GP Plus gloves is also fraying, and the gloves overall are less comfortable and well-made than the Racer High Ends that they're a copy of (Racer High Ends highly recommended, BTW; those are still going after some track crashes and several years of weather and abuse, and I only got the Stellas because they were a screamin' deal and I thought, why not?).
I give both pieces an A for protection, but a D for build quality.
Thanks for the feedback... I guess I won't be buying their boots and gloves then I hate my oxtar boots too... pretty comfy and protection is alright, but they sound like ski boots when I walk around... very loud...
Anyway, I only own an Alpinestar leather jacket and a 1 piece suit and love them both... but now that you mention the stitching issues, I remember that I did have a problem with the stitching of an inside pocket in my jacket, but I fixed it in 5 min, so no big deal...
I hate my oxtar boots too... pretty comfy and protection is alright, but they sound like ski boots when I walk around... very loud...Anyway, I only own an Alpinestar leather jacket and a 1 piece suit and love them both... but now that you mention the stitching issues, I remember that I did have a problem with the stitching of an inside pocket in my jacket, but I fixed it in 5 min, so no big deal...
I bought the Icon Field Armor Vest based on Wavex's recommendation. The sizes are kind of tricky. I am 5'11" 185 lbs and ordered the Reg/Large size. It feels a little tight on me, so I opted to send it back for the XL size. I like the vest though. I also found this the other night.
Forcefield Extreme Harness Flite
Forcefield Extreme Harness Flite
CCHOUSEKY
Kentucky Wildcat Fanatic
^ Oh, now that's just SWEET! I've got the Forcefield back protector (probably the best gear decision I've ever made), but I'd love to have something that incorporated the chest guard like that. I know you can add one for use with the standalone back protector, but to have it all be in one piece like that is pretty cool.
Roadstergal
Member
"For 2009 the back protection has been upgraded to level 2."
D'oh!! And I bought the back protector alone last year to get the Level 2... it'd have been good to have gotten the chest protector as well.
I wonder if they're going to upgrade the full harness, too.
Forcefield Body Armour | Extreme Harness Adventure
I don't know the exact weight, but it's not heavy... as mentioned above I don't even know it's there after putting it on.
I've never used it without my jacket or one piece suit on top of it... My one piece suit is pretty tight as is, but the armor still fit underneath without an issue. I would not recommend riding with just the vest either, since it has no shoulder or elbow protections... its main purpose being to protect your spine and coccyx...
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CrazyBiker
Superbike Champion
The Icon thing doesn't look CE approved. The forcefield is the one Defy recommended too. CCHousekey, you had a Knoxx Cross shirt right? What happened with that?
The one I shipped back including the packaging and box weighed 4 lbs. I woud say that the vest weighs no more than 2 to 2.5 lbs.
Roadstergal
Member
Man, Johnson is more up-to-date than their own site...
(BTW, if you're in the Bay Area and ever need leather repaired, Johnson is the place. They did little things like repair snaps and sew on puck velcro - and big things like repairing leather suits (m'boy's after a track lowside, and mine after a guy lowsided into me and his footpeg ripped a hole in the leg).
Can't beat a Johnson! *ahem*)
(BTW, if you're in the Bay Area and ever need leather repaired, Johnson is the place. They did little things like repair snaps and sew on puck velcro - and big things like repairing leather suits (m'boy's after a track lowside, and mine after a guy lowsided into me and his footpeg ripped a hole in the leg).
Can't beat a Johnson! *ahem*)
CrazyBiker
Superbike Champion
Forcefield is too expensive for my tastes. I'd snag a used one from ebay.
