Study on effectiveness of gear you wear

[Checkswrecks]

Fairly recent study (2011) that I'd not seen from Aussie-Stralier that discusses the levels of protection actually found for various pieces of protective riding gear. I was surprised to see how badly cheap gear fared in this. There are also some really good references at the tail end.


http://www.georgeinstitute.org/sites/default/files/documents/motorcycle-protective-clothing-protection-from-injury-or-just-the-weather-the-gear-study.pdf

 

[talonboy]

Interesting read, thanks for posting this.

 

[Philistine]

I don't think we need to conduct a study to tell us that we are safer if we are wearing "PROTECIVE" clothing on a motorcycle, the more you wear/spend the more you are protected, we don't need to watch a bloke slide across the Asphalt to know he would have less or no injury's if he has protective clothing on, just watch the moto GP. I see people all the time in Queensland Australia riding their bike in shorts and tee shirts and some times thongs (flip flops or jandals for you Americans), it wouldn't take much of an off to put them in hospital, and don't get me started with the girlfriend on the back of the bike with skimpy shorts and a tank top on while clinging onto her handbag while perched on this tiny little seat 2' higher than the rider in front of her

 

[Checkswrecks]

Agreed that for most of us, more gear equaling more protection is the basic level we live at. However, what does this mean in the real world? It's the source of endless debate and debating to me as an engineer means that somebody lacks some level of understanding or is talking to hear their own ego, rather than communicate.


This study is the first I've seen that puts numbers to risk associated with having or not having individual pieces of gear. Or even that poorly built gear (some of which may be high priced) is so much less protective that the difference can be actually measured!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I appreciate you posting this, Bob. Very timely. I'm considering making a big investment in upgraded gear, and it's helpful to know it's not just a placebo I'm chasing.

 

[Rasher]

Good post, however once again a lot of time and money has been spent to come to pretty obvious conclusions, as primarily the findings are:

1. Protective clothing protects
2. More expensive gear is better

It was interesting to note that any boots seem to work well, more so for those on a budget, many new riders cannot afford a load of top kit so at least they can skimp on the latest GP spec boots and move on to the other fairly obvious finding and buy pants and jacket with armour from the boot savings.

Although it was obvious to me armour helps prevent wear-through injuries - possibly more so as more and more people ditch leather for textiles (a shame the report did not focus on those differences) I was a bit surprised it made little difference to breakages - thought it may have saved the odd collarbone or hip.

Not surprised a lot of back injuries are due to twisting forces etc but was a little surprised back armour did not save the odd injury here and there.

It would also be interesting to have noted if one-piece or zipped up gear made any difference to skin injuries, since ditching one-piece gear I find I cannot be bothered to zip-up the bottoms to the tops 99.9% of the time and do wonder how often in accidents jackets may ride up exposing skin.

 

[trikepilot]

I'm considering making a big investment in upgraded gear, and it's helpful to know it's not just a placebo I'm chasing.

Jon - ping me if you want any feedback on my findings. You started me on the Sidi Adventure boots last year and just in the last month, I have now completed the complete ATGATT refurbishment. I went with Klim. The upfront investment cost is daunting but the fit/finish/function is unbeatable. I expect them to be quite durable too.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Jon - ping me if you want any feedback on my findings. You started me on the Sidi Adventure boots last year and just in the last month, I have now completed the complete ATGATT refurbishment. I went with Klim. The upfront investment cost is daunting but the fit/finish/function is unbeatable. I expect them to be quite durable too.

I'm leaning towards doing the entire thing now, too. I do have a question that I'll post out on the other thread to keep from hijacking this one.

 

[FJRacer]

I appreciate the Posting as well. But I havta say, at least when it comes to pants, more expensive doesn't always translate to better armor. My case-in-point; Olympia Brand hip armor vs. Sliders hip armor.
I'll take the $80 Sliders any day. Larger area, much tougher foam, and way easier to insert after washing. And I have "tested" these Sliders in a 45 mph hard landing on asphalt. No pain what-so-ever. Yes, I'm sure I was somewhat lucky on that one. I will say the Olympia knee pads are a bit wider and would appear to be effective. I am currently looking for an inexpensive "upgrade" for the Olympia hip pads.

 

[Bombman]

When it comes to riding gear you DEFINATELY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.. I wear Dainese full hard jackets, pants and street boots when I am riding my sport bike. On the S10 off road/on road I wear my Olympia hard jacket, jeans or Duluth Fire Hose pants at a minimum and TCX Desert X boots. I never ever ride without gloves. I used to be a cop and have seen people get peeled off the black top one too many times to know that cotton pants, bikinis, shorts, tank tops and flip flops have no business on a bike. At 15-30 mph your soft tissue is skidding over the blacktop like a cheese grater. It's nasty watching the medics brush the tissue to get the gravel out. Anything over 45mph and forget about it...usually they end up either institutionalized drinking food from a straw or in a bodybag. NEVER SKIMP or GO CHEAP on good quality gear. Helmets, Footwear, Gloves, Jackets and Pants... Buy the best you can afford, your life will depend on it. It isn't how good you are, your experience, or skills...It is the other idiot in the cage you have to worry about.

 

[Dallara]

I appreciate the Posting as well. But I havta say, at least when it comes to pants, more expensive doesn't always translate to better armor. My case-in-point; Olympia Brand hip armor vs. Sliders hip armor.
I'll take the $80 Sliders any day. Larger area, much tougher foam, and way easier to insert after washing. And I have "tested" these Sliders in a 45 mph hard landing on asphalt. No pain what-so-ever. Yes, I'm sure I was somewhat lucky on that one. I will say the Olympia knee pads are a bit wider and would appear to be effective. I am currently looking for an inexpensive "upgrade" for the Olympia hip pads.

You might want to take a look at the D3O armor here:

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/armor/elbow_shoulder_knee:_installs_in_apparel/d30_/ce_approved_impact_protectors_for_elbows_shoulders_and_knees.html

D3O = Good Stuff! ::008::

MotorcycleGear.com has some other brands of armor, too - http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/armor/elbow_shoulder_knee:_installs_in_apparel/

Great folks to deal with, and exemplary customer service, too.

Dallara



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[Magilla]

Interesting info. The helmet section was interesting in terms of the amount of damage with no helmet, an open face helmet and a full face helmet. Thanks for posting. I am about to invest about a grand into Kilm gear. I am happy to see that it is likely money well spent.

 

[FJRacer]

You might want to take a look at the D3O armor here:

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/armor/elbow_shoulder_knee:_installs_in_apparel/d30_/ce_approved_impact_protectors_for_elbows_shoulders_and_knees.html

D3O = Good Stuff! ::008::

MotorcycleGear.com has some other brands of armor, too - http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/armor/elbow_shoulder_knee:_installs_in_apparel/

Great folks to deal with, and exemplary customer service, too.

Dallara



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Agreed on M/Cgear service and prices. Have seen the D30 armor. Their Hip armor not the desired shape. Working on my own idea. Will report findings IF successful.