Is Motorcycle Armour useless?

Ryan gives a '30,000 foot view' and based his decision on that.
The other video gives a 'close to the ground' view and based their decision on that.
I'll go with the 'close to the ground' one as they delved into the whole topic much deeper.
The second video also reconfirmed to me the value of air vests and how much more protection they can provide beyond the armor.
 
A helmet can save your life. Other armour, an airbag, gear in general will probably reduce road rash, soft tissue injuries, maybe preserve the odd bone. All dependant on the circumstances of the accident, the speed, what you hit, how you land etc. etc. There are no guarantees. IMO, gear is always better than none and I'll continue to wear it.

I was having a coffee in a small town on a back road and there were 3 super sport riders there at another table discussing the pros and cons of leather vs. textile. The leather guy maintained that in a 100 kph collision with a car that he would have fewer injuries that the guys in textile gear. I thought he was joking, but not so, they argued for a while as to who would be less injured. No one asked for my opinion, sitting a few tables over with textile gear, and I didn't offer it. Obviously these guys were completely delusional about protective qualities of the gear they were wearing.
 
I went off the road on June 8th doing probably 70-75 mph. I got a bruise on my right knee and much smaller one on my left elbow.

Olympia jacket and pants. Hit-Air airbag vest. Cortech gloves. And a worn out guardian angel. I won't ride without all of that protection. ;)

Chris
 
Talking to Andy Goldfine owner of Aerostich his philosophy is it doesn't matter if the gear survives the crash as long as the rider does. They have some gear hanging on the wall that has been user "tested" and it looks bad. It's there because the rider replaced it with new gear. That to me is a good indication that the wearer got to and is going to ride another day.

After Capt Sully put the Airbus in the Hudson River he was asked what he would have done differently. His reply, 'call in sick'. If we knew when we were going to have an accident we would skip riding that day. In the meantime if the manure goes through the ventilation system I want something between my hide and the road.
 
He did state in the video that while the armour has limited ability to prevent fractures it is effective at preventing or reducing cuts, bruises, and abrasions. That also has value.
 
Andrew Shadow said:
He did state in the video that while the armour has limited ability to prevent fractures it is effective at preventing or reducing cuts, bruises, and abrasions. That also has value.
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I never assumed that a 1/4" pad, no matter how high tech, was going to prevent breaking bones. When I found myself sliding down a road on my chest at full speed in 2001, the outer fabric failed and the pads were there to keep my skin pristine and that is all I ask.
 
I think a stiff pad or plate over the front of your chest can protect your heart and the nerves that keep the heart pumping
from being stopped by an impact to that area, over your heart.
Abrasion -- road rash--- is not the only danger you face when you take a spill.
People have died from taking a hard hit to the upper chest-- not just in motorsports, but other sports and adventures, too.
 
gunsmoker said:
I think a stiff pad or plate over the front of your chest can protect your heart and the nerves that keep the heart pumping
from being stopped by an impact to that area, over your heart.
Abrasion -- road rash--- is not the only danger you face when you take a spill.
People have died from taking a hard hit to the upper chest-- not just in motorsports, but other sports and adventures, too.
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That's what happened to my friend T.J. (on this board).
He got hit in the chest in the middle of the day by a deer jumping a guardrail on the interstate while he was doing probably at least 70 mph.
I think with a lick at that speed with so much mass behind it, nothing would have made much of a difference.
 
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I had the same thing happen. My right knee had a bruise a couple inches across. It looked like a "mat burn" from when I wrestled in high school. I think it was caused by the force and the pant leg against my skin. Other than that, and a couple bruises on my left forearm by my elbow that were about the size of two quarters, that was the extent of my injuries.

I had often wondered how well my knee armour would work in an accident. It always seemed to shift to the side some when my knee was bent. Well, it seemed to work when I needed it to.

Chris
 
Gerhard said:
It is like wearing a seatbelt, it comes with no guarantee of saving your bacon.
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Yeah, but you feel so much more professional and competent once you 'strap in'... even if its your SO's Geo Metro... ;)

Seriously, did a lot of 50cc off-road in my youth, you'll learn how to go down a lot in mud and gravel... whilst gaining priceless skills though...
(still recall the first time I seriously went down on my bicycle... picking gravel out the skinned palm of my hand for days... never without gloves since...)

Protective gear is self explanatory, quality one is pricey but offers more comfort and added safety... worth it...
In fact: I feel kinda "naked" when I ride a few yards without (like to the washing place at the corner)... really irritating...
 
I cannot find the source but I remember reading once that the human brain collapses on itself in a sudden stop from around 55mph? The longer the deceleration is stretched out, timewise, the less damage from the G force. Doesn't matter how much armor you are wearing, if the stop is sudden enough, the weight of our bodies becomes the issue. Hit something that doesn't have any give, like a semi, or a bridge abutment and its all over. But I think we all know this and accept it. The riders that don't wear any gear are either ignorant of the risks, or just stupid. The riders that wear gear are calculated risk takers.

The things that scare me the most riding is wire or steel guardrails. I'll take my chances sliding on pavement and possibly hitting vehicles. But in my area we have heavy cable guardrails supported by with steel or wood stanchions. The all-metal ones aren't any better. Hitting one straight on would be bad. But sliding into either of these at an angle, as would be most likely the case in an accident, it would take you apart in chunks. Like a highway food processor....
 
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