Any opinions on wearing a MX chest protector for armor?

[Afterburner]

I had a low speed fall this summer and broke some ribs.  I'd have been fine with a chest protector, I think.  I had a JR Phoenix jacket on, but it has armor on the shoulders, elbows and back and NOT on the chest.   (It survived just fine, BTW,  and meantime my jeans were a little shredded.)  

Does anyone here use MX armor on the street, alone or in addition to leathers or armored leathers?  Could there be any harm to it, other than being hotter?  What do you think?

[Briliu]

unless im missing something about the motocross armor things they dont really stop your body from hitting the ground rather hard. Just stop ridges and stuff from putting alot more pressure in one spot. That means when you hit the ground you're probably going to break your ribs if you hit hard enough, only you'll break them on the jacket not the ground ^_^

[Rashad]

Well, armor is armor, and if you have something hard outside of your body, then it will absorb the shock first.. your ribs proved that!

So, i would say thats an awesome idea! in fact, im surprised they dont make street armor, and if they do, it should be more common

i say GO FOR IT!

[glenn9171]

I don't see where it would help, myself.  Motocross chest protectors are thin plastic without padding to deflect rocks thrown up by other rider's tires.  It would be similar to wearing a plastic bucket on your head instead of a helmet.  If it makes you feel more confident, go for it.

[Afterburner]

Thanks for the input.  I got a MX chest protector and I'm going to try it, under my JR Phoenix.  It seems like it would spread an impact out over the whole chest, so a hard enough impact would still break ribs, but in a fall like I had it might just bruise the larger area without breaking anything except maybe plastic.

[70 Cam Guy]

I think that if you fall using the chest armor (hard plastic right?) under your jacket, the jacket will get torn up in between the road and the hard armor.

I had a hole form on the shoulder of my Dainese jacket when I landed hard on a lowside.  It was right in the middle of the shoulder armor.  According to the owner of Helimot leathers, there needs to be some kind of foam cushion between the hard armor and leather/textile to prevent holes from forming upon landing.  You can probably wear the chest protector on the outside of your jacket without any trouble but people might ask why you're wearing dirt bike armor on a street bike

I believe Dainese makes a under-armor jacket of sorts called the Safety jacket.  I can't remember if it has chest protection though.

[paui]

bohn makes an armored shirt.....why dont u check them out?

[vegbiker]

yeah - my hubby bought the Bohn armored shirt. He loves it - it's not hot, it fits under regular jackets, and he looks like He-Man in it It has a chest protector, back protector, and armored shoulders and elbows.

[Afterburner]

Thanks for the tip.  I just ordered a bohn armored shirt from Kneedraggers.com.