Well i dont really want to ride around in a traditional motorcycle jacket , so i was woundering if ther was something i could buy with armor to wear under some of the jackets that i already own . Mostly because i know my jackets and sweatshirts wouldnt hold up in the event i came off .

Im new to the whole motorcycle world so any help would be great . Also if it helps any i dont need anything to keep me warm, its in the 90s hear in california

Well i know you said you don't want to ride around in a jacket but for warm weather check out the teknic supervent jacket at newenough.com under the close out section it was like 65 bucks, shoulder, elbow, and back armor included.

I have an Icon back protecting armor vest thing that I wear, but I wear it under a Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket for more back protection. I don't think there is anything you'll be able to buy that isn't a motorcycle jacket that will protect you from abrasion in the same way a motorcycle jacket will. You can get armor to go under your sweatshirt, but that's only half the protection you need... Avoiding skin grafts is a good thing, and the only way you'll do that is to buy something made to protect against them...

Quote from: fred on August 07, 2008, 02:19:52 PM
I have an Icon back protecting armor vest thing that I wear, but I wear it under a Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket for more back protection. I don't think there is anything you'll be able to buy that isn't a motorcycle jacket that will protect you from abrasion in the same way a motorcycle jacket will. You can get armor to go under your sweatshirt, but that's only half the protection you need... Avoiding skin grafts is a good thing, and the only way you'll do that is to buy something made to protect against them...

+1 

You can also check out Forcefield Body Armour. They're a UK company but many US stores (B&M and online) carry their stuff now.

Website: http://www.tprobodyarmour.co.uk/product_selector.asp

Review by webBikeWorld: http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motorcycle-armor/forcefield/

But, as fred said, it's only 1/2 the protection. You'll want abrasion resistant material. Jeans will only last a few seconds in a slide; that's why leather and kevlar gear - with armor - are highly recommended.

ATGATT - All the gear all the time. There's no other way to ride, even in 90 degree heat.   

im not riding without gear . the bike has actually sitiing in my driveway cuz i told mom i wouldnt ride it till i got gear . Just been to busy to get around to buying any yet . Thanks for the help . Im looking at a leatherjacket with mesh parts in the arms for hotter riding , now i just need to find some pants

Basically, to get a reasonable level of protection, you need a reasonable garment. If you don't want black leather, you can find other colors, though it takes work and money. I suppose you could always throw a sweatshirt over the top of a leather jacket, but that seems rather worse than just wearing a leather jacket. My jacket is brown, and my pants are black (it really is hard to find other colors in stock most places).

You could also look into something like (or the actual) AeroStich RoadCrafter - a non-leather option which looks unflatteringly like a snowmobile suit, but does what it's supposed to do quite well (I own one. If I lost some weight  I could even get the optional back protector back in it). Many color combinations available.

http://www.riderwearhouse.com

No impact protection, but you could probably skid for a mile before wearing through the fabric:
http://www.asylum.com/2008/07/30/10000-polo-shirt-repels-automatic-weapon-fire/

I have this that I throw my regular leather jacket over or if the temp is above 95 I will wear it by itself!

http://www.nexosports.com/motocross.php
Click on all products and you will see a pic of it! It's called the protactor protector ?

mary S.

ya i might get something like that . ive got 3 leather jackets just with no armor in them and i wouldnt want to wear them by themselfs

something like that would be great though

Got my Joe Rocket mesh armored jacket off Ebay for 50.00.Well worth it! 

I bought it off Ebay for $68 not a bad price. My GXair was almost $200 but I like it too! I wear it more because it is better for the female anatomy.

Mary s.

You can buy full body upper armour, so back, shoulders, elbow, forearm for MOTO X. Its all just on a mesh that you wear close to the skin or with a thin T underneath then they wear a loose sponser t-shirt or whatever over the top.

Couple that with some Draggin Jean's (kevlar armoured jeans) and you would be sorted.

thats what i was thinking at first but it seems that they wouldnt hold up as well as leather . I would think they would be pritty good though considering all your contact points are covered directly with armor .

What I'm curious about is wouldn't the mesh give way easily if one were to slide. I have one my self but usually wear my regular leather jacket over it. Hate to ask but has anyone ever "used" this technology on the road not on the dirt? I will wear mine by itself when the heat index is up in the 100's like it was earlier this week. But, if I go down and the mesh gives way in the first moments then I'm still SOL right? Just Curious!

Mary S.

The mesh will hold strong (thats what its designed for) but only in the sense that (if you are wearing the correct size) the armor will stay in the right place through the crash to protect the impact points its designed for. However mesh won't stop gravel rash. Gravel can rub through the mesh and still cause damage to the skin. However it will be much less severe with armour in place (holding contact points off the road) i.e. you will significantly reduce road rash. I wouldn't want to go out wearing just that body armour and no other light protection for the skin. However the chap who is asking the question wants armor to wear under a leather jacket that is unarmored, allowing him to choose what he wears. In this respect you should be fine. Even a light layer of clothing (thicker than a t-shirt) will protect you from the slight rubbing you might get from rolling etc... The armor should keep your body mostly lifted so there won't be alot of pressure to get the gravel rash.

Ive fallen off a bike at a decent speed 65-70mph, lowside with alot of rolling and sliding on both sides and back and front (i hit a raised steel grate cover which threw me over) Apart from the obvious impact injuries which resulted in broken bones and heavy bruising the assesment of the leathers showed signifcant scuffing on elbow, shoulders, upper back, same on both sides hips and knees and then boot ends also palm of the gloves. Very light scuffing was found on the lower back (back armour lifting you at the shoulders) forearm showed very light scuffing (elbow armour raising the arms) no lower leg scuffing at all , bridged between knee armor and boots.

The armor holds the high contact points off the ground, thats what its designed for. Other areas don't have armor because they arn't usually the impact areas and rashing is light. I would never wear MOTO X armor without a top as i don't want any rash thankyou, however combining it with a full sleeve jacket or top should give you ample protection from light scuffing. Boots are a must, they MUST go over the ankle i can't stress this enough. People forget boots but trust me there aint no fat on your feet to grind away your streight to the bone. Also gloves are a must. In the leg department i will sometimes go out wearing thick jeans (have fallen off in jeans before at slower speeds) for short rides im not too worried, ive scuffed my legs many times and jeans hold up against light scuffing if you have abit of a tumble. To be safe though get draggin jeans (kevlar reinforced jeans with pockets for CE armor)

All this is great but really protection is your responsability, you protect yourself as much as you think you are worth it. I personally wear full leathers all the time. If commuting to work i switch out leather pants for textile ones that i wear over my suit trousers. On short trips i will occasionally just wear my kevlar jeans. I can understand where people come from, they want to go places on their bike and just be able to get off and do what you wanted to do, you don't want to fart around with gear and helmets and armor and all sorts but trust me its worth it for the one time you do fall off. Alot of manufactorers make fashionable gear, you don't have to go out wearing your one piece kangaroo hide humped racing suit all the time. As i said before they now make kevlar jeans and boots which look just like trainers. Proper approved gear is always better than fashioning up your own protection like 2 tshirts with your thickest jumper on top. However alot of the time you can get by. Try stuff out and see what works for you.

seeing as ive never come off i cant say from personal experince but i do agree with pritty much everything being said . I do have boots and gloves + helmet and just ordered a set of armored motorycle pants . Now im just waiting for my armor to come in so i can start riding .

It seems everyone i talk to just doesnt care about gear . Im 19 and my pals arnt far off but i would still think people would be smart enough to see the impact of coming off without any gear . Two of my friend ride alot with just jeans and a t shirt , At least they dont call me out as a whimp for waiting for my gear to come in befor ill even take my bike out of the driveway .

Thanks everyone for all the help . This forum is making my breakthrew into the motorcycle world alot easyer

Well i came off after hitting a clump of mud at a farm entrance going in a dead streight line about to go on the breaks into the 30 zone of my village. I was doing about 60-65mph. I lowsided and slid down the road, and had scuffs all over at major contact points but was wearing full leathers. I got no gravel rash at all yet the leathers are super scuffed. Even with leathers tho that doesn't protect you from the impact and i slid over a raised grate cover.

Total injuries were:
Broken collarbone (right side), 2 slipped discs in the back (grate cover), broken pelvis (grate cover), and broken 2 ribs on the right side.

No rash but still what you hit did enough damage. Imagine if i was only wearing some trainers, jeans and a t-shirt and no helmet. Id be fooked.