Leathers Recomendations

[FourThreeSix]

By that measure, your winning.

:laughing

If you can spend the coin, the new airbag suits are really awesome. I run an Alpinestars suit with Tech-Air and was lucky enough to test it out a few months ago. Worked flawlessly and I was up and about with no issues whatsoever. Highly recommend going that route.

 

[Honey Badger]

Output out front can seem painful - it's less painful than the alternative in my experience.

A good suit will be well worth the money and will last. Most of my suits up to now have been Dainese, had a custom Pilot as my first one-piece, it worked quite nicely too.

My D-Air (Mugello) I have set off, but (unfortunately) got to REALLY test it with a rather epic highside last month - my rear end still took a nasty hit, and a leg was a bit cranky, but no ER visits, no doctors, no whiplash, and the way my upper body felt, I wouldn't have even known I crashed (although I was trying out for the next Superman opening).

Not cheap up front - more than paid for itself in that one though.

I have a Mithos with TechAir on the way, won't go back to non-airbag suits now....

 

[Gixxer343]

Man you bay area cats sure can throw some coin around! I’m not trying to say just buy a piece of crap suit but 1200 or 1500 bucks for leathers when you can get a great alpinestars or other VERY reputable brand for much less seems silly. The Leather isnt issue, the armor is. Most serious injury will come from some type of blunt force trauma, not road rash. Neck, head, limbs and joints being bounced around and smacking the ground or another object like your bike. If the suit has good CE rated armor in the right spots it will work like a charm. Good suit, helmet, gloves, boots, and back protector= go ride. When I say good I dont mean $400 for boots or a suit like I mentioned. Thats kooky talk. Short of Lorenzo’s high side I think Ill be fine in a much more affordable getup. The vast majority of get offs are low sides that have you leaving the track surface relatively quickly and put you in the grass or gravel. If you can keep the tumbling to a minimum you should fare well.
Now, fit is another issue all together that I would completely agree with you guys on. Im positive your custom Mucho Dinero suit fits a shit ton better than my off the rack Cortech. But im not sleeping in the damn thing. 20 minutes on 40 minutes off, 7 times- go home.
All Im saying is that we can get by with spending much less and still be just as protected. Would I like an airbag- sure. Can I afford it, no. It just seems like over the last couple years I cant swing a dead cat without hitting a guy in a Dianese suit and cant help but think much of it comes from the image or the desire to look like the other big spenders.
You guys arent wrong, I just want to open the idea that there are more affordable options that will work.
Too long, I know. Sorry.
Dismounts soapbox

Bring on the heat

 

[stangmx13]

Man you bay area cats sure can throw some coin around! I’m not trying to say just buy a piece of crap suit but 1200 or 1500 bucks for leathers when you can get a great alpinestars or other VERY reputable brand for much less seems silly. The Leather isnt issue, the armor is. Most serious injury will come from some type of blunt force trauma, not road rash. Neck, head, limbs and joints being bounced around and smacking the ground or another object like your bike. If the suit has good CE rated armor in the right spots it will work like a charm. Good suit, helmet, gloves, boots, and back protector= go ride. When I say good I dont mean $400 for boots or a suit like I mentioned. Thats kooky talk. Short of Lorenzo’s high side I think Ill be fine in a much more affordable getup. The vast majority of get offs are low sides that have you leaving the track surface relatively quickly and put you in the grass or gravel. If you can keep the tumbling to a minimum you should fare well.
Now, fit is another issue all together that I would completely agree with you guys on. Im positive your custom Mucho Dinero suit fits a shit ton better than my off the rack Cortech. But im not sleeping in the damn thing. 20 minutes on 40 minutes off, 7 times- go home.
All Im saying is that we can get by with spending much less and still be just as protected. Would I like an airbag- sure. Can I afford it, no. It just seems like over the last couple years I cant swing a dead cat without hitting a guy in a Dianese suit and cant help but think much of it comes from the image or the desire to look like the other big spenders.
You guys arent wrong, I just want to open the idea that there are more affordable options that will work.
Too long, I know. Sorry.
Dismounts soapbox

Bring on the heat

wanna compare armor to my Dainese Kyalami? the armor is very different btw expensive and inexpensive suits, even if they both carry a CE rating. grab the shoulder of a cheaper suit when someone isnt wearing it... does it fold it half?

fit is very important for more than just comfort. a proper fit keeps the armor in place. a common example is loose legs allow the kneepads to rotate too. so my awesome fitting suit is safer.

ive tried so many suits on - A*, Dainese, Cortech, JoeRocket, Spidi, Fieldsheer, Pilot. u really get what u pay for.

 

[synfinatic]

You guys arent wrong, I just want to open the idea that there are more affordable options that will work.
Too long, I know. Sorry.
Dismounts soapbox

Bring on the heat

The problem I've seen with "more affordable options" is that the suits end up being single-use items. Poor fitment, blown stitches after small offs, stitches in the wrong places because they used smaller leather panels which are a way to keep costs down, lower quality or incorrectly placed stretch panels which get holes, etc. I've even seen lower quality leather which didn't end up providing the protection that I've come to expect from higher quality suits. And CE is just a standard which sets minimum guidelines. You can't assume all CE armor is equally as good.

I mean, I get it... it's an expensive hobby and we're all looking to save $$$ where we can. Cheap suits are a bit penny-wise, pound foolish though if you ask me. For a long time my suit, boots, gloves and helmet were worth more than my race bike. Never once regretted spending my hard earned money on protecting my ass.

 

[afm199]

The problem I've seen with "more affordable options" is that the suits end up being single-use items. Poor fitment, blown stitches after small offs, stitches in the wrong places because they used smaller leather panels which are a way to keep costs down, lower quality or incorrectly placed stretch panels which get holes, etc. I've even seen lower quality leather which didn't end up providing the protection that I've come to expect from higher quality suits. And CE is just a standard which sets minimum guidelines. You can't assume all CE armor is equally as good.

I mean, I get it... it's an expensive hobby and we're all looking to save $$$ where we can. Cheap suits are a bit penny-wise, pound foolish though if you ask me. For a long time my suit, boots, gloves and helmet were worth more than my race bike. Never once regretted spending my hard earned money on protecting my ass.

This. Cheap suits are great if you don't crash much. On the track I'd rather wear an expensive suit that holds up, not a cheap one that blows up.

 

[Kalvin00]

Would I like an airbag- sure. Can I afford it, no. It just seems like over the last couple years I cant swing a dead cat without hitting a guy in a Dianese suit and cant help but think much of it comes from the image or the desire to look like the other big spenders.

The decrease in injuries in GP/WSBK/etc due to airbags says it all for me.

If I can prevent a broken clavicle or ribs thanks to my airbag suit, it paid for itself and more. I've also tested mine out in a lowside, and it's hard to say whether it made a difference but I know that I never felt my shoulder hitting the ground.

 

[jaybocc2]

The decrease in injuries in GP/WSBK/etc due to airbags says it all for me.

If I can prevent a broken clavicle or ribs thanks to my airbag suit, it paid for itself and more. I've also tested mine out in a lowside, and it's hard to say whether it made a difference but I know that I never felt my shoulder hitting the ground.

This.

I could have bought multiple custom suits from Vircos/Mithos and an airbag from each time i had to have surgery for an internal fixation of a bone that i broke.

Heck i could probably have a few new zx10rs too.

 

[afm199]

This.

I could have bought multiple custom suits from Vircos/Mithos and an airbag from each time i had to have surgery for an internal fixation of a bone that i broke.

Heck i could probably have a few new zx10rs too.

Have you considered getting some coaching to help you with why you crash so much?

 

[jaybocc2]

Have you considered getting some coaching to help you with why you crash so much?

Ahaha thanks Ernest, i suppose i set myself up for that... :rofl :afm199 FWIW only have 2 track incidents out of 3 years track riding/racing, one with an airbag and one with out, guess which one broke bones?

The really big bad injuries happened on the street involved cagers... which i would still 100% recommend buying the A* street airbag with jacket as it probably would have kept me out of the hospital at least once.

But i would definitely recommend any of the schools as well, having taken a few including K@TT/C@TT's 2day and michael/dave's one day w/PTT and Pridmores.

 

[Gixxer343]

So I will concede you guys make some good points. Im not totally convinced but hey, its a learning curve, so thanks.
Real question here: looking at the track airbag vests, it looks to me like they arent really going to help with the collarbone issue if you go down on one shoulder because they have no protection there. I get they will help neck, head and ribcage for sure. Anybody have info on how they would or would not help with collarbone/ shoulder issues in that kind of wreck. Remember Im talking specifically about going down directly onto one shoulder, like a low side or bad high side.

 

[jaybocc2]

So I will concede you guys make some good points. Im not totally convinced but hey, its a learning curve, so thanks.
Real question here: looking at the track airbag vests, it looks to me like they arent really going to help with the collarbone issue if you go down on one shoulder because they have no protection there. I get they will help neck, head and ribcage for sure. Anybody have info on how they would or would not help with collarbone/ shoulder issues in that kind of wreck. Remember Im talking specifically about going down directly onto one shoulder, like a low side or bad high side.

my hit air has rib and shoulder protections. The airbag inflates into what basically looks like football pads. https://www.alpinestars.com/tech-air-race-airbag-system

So, there is still a risk of a certain landing, or if you put your arms out during a crash of breaking your clavicle or injuring something else, but as i have recently tested. I wasn't even SORE (well except that sprained ankle) the next day after a 2nd-3rd gear get off compared to a 5mph drop/fall down where my shoulder legit hurt.

In order to deploy the airbag needs armed and you must be going above 75kmh average speed.

 

[Mechanikrazy]

Have you considered getting some coaching to help you with why you crash so much?

Speaking as another crasher, it's not always so easy. I was supposed to get coaching at the last Carters school. So obviously, my preparation included crashing the day before so I couldn't go. :rofl Hopefully, I'll get some coaching after I rebuild and get out to the June 15/16 Carters days.

 

[Mechanikrazy]

So I will concede you guys make some good points. Im not totally convinced but hey, its a learning curve, so thanks.
Real question here: looking at the track airbag vests, it looks to me like they arent really going to help with the collarbone issue if you go down on one shoulder because they have no protection there. I get they will help neck, head and ribcage for sure. Anybody have info on how they would or would not help with collarbone/ shoulder issues in that kind of wreck. Remember Im talking specifically about going down directly onto one shoulder, like a low side or bad high side.

Maybe it's incorrect, but I've heard that a lot of collarbone breaks occur due to helmets jamming into the collarbone on landing. To that extend, the vests, like HitAir, prevent the impact through the neck roll.

In terms of landing on your shoulder though, the electronic Alpinestars Tech-Air and Dainese D-Air both have airbag cover extending over the shoulder joint. Those airbags will cover the collarbone and shoulder joint. And they're still in combination with standard armor in the suit.

 

[afm199]

:teeth

 

[afm199]

Speaking as another crasher, it's not always so easy. I was supposed to get coaching at the last Carters school. So obviously, my preparation included crashing the day before so I couldn't go. :rofl Hopefully, I'll get some coaching after I rebuild and get out to the June 15/16 Carters days.

Hope to see you there.

Ken Hill basically ( as I understand him) feels that crashes are a failure of technique application, including, but not limited to paying attention and looking ahead.

I wouldn't know. I have only had forty or so crashes.

 

[synfinatic]

Hope to see you there.

Ken Hill basically ( as I understand him) feels that crashes are a failure of technique application, including, but not limited to paying attention and looking ahead.

I wouldn't know. I have only had forty or so crashes.

Meh. Sometimes I'm just stupid.

 

[Mechanikrazy]

Hope to see you there.

Ken Hill basically ( as I understand him) feels that crashes are a failure of technique application, including, but not limited to paying attention and looking ahead.

I wouldn't know. I have only had forty or so crashes.

I'll surely be there wandering the paddock to see if I can find a coach to work with. I'm not going to be on track before that weekend, so that at least guarantees me one session... :laughing

And I would chalk most of my five crashes over the years to not paying attention to real track conditions. The latest one at Sears was tucking the front in a cold first session while headed to the apex of 3b. I, being the knucklehead that I am, kept nudging the pace up that first session, right up until I couldn't (still thought I had a sizable safety margin all the way till I lost the front, but obviously not enough accounting for the conditions).

And the on-topic part: I can say that my D-Air did it's job to protect my shoulder and collarbone. Not as immobilizing of my neck as my Hit-Air was, but I appreciated the extra shoulder padding during my slow tumbling/rolling. I don't ride at the track now without an airbag and chest protector.

 

[afm199]

Meh. Sometimes I'm just stupid.

That's a failure of technique application. :laughing

 

[afm199]

I'll surely be there wandering the paddock to see if I can find a coach to work with. I'm not going to be on track before that weekend, so that at least guarantees me one session... :laughing

And I would chalk most of my five crashes over the years to not paying attention to real track conditions. The latest one at Sears was tucking the front in a cold first session while headed to the apex of 3b. I, being the knucklehead that I am, kept nudging the pace up that first session, right up until I couldn't (still thought I had a sizable safety margin all the way till I lost the front, but obviously not enough accounting for the conditions).

And the on-topic part: I can say that my D-Air did it's job to protect my shoulder and collarbone. Not as immobilizing of my neck as my Hit-Air was, but I appreciated the extra shoulder padding during my slow tumbling/rolling. I don't ride at the track now without an airbag and chest protector.

There will be plenty of instructors to work with you. My suggestion is to use the first session to go out, get some pace eventually, and learn/relearn the track. First session balls out is not always a good idea. After the first session get some help.