Body Armour

[khabel]

I currently wear a Vcan roost deflector which covers the main part of the chest, back and tops of the shoulders.

Roost Deflector (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Helmets-clothing-footwear/Other/photos/a-49936893/p-14982129.htm)

I am wondering if it is worth upgrading to a pressure suit I think they are called which covers the whole upper body?

Pressure Suit (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Helmets-clothing-footwear/Other/photos/a-49847400/p-15192375.htm)

Do they restrict your movement very much and how hot do they get?

[laRIKin]

I use a UFO Plast and I like it better than my Fox roost deflector.
It is warmer to wear and to me it is more comfortable with a camel pack.
As the roost deflector dug in to my shoulders.
And they do not restrict your movement.
I'm not sure if you can race with them any more.

[trumpy]

Being a fairly crap rider, I need all the protection I can get so I wear a pressure suit. Got spat off big time (sounds better than "I screwed up"!) doing a GNCC round at Woodhill (my one and only attempt at competition) and on my way over the bars I actually peeled one of the handgrips off with my chest, tore off one end of the kidney belt and then proceeded to bounce my way down the track. Apparently quite entertaining for the guys behind me!..... i.e. at 96kg I probably blotted out the sun on the way over the bars and then did a bouncing hippo act to follow.
Total damage (aside from pride) was scratch mark on my stomach and an interesting groove up my chest plate. Apart from saving serious chest damage (the crash was quite fast) the shoulder, elbow and arm pads stayed in place to do their job and the spine protector deflected me nicely off a small tree stump.
I now NEVER ride a dirt bike without my pressure suit.

[Motu]

I got an armour suit because of the versatility it offered,I can use it off and on road,under various garments,and have the back protector/kidney belt seperate.I'm happy with the protection level,I feel very safe wearing it - the things I'm not happy with....it doesn't seem to fit my ''new'' shape,where my waist measurement is now greater than my chest measurement,this pushes the chest protector up too high.I intend to revert to my ''old'' shape soon...ahem.It's bulky and hot - by the time I fit it and get my jacket over the top I have gone from an out of shape M,to an XXOS,and feel like I'm inhabiting some huge sluggard's body...I feel big and cumbersome,with restricted movement.

I'm still thinking about it...but don't know how else to get this much protection and versatility.

[khabel]

Are there any brands to stay away from or things to look out for when buying one?

[Motu]

http://forum.motorcycle-usa.com/default.aspx?f=32&m=101300They use crap zips,check they are easy to get into.Make sure your armour has CE labels,body armour should have EN 1621-1,back protectors EN 1621-2,don't buy armour without these markings.This guy here has an in depth rave about armour.

[trumpy]

Make sure the mesh that holds it all together is soft. Mine is an earlier design and the mesh is both scratchy and probably not as strong as it could be which necessitates me wearing a sweatshirt underneath (very hot in the summer) or looking like a prat and wearing it on the outside of my riding shirt.

[Wellyman]

still wear an O'neal one that I got for free with my machine they work fine,pressure suits look ok but I couldn't tell you much as I haven't ridden with one.Armour is good fullstop!
WM