Pressure suit v body armour?

**telliman** · 23rd September 2006, 09:30

dude, it dosnt protect the side of your body, your arms,elbows etc.even when fitted properly they still move a bit. each to there own,but try tangling with another bike or two in both forms, see which one you prefer! on saying all that,its gonna hurt no matter wat your wearing.lol!

**cheese** · 23rd September 2006, 16:36

well after tryomg to keep up with danger I fell off a few times and the handle bars met with my gut and it's only just come right. It was really sore!

I'm not really a racer, so I think I might go for teh pressure suit if it is comfortable. I did see some nicer body armour at specrum for about $120 taht did give alot of cover. I ride more enduro style and just want a bit of protection.

**Adamski** · 23rd September 2006, 23:21

Originally Posted by telliman

this is an off road thread, am yet to see anyone on the track in leathers dude!

Then check this mate, we did 4000kms in leathers on this trip!!

**telliman** · 24th September 2006, 17:13

gee thats a long track buddy! fair enough,

**SDU** · 25th September 2006, 10:57

I have the Soft style chest protector (doesn't have kidney belt attached) that moves around & rides up, that is so uncomfortable that I don't wear it. I regret not wearing it or having protection when I get wacked by branches on the goat tracks or hit the bars as I go over or land on a rock.
I am a adventure/trail rider not a MX rider/racer.
I can see the pressure suit would be a good advantage if you could get a good fitting one. Sadly they don't come in my size yet.

Others I know who wear them seem to put up with the heat.

**cheese** · 25th September 2006, 15:04

yeah well I also want to be able to use my camel back too, so I think pressure suit is the go.

**Motu** · 25th September 2006, 15:28

Wearing a bum bag is a pain with the pressure suit - the hard shell back protector is tapered,and the bum bag works it's way down and turns into a real bum bag....when I sit down it's under my bum!

**laRIKin** · 25th September 2006, 19:01

Originally Posted by Motu

Wearing a bum bag is a pain with the pressure suit - the hard shell back protector is tapered,and the bum bag works it's way down and turns into a real bum bag....when I sit down it's under my bum!

I must be lucky as I do not have that problem with mine.

**Motu** · 25th September 2006, 21:05

You are obviously missing another protusion in the front of your body,so as well as slipping down the back,it does so at the front too.Drink more beer and get back to me with the results.....

**Wolf** · 27th September 2006, 16:59

Those pressure suits look good.

I have hard inserts in the shoulders of my DriRider Alphine jacket but, considering they don't always line up properly so I adjust their position by hand, I doubt they would stay put in an accident and would be of dubious value.

My spine protector is a separate piece with kidney belt that I wear under my jacket and I don't have too much of an issue with it - it feels secure.

I note that a lot of Cordura touring jackets (DriRider, Spool MOBIG etc) have pockets for hard armour but I also notice that jackets can shift around a fair bit and who's to say that the armour will still be between your boney jutty-out bits and the road when the crunch comes?

Given a lot of thought to this and still have not come up with any firm decisions as all the options seem to have flaws - the additional heat of the pressure suit in summer and the fact that it's not waterproof/windproof enough to be worn by itself (OK, the MXers are used to getting drenched for the duration of a race but some of us woosy Adventure riders/tourers take exception to hypothermia and riding for six hours in a blizzard wearing nothing but spandex and armour.)

A pressure suit and a good waterproof jacket with removable thermal liner might be the go, especially if the jacket has sealable air vents for additional cooling when required. Has anyone tried that?

**Wellyman** · 27th September 2006, 18:38

I have mad numerous tempations for one of these babys. over body armour, body armous always moves around causing your elbow pads, kidney belt etc to move with it ,with pressure suits like the ones made by 661 they have a built in kidney belt and elbow pads which makes them more secure and would make them less likely to slip down during riding. huge bonus for me.
WM

**Wolf** · 27th September 2006, 20:36

How well would the pressure suit fit under a motorcycle jacket (say, Cordura waterproof jacket)? Would I need another, smaller, jacket to wear when I don't want to be armoured to the nines to avoid rattling around in the jacket?

Also, how easy are they to put on and take off? Is kitting up hassle free or is it like being strapped into medieval armour and best accomplished with the aid of a squire?

**laRIKin** · 27th September 2006, 21:19

Originally Posted by Motu

You are obviously missing another protusion in the front of your body,so as well as slipping down the back,it does so at the front too.Drink more beer and get back to me with the results.....

I'll get right on to it and I'll eat more pies.
I wear the bag part to the front, that may help

**laRIKin** · 27th September 2006, 21:32

Originally Posted by Wolf

How well would the pressure suit fit under a motorcycle jacket (say, Cordura waterproof jacket)? Would I need another, smaller, jacket to wear when I don't want to be armoured to the nines to avoid rattling around in the jacket?

Also, how easy are they to put on and take off? Is kitting up hassle free or is it like being strapped into medieval armour and best accomplished with the aid of a squire?

It would be best if you go to a bike shop with your jacket and try out a few and see if you like it.
They are all a bit different in the way they are constructed.
I like my UFO but did not like the Six O Six and another one. (can't remember)