CE/soft vs Hard Armour

[vifferman]

I like the new "biomechanical" armour Spidi uses - it articulates nicely on the joints. Dunno if it's available separately though.

[Jimmy B]

, the Spidi Gran Turismo pants I ended up buying have knee armour that practically locks onto my knees, AND there is an adjustable strap around under the knee to make sure the armour stays put.

Smee too. Good pantses. Jacket has all sorts of figure enhancing adjustments as well. Seems water proof too...so far...and so it should be...

[vifferman]

Seems water proof too...so far...and so it should be...

Yes. Not a CheapThing at all, at all.
I was going to buy the GT jacket (to match my pants), but I thought the Macna had better accommodation for warm-weather riding.
I find the pants very hot - the vents seem to make very little difference, and the liner gets a bit sweaty.

[Jimmy B]

I find the pants very hot - the vents seem to make very little difference, and the liner gets a bit sweaty.

True that, the liner is very very very effective and they make a great winter suit. I got mine for commuting in the fantastic Auckland weather and touring, that's how I justified the upfront cost to Mrs JB.

I have however removed said liner and it makes a ton of difference, though you still could've fried an egg on my thighs in tairua on Saturday , sheesh that was hot, they're not too bad once underway. Still they are cooler than my leathers and I think the armour is better

[vifferman]

...they're not too bad once underway. Still they are cooler than my leathers and I think the armour is better

The only thing with the leathers is they aren't as sticky, and they actually keep some of the heat (like that radiating off my rear headers!) out.
But yes, that armour is excellent. It was the first thing I noticed the first time I wore the pants: the knee armour sort of attached itself limpet fashion to my knees. And apart from the heat thing (that you'd get with any pants apart from mesh or perforated leathers), they're very comfy.

[twotyred]

I know exactly what bikes, gear, tyres etc I want ... I just lack the money!
Do you feel my pain too?

fraid not

[NordieBoy]

In a related way there is a huge debate over (search through KB and find loads) whether SNELL is a backwards step from DOT for helmets - as the standards are moving in different directions.
Basically SNELL lewads to harder helmets as it needs to withstand one huge impact from a concentrated force. DOT looks more at the absobtion of general force rather than focused large impact - as I recall. Which is better?

Snell is the "2 hard ball impacts in the same spot" one.

I'd go with DOT myself for the lower g-forces on the initial impact.

[Zapf]

Kerrie said that she had seen some of the plastic cup/foam behind type stuff which had shattered the cup on impact, so it basically became a layer of foam with shards of sharp plastic hanging off it. Not so good. She rated the Knox armour, and the BMW stuff.

It all depends... for example. it would have taken a bit of force to shatter the cup in front of the foam, a good part of that force would have been the impact force. So from a point of view, it can be said that the cup reduced the impact force for shattering.

Soft armor is good if you are impacting a broad surface, but if you are impacting a smaller object then you want the hard armor to spread the force over a larger area.

What vifferman is also very correct. Doesn't matter what armor. If it doesn't fit then its useless. Also, when you do go for a slide. Your clothing / leather can and will rotate around your limbs, therefore moving the armor out of its optimum position. One of the solution is to wear leather and armor which is separated, so that while the leather rotates the armor underneath will stay put.

The best stuff I encountered was Tpro --it weas a memory plastic -hard on the outside to soft inside

Interesting stuff that TPro... I have a set myself. I just wished they have something hard integrated to give it some structural integrity. E.g stopping it from bending so easily.