Neck Brace while racing

[grasshopper]

Does anyone wear a neck brace while racing? If so give some advice. What brand? What model? Does it prevent moving your head at all to look wear you want to go? Does it take a lot of getting used to? Pros? Cons? Advice?

Thanks,

[RCR_531]

I have seen acouple foam ones on the track before and i mean on track no rider. The new dirt bike style is being made for road racing but I don't know if they are out yet. Give Rob a call at Lithium Motorsports 1-800-894-7190 we have talked about them before.

[JBraun]

I'm not sure what the roadrace version will be like, but I ride moto with several guys that wear the Leatt brace.
I'm not so sure it's a good idea. It may save your neck in a serious crash, but it also seems that they break a lot of collar bones...

[J Farrell / Speed Tech Motorsp]

Interesting topic!
I just ordered an Alpinestars neck brace today to protect my collarbones in the event of a fall.

I'm gonna have to go test this thing out huh!

One problem I see is that I might not be able to tuck behind the bubble as easily since I won't be able to bend my head up cause the brace might be in the way. I'll give it a try.

I'll let you know after Road America AMA!

So much for retiring!

[RCR_531]

I think that the road race ones are cut out in the back so you can get in to your tuck.

[Dr. Evil]

I have seen an air bag type of neck brace used in MotoGP.  It looked effective, but I have no idea how it operates.

[bambam]

 i wonder how the older foam type mx neck braces would work. think they would be too soft to really help? also there is another company making something similar to the leat brace that looks like it might work better for road racing but i cannot remember who it was... msr maybe?

[J Farrell / Speed Tech Motorsp]

Well I got the neck brace in last week and have been testing it in many different situations.

I practiced with my full race gear on this weekend & I liked wearing the new neck brace. I didn't notice that I had it on after a few minutes. It might possibly cause more heat in the neck area since it wraps my neck while riding. It was in the 80's & I was only going around a 30mph average for about an hour and I was just fine.

I had no problems turning my head at all and honestly when I took it off I felt naked and that I didn't want to ride a bike again unless I had it on.

Then last night I took a trip to Chicago area on a street bike and wore it with my street gear on. I liked using it for that too! Less wind noise and less fatiuge on my neck/head/shoulder areas when riding. I feel safer with it on.
Hmm... maybe I'll go faster on the track!

One problem I expirienced was that when I'm in full tuck on the race bike I am having a bit of a time looking up through the windscreen since my helmet can't go back. I also think part of the problem is the new paint job with the number plate on part of the windscreen blocking the lower part of my view.
I'll let you know how it goes on the track.

If anyone is interested in one let me know. I can get them for you. $40

[Gixxerblade]

Do you have a pic of what it looks like?

[KTMRACING]

My son wears a RR Leatt brace and he will NEVER go out on the track without it!!!! This device is definitely a HUGE safety device that all racers should consider!!! OMG who wouldn't take a broken collar bone over a neck injury or death!!! Sorry dude but that is a ridiculous post. My son was forced into a concrete wall @ 90mph, flew into the catch fence and drooped 20ft to the track in a SM race. The helmet was destroyed from absorbing energy on impact and the neck brace did its job!!! No neck injury and not even a headache although 2 bones were slightly broken in his back from the spinal compression. Scorpion helmets and neck braces are mandatory safety gear for us. I sincerely hope that motorcycle racing follows NASCAR's lead with mandatory neck safety devices....my .02.

[JBraun]

OMG who wouldn't take a broken collar bone over a neck injury or death!!! Sorry dude but that is a ridiculous post.

I knew someone would come up with the standard "I'd rather break my collarbone than my neck" comment.
You're missing the point. The leatt brace is breaking collarbones in extremely minor crashes where there would most likely have been no injuries at all.
I'm not saying don't wear it, but if you do, know that you may pay for it with a broken collarbone. If the protection it provides from a catastrophic, yet unlikely injury is worth the risk, then wear it. 

[Boober]

I sincerely hope that motorcycle racing follows NASCAR's lead with mandatory neck safety devices....my .02.

I personally hope they never become mandatory.  Something like that should be the riders choice.  As of right now back protectors are not mandatory as per the CCS rulebook.