Air Vest vs. Neck Brace

[mculik]

With winter approaching and my motorcycle stored away, there is more time to think about stuff....safety being one of them.

I am thinking about getting an air-vest or neck brace for next season. I've seen more and more of these at the track, and I'm starting to question why i don't have one.

Does anyone have any experience with an Air Vest or the Leatt STX RR neck brace? Any crash experience? (hopefully not!) Both are expensive, but even a little increase in protection for peace of mind is something i'd consider.

The air vest offers more protection but is cumbersome and the cord system seems annoying. The neck brace is a sleek carbon fiber piece but neck protection seems less (although i guess studies show it works). Are there any alternatives? I currently run a knox back and chest protector.

Appreciate your thoughts!

[Capitalview]

I have a Leatt neck brace.  It is a couple years older and not the brand new version.  It has its pros and cons.  You cannot get in as much of a tuck with it.



It says it will fit anyone, but I have found this is not true.  I have the largest size and when I weighed 220, (5'11") wearing a Forcefield Sub 4 back protector (@2" thick) and a Forcefield chest protector (@1/2" thick) it would not sit correctly on my shoulders.

When I got down to 190, went to the thinner Forcefield back protector (@ 1" thick) it fit much better and sat really nice on my shoulders.  It did not really hinder my vision in the corners either.


I do have to raise my eyes up a bit higher with the brace on vs without it, but it was not uncomfortable or a problem.

I did also crash with it at Elkhart lake.  I low sided in turn 5, slid to the gravel pit and tumbled a bit.  It crashed really well.  There is just a bit of scuffing on one of the braces.  Nothing needed to be replaced though.  Really kept my neck from moving around too.

It is a nice option, if it fits you.  The one problem I have with some of the air vests is, what happens if the fabric is worn down while sliding?  I would love to see an option that would fit underneath the leathers as a separate chest/neck protection system similar to the Alpinestars air bag system or Dainese D-Air, but sold separately for any set of leathers.

As I understand it though, the Alpinestars and D-air airbag are being held up by the FCC. They have a RF transmitter, or something similar, as part of the system that senses when the rider gets so far from the bike.

[MELK-MAN]

https://www.facebook.com/PUREASC?pnref=lhc
these guys sell the air vest. I see more of them around now days, and not really hearing any complaints of it being cumbersome. I don't think i would be able to wear a neck brace roadracing.. more protection is better, but having to tuck and tilt your helmet back, i am suspecting it's more of a problem that you would think. But do more research and let us know.

[Kurlon]

I've got the current Leatt STX-RR, once it's on the only time I notice it's there is I get a slight 'squeak' at full tuck from the back.  Other than that it's invisible.


I crashed in it this august, based on my helmet and shoulder damage I'm not keen to know what my condition would be had I not been wearing it...

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

You cannot get in as much of a tuck with it.

Yeah blame the brace for your lack of being able to tuck there tubby.

[Capitalview]

Yeah blame the brace for your lack of being able to tuck there tubby.

WHAT!  Come on, you can see the brace hitting the tank!  I am svelt and buff!  Hottest thing on two, or four, wheels.

[Capitalview]

I was just looking at the Leatt website.  The newer, much more expensive, brace has a smaller chin stop than the one I have.  This would let you get into a much better tuck.  It also has folding flaps in the front.


http://www.leatt.com/shop/braces/street-stx/stx-rr.html

[Eskimo]

I started wearing an air vest in 2014 , and the only time I notice it is that some times, I feel one side flapping a little bit when I'm leaned at just the right spot (presumably turbulent air coming off the fairings), and when I forget to unhook as I get off the bike in the pits.  Never popped it that way, but it's given a pretty good tug several times!


I did crash up in the mountains on my street bike with it in October.  It was low speed (~30mph), and a rather sudden/forceful lowside.  I came down on my hip HARD, slid for a bit, and then got spun around and onto my back.  When I landed on my back, it was like someone pushing you onto your bed at home, nice and cushy.  My helmet never touched the ground, and I didn't have ANY neck pain afterwards, I would presume thanks to the vest not allowing my big head to flop to the side/back.


The vest showed no damage, and was able to be repacked and a new co2 cartridge put in.   Typically that's not the case at higher speeds, unless you get super lucky and just grass-surf.

[Grady]

Tucked the front in T5 at Summit
Hit tailbone first and tumbled
Arai took four different direction impacts
Vest did a great job
No neck pain, only lower back/tailbone where I first impacted
Tail of vest flipped up though I think I hit before the tether disconnected
Rethinking where the tether tension needs to be
New Co2 and ready to go
No noticeable bulkiness
I will not ride without it

[mike574]

I have been wearing the leatt brace for about 3 years now. The first day wearing it it felt very weird, but now I feel naked without it on.  I went down at the end of last year at NJMP lightning turn one at about 80 to 90mph I tumbled and roled over 6 times before I came to a stop and the next day every part of my body was hurting except my neck so I think it did it job.

[daveducati]

Hi.  I just registered on the forum.  I won't get on track without my airvest.  Jason at Pure Action Sports is very helpful. Crashed twice this year. Would have broke bones without it as they were both highsides.

[PURE SPORTBIKES]

While the Leatt neck braces are great for MX, I've heard of more damage than good when crashing in them road racing, particularly broken collarbones from the wings that come down onto your chest.  Also, torn scapulas.   I can't confirm the statistics of the Leatt product, but I know that the Hit-Air vests have been designed to protect your neck and collarbone, as well as your chest, ribs, back, and on certain models, your lower back and tailbone.   Of over 200 sold, I'd say 100 people have contacted us who have crashed tested them, and of those only 2 collarbone injuries were reported.   One of which had a previous injury.   


More notably are the experiences where people share video of themselves having high sided and come back to me to repack the vest for another use, thanking me for the protection the vest provides!  It really is an awesome piece of safety gear.


I should have posted here sooner, but for any racers interested, we are running our holiday sale valid until December 31st.  Enter the discount code XMAS2014 at checkout for pricing too low to share here.   


Current shipping lead time on all Hit-Air products is approximately 7-10 business days. 


You can view the full racer lineup on our online shop here -  http://www.pure-asc.com/shop/moto-gear