Safety Gear - What do you recommend?

[lfg929]

Looks like Vanson is the winner with suits. I personally have a Teknic Violator suit. It works pretty well but tends to shred the leather in the shoulders and forearms pretty easily. Luckily for me the hard armor underneath has saved me from any injuries. That is one recommendation I would make though. Regardless of the suit you buy, make sure it has good quality armor in the shoulders, forearms, hips, and knees. If you go down and you do burn through the suit somehow then the armor will be another layer of protection. Plus, I have gone down hard a couple of times (100MPH tumble and a 60MPH high-side) and I feel the hard armor took a large part of the blows saving my body from a lot of the damage.

Buy a good helmet (doesn't have to be a $600 one, just a good one).

I currently use Sidi Race Verts for boots but have been looking at the Alpinestars Supertechs. If you want the best then Daytona's are the ones to get. The key is to look for as much ankle support as possible. I read a report that stated after the head your ankles were the next most likely spot for injuries in a MC crash.

I use the Knox back protector. I figure just have any back protector, it is better than nothing. Look for ones that distribute the blow across the entire protector to help minimize the force in a single location.

That leaves gloves. Held used to have some really, really good gloves. I think they are having some of the Asian countries do some of their gloves now and know that Helimot has stopped selling them because of quality concerns. That doesn't mean they aren't still a good glove. Like others that have already replied I use Teknic Violator Pros. They are $70 from newenough.com. Mine have been through 3 crashes this year and are still doing well. You can't beat them for the price and from the reports I have read on multiple boards (racers/street riders crashing in them) they seem to offer pretty good protection.

FYI, kangaroo palms in gloves is what you want. Kangaroo offers better abrasion resistance than cowhide. My Teknics have a thin kangaroo palm that you would think would explode on contact with pavement, but that isn't the case. The only downside I have seen with Kangaroo hide is that it tends to show wear and tear more quickly from water absorption (sweat). Make sure you take good care of your gloves by laying them flat, palms up, to dry out after a good day of use. I haven't started doing it yet but it might not be a bad idea to rub some leather oil in them as well to keep them from drying out and cracking. But, at $70 a pair I can afford to have a backup set or 2 of the Teknics so I don't worry much about it.

[Steviebee]

I've crashed a few times this year.

Back protector  "the Bohn"  (The white one with the breathable foam).  still looks great.  

I have the Alpine Stars SMX-Plus Boots and are not happy with them, basically they are torn up and need replacing after only running a dozen weekends.

I have an off the shelf Joe Rocket 2 peice (it fits me well, except for the knee area )  it has faird well, but not the best.  GET THE VANSON  if you can afford it.  remember to get fitted for your custom suit with your back protector !!

Helmets, one crash and you run the risk of destroying your helmet.  Once your helmet touches the pavement, its basically toast.  So dont get the rossi replica or whatever with all the graphics for 600 bucks.  I've had an Arai and a FM, i think i like the Arai better, but not by much (it hard to tell cause the aria was nice and broken in and fit well, but i think the FM will feel just as good after a while)

[StumpysWife]

I have the Alpine Stars SMX-Plus Boots and are not happy with them, basically they are torn up and need replacing after only running a dozen weekends.

Stumpy will agree with this statement--same boots and they did not hold up from general wear and tear.

He got Oxtars for next year--they look great quality and protection-wise, but we'll see, I guess.  

Heather

[Super Dave]

I have been testing Vanson suits for twelve years.  What I wear is what you can buy.  Often, some of the stuff that other manufacturers make, is not what they have their high dollar sponsored riders wear.  Vansons are heavier competition leather and they are stitched differently.  I've been knocked down, ran over, hit walls, etc...I seem to walk away all the time.  It isn't because I'm "super", but the leathers have to be my trick.

Since I wear a Vanson suit, I use the back protector that is in it.

Boots in general seem to be of poor quality an durability.  Certainly ain't made for walkin'.  Seems like Oxtar and Sidi have taken the lead in protection of the ankle.  Top of the list would have to be Daytona's.  $$$

Gloves...you've got to make sure that you have interior stitching.  Dafan, watch out for your TiMax...if they are the one's I'm thinking of, lots of exterior stitching.  Back when I started out, exterior stitched gloves were pretty common.  Easy to make.  But, when you touch your hand on the ground, the thread explodes and your skin is exposed.  Held gloves are really, good, but they don't fit my long fingers.  Admittely, Tecknik makes some really really really good gloves that are easy to get from your dealer through Parts Unlimited.  Fit is consistent and durability has been great.  A lot better than the Alpinestar gloves that I had when they sponsored me.  Suomy has some nice gloves too.  Hard to get, but I have a set and I love them.  Don't know if I can get them anymore.

Helmets...there are the common players...Arai and Shoei...and now Suomy.  I've worn Suomy helmets for three seasons now.  They are unique in that they are built to a different protection standard...BSI.  It's a British standard that takes into account a glancing blow and mulitiple impacts...that's what happens when our head skips along the pavement.  Snell and DOT standards are really more "car" oriented, but those were the only standards that were known at the time.  Additionally, BSI tests helmets from each lot, not just a handful a year.  If a helmet from the lot does not meet the standard, the lot is scrapped.

And back to helmets, Suomy supplies production helmets to their big dollar racers.  For a long period of time, I was sponsored by Bieffe.  As is common, I had pre production helmets that were different from what anyone could buy.  This is true for most manufacturers.

[StuartV666]

[The voice of The Contrarian:]

I would NOT buy Vansons. If I had a choice between Vanson for $500 and Syed for $1000, I'd spend the extra money on the Syed suit.

I've head 2 Syed suits and they've both been excellent. I'm still (occasionally) using the one I bought in '93 (yes, 1993). And it has been crash-tested several times and repaired once.

But, my reason for not liking Vanson is not an issue with their quality. It is with their philosophy. They don't support racers and racing. They just support their customers. That's a distinction that is important to me.

I cannot give specifics now as it has been several years and I don't remember them. What I do remember was another racer with not-Vanson leathers at a race where Vanson had their "racer" support tent doing repairs and stuff. He needed a repair. The Vanson people wouldn't do it. They were NOT too busy. He WAS willing to pay for it. They just wouldn't do it because his leathers weren't Vanson.

That attitude is SO against what I believe in, I am still (almost) unspeakably pissed. And it didn't even happen to me. We're talking about a guy's SAFETY here and they wouldn't help him, even though he was willing to pay for it. I don't give people/companies like that my business.

Syed, Syed, Syed. Top quality and inexpensive, too. I got another suit from then last year (mid-Summer '02). Custom design. Full armor. Some lettering. Custom fit (of course). Just under $1000, with shipping, as I recall. Sadly, that suit was completely cut off me at Barber's. :-(

- Stu

[StuartV666]

[More voice of The Contrarian:]

I had a Bohn Pro Racer back protector. I sold it. Why? Just after I got it, I was so proud of it, I was bragging on it to a friend of mine. This friend is a motorcycle land speed racer. He holds more world records at Bonneville than any other human. He looked at it and shut me down completely with one question. "Will it keep a footpeg out?"

Boom. There ya' go. End of party. The reality and importance of that question washed over me like a cold shower.

I believe the answer is no.

Since then I got a Kobe (I think that's the brand) from Marietta Motorsports at Daytona, and sold my Bohn for cheap. The Kobe has hard plastic overlapping plates down the spine. And good padding elsewhere. I'm not specifically pushing the Kobe. I am suggesting you seriously consider that question (will it keep a footpeg out?) as you look at each back protector that you are considering buying.

- Stu

[Super Dave]

[The voice of The Contrarian:]

I would NOT buy Vansons. If I had a choice between Vanson for $500 and Syed for $1000, I'd spend the extra money on the Syed suit.

But, my reason for not liking Vanson is not an issue with their quality. It is with their philosophy. They don't support racers and racing. They just support their customers. That's a distinction that is important to me.

I cannot give specifics now as it has been several years and I don't remember them. What I do remember was another racer with not-Vanson leathers at a race where Vanson had their "racer" support tent doing repairs and stuff. He needed a repair. The Vanson people wouldn't do it. They were NOT too busy. He WAS willing to pay for it. They just wouldn't do it because his leathers weren't Vanson.

- Stu

Stu, I guess I find it interesting that a company supports only the customers of their products.  

Vanson has provided that traveling service to Vanson owners off and on for some time.  Yes, it's not a service to racers, it's an exclusive service to Vanson owners.

Example.  In 2000 or so, Roger Lee Hayden finally got a contract from a leather manufacturer.  The Hayden's had worn Vanson's at one time.  You can bet that Roger Lee got a check with the contract and the leathers he would receive.  Anyway, the new leathers arrived at Daytona, and they were waaay too small.  Roger Lee comes to the Vanson people wanting help.  Yes, really it's too bad, but he should go to his leather people for help...Yes, they aren't there.  

Secondly, ask Alexa about leather repair.  It can be hard, and some leathers aren't really made to come apart and go together.  Vanson recognizes that in their production.  I still have the Vanson suit that I bought in 1994.  And I wore it again in 2001.  And then I lended it out for most of 2002 and 2003.

Vanson makes a good product.  They do support racing in general.  To say that they don't because Vanson won't fix another manufacturer's leathers when they don't even come to the track...It's almost like going to Denny's but asking them to make the eggs that you bring in...

[khanson]

Buy the best equipment money can buy.  If you try and save $400 on cheaper stuff you will regret in the ER when they are pulling asphalt out of you.

Leathers- I've worn Vanson since I started racing.  Yes they support racers because I was sponsored by them.  

I actually destroyed a suit after three 120mph crashes in them and a few other low sides (I ground through the butt area).  They went out of there way to replace the panels and lettering that needed to be replaced and turned them around in 1 1/2 weeks so I could have them for Brainerd.  Now that's service!

Gloves- Held is awesome.  I've tested others and Held's hold up to multiple crashes and very comfortable and give good feel.  

Boots-I've used Sidi for two years and like them.

Back protector-  I use a Bohn and have landed hard on it several times.  Definitely protects the shoulder blades which is important.

Helmet- Ive worn Shoei and switched to Arai and wore them for 10 years.  This year I wore Suomy and was very impressed and I like them better than Arai.  They are definitely lighter and built to a very high standard (BSI).  I whacked my head multiple times and destroyed 3 of them this year.  All performed excellent.  The helmet Ben Bostrom wears is same as anybody can grab off the shelf.  Other helmet manufactures make special helmets for their paid racers.

Just spend the money for really good equipment. You know the saying, "You can spend a little now or a lot later." :-*

[r6_philly]

Gloves...you've got to make sure that you have interior stitching.  Dafan, watch out for your TiMax...if they are the one's I'm thinking of, lots of exterior stitching.  Back when I started out, exterior stitched gloves were pretty common.  Easy to make.  But, when you touch your hand on the ground, the thread explodes and your skin is exposed.  

Dave, I think (not 100% sure) that my TiMax gloves have interior stitching on the seems along the edge of the palm. There are exterior stitches, but they are in between the titanium stuff and never touches ground. Also the glove is over made with many layers, so there aren't too many ways where you touch the ground there is not 2 layers of leathers or titanium between your hand and the pavement. 2 joints on each finger are titanium plated. There is an extra leather flap made of double layer leather on the back of the hand.

I have gone down pretty darn hard this year. for 3 times. The only injury to my hand is I broke my pinky. No skin wounds. And after 3 crashes you can hardly tell the glove has been down at all. I would stick with that glove.

[Super Dave]

There are exterior stitches, but they are in between the titanium stuff and never touches ground.

The one's that I saw, and I'm not sure if they are the same as yours, had exterior stitching on the fingers.

As for any metal on a glove...heat.  If it does slide for a long time, it can get hot and burn through leather, or skin.  Really the carbon/plastic armored ones might be better;  they're gonna shed some of the heat off in the form of worn down material.

[TZDeSioux]

Don't every buy AXO leather if you have a large penis. The groin area of the leathers will separate.

Sidi boots have been berry berry goot to me.

Suomy helmet is good. I destroyed one and little birdies were flying around my head for only about 30 seconds.

Alpinestar GP Pro gloves are good. One good crash on them and not a scratch. Although I did notice that there is a whole where my wedding band is from the friction.

[Super Dave]

Although I did notice that there is a whole where my wedding band is from the friction.

Yeah, those things are waaaay dangerous...in more ways that one...LOL!

Broke my left pinkey in 1996 or so at Daytona.  Had the bike saved, but I hit the ground first.  My fingers got pinched between the ground and the clip on.  The pressure transmitted through the ring gave me a spiral facture.  Came off after that.