Neck Safety Gear

[ray_ray]

I cant tell if you support them or not or if you have issue with what Zomby said.
I think they are a good idea and am actively researching them now. This thread is a good start for me anyhow.

Safety gear is a good idea ... But it only can help after the fact of a crash and is just insurance before the crash ... Myself, I'm staying on the ' Do not crash ' list as a first line defense . You guys can have the championship and I'll be sure I'm safe and will ride tomorrow, injury free hopefully ...

 

[Zomby woof]

In my EMT school many moons ago, they taught us that a concussion was the slamming of the brain against the skull causing a compression injury.
If this is true, direct head trauma is not necessary, only rapid a deceleration is needed, i.e.. head in helmet coming to abrupt stop when neck brace contacts bottom of helmet and stops its direction of travel.

Correct.
Both crashes were so minor, and the head hit was so light that without the brace, I probably would never have known that I hit my head. My intention was to wear the brace, that's why I bought it, but I can't afford to take the chance on another concussion. I still wear the neck roll.

This is a friendly discussion.

 

[Zomby woof]

Myself, I'm staying on the ' Do not crash ' list as a first line defense . You guys can have the championship and I'll be sure I'm safe and will ride tomorrow, injury free hopefully ...

I'll add that this past seaon was my least crash prone by far (not by accident), and I won both series that I entered

 

[MotoMarc36]

Correct.
Both crashes were so minor, and the head hit was so light that without the brace, I probably would never have known that I hit my head. My intention was to wear the brace, that's why I bought it, but I can't afford to take the chance on another concussion. I still wear the neck roll.

This is a friendly discussion.

This makes little sense to me. The positive acceleration that set the head in motion was gentle enough to not cause a concussion, but still accelerated it enough that the negative acceleration hitting the brace, caused a concussion? Bizzarre physics, there!

Very polarizing topic!! I think it's senseless to what if and second-guess a crash. Predicting an outcome with, as compared to without, safety gear is impossible anywhere but in a lab!! It's like the crazy stories people tell that "doctor said if I had had my seatbelt on, I'd be DEAD****************************************!!" Lol did he now!

I think we can all agree that it is important to feel SAFE and CONFIDENT with your own particular approach to safety, and there isn't one-size-fits-all answer. Go with what you believe in!

 

[Zomby woof]

If I hit the ground without the brace, my head would deflect off to the side. Wearing the brace it wasn't allowed to move, and hit the ground (and stopped) with all my weight behind it. The other possibility is that my brain is so big that there isn't enough room inside my head for it to move

Either way, I rode for a long time without a single concussion, and I crashed a lot. As soon as I got the brace, I got two (one really bad) concussion in short order. I stopped wearing it and haven't had another since. What would you do?

 

[dave lindsey]

I've never worn a neck brace. Been thinking of getting one for the past few yrs...never do though once I look at the high price. I DO however think that it would good insurance. I heard about the Atlas about a week ago...seemed cool because you dont have the connectors on the side..put it on and when your done pull it off...seemed easy to use and according to the Rocky Tucker Rep...more reasonabe pricing. If I do end up getting one The Atlas would be it. Check it out..

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYW8WhcttYo

 

[Evel]

Hi, I would like to throw in my 2 cents.....I am a Park Ranger at Metcalf Motorcycle Park in San Jose, Ca.... I have been using the Atlas neck brace for about 4 months now and absolutely love it. It is way less restrictive than the other braces I have used....all the features really work as advertised...and I like it so much I just purchased one a couple of days ago to give to my twin brother as a Christmas gift....I've seen all types of injuries in the 10 years+ I have been working/patrolling here....and the neck brace is worth every penny!!!

 

[WVdag]

I can't help but chime in. I thought and thought about a neck brace but could not justify the money, wife, kids, college and such plus I would rather spend the extra money on gagets for the bike. I wear a rock garden flac jacket, knee protection plus the normal stuff, helmet and such. I had never bit the bullet and bought a neck brace. Soooo last june on a sunday afternoon I was riding alone on my place. I've got some good single track and trails, all steep ground, West Virginia and all. Anyway somewhere on my place I took a header which is not all that unusual other than I don"t remember how or where it happened. I can remember riding and then when the fog in my brain lifted I was setting in my garage. Bike was parked in its spot and all. Since then I have up graded my helmet, Bell Moto9. An MRI on my neck and back revealed three fractured vertebrate. I hurt no matter how I moved. I had to gently lay down in bed at night and getting out of bed was another story, it was kind of a matter of gently sliding off the end of the bed very painful. I didn't dare complain. The wife was not to impressed, ahh but they just don't understand. Needless to say when I was able/allowed to ride again I had a leatt neck brace around my neck and don't/won't ride without it. I had to adjust to it like anyother new piece of gear but I don't find it the least uncomfortable. better than the alternative. Honestly, my knee guards were/are harder to get used to, just say'in.

 

[columbia510]

Thanks for all of the replies! I'm feeling old an not so invinceable any more and decided I should start looking into a little more protection. I'm also looking into something that offers more lower back protection. My Acerbis zoom chest protector offers no protection to my lower back.

Has anyone tried one of these?
http://m.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/6/10/41185/ITEM/SixSixOne-Corpe-Saver-Wired.aspx

While not a fashionista, I'm somewhat old school and don't want to look like robocop, this under a jersey along with some neck protection might fit the bill for most occasions?

http://www.leattbraces.com/accessories/adventure-body-protector-jacket.html
I use this oversized under jacket after my old generic pressure suit looked more like swiss cheese. This suit has a lot of upper and lower back protection. The draw back is it's heavier than all other suits/chest protectors I've used.

I will soon purchase a Leatt neck brace.

 

[Jersey Woods]

I'm a decent rider and I ride all kinds of stuff and I'm not a big gambler with my safety....I take it very serious when I ride to try and protect my body the best I can.... I use an EVS RC2 neck protector, Shift full chest protector and knee protectors.... I got used to them and feel uneasy riding with out them... After reading this post I think I'll upgrade my knee protectors because they ain't the best ones out there...And while I'm at it I'll get some elbow protection too.. Thanks for starting this thread....

 

[rappster]

ok boys and girls here is a deal, go to hookit.com and sign up as an insider to leatt. then cllick on the local and on line deals, scrool down and you can buy a leatt club III blue,orange or red for $150 bucks. the smalls are $100.

 

[motohio]

I wear the new EVS one, I have got used to it and now i dont like riding without.

 

[Tinken]

If I had to choose any one of them, I would say that I like the Atlas the best. Over Christmas I had a chance to talk to a couple of my KTM race buddies who told me that they have crashed pretty hard, even face plants and that the braces have saved them. What I like about the Atlas the best is that it does not put pressure directly on your spine. This is a big plus when you crash really hard. The Leatt brace applies pressure directly to your spine, can and has caused paralyzing injuries in the past. A good friend of mine wore the original Leatt prototype and is now paralyzed for the rest of his life. I still believe the braces are well worth having, but the braces that spread pressure away from the spine directly would be best.

 

[McKay]

you guys are making it hard to ignore this equipment much longer.
You all suck! My wallet is flat

 

[TemecuCoastie]

you guys are making it hard to ignore this equipment much longer.
You all suck! My wallet is flat

I picked up my Atlas in June after finishing Grad School. I had three Temecula Motorsports gift cards w/balances on them plus a 10% military discount. I think I knocked about $100 off.

If not for all of this, I wouldn't have spent the money (I'm a tight-wad Irish Mizer).

 

[TemecuCoastie]

If I had to choose any one of them, I would say that I like the Atlas the best. Over Christmas I had a chance to talk to a couple of my KTM race buddies who told me that they have crashed pretty hard, even face plants and that the braces have saved them. What I like about the Atlas the best is that it does not put pressure directly on your spine. This is a big plus when you crash really hard. The Leatt brace applies pressure directly to your spine, can and has caused paralyzing injuries in the past. A good friend of mine wore the original Leatt prototype and is now paralyzed for the rest of his life. I still believe the braces are well worth having, but the braces that spread pressure away from the spine directly would be best.

I tried Leatt, Alpine Stars and EVS but all of them made me feel like I was trapped - too constricted. I tried the Atlas and it was a done deal.

 

[TemecuCoastie]

I wear the new EVS one, I have got used to it and now i dont like riding without.

That's the downer about wearing protective gear (aside from the usual stuff, of course). I grew up riding in the desert w/out a lot of stuff and, when I got back on the bike decades later, I still didn't have anything but the usual. But, I started wearing the neck brace and now I feel less confident when I don't have it - almost dependent.

 

[Tinken]

Me too, I feel dependent on my boots and helmet

 

[McKay]

I grew up riding in the desert w/out a lot of stuff and, when I got back on the bike decades later, I still didn't have anything but the usual.

I grew up in the desert West of Phoenix, your post reminded me of my gear in the early 80's, Levi's, Reebok high tops (red of course!), and if it was hot, a white half shirt with red sleeves. We were stylin MoFo's out there!

 

[motohio]

It's pretty amazing looking at older pictures and what people used to wear, normal clothes, maybe a helmet? Its very similar to Harley riders now..