Motorcycle armor is protective gear designed to shield riders from injuries. It’s a crucial safety component that comes in various forms, from basic foam padding to advanced viscoelastic materials.
Types of Motorcycle Armor Offer Different Protection Levels
Foam Armor Provides Basic Impact Absorption
The simplest form of motorcycle armor is foam. It comes in two varieties: closed-cell and open-cell. Closed-cell foam offers slightly better protection than open-cell. Hard foams, used in helmets, absorb shock through destructive decomposition, meaning they’re only good for one impact. Soft foams provide minimal protection but are comfortable to wear.
Memory Foam Armor Enhances Impact Absorption
Memory foam armor is denser than regular foam and rebounds slowly after compression. This property allows it to absorb more impact energy, offering better protection than standard foam options.
Silicone Gel Armor Prioritizes Comfort
Silicone-based armor uses gel-type impact absorbers. Manufacturers produce these in various densities, and they’re often used close to the body for comfort. While not as protective as harder materials, they’re a good choice for areas where flexibility is important.
Hard Plastic Armor Resists Abrasion and Punctures
Hard armor, typically made of rigid plastic, excels at resisting abrasive and puncture injuries. It’s often paired with impact-absorbing foam on the inner surface to provide comprehensive protection. This combination makes it effective for areas prone to both impacts and scrapes.
Viscoelastic Armor Adapts to Impact Forces
Viscoelastic materials represent the cutting edge of motorcycle armor technology. They’re soft and pliable at rest but instantly harden upon impact. This unique property allows them to provide superior protection while remaining comfortable during normal use. Brands like D3O and SAS-TEC use this technology in their products.
European Standards Ensure Armor Effectiveness
EN1621-1 Sets Limb Protection Benchmarks
The EN1621-1 standard covers armor for limbs and joints. It uses a 5 kg mass dropped onto the armor to measure force transmission. Level 1 certification requires less than 35 kN of force transmission, while Level 2 requires less than 20 kN. This standardized testing helps riders choose appropriate protection levels.
EN1621-2 Addresses Spine Protection Specifically
Back protectors have their own standard, EN1621-2, which is more stringent due to the spine’s vulnerability. Level 1 certification allows no more than 18 kN of force transmission, while Level 2 permits no more than 9 kN. This higher standard reflects the critical nature of spinal protection.
Research Reveals Armor’s Benefits and Limitations
Armor Excels at Preventing Abrasions and Lacerations
A study by Liz de Rome et al. found that motorcycle clothing with armor significantly reduced the risk of open wounds like abrasions, cuts, and lacerations. This benefit was observed across all types of armored motorcycle gear.
Current Armor Designs Show Limited Fracture Prevention
The same study found no evidence that current armor designs reduce the risk of fractures. This limitation suggests that while armor is effective against surface injuries, it may not provide adequate protection against more severe impacts leading to bone fractures.
Ongoing Research Aims to Improve Protection
Recent studies, like those by Albanese et al. and Meredeth et al., have highlighted the need for improved armor standards. They suggest that current force transmission limits may be too high and that different body areas may require tailored protection levels. This ongoing research drives the continuous improvement of motorcycle armor technology.
Motorcycle armor plays a vital role in rider safety, but it’s not a perfect solution. It’s most effective at preventing cuts and abrasions, with room for improvement in fracture prevention. As research continues and technology advances, we can expect to see even more effective armor designs in the future.
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Motorcycle armor is body armor for motorcycle riders. It comes in a variety of forms, from traditional yellow foam to high-tech compounds capable of absorbing large amounts of energy. In its basic form an armored jacket will include shoulder and elbow armor, and many jackets can have an optional back protector added too. Trousers should include hip and knee protection, and sometimes a coccyx protector too.