Are chest protectors cool yet in MX yet?

FlaNard
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FlaNard 6/6/2013 11:01am
6/6/2013 11:01am
I never got into wearing them much once I was old enough to decide what I wore and what I didn't (although I grew up required to wear one). I have had some decent crashes over the years with and without a chest protector and never felt that they actually did me an ounce of good. Truth be told I don't consider them chest protectors as much as just roost guards. If I was a young guy and I was racing in rocky conditions I would have a roost guard, and hand guards for that matter. As it is, I don't use either, and don't feel comfortable with either. Its beyond comical that some people are so militant about this, but its Vital. What else should anyone expect? Laughing Oh and as for cool, no. Never. A chest protector should be sold with hand guards, Moose gear, a headlight, and some PBR.
Frodad78
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Frodad78 6/6/2013 11:55am
6/6/2013 11:55am
This guy wasn't cool...


Frodad78
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Frodad78 6/6/2013 11:58am
6/6/2013 11:58am
While your at it tell this guy he's a dork for wearing one as well. Actually yell it at him as his old ass blows past you.

FlaNard
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FlaNard 6/6/2013 12:17pm
6/6/2013 12:17pm
Frodad78 wrote:
While your at it tell this guy he's a dork for wearing one as well. Actually yell it at him as his old ass blows past...
While your at it tell this guy he's a dork for wearing one as well. Actually yell it at him as his old ass blows past you.

Ive been passed by a guy in bluejeans before. Still didn't make him cool. Just better than me. Which is also not enough to make someone cool. Laughing

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Manbearpig
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Manbearpig 6/6/2013 12:41pm
6/6/2013 12:41pm


I still rock one..... so no they are not cool... I even put a chuck norris sticker on mine and still got zero ass from the ladies....
Titan1
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Titan1 6/6/2013 12:58pm
6/6/2013 12:58pm
It isn't for everyone, obviously...

But in this picture:



I'm wearing one of these:



And I honestly don't even know its there...I don't even feel it (it did take a couple of rides to get used too). When I wore a more traditional hard chest protector, I always knew I was wearing it (I was always aware of it)...and I always ride with elbow pads...and with a traditional CP and loose elbow pads, the elbow pads would always slide down onto my forearms. With the Titan, they stay perfectly in place. Plus I love the back, and shoulder protection...and if you look at the scratch marks in the plastic on this thing, there is no doubt that its saved me a TON of road rash (at a minimum).
Growboxracers
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Growboxracers 6/6/2013 1:00pm
6/6/2013 1:00pm Edited Date/Time 6/6/2013 1:00pm
Growboxracers wrote:
I crashed 11 days ago and I WISH I was wearing a chest protector. I crossrutted on a table top landing and was flung to the...
I crashed 11 days ago and I WISH I was wearing a chest protector. I crossrutted on a table top landing and was flung to the ground like a rag doll, the bars smashed me on the left side of my chest/ribs and my shoulder was crushed big time. Yes, a trip to the ER for me! After xrays it was determined bruised/seperated ribs and muscle damage in my shoulder, with potential rotator cuff damage. Sad

I went to Bobs Cycle yesterday and tried on chest protectors, the damage to my body could have been easily avoided with the addition of a chest protector. My damaged ribs/chest fit right behind the plastic on the Scott I purchased and my shoulder would have had coverage also, I guarantee I would be riding right now instead of nursing my bad ribs/shoulder. I cant sleep at night, I have a hard time taking a deep breath and am generally in alot of pain.

So go ahead, dont wear a chest protector, your choice, but I will never ride without one again. My chest protector is now on the same list as my helmet and knee braces, no riding EVER without them.

Here is me in the er, good times, NOT!

photo 20130524_212854_zps1e6c0176.jpeg" class="img-fluid" />
To all the people that say a chest protector is ineffective, did you miss this post?
Frodad78
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Frodad78 6/6/2013 1:06pm
6/6/2013 1:06pm
FlaNard wrote:
Ive been passed by a guy in bluejeans before. Still didn't make him cool. Just better than me. Which is also not enough to make someone...
Ive been passed by a guy in bluejeans before. Still didn't make him cool. Just better than me. Which is also not enough to make someone cool. Laughing
Ha ha, with age my perception of "cool" has most definitely changed. These days the ability to still haul the mail is pretty damn cool on my scale!
526
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526 6/6/2013 1:10pm
6/6/2013 1:10pm
Growboxracers wrote:
I crashed 11 days ago and I WISH I was wearing a chest protector. I crossrutted on a table top landing and was flung to the...
I crashed 11 days ago and I WISH I was wearing a chest protector. I crossrutted on a table top landing and was flung to the ground like a rag doll, the bars smashed me on the left side of my chest/ribs and my shoulder was crushed big time. Yes, a trip to the ER for me! After xrays it was determined bruised/seperated ribs and muscle damage in my shoulder, with potential rotator cuff damage. Sad

I went to Bobs Cycle yesterday and tried on chest protectors, the damage to my body could have been easily avoided with the addition of a chest protector. My damaged ribs/chest fit right behind the plastic on the Scott I purchased and my shoulder would have had coverage also, I guarantee I would be riding right now instead of nursing my bad ribs/shoulder. I cant sleep at night, I have a hard time taking a deep breath and am generally in alot of pain.

So go ahead, dont wear a chest protector, your choice, but I will never ride without one again. My chest protector is now on the same list as my helmet and knee braces, no riding EVER without them.

Here is me in the er, good times, NOT!

photo 20130524_212854_zps1e6c0176.jpeg" class="img-fluid" />
Growboxracers wrote:
To all the people that say a chest protector is ineffective, did you miss this post?
I seperated my shoulder and broke two ribs while WEARING a chest protector. Please explain to me how that happened ? I have 5 chest protectors that I have chose not to wear anymore, to many times I felt the chest protector hurt my ribs so... BUT I haven't thrown them out yet so I have not completety given up on them yet LOLOL maybe I will be back wearing them again someday who knows.
Kartwheel84c
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Kartwheel84c 6/6/2013 1:22pm
6/6/2013 1:22pm
They didnt exist when I started riding I tried several over the years when a new type would come out, like the first hard shell type like the Flak Jak and the Flak Jak 2. I just couldnt get used to them. I didnt choose not to wear them because they were or were not "cool". I dont like them, and I take a calculated risk in not wearing one.

So, to summarize, I dont wear one, never have but for short periods, never will in the future unless I am required to wear one. Dont like it? Tough shit, mind your own fucking business.
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 6/6/2013 3:24pm
6/6/2013 3:24pm
WhKnuckle wrote:
I'm a big fan of The Rock, but I wish these conversations didn't devolve into a debate that seems to center around the notion that only...
I'm a big fan of The Rock, but I wish these conversations didn't devolve into a debate that seems to center around the notion that only riders who are (a) stupid, (b) macho, (c) interested in displaying advertisement or (d) emulators of their pro heros, are the ones who don't wear chest protectors. Why not state the obvious? SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY FEEL ON THEIR UPPER BODIES! I don't wear one because I just don't like them. There is no psycho-cosmic reason for it. I've been riding motocross for some 40 years, having stuff on my upper body bugs the hell out of me, and I ain't gonna wear it. Fair enough?
Titan1 wrote:
Let me ask you this, WhKnuckle...do you believe there is any safety benefit to wearing a chest protector? If you do, and you still don't wear...
Let me ask you this, WhKnuckle...do you believe there is any safety benefit to wearing a chest protector?

If you do, and you still don't wear one...then that's your choice...it's a stupid choice...but your choice. And I'm fine with that, you're a grown man and can make your own decisions, and you don't have to justify those decisions to anyone.

If you honestly don't believe there is any safety benefit to them...then don't wear one.

I don't particularly like the way helmets feel on my head, and they are hot...but, because of the safety advantages I-and pretty much everyone else-wears one every time they ride. I don't particularly like the way chest protectors feel, either, (though once you wear one long enough you don't even notice it) but because of the safety advantages...I wear one every time I ride.
I believe there's a benefit as a roost deflector but no benefit at all in a crash. The kinds of forces that break ribs are so tremendous that there's no benefit to that flimsy piece of plastic. Now, if I was an off road guy, I'd wear one to deflect branches, but other than that, I think they're worthless. No, worse than worthless, they're hot as heck, uncomfortable, and restrictive of movement. Having said that, Steve won't ride without one, that's great - it's his choice.
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 6/6/2013 3:56pm
6/6/2013 3:56pm
I don't think I ever got hit with a big rock dropped out of a tree while riding motocross yet. But I've only been doing it for 40 years, so you never know what might happen next time.
yamadogyz
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yamadogyz 6/6/2013 4:21pm
6/6/2013 4:21pm
I have a fox subframe roost guard but don't even like wearing that because it gets really hot in the summer. Same goes for knee braces. I do wear a compression shirt underneath most always drenched in cold water that helps a little with roost. I do wear a leatt, mostly because it saved my life twice and I just like it. I know I probably should wear a chest protector, and I do believe they are "cool" but its hard to break old habits when your used to riding a certain way, in certain gear.
Kartwheel84c
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Kartwheel84c 6/6/2013 4:22pm
6/6/2013 4:22pm
WhKnuckle wrote:
I believe there's a benefit as a roost deflector but no benefit at all in a crash. The kinds of forces that break ribs are so...
I believe there's a benefit as a roost deflector but no benefit at all in a crash. The kinds of forces that break ribs are so tremendous that there's no benefit to that flimsy piece of plastic. Now, if I was an off road guy, I'd wear one to deflect branches, but other than that, I think they're worthless. No, worse than worthless, they're hot as heck, uncomfortable, and restrictive of movement. Having said that, Steve won't ride without one, that's great - it's his choice.
This, but I wont go so far as to say they are worthless, they DO make you feel like you are protected. There is some value in the placebo effect they give I guess.
Indy mxer
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Indy mxer 6/6/2013 4:25pm
6/6/2013 4:25pm Edited Date/Time 6/6/2013 4:29pm
Great analogy Green! Just too deep for some though.

I think everyone should make their own choice, but saying they only deflect rocks is absurd.

I too have been riding for 40+ years and never ride without one. I made both my boys wear one as well growing up.
My oldest, now at 37 and way faster that me, still wears one.
As with any protection, they do have their limitations for sure. I tore my rotator cuff wearing one.

That said, I have a buddy who endoed in a first turn crash on his KXF 450 a couple of months ago.
He landed face down with the rear wheel spinning on his back/chest prot. He was afraid to move, so he just stayed there until some killed the bike.
Came out of it with a concussion and a sore neck, but no damage from the wheel. Although it trashed the protector.
I think he would argue it does more than stop roost.

I just think it's pretty simple. The more parts of your body you have covered/protected, the less the chance of an injury to that area.
FLmxer
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FLmxer 6/6/2013 4:33pm
6/6/2013 4:33pm
I didn't wear one until my 20's and have a few scars to prove it. I was just starting to wear one at Pepsi Air Dania back in the day when a bike came flying out of no where and t boned me and I launched off the track and flipped into a pile of boulders and rebar. My helmet and chest protector were toast. I would of been impaled for sure but I was basically ok. I wear a Sentenial and Leatt and I am going to fast to not look cool in a blurry kind of way if ya know what I'm sayin. Ha ha
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 6/6/2013 4:38pm
6/6/2013 4:38pm Edited Date/Time 6/6/2013 4:39pm
I comprehended the analogy, it was just stupid. Why not create an analogy that someone dropped a big rock from a tree and hit you in the balls - then you need a catchers cup. Or an analogy that someone threw a beer bottle at your face - then you need a face shield . Or someone shot you in the chest with a .45 - then you need body armor. Or maybe you should choose the protective equipment that is comfortable and enhances your riding experience, go put it on get out on the track and tell the armor Nazis to shut the fuck up.
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 6/6/2013 4:57pm
6/6/2013 4:57pm Edited Date/Time 6/6/2013 4:59pm
Who give a fuck? If you want to ride in chrome moly/titanium/carbon fiber suit with an attached airbag, have at it. Just leave me the hell alone.

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flamenco
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flamenco 6/6/2013 5:02pm
6/6/2013 5:02pm
Here's my problem: the upper body safety equipment in motocross is for shit. I played football as a kid, when I began motocross I bought a JT chest protector and was shocked at the flimsy bullshit construction and lack of shoulder and chest protection compared to what I was wearing in football. Fast forward many years later and I am convinced the ridiculously constructed chin-guard on my helmet shattered my collarbone into five pieces. And I was wearing a Fox chest protector ... with "shoulder cups" at the time. There needs to be a comprehensive review of motocross safety needs at the highest level, yes taking into account overheating concerns. By the end I was wearing a Dainese roadracing chest/back/shoulder pro under jersey and couldn't give a rats-ass what anyone thought. Flopping around after seatbouncing a set of whoops onto your head is the equivalent of all sorts of analogies. Wear something IMO. Tell all the 'safety' folks to get a global clue on the type of flipping MXers do.
Indy mxer
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Indy mxer 6/6/2013 5:17pm
6/6/2013 5:17pm
WhKnuckle wrote:
Who give a fuck? If you want to ride in chrome moly/titanium/carbon fiber suit with an attached airbag, have at it. Just leave me the hell...
Who give a fuck? If you want to ride in chrome moly/titanium/carbon fiber suit with an attached airbag, have at it. Just leave me the hell alone.
Damn. Have you had too many concussions?
Nobody said you had to wear one Einstein!

Some of us were just stating that some protection is better than none, and we believe they do have some benefit.
People on this thread have listed a number situations where it's saved their ass! If you don't want to wear one, then don't.

But again, saying they're just roost guards is ignorant.
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 6/6/2013 5:25pm
6/6/2013 5:25pm Edited Date/Time 6/6/2013 5:26pm
WhKnuckle wrote:
Who give a fuck? If you want to ride in chrome moly/titanium/carbon fiber suit with an attached airbag, have at it. Just leave me the hell...
Who give a fuck? If you want to ride in chrome moly/titanium/carbon fiber suit with an attached airbag, have at it. Just leave me the hell alone.
Indy mxer wrote:
Damn. Have you had too many concussions? Nobody said you had to wear one Einstein! Some of us were just stating that some protection is better...
Damn. Have you had too many concussions?
Nobody said you had to wear one Einstein!

Some of us were just stating that some protection is better than none, and we believe they do have some benefit.
People on this thread have listed a number situations where it's saved their ass! If you don't want to wear one, then don't.

But again, saying they're just roost guards is ignorant.
So shut the fuck up about it. Wear it in good health and leave everyone else who disagrees alone.
flamenco
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flamenco 6/6/2013 5:28pm
6/6/2013 5:28pm
WhKnuckle wrote:
Who give a fuck? If you want to ride in chrome moly/titanium/carbon fiber suit with an attached airbag, have at it. Just leave me the hell...
Who give a fuck? If you want to ride in chrome moly/titanium/carbon fiber suit with an attached airbag, have at it. Just leave me the hell alone.
Indy mxer wrote:
Damn. Have you had too many concussions? Nobody said you had to wear one Einstein! Some of us were just stating that some protection is better...
Damn. Have you had too many concussions?
Nobody said you had to wear one Einstein!

Some of us were just stating that some protection is better than none, and we believe they do have some benefit.
People on this thread have listed a number situations where it's saved their ass! If you don't want to wear one, then don't.

But again, saying they're just roost guards is ignorant.
WhKnuckle wrote:
So shut the fuck up about it. Wear it in good health and leave everyone else who disagrees alone.
so, here's my perspective: both positions are fucked... the protective equipment is for fucking babies falling off strollers and the libertarians are fucking retards. Smile
Indy mxer
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Indy mxer 6/6/2013 6:05pm
6/6/2013 6:05pm
Indy mxer wrote:
Damn. Have you had too many concussions? Nobody said you had to wear one Einstein! Some of us were just stating that some protection is better...
Damn. Have you had too many concussions?
Nobody said you had to wear one Einstein!

Some of us were just stating that some protection is better than none, and we believe they do have some benefit.
People on this thread have listed a number situations where it's saved their ass! If you don't want to wear one, then don't.

But again, saying they're just roost guards is ignorant.
WhKnuckle wrote:
So shut the fuck up about it. Wear it in good health and leave everyone else who disagrees alone.
flamenco wrote:
so, here's my perspective: both positions are fucked... the protective equipment is for fucking babies falling off strollers and the libertarians are fucking retards. Smile
Well, that's another perspective I hadn't heard yet. lol
Growboxracers
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Growboxracers 6/6/2013 6:08pm
6/6/2013 6:08pm
FlaNard wrote:
Ive been passed by a guy in bluejeans before. Still didn't make him cool. Just better than me. Which is also not enough to make someone...
Ive been passed by a guy in bluejeans before. Still didn't make him cool. Just better than me. Which is also not enough to make someone cool. Laughing
Says the spode. Any dude that passe you wearing blue jeans is waaaay cooler than you!!

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