First Look: Leatt GPX 6.5 Carbon Neck Brace

Written by Michael Lindsay // Photos by GuyB and Michael Lindsay

Leatt has been among the most influential innovators when it comes to neck brace protection for the moto crowd. Since they created their first brace (and the market) in the early 2000s, they haven't stopped evolving, as they're constantly trying to find ways to improve their namesake brace. That brings us to the latest goodie from them that recently landed in our hands, the latest high-end carbon fiber version, the GPX 6.5.

Overall, this brace is quite evolved from its predecessors, including the most recent 5.5. The first thing that really stands out are the lack of parts needed to adjust the brace, because everything now works on a sliding system. This makes adjustments at the track much quicker and allows for finer adjustments. All that's necessary is to pull up the red tab found on the front and rear support, and slide each section until they meet your physical dimensions and fit requirements.

The whole frame has been redesigned to be lighter and allow more movement. The most noticeable change is the height of the sides. Leatt has removed their old buckle system and replaced it with a simple button. This has allowed the sides of the GPX 6.5 to be quite a bit lower and improve side-to-side head movement. This is most noticeable when you're waist deep in a rut and can still keep your head level while the bike is at full lean angle.

Beyond that, the front and rear support platforms are lighter but are still the same height as the original brace. The front pads and rear strut that contact the body have both been redesigned. They are shorter in length, but a bit wider, and overall they spread the load more evenly during an impact. Also, the padding on both the top of the brace and under it are molded to the brace. Instead of the previous velcro covers that would wear out under normal use.

A huge positive was the the repositioning of the padding on the sides of the brace. In the past, these pads would sit along shoulder and contact the collarbone. Deserved or not, Leatt's neck brace had a reputation of breaking collarbones with some riders. This newest version however, places the side weight behind the collarbones and has a cut-out to eliminate the brace from even contacting the collarbone during a side-load impact.

The GPX 6.5 looks to be an improvement in every way over its predecessors. But the thinner profile and light weight of the carbon model are offset by a heftier cost. Leatt does offer the GPX 5.5 for those on a more modest budget (MSRP: $369.99), which largely has the same features as the 6.5.

The GPX 6.5 will be released in early 2015. Until then, you can head over to Leatt.com/neck-braces to find out more about Leatt's current lineup.

Leatt Carbon GPX 6.5 Neck Brace Features:

• Improved helmet side clearance.
• Sliding front and rear sections offer more adjustability without changing any parts.
• New on board 4-angle rear thoracic adjustment. - 0, 5 and 10°.
• Redesigned clear strap is included.
• CE certified as Personal Protective Equipment 89/686/EEC.
• Two sizes available: S/M and L/XL.
• Weight: 600 Grams.
• MSRP: $599.99.