Fox Racing Proframe LC Chest Protector

(discontinued)

There was a time when chest protectors were just as much a part of moto fashion as the gear itself. Frankly, you weren't cool if you didn't wear a chest protector. But since that time, moto fashion has evolved and chest protectors maybe don't get the love that they once did. But I believe their need has only increased. Love them or hate them, the modern four-stroke is here to stay, and I think one thing we can all agree upon is that the roost off of those thumpers really hurts. That, coupled with the desire to limit injuries in the event of a crash, causes many riders to look for some sort of protection. Today's chest protectors offer a wide range of sizes and configurations, all with their own advantages and disadvantages, which make it difficult to know what to choose. My latest choice of chest protector has been Fox's minimalistic Proframe and here are my thoughts.

Fox Racing Proframe LC Features:

• Adjustable shoulder straps offer size adjustment and more room for neck braces.
• The buckle system is integrated into the chest plate.
• Removable back plate allows rider to wear it as a chest plate only.
• Soft biofoam chassis rides against your body for a comfortable fit.
• Available in two sizes, S/M and L/XL.
• Available in both black and white.
• MSRP $99.95.

First Impressions

The two things that instantly stood out to me when I received the Proframe was how light it was, and how well the design distributed force across the body.

Being over six feet tall, finding a chest protector that doesn't make me feel like I'm wearing a half-shirt from the '80s can be a real struggle. I was happy to see a wide range of adjustability in the shoulder straps that enabled a fit closer to my liking, but I still felt that it could have benefited from a little more length. The overall fit was better than most chest protectors that I've tried, but there's still room for improvement. I did find the width of Proframe to be excessive, making me wish that Fox would have included flex panels in the design; which would have allowed the Proframe to conform to the user's body shape.

As a neck brace user, I look at neck brace compatibility as one of the first and most crucial requirements of a chest protector. The Proframe can be adjusted to sit low on the chest and the removable rear panel can help accommodate the use of most neck braces.

On the Track

During my first ride with the Proframe, I quickly recognized that the back plate would retain way too much body heat for my liking. As soon as I got back to the truck, I easily removed the entire back plate and replaced it with the clear strap, which left me in a much more comfortable state during my next moto. With the back plate removed, I've ridden in temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and have been happy with the product's ability to ventilate and maintain comfort.

Over the past nine months, I've experienced a handful of crashes in the Proframe; one of which caused me to land face down and spread eagle on a rocky hard-packed section, and the protector worked flawlessly. When I got up from that particular crash, my jersey looked like I had been peppered with a shotgun, but my skin suffered little to no damage. More importantly, the Proframe distributed the force in a manner that left me without any soreness in my chest. This may not seem like a big deal, but most of my past chest protectors have saved my skin from damage during a crash, yet they would still transfer most of the force to my body. For example, I crashed a couple years ago while wearing a traditional style chest protector that placed all the force on two places of my chest; just below my collar bones and on my stomach. Even thought the crash was at relatively low speed, the force was enough to dislocate ribs on both sides of my chest, with one side being pushed far enough back to dislocate a rib in my back as well.

As for riding with a neck brace, the Proframe worked very well in coordination with my Atlas brace. But I do wish that the shoulder straps had a lower profile, which would give the neck brace a bit more clearance and a more natural fit.

Long-Term Durability

I tend to run my chest protector under my jersey, so sunlight and constant exposure to the elements aren't much of a factor. But as mentioned earlier, I've taken a handful of diggers while wearing the Fox Proframe, and after those crashes and constant use, I've been impressed with its ability to take a hit with little to no damage. The padding on the inside shows almost no wear, leading me to believe that I will get many years of faithful service from this protector.

The Last Word

Overall, I've been happy with the Fox Proframe. I think it could be improved with flexible panels, allowing it to contour to the riders sides. I personally didn't enjoy using the back panel, but I appreciate that Fox put in the thought to design the Proframe to meet different rider's needs and preference. With all that being said, I feel that price is on the upper end of what should be asked for the product. Therefore, I give the Proframe three-and-a-half stars; signifying that there aren't major deficiencies, but it doesn't outperform the price point.

Vital MX Rating

Check out FoxHead.com to check out the Proframe or Fox's other products.

About the Test Rider

Thiess Lindsay- born to a moto-crazed father who stole his first name from Greg Theiss, a regular on professional motocross scene in the late 70s. The family is still trying to figure out why the spelling is different, but the running joke is Thiess means “drunken father”. As a taller and “bigger-boned” rider Thiess is proud to give a voice to the large number of riders that were built more for football or basketball than moto. His inherently cheap nature also serves as a good measuring stick for the average guy who is trying to find the best value from the many aftermarket parts available. Between his career as an engineer (which means he can’t spell) / project manager and a young family, Thiess finds every opportunity to ride and enjoy the freedom and camaraderie that only a dirt bike can provide.

Review by Thiess Lindsay // Photos by Michael Lindsay