Jacket Armor - Good or a Waste

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Everyone likes Fort9.  His videos are fun and m maybe educational.  Here is one that I found interesting.  What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nINIJ1cAbYM

[Grumpy Goat]

Very good video and I think very much on point. I agree with him even before watching the video, but he made his point very well and apparently with some science backup, thereby confirming my suspicions. Problem is, how much of the lack of statistical correlation of the protection of the pads to impact protection is due to poor fitment of the jacket or pants to where the pads are exactly in the right place when needed? I am sure there are many other variables affecting success rate and his short video does not go into sufficient detail.

I am not going to be pulling out my protective armour, but I am going to continue to try and avoid the crash in the first place as much I can, knowing that when it comes to impact injury, it is a crapshoot and odd are better regarding protection from abrasion.

Don't even get me started on the marketing around helmets and the alleged differences in protection when the neck of the ride is typically left unprotected.

[Ray]

Right - my favorite physics/art history major, with the big memory. I admire his ability to use a chalk board to make a point about Newtonian physics as regards the bike, but then, I'm an old math nerd; he's not for everyone.

That's the old video that reminded me to invest in the airbag technology as it matures. Of course, as I demonstrated a few weeks ago, when my touring vest bag deployed in a bathroom stall (after I took it off), the technology/software still has a way to go....

Major points:
at low speed, armor works.
Practice not falling - bike handling skills are more important than armor.

[Grumpy Goat]

Major points:
at low speed, armor works.
Practice not falling - bike handling skills are more important than armor.

Absolutely. On the ADV and other forums for adventure bikes like my Tiger, people are always asking about the "best" crash bars, and I have to smile because the common wisdom is that stronger is better no matter what. As if the impact load stops at the crash bar. There is always a crash load for every design, the exceedance of which will trash the bike or the engine to which it is attached. 

Same with motorcycle gear and padding. Assuming that the padding is in the right place at the time, there is always an impact load that will pass right through and break wherever is behind it. Physics (kinematics) is a wonderful subject indeed ...

I too admire Ryan FortNine for his scientific approaches which take a lot of effort to produce these videos - research as well as the video delivery. Kudos to him for not being as lazy as me. 

[Lee]

For a long time after we changed from leather riding gear to textile with armor I did not feel as safe.
I always left the pads in because I figured it would last a few more feet in a slide before wearing through 
I see a lot of textile gear that looks wimpy when it comes to wear resistance in a slide.

[mspratz]

I watch FortNine's videos, and I think most of the points he makes are valid. However, when it comes to impact and abbrasion protection I think every little bit helps, so I'm leaving the armor in my riding gear.

[Grumpy Goat]

I watch FortNine's videos, and I think most of the points he makes are valid. However, when it comes to impact and abbrasion protection I think every little bit helps, so I'm leaving the armor in my riding gear.

Absolutely. Same here. Also, same view on his points. One can stitch together many valid points and yet come up with an unexpected (to put it one way) conclusion. 

Then there are other time the truths are actually true-sounding near misses to the truth which, when stitched together without context, can come up with a lie especially believable to people not pausing [or able] to think. Sound familiar these days ...? (that was rhetorical, and not saying that is the case with this video) 

[Motorhead1977]

Same here when it comes to the armor GG. Also my thoughts are similar to yourson the balance of your post. Well said.

[dravnx]

Armor is not the be all and end all for motorcycle safety or injury prevention but it is another tool in our toolbox. I try and have and use as many tools as possible to increase my level of safety. Not one single tool is 100% affective for all issues but hopefully, when I do have an issue, I'll have the right tool in place to at least mitigate injury.

[colirv]

This quote in the comments convinced me to leave my armour in. " As an orthopaedic surgeon (and a motorcyclist) I can say that its easier (and got better results) to fix lower Energy fracture than higher energy fractures... So, the benefit of using this gear may not protect you from having that fracture in the first place, but may shield you from months of reabilitation and permanent pain and limitation"

[trudd]

Ryan got a bit of flak for this video and, I think, this was the main counter:

Why I always wear motorcycle armour (it's NOT useless)

[Ray]

Right. Bennett's - an insurance provider. Similar message and data to the Fortnine video, but less inflammatory. The certification discussion - especially type A vs type B footprints - came to similar conclusions, though stated with that less abrasive southern English accent.

The bit about armor testing was the crux of Ryan's criticism about traditional protection. Essentially, the Fortnine video served to remind us of the significant limitations of armor as currently manufactured to meet current European and US safety standards.

I took both the Fortnine and Benett's video as yet one more, well presented reason to add a couple of airbag undergarments to my kit.
And - like Ryan Kluftinger - I'm a belt and suspenders guy. I added the airbags to my current armor set-up.
In follow-up interviews, Ryan emphasized, he was stirring the pot and did not recommend giving up armor - just recognizing the limitations of what we buy (at higher and higher prices).

[Grumpy Goat]

...
In follow-up interviews, Ryan emphasized, he was stirring the pot and did not recommend giving up armor - just recognizing the limitations of what we buy (at higher and higher prices).

A point that I agree with 100% ... especially on the prices bit. The motorcycle accessories industry is pretty much a ripoff since it is mostly a question of diminishing returns propped up by slick marketing directed at people who (at least over here) can afford to spend money on their toys, even if they complain on the forums.