Abdominal Support / Protection Query

[Betty]

OK so I rarely venture out of my local board ... and never really into 'Gear' before ... so this may have been discussed previously but it is a hard thing to search for.

My lovely wife is still recovering after surgery (yes moto related, no not her fault, yes she will recover) and I want to make sure she is in the best position (gearwise) to be getting back on the bike when she is up to it.

So she had an emergency spleenectomy and I was wondering if there is something that might help to support her and/or provide a little protection when she is riding ... obviuosly still needs to be comfortable and practical. I don't expect there to be a specific item, but wondering if therer might be a 'generic' item which would provide support/protection as a secondary advantage ... I was thinking maybe a back protector with a support for the midriff?

She wears full leathers (thankfully) with shoulder & elbow protection, etc so there is not really a lot of room to spare ... any thoughts or recommendations?

Apologies for all the words, but can somebody/anybody/everybody offer up some opinions.

Thanks

[NAKID]

http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.co.uk/rib_protector.asp

[Spidey]

This may not be exaxtly what you're looking for, but I've always found the waist stap on a T-Pro back protector to provide a lot of support, in addition to protection on the sides.  Much more support and protector better than any back protector I own.  They make them in women's sizes too.



T-Pro also makes a rib/upper torso protector that may be closer to what you're looking for.  Edit:  I see NAKID already posted up about it.

Good luck.  I hope she heals up ok.

[ab]

http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.co.uk/rib_protector.asp

Thanks for the link.  Certainly something to look into.  Do you or anyone use any of the products from force field body armour? 

[Cicero]

I always wore a Fox kidney belt http://www.rapidracer.com/fox-racing-blackbelt.html?productid=1667 under my gear. Helps a lot. Made a huge difference on a quad as well.

[Cicero]

I haven't been using mine for over a year, I just pulled it out of storage. If your interested in it Pm me your address, Ill send it your way. Its one size fits all and has blue highlights.

[Betty]

Thanks very much guys.

That rib protector looks kinda like a short but wide back protector, would that be an accurate description?

The kidney belt would also seem to be similar just that they sit a bit differently.

Spidey that was the exact back protector I was looking at ... although they have a womens specific model it seems to be a one size fits all item. She is only a little package and is concerned about buying something unseen (haven't seen them in Australia although there is a distributor based a mere 2 days drive away), does anybody have fit and comfort comments ... or anything else to add/recommend?

[Spidey]

Spidey that was the exact back protector I was looking at ... although they have a womens specific model it seems to be a one size fits all item. She is only a little package and is concerned about buying something unseen (haven't seen them in Australia although there is a distributor based a mere 2 days drive away), does anybody have fit and comfort comments ... or anything else to add/recommend?

It's not a one-size fits all AFAIK.  How big is she?  Locally, I know Mostrobelle wears one and is 5'4" and skinny as hell.  She may be able to give you some size feedback for your wife (after you do the metric conversion, of course  ).  They're also rebadged and sold as Joe Rocket back protectors.  Maybe the Speedmaster or something like that.  Buying the Joe Rocket version will often save you some $. 

The rib protector is worn on the front AFAIK.

 

Do you or anyone use any of the products from force field body armour? 

Yup.  I use either T-Pro or Helimot's proprietary armor in the jackets/suits I wear the most (I haven't replaced all the armor in all my jackets with T-Pro.  Yet).  It's saved my ass more than once and is much, much better than the typical 'hard' armor you find in most motorcycle gear.  Because it's softer (though not like that cheap foam or even the hard armor with foam underneath), it doesn't translate the impact into your body as much, but it absorbs so much more of the energy of an impact.  The local shop has a ball made of T-Pro.  They throw it at the concrete, and it doesn't bounce.  It just absorbs the impact.  It's really amazing stuff.  The downside is that it's pretty heavy. 

</T-Pro devotee>

[Betty]

It's not a one-size fits all AFAIK.  How big is she?  Locally, I know Mostrobelle wears one and is 5'4" and skinny as hell.

Following the link NAKID posted ... and then selecting the back protector: the ladies is one size fits all but there is three sizes for the blokes . Have seen this elsewhere as well - there is something wrong with saying 'available in ladies sizes too' but then saying all ladies are one size .

At 5'4" Mostrobelle is a giant! Nah only joking, if my conversion is correct the boss is only slightly shorter but built like a brick shi ... sorry, I mean she is quite petite as well.

The rib protector is worn on the front AFAIK.

Although that was what I thought originally, I was thrown by the link posted by NAKID ... there wasn't much in the way of description and the photo alongside (somebody wearing an apparently unrelated back protector) had me thinking WTF, it looks like a back protector ... what does it only protector the ribs of your back . So thanks for the photo - doesn't look very boobie friendly though and I would think you'd notice the weight a lot more on your front.

[teddy037.2]

Thanks for the link.  Certainly something to look into.  Do you or anyone use any of the products from force field body armour? 

I was about to say... spidey's like their spokesmodel 

elTristo picked up a tpro insert for his A* jacket, I just stuck w/the G2 in mine.

that ball demo is pretty crazy, though 

[Slide Panda]

T-Pro/Forcefield also introduced a new iteration of their back protector - here's some details

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/back-protector/forcefield-pro-sub-4/

Here's an over view of a number of their items
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motorcycle-armor/forcefield/

- The 'Forcefield shirt' might be more suitable for a petite frame - though it will not offer the robust chest protection of the item above. 

[mostrobelle]

I wouldn't say that I'm skinny as hell.  Flat chested, yes, but the fat is there--just not where I want it.   

I wear the ladies T-pro back protector like shown in the picture.  It's for ladies cuz the little image of a person is in pink, not in blue.  That's really the only way I can tell the difference.  I had one before this that was a men's b.p. and the elastic straps were cinched down to their shortest length to fit me.  The waist was fine.  The women's I currently own has shorter straps, and that's nice.  My waist isn't all that small, so it fits perfectly.  If you have a short waist and/or large bewbs then you might want to check in with someone to ask a couple of questions.  I think I've heard of a couple of gals complaining that it cut into the under-boob cleavage a little and that it could be a tad uncomfy on warmer days.  Like I said, I gots nothing in the chesticular region, so that type of thing doesn't really affect me.   I would question the one-size-fits-all thing.  I know of a few women that have b.p.'s by Forcefield and they come in very small sizes--too small I think.  It should cover everything from your scapulae (sp?) to your tail bone.  The waist of your pants will have to be enlarged a little, or if it's leather, it'll be tight for a while until it stretches.  Add about two inches for the b.p. I normally wear a 26-27 waist and I wear a 30 with the b.p. on. 

Let me know if you need anything else.  I can send/post photos if that helps.   

[Spider]

Betty, the T-pro forcefield is a great product...I started with the B.P and want to change the shoulders and elbows over in the jacket, they are that comfortable....and much better than the stock (and I wear Kushitani leathers...and they are deemed to be excellent quality).

That aussie importer....not helpfull on the phone at all unfortunately...maybe I got him on a day his cat died...or perhaps he's a complete d!ck. but the news is that heaps of stores have contact with them and you'll have the product in a few days and they are quite cheap down under too...so the price is right!

[Betty]

Thank you peoples.

We have ordered a girly version of the forcefield back protector (unseen), it appears to have quite a wide waist band and will hopefully be just the right amount of support.

[JEFF_H]

late to this party but here's some good info-
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/Ride%20Magazine/Product%20test%20pdfs/6%20JUN08%20Back%20protector%20test.pdf
if the TPro doesnt work out check the Held Recia too.