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Other/Off-Topic => Riding Gear => Topic started by: Headrope on March 02, 2010, 12:26:07 AM

Title: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Headrope on March 02, 2010, 12:26:07 AM
Complete the sentence: Wearing a chest protector while riding dunes is _____________.

a) something only douchebag posers do.
b) required, like wearing a helmet
3) a matter of personal choice but I wear mine

After several years of riding both woods and dunes I've been called out on my not wearing a chest protector. And since it was my 10-year-old son who called me out I have to lead by example but in doing so I don't want to inadvertently raise him to be a dork.  Y'all dads out there will know what I mean.

Please and thanks.
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Colorado700R on March 02, 2010, 07:11:10 AM
3 for me
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: rappyfreak on March 02, 2010, 09:14:13 AM
B for me, guess this is from my dirbike riding days... sucked to have the handlebars poke the ribs and bruise you badly.
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: SprinterX on March 02, 2010, 10:20:27 AM
Wearing a chest protector while riding dunes is a matter of personal choice but I wear mine most of the time.

Usually depends on what our riding plan is.
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Busby on March 02, 2010, 02:10:16 PM
Serious abdomen & Head injuries will kill you faster then almost any other kind of injury so I personally think that it is just as important to wear one as a helmet, its not always your ability to ride that can cause you to have an accident but it could be someone else's fault.
  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Krandall on March 02, 2010, 03:28:01 PM
I don't ride dunes very often, but when I have, I did not wear my chest protector. I think either or.. I don't think the people that do look like dorks or anything.

Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Kamakazi on March 02, 2010, 04:10:43 PM
chest protector is simply a roost guard, it is not made to take a falling impact or to stop a handlebar from puncturing a lung.  I u want to be safe get some body armour from evs
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Colorado700R on March 02, 2010, 04:29:21 PM
Did some one say body armour? :nod:

http://www.raptorsource.com/forum/index.php?topic=5066.0  :batman:
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Segkast on March 02, 2010, 06:34:47 PM
chest protector is simply a roost guard, it is not made to take a falling impact or to stop a handlebar from puncturing a lung.  I u want to be safe get some body armour from evs

Very true, but it does offer some level of protection. We have a member who watched his friend collide with another bike, stand up, then fall down - dead on top of a dune. He broke a rib wich punctured either his heart or lungs, or both (I forget). Would a chest protector have helped this ? Hard to say at this point, but it sure would NOT have hurt...

So out of A,B, or 3 (:lol:) I say 3. Though I don't wear it as often as I should and it depends on the ride I'm going on really, I would like to say that I do. After hearing the story above, I think I will. And when you get down to it, I have a kid - she WILL be wearing one when she starts riding.

PS... anyone making fun of anybody for wearing any kind of safety equipment for riding a 300+ pound machine going 35-70MPH is a douchewaffle. It's all funny till you get T-boned.

Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Headrope on March 09, 2010, 01:26:50 AM
Don't get me wrong. I'm not worried about vanity. And I always make my son wear his chest protector.

My main concern comes from riding at Coos Bay at the end of the season last year. Buddy and I were hillshooting through the trees and he took a branch to the chest. He was OK but had it been me - knowing my luck - it would have all ended right there with me being gutted by a f'in tree. I was considering a chest protector anyway and then this season my son called me out for not wearing one. I figure it's someone upstairs giving me a nod, and I ain't crossing that dude.

Thanks for the help, and for the new word. Douchewaffle ... that's awesome. :thumbs:
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Mad Dog on March 09, 2010, 07:57:28 AM
I used to always wear one on my motorcycles, they saved me from broken ribs more times than I can count.  My father had an accident on a 660 a while back when he wasn't wearing one, and the first thing he did when he got home from the hospital was buy one and insist I wear it.  I have stopped wearing it since as I've spent all of my time in the dunes and getting air under the tires scares me, but I still think about buying another one (the old one is missing the arm straps) and wearing it all the time.

I have been thinking about the tek vests popular with the snomobiling crowd. 
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: socalrappy700 on March 11, 2010, 09:02:20 AM
chest protector is simply a roost guard, it is not made to take a falling impact or to stop a handlebar from puncturing a lung.  I u want to be safe get some body armour from evs

VERY untrue, I say from experience.  A few years ago I rolled my quad down a cliff.  I landed first the quad flipped on top of me, rear grab bar and flag mount being the first thing to impact me.  I was wearing my fox airframe chest PROTECTOR and I suffered 2 broken and 1 cracked rib.  The doctor said if I wasn't wearing my chest PROTECTOR I wouldn't have lived long enough to see the life flight.  I can't see why you wouldn't think it would stop a handlebar from puncturing a lung, I know mine would stop one all day long. 
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Kamakazi on March 11, 2010, 11:27:56 AM
Socal, dont get me wrong here, all i am saying is that a chest protector is designed to stop roost, it is not designed to save your body in an accident, yes there are tons of cases where they have actually saved lives, but that was not thier design intention.  Where as a full body armor and/or neckbrace is designed to save you from impact, not to stop roost. wearing a chest protector is always a good idea, but if keeping his son extra safe is his goal he should probably purchase some body armour not just hope the chest protector does the trick.
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Gunz on March 12, 2010, 06:58:25 AM
Socal, dont get me wrong here, all i am saying is that a chest protector is designed to stop roost, it is not designed to save your body in an accident, yes there are tons of cases where they have actually saved lives, but that was not thier design intention.  Where as a full body armor and/or neckbrace is designed to save you from impact, not to stop roost. wearing a chest protector is always a good idea, but if keeping his son extra safe is his goal he should probably purchase some body armour not just hope the chest protector does the trick.

a matter of personal choice but I wear mine. I prefer a roost protector over a shirt for safety. Kamakaze, why do they have a full back piece equal in strength as the front? Not to often am I riding 50-60mph backwards chasing someone... Juuuuust curious, don't let the name fool ya.
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: socalrappy700 on March 12, 2010, 07:29:51 AM
Socal, dont get me wrong here, all i am saying is that a chest protector is designed to stop roost, it is not designed to save your body in an accident, yes there are tons of cases where they have actually saved lives, but that was not thier design intention.  Where as a full body armor and/or neckbrace is designed to save you from impact, not to stop roost. wearing a chest protector is always a good idea, but if keeping his son extra safe is his goal he should probably purchase some body armour not just hope the chest protector does the trick.

I don't know how you can say they don't save your body in an accident.....mine stopped a 300+ pound quad falling off a 14 foot ledge.
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Kamakazi on March 12, 2010, 11:16:26 AM
let us chalk this up to:  chest protector = good     body armor = better

i dont really want to argue the fact that a chect protector may save your life, because something is better than nothing.  I myself only wear a chest protector because it was what i could afford at the time, i havent the money for a fancy body armour pressure suit that has a kidney belt, but when this season hits i will be getting one and a neckbrace.  I will leave it at that.
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Segkast on March 12, 2010, 11:48:11 AM
Yeah, I think for the sake of the OP's intent for this thread, you could lump chest protectors/roost guards and pressure suits/body armor all together.

Obviously their design is for different purposes, I don't think anyone would argue that point. One is for deflecting objects/impact, the other for absorbing/protecting you from it.

It really seems to me the point here is really 'looking cool' vs. wearing protective gear (of any sort).
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: socalrappy700 on March 12, 2010, 12:05:51 PM
I look cool in everything....but thats me.
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Headrope on March 15, 2010, 09:00:34 PM
My original question has since been answered. But since the thread is still alive figured I'd share an observation based on responses I've received from folks in person: A chest protector/body armor/kidney belt - whatever - is required equipment for them when they ride bikes, but for whatever reason is generally not as important to them when riding quads. Seems there's a general feeling of quads being 'safer'.
Not trying to make a point, start a flame war, debate or anything like that. Just thought it interesting.

Thanks again for all the help, folks. I'm going with a chest protector/roost guard. My gut creates too much pressure for me to wear a suit. :lol:
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Segkast on March 15, 2010, 10:58:53 PM
Quads aren't safer, dirtbikes are just less safe :rofl:
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Alkire193 on March 16, 2010, 01:33:35 AM
You ever ride through 4GUNZ4x4's roost while your drag racing?


Im pro chest protector!  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Gunz on April 06, 2010, 11:52:57 PM
Quads aren't safer, dirtbikes are just less safe :rofl:

Nuff said.... :thumbs:
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Gunz on April 06, 2010, 11:53:37 PM
You ever ride through 4GUNZ4x4's roost while your drag racing?


Im pro chest protector!  :thumbs:

Sorry bro... :(



 :nod:
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Colorado700R on April 07, 2010, 08:38:09 AM
You ever ride through 4GUNZ4x4's roost while your drag racing?


Im pro chest protector!  :thumbs:

Nope, I'm always in front of him :rofl:
Title: Re: Chest protector etiquette?
Post by: Alkire193 on April 07, 2010, 09:14:32 AM
You ever ride through 4GUNZ4x4's roost while your drag racing?


Im pro chest protector!  :thumbs:

Nope, I'm always in front of him :rofl:

*cough* bullshit sir  :rofl: