The responsible motorcyclist nowadays pays attention to a suitable equipment with protectors when choosing his protective clothing. These act shock absorbing, reduce friction and shear forces and can also prevent heat lesions, for example, in contact of body parts with engine parts or the exhaust. Numerous studies and tests have proven that this can prevent or at least mitigate serious injuries. In addition, there are some insurance companies (for example in the field of motor insurance and accident insurance), which try to reduce their benefits in case of damage, if it subsequently turns out that no or only insufficient protective clothing was worn.
In principle, protectors can be divided into two large groups. On the one hand those who are integrated in the protective clothing or can be retrofitted; on the other hand, the protectors, which can be applied and worn separately.
Before you buy: The products should contain a CE mark and proof of certification according to DIN EN-1621-1 or 1621-2. The visit of a specialist dealer helps to avoid erroneous purchases through appropriate expert advice.

Integrated protectors within the protective clothing

These protectors are the standard, so anyone should choose or retrofit the clothes accordingly. Protectors should be present on the shoulders, elbows, back and knees. Optionally, there are additional options for the neck, chest, hips and ankles. If the clothing is already equipped with protectors when purchased, the buyer can assume that they are optimally adapted. If protectors are bought later, check whether they are suitable for the respective textiles. In particular, in apparel in the lower price segments, the protectors are quite often made of inferior material, e.g. made of thin soft foam mats. Should an exchange be necessary, one or the other supposed bargains may be relativized quite quickly.
If clothing is required to be worn, the protectors must be removed beforehand, as detergents and moisture can permanently damage the material and impair its protective function. The subsequent reinstatement requires a little patience and tact, as a careless placement may even increase an injury in the event of an accident.

Separately worn protectors

In this group, the additional wearable back protectors represent the largest proportion. The (additional) protection is undisputed, however, some riders find these protectors impractical and inconvenient, among others. by the additional heat development between back and protector, On the other hand, most back anatomy models adapt better than integrated ones, especially those in the west. There are Level 1 and 2 products, Level 2 offers a higher damping capacity, but often carries as a very rigid construct on the back. When buying, ensure sufficient coverage of the lower lumbar spine and the neck area.
Furthermore, in this segment portable articles are available for knee joints (as cuffs or in the form of knee sliders for athletic use) and the elbows. These products are fixed by means of elastic (elastic) material or as a fastening system with Velcro. With this type of protection a restriction of movement of the joints should be avoided. Frequently, however, the motorcyclist notices this only in practical use, so not only the exact fit in the selection is important, but also the ability to test these protectors in a field test. Experienced dealers offer this problem.