Body Armour is Useless: Is Ryan F9 Correct?
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- Опубліковано 4 кві 2024
- Ryan F9, the hugely influential motorcycle UA-camr recently published a video in which he said he had removed the armour from his motorcycle jacket because it is useless. I discuss come of the issues and consequences from this video.
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I’m 100% in agreement with your sentiments, Simon. Freedom, especially freedom of choice and freedom to set one’s own standards of safety, trump any legislated limit to those freedoms. Motorcycles are inherently unsafe, vulnerable, unstable and in the wrong hands, downright dangerous. Yet, we choose to live our lives motorcycling in spite of these dangers, as well as inept, inconsiderate car, bus and truck drivers. We choose to ride and choose our levels of personal protection because we are a different species to other road users…we choose freedom! Ride safe. 🏍️🎸🍺💪😎🇿🇦
My main issue is the way in which the lack of higher armor standards is being discussed.
F9s video title and thumbnail is following the current sensationalized/clickbait UA-cam trend. Then again, if it wasn't as provocative maybe we wouldn't be discussing it
Is armor useless? No. Is all armor equal? No.
Should better, more advanced armor be manufactured? Yes.
The problem is the manufacturers have no incentive to make better armor and will only try to meet the minimum requirements mostly due to costs.
I live in AZ and the summers get brutally hot but if I enjoy motorcycling and want to continue by perhaps lowering the risk with armor/full helmet, of course I'm an ATGATT advocate.
Also, some of the studies he references fail to mention the people that weren't reported in accidents probably didn't need to be due to wearing better/more armor.
*Sidenote. Love your videos on the Scrambler 1200. Super helpful tips and tutorials! Please keep them coming.
Totally agree with your opinion of the F9 video and why shouldn't we all demand better, safer clothing and equipment. I'd like to see manufacturers being more open and honest with more collabrative world wide standards and research. Great vid, well done.
I’m a big fan of Ryan F9 - I like your videos too of course!However, I won’t be taking the armour out of my jackets and pants. It’s better to have it there than not but it clearly doesn’t make you invincible. I agree about informed choice though and welcome anything that encourages suppliers to do more than the bare minimum.
Good morning, Proffessori. As you well know without armour, I would not be typing this comment. I now wear a full vest with back front shoulder and arm protection. Also, hip and knee armour. You are quite right that it should be the choice of the individual. I was told many years ago before the helmet law was passed. I you have a ten bob head, wear a ten bob hat. Great vlog again. Also F9 should create some discussion and probably some criticism.
Nothing is going to provide 100% protection but I think I’ll keep my armour in place regardless. That said I wear more protection (inc Air vest) in winter than I wear in summer, not that I’m expecting an incident in summer would be any less impactful, it’s just that comfort on a bike plays a role too.
I've changed most of my jackets to D3O armour. You hardly notice it once you've had the jacket on for 10 minutes.
Like a previous comment, you do not and can not get 100% protection. In this vlog, Simon mentioned it does not stop fractures in a direct contact or head on with another vehicle like a car. I know first hand. Saying that I didn't lose any flesh or sustain any abrasion, and I'm still riding.
You know what I would really like when purchasing new kit is the choice of armour at the point of sale… as I always remove the hard old style armour and replace it with the latest equivalent D3O ghost armour. The problem is I now have a f@cking draw full the sh!t….
Just ordered some ghost level 2 because the standard stuff thats come with all my gear is horribly uncomfortable
Yes I have a draw full of old armour too. That's where my Thumbnail photo came from!
All the gear all the time
It's worse than that; people missed the even bigger question of 'Regulatory Capture' and the wider implications affecting all of the electorate whatever their political views. John at Bennetts Bike Social looked like he was about to lose his mind over Ryan's video and his knee jerk zealotry appeared bizarre and petty in his retaliatory video response! Makes one wonder if the vitriol is coming from him or those higher up associated with "Insurance and other Financial Products", and the manufacturers themselves who would rather nobody discussed the topic of how regulatory bodies operate as 'private' entities with ministerial title.
Motocross armour has always been an option; just not for walking around your favourite coffee haunts or on tour or riding your Vespa...but Ryan already said he was sticking with the rucksack airbags and back protectors when racing; so it was always about contextualising safety in all it's guises you could say.
My own anecdotal tale is that D30's inward curl messed my knees up due to ill fitting jeans/pads making me change to Pando Moto leggings... But they're still not exactly all day comfy.
Very insightful comments. Thanks for sharing
I was dead tired after a long day of hiking, I rode my motorcycle to the base of the hike and when the day was done, I got geared up and as I was pulling out of my spot I noticed the parking lot was quite sloped, and because I was so tired I didn’t correct my body position and fell flat on my side, my leg under the bike. I can tell you that without my elbow and hip pads, I would have swelling and a bruise from the blunt force, or even cracked my hip. I didn’t feel anything (other than the bike squashing my gonads against my leg 🤢). So whatever Ryan, they do more than nothin!
What about the D3O ghost. It’s as thin as a rich tea biscuit. Surely it’s not as protective as the thicker D3O gear.
It can't be as good. It's a trade off between comfort and protection. But it's still better than no armour.
I use those.
Don't think they will protect me much, but I don't feel them when riding.
This make me feel less protected and aware of my vulnerability, and I don't get distracted by uncomfortable armor. Win win.
So many "motorcyclists" on here.... as the old MAG slogan says, "Let the rider decide" I've still got my Stein jacket from the late 80's ( and yes I can still get in it.... just...) its way more solid than a modern textile jacket with armour.. I've tried to retire it twice first armoured textile wasn't too bad but disintegrated within two years, and leaked like a sieve... the next one fell apart in a week...... I'm going to save up and buy another heavy duty leather jacket..... preferably an old one
Still got my leathers from the late 80s.
I think it is personal thing bud u can save youre own skin by wearing it sow in my opinion its just a smart choice to wear the right protective gear
F9 vid published on 1st April, hope he took the winter air out of his tyres, (tires) before filming it.
Yes, I noted the video was posted on 1st April, but I made this response because I think the video provokes some interesting questions. However, my body armour stays in!
I’m not keen on that Ryan chap. I find him quite full of himself. Any sensible rider would wear CE approved apparel with armour. Safety tip…..I put two D3O back protectors into my riding jackets.
I agree that it is sensible to wear armour, especially D3O when it is so light and inobtrusive. I have upgrade armour in most of my jackets to D3O now.