Quote:
Originally Posted by Chinaman
What is the CE standards for motorcycle chest protector?
Thanks
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Unfortunately, none exists. The only applicable standards would be those covering horse rider torso protectors, which also cover the back, ribs, and clavicle areas. The motorcyclist back protector standard is a compromise it lacks real protective value for the rib cage in general, and the sizing guidelines are based on either the length of the spine or an abbreviated lumbar length. The lumbar length is what is a couple of EN1621-2 pieces are certified as, lower back protectors. Since the lower back doesn't contain ribs, the standard is questionable for that use as well. Bruising may be alleviated at the levels of force transmission allowed by those pieces, but the minimum level established by the horse rider vest standards all call for an over 400% lower force minimum(4kn vs 18kN) for the EN1621-2 minimum level those pieces have been shown to barely pass at a similar test energy level(severity 45J for EN13158 and 50J for EN1621-2). Even the EN1621-2 Level 2 rating allows up to 9kN(double EN13158 still). There are no mc back protectors rated to the Level 2 requirements that are being sold as chest protectors, as of yet. I'm unclear on the sizing requirement minimums for mc lumbar protectors according to EN1621-2. The full-length pieces are supposed to make a basic 't' shape based on percentages of the total length with minimums required based on a outer garment specified garment size or torso length. A lumbar protector obvious has no requirement for a cross section at the shoulders, so you're guess is as good as mine as to how wide the tested coverage area may actually be. If it is the same as the full-length requirement, it's not to the edges of those pieces being sold with that label.
So, by far your best bet for anything worthwhile for covering your chest right now is a horse riding vest. The chest portions may be removable in those pieces if you are trying to fit it under leathers with an mc back protector instead, or something like that. The horse riding back protector portions are still better than the mc pieces too, so you'd be better protected with the whole best than anything made specifically for mc use. Horse riding vests certified to EN13158 or BETA 2000 Level 3, only. BETA does batch testing, so it's preferable as long as it's Level 3 marked, which is the same as the EN13158 requirements which has no rating levels.
