Forcefield ZEUS knee protector - Review

Having just purchased a new - used motorcycle, I am working on getting all my safety gear.  With the advent of the computer and the internet it sure is easier to find out what is available and what others think of the different options.    My AGV sport solare pants came with CE rated knee protectors but having them built into the pants is convenient but not as safe in my opinion.  To get the pants to fit on my thighs I had to get a larger size than my waist and lower legs needed.  The knee pads tend to sit below my knee. I decided the best and safest option would be to get dedicated knee protection.  I looked at several brands from the hard kind to the soft ones.

I have been very impressed with the reviews and reputation of Forcefield armor so I first ordered the Forcefield Limb Tube Knee Protector.  It has been around for a while and had many good reviews.  The  meduim size was sold out so I ordered a large.  They were too big on my legs and were a bit loose.  They felt pretty comfortable.  They were basically a mesh material with slots that hold the CE rated knee protectors.  They were a bit hot in the AZ sun and a little bunchy in the back of the knee.

I sent the large back and in the meantime read about a new product from Forcefield,  the Zeus Knee Protector.  It was a little more expensive than the older model limb tube but seemed to offer more protection and more comfort.

Right off the bat you can see that the Zeus knee protector offers a higher level of protection than the limb tube,  It has protection for the front and sides of the knee. The Zeus knee protector is made just for the knee as opposed to the limb tube that can be used on the knee or elbow.

The back is a mesh material and it seems to allow a good amount of air flow and to not bunch up in the back of the knee.

From this side angle you can see the added side protection the Zeus offers.  It has encased foam on the inner and outer knee and that is covered with an abrasion resistant material.

The Zeus knee protector is very comfortable.  I can say that it is preformed for the seated riding position.  So when you are standing it bunches out a bit at the knee.  Not a big deal as they are made to protect you when you are on the bike.

It has a removable strap at the top and bottom of the knee protector.  After checking the Forcefield website I ordered the small knee protector and I think that is a correct size.  The protector seems to stay in place and not fall down when standing.

I found the Zeus to have much better air flow than the limb tube and much better feel on my leg.

Each protector has a tag and is made for the right or left knee.

The Forcefield website says they are coming out with a Zeus Elbow protector.  I have not seen it for sale anywhere yet. 

I am very happy with my purchased and hope to never find out how good the protection really is with all the safety gear I have purchased.

Update: Aug 31, 2012.  I have worn these a few times now and really like them. I have decided to removed the top and bottom straps. They are tight enough without them.  I wish I could have tried on a medium to compare but that is the price for internet shopping.  I feel the elastic will only get looser over time and I can always put the straps back on.  The tag that says left and right is on the straps so I can not use them as I took the straps off. I am not sure the pads really are leg specific.   The pads are very comfortable when riding and I feel very protected with them on.


Update Sept 8, 2012

Someone asked my knee joint measurement. I only have a metal tape but it is about 14 1/2" - taken right at the knee bend while standing. The link below is the forcefield sizing chart site.  I purchased the small and time will tell as I may have been happier with medium.

http://www.johnsonleather.com/Forcefield%20Size%20Chart_Armour.pdf

  

Forcefield Pro Back Protector Insert - Review

I have done a lot of research on the armor available for motorcycle jackets.  I recently purchased the Alpinestars Stella T-Dyno Jacket.  It is a nice jacket with CE rated shoulder and elbow pads.  The back pad is not CE rated. As you can see from the picture below it is just a thin piece of foam.  I wanted something better for my back protector.

After much research I decided to try the Forcefield Pro Back Protector Insert.  It is CE rated to Level 2 which is the current highest rating and it is supposed to be breathable and flexible.  Alpinestars sells it's own replacement back protector and it costs a little less than the Forcefield one, but is only offers CE  Level 1 protection. I wanted to highest level of protection and figured for a few dollars more it was worth the expense.  Also, several of the motorcycle online stores give Forcefield armor very high ratings. The Forcefield protector is also re-useable which means if you have an accident the back protector does not need to be replaced as is the case with some other brands.

Forcefield has a very good website with lots of information and a sizing chart.  I used the site to help me decide which of the 3 shapes I should get for my jacket.  They also come in 3 sizes for each shape.  I chose the small size as it best matched the protector that was already in my jacket.

I ordered it online and in a few days it was delivered to my door.  Just taking it out of the box you can feel how much more it weighs than the foam protector I was replacing.

Above you can read the level B2 rating.  More protection is a good thing.

Side by side. The old protector and the new one.  The are pretty close in size but the Forcefield protector offers way more protection.

A side view of the 2 protectors.  The Forcefield protector is wider than the old one.

A close up of the protector and its triangle design.

It is very easy to change the back prtotector. You unzip the zipper on the back of the jacket, pull the old protector out and insert the new one.  My jacket has a slot a few inches up inside the back of the jacket that holds the protector in place.  There were no instructions for which way to insert the protector.  We decided to put the smooth side of the protector next to our back.

I can feel the added weight, but as you can see in the picture the protector is not really noticeable.  I think the added protection this protector offer is worth a slight increase in weight.  The Forcefield Pro Back Protector Insert feels very comfortable and I feel more secure that if I do have an accident this protector will give me a better protection.

I hope I never find out how good the protection really is but if I do have an accident I fell I have done my best to be well protected.

Alpinestars Stella T-Dyno Waterproof Jacket - review

After getting my motorcycle I needed a jacket for the warm AZ desert.  I still had  my old Hein Gericke leather motorcycle jacket that was about 20 years old and had not been used in many years. It was too hot and heavy for AZ.

As you can see the Hein Gericke jacket is in excellent condition. I thought about selling it but it is too nice to sell.  Not sure how good the protection is as compared to the armor available today.  

The first jacket I ordered went with the pants I liked by Scorpion.  I ordered a XL  Scorpion Nip Tuck Jacket.

I liked the jacket but it was too small just like the pants. After giving up on the Scorpion pants I decided to forgo the matching jacket.  It was a nice jacket and looked great.  It just didn't fit me.

Next I tried a close out Joe Rocket Flame mesh jacket.  It was a great price but it just didn't fit that well.  As you can see it is a nice looking jacket and it would have gone well with my Yamaha TW200 motorcycle.  

On ebay I found the Alpinestars Stella T-Dyno Waterproof Jacket.  It was white, blue and black which matched my bike and helmet. I ordered the 2Xl and in the end think I probably should have gotten the XL but the seller had a no return policy so I figured better a little big then too small.

You can see how well the jacket goes with my helmet. 

And my Alpinestars gloves.

I think the jacket looks great and with the waist adjustment it isn't too big.  The only issue is that the elbow protectors are a bit too low depending on how I am holding my arm.  The jacket has a removable liner which I removed as I am too hat as it is and it seldom rains here.

I have added  Alpinestars Stella Bionic Chest pads. I found some for half price on ebay. They were new in an open package. They fit into slots in the jacket.

The pads are in the jacket but it you cant really tell in the photo below.  At the very least it makes it seem like I have a bigger chest than I really do.  I can not feel them when I am riding and with the jacket being a bit too big I am not sure they sit correctly when I am in the riding position.  In the end for 15 bucks they are worth the added protection.

You can see in the above picture the extra room in the waist. I have the waist adjusted to as small as possible.  The jacket is only a little too big and if I end up getting the Forcefield Body armor it will probably be just right. 

I would really like to get the Forcefield Pro Armor but it retails for about 270.00.

Below you can see the back protector that came with my jacket.

The big negative with most motorcycle jackets is the back protectors. They are usually not CE rated.  This one looks a little better than foam padding. It is not very think and I am doubtful that it offers much protection.

Below is the Forcefield back protector that is made to replace the one that came with my jacket.  It offers CE level 2 protection and I plan to upgrade to this soon. It retails for about $100.00.

With shipping I paid $95.00 for the jacket which supposedly retailed for about $200. The jacket matches my gloves, helmet and bike perfectly.  It is very comfortable.  I have not tested in the rain and hope to never do so.

Alpinestars Stella T-Dyno Waterproof Jacket technical information.

• 
  600 denier fabric with PU coating.
• Women specific fit.
• Adjustable waist and sleeve cuffs.
• Removable thermal liner.
• Chest pad compartments with PE protection padding.
• Soft micro-fiber collar and cuffs for superior comfort.
• Reflective piping and logos for increased night time visibility.

I would like to say how happy I was with 99% of the online stores I dealt with. Shopping for clothing online is very hard and not being familiar with motorcycle clothing sizing it was extra hard.  We live out in the boonies so mail order was our only option.  Mail order is a slow process as you order, wait for it to come and if you need to exchange or return that takes more time.  It has taken me a month to get my basic outfit together.

AGV Sport Solare Pants - review

After purchasing my used 2000 Yamaha TW200 motorcycle I needed to get the proper safety gear. That includes pants. As I looked online for women's pants I was dismayed at the lack of selection and choices. I do not like pink and I am not small and petit. I am 5'9" and weight 155 pounds. I have an athletic build and have large thighs.  Living in AZ I also have to deal with heat.  My preferred pants are actually shorts and it has to get below zero to get me to wear pants.

After searching I ordered the Scorpion’s Savannah Pants. They look cool and I hoped would fit. I ordered the XL and was a bit concerned as most reviews said the pants ran small. They were correct.  

Though they fit perfect in the low rise waist, they were very tight in the thighs. I sent the XL back and tried the 2XL (though it still seems wrong to get 2XL) The new pants fit well in the thighs but were way too big in the low rise waist and with my jacket on left a gap on my back of unprotected skin.  I did not have my Sidi boots at the time so I do not know how they would have worked with the boots. Reluctantly I returned them and kept looking.  

Next I tried the AGV Sport Solare Pants. They are supposed to be good in hot weather and offer built in padding and adjustability. I ordered the XL after finding the Large a bit to hard to get over my Sidi boots and a little snug in the thighs.

As you can see they are a bit big in the waist but are a good fit in the thighs.  They are not as stylish as the Scorpion pants but then they only cost $100 as opposed to $170.  

The pants make it look like I have no rear end.  But the padding will hopefully protect me in the event of an accident.  The AGV pants have a very high waist, too high for my taste but that will give me more protection in case of an accident.

As you can see the pants run big in the waist but they are adjustable and I can snug them up.  I can also wear my Knox armored shorts underneath as well as regular shorts.

For around a hundred dollars these are good pants for street riding in hot weather. They are well vented and have lots of adjustability in the waist and are large enough that I can wear shorts underneath.  I plan on wearing the Forcefield Zeus knee protectors under the pants as I find the built in knee protectors do not line up properly with my knee and I think you get better protection with a dedicated knee protector.

For off road riding I am getting a pair of motocross pants.I will still be able to use my Knox armored shorts and Forcefield Zeus knee protectors.

Here is the technical information on the AGV Sport Solare Pants.

• 100% 600-D polyester strengthened woven textile and mesh pant for durability and comfort
• Full mesh lining
• CE approved knee pads
• 10mm thick memory foam hips and lower back pad
• Mesh panels on the front and rear of the upper leg for maximum cooling on hot days
• Reflective piping is used on the outside of each leg for safety
• Heavy duty seam construction for maximum tear resistance
• World famous YKK zippers
• Zip open lower legs
• Extra long zipper pulls are used on all zippers
• Velcro secured flap over the fly
• Two front hand warmer pockets
• Adjustable Velcro waist tabs
• Waist connection zipper for jacket attachment

Sidi Crossfire SRS Motorcycle Boots - review

My niece an avid motorcyclist told me to spend the most money on my helmet and my boots for my new motorcycle.  I chose a Shoei helmet and Sidi for the boots.  As we live 2 miles down an unmaintained dirt road I wanted boots that were good for off road.  I wanted a lot of protection and quality.  After much searching online I found a closeout deal on blue and black Sidi Crossfire SRS boots. Are the boots overkill, probably - but not overprotection.  I am not a hard core motocross person, but all my riding if I leave from home will start off road.  Also in AZ there are lots and lots of trails. I hope to take advantage of them and have some fun.

Retail on the boots is $525.00. They are not cheep.  On closeout I saved almost $200. These boots are very well made and have replaceable parts.  I like the idea of replacing the broken parts and not having to replace the whole boot.

To choose the proper size I traced my foot on a sheet of paper.  In tennis shoes I wear are mens 9 or a womens 10.  The sidi boots go from 8 1/2 to 9 1/2.  They were sold out of the 9 1/2 so I went with the 8 1/2 which is size 42 for Sidi.  They fit perfect. As these boots are not made for walking I have not had any size issues.  I do have some walking issues as they are very stiff and it is a new challenge getting on and off the bike.  I wore them to the post office and it was a bit clunky walking from the parking lot to our PO box.  These boots are for riding and for that they are perfect.

The replaceable sole. Just take off the screws and you can out a new sole on.  Mine are not worn down at all yet.

So far my only issue with the boots is how catchy the velcro is on the boots. The first time I tried  on the boots with my new Sidi socks I caught the one sock while taking  my foot out of the boot. I try to be very careful but it is very hard to not get the sock caught on the velcro.

I have only worn these socks a few times and look at the damage from the velcro.  Not a huge issue and I may be able to find a way to get the boots off without catching my socks in the velcro. At least the velcro is strong.

The socks are also very long and go way up over my knees. I am 5'9" tall.  

Wearing the boots.  In the beginning the biggest challenge was walking down the basement steps to get outside. The boots are braking in and it is getting a bit easier to walk and go down and up steps.

It is nice how the boots are hinged and can bend forward easily.

This is how the boots fit me. The buckles are easy to change and as long as you wear the same gear each time you would not have to adjust them.  It is very nice how each person can adjust the buckles to get the perfect fit for themselves.

Lots of protection and most of the parts are replaceable. You can even change the color of some of the parts if you were so inclined.

A fuller view where you can see how far up the Sidi socks go on my leg.

Coming form wearing tennis shoes on the motorcycle (a big safety no no) the biggest change wearing the Sidi boots is not being able to feel the shifter.  With tennis shoes I could feel the upshift. With the hard Sidi boots you can't feel anything.  Not bad just something I am getting used to. You know real quick if you have not shifted properly.

These are really nice boots and offer a great amount of protection.  They feel comfortable to wear and come in several varieties of color combinations.  I purchased a close out black and blue combination and am very pleased with my selection.

For trips to town where walking will be involved I have picked up a pair of slightly used Sidi Vertigo boots.    

More detailed info on the boots.

• Lorica is used as the base material.
• SR sole disperses loads better than any other sole system on the market.
• SR sole can be replaced using a standard screwdriver.
• Sidi's Supermoto SMS soles can be fitted.
• Fully adjustable calf area.
• Composite insole.
• Inner heat shield.
• Removable arch support.
• Toe area covered in protective plastic.
• Rigid, shock resistant, anatomically shaped heel for maximum protection.
• Cam-lock buckle system.
• Cambrelle lining
• All bolt-on parts are replaceable.
• Malleolus external guard to enhance protection of those tender small foot bones.
• Slim, cool non-bootie design.
• Dual Flex System upper.
• Replaceable inner kickstart/footpeg guard on both boots.
•  
 vvv


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Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Gloves - review

Gloves, often overlooked but on a motorcycle a very important safety accessory.  If you go down on your bike you will invariably put your hand out. If you do not have a glove on you will get road rash or worse.  20 years ago when I got my first bike there was no internet. I went to a bike shop and purchased a helmet and jacket. I thought I had done more than enough. Now I know much better. Back then I wore and old leather pair of horseback riding gloves, jeans and tennis shoes.  I am very lucky to have never hard an accident. I am now older and hopefully wiser.

I spent some time researching gloves. I wanted protection but I also was worried about the heat living in AZ.  I was looking at Aplinestars as they had gloves that matched my bike colors and my new helmet colors and they have a good reputation.  Their gloves also offered a lot of protection.  

You can find them for sale at many online stores. Most online have video reviews from the store with detailed information about the products  and they also have customer reviews which I found very helpful. The downside of customer reviews is there are always some very negative ones. It seems someone has always received a product that fell apart or didn't work.  You have to take an overall impression of the reviews and then just take a chance.  

The  Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Gloves combine leather and mesh to offer a good level of protection as well as relief from your hands getting too hot.  I also like the carbon fiber knuckle protectors.  They feel very sturdy and appear to offer good protection to your knuckles.

So here are a picture of the gloves. I have worn them on several rides and  find them very comfortable.  The palm has a nice padded area to offer extra protection if you go down and the knuckles are covered with the hard protection but do not affect riding the bike in any way.

Sizing can always be tricky.  I sure wish we could have standard sizing on all clothing especially. But alas we do not.  I purchased these in large and they fit great. I based that on the sizing chart on the Alpinestars website and also that my garden work gloves from Menards are large and fit good.   Tracing my hand on a piece of paper the longest point is  7 5/8" and the widest part of my palm is 3 7/8".

Here you can see how the gloves fit my hand and a closer shot of the carbon fiver knuckle protector.

These gloves retail for $69.95. I found a new pair on auction on ebay and got them for half price. They still had the tags attached.  You can find some really good deals on ebay as people buy items and then decide they don't fit or they don't like them.  If you know what you want and are patient and or lucky you can save a lot of money.

I like my new gloves and feel they will provide good protection in case of accident. With off road riding you can easily go down on unknown terrain and these will give a good level of protection.  I chose the short cuff vs the gauntlet ones because I am worried about heat living in AZ.  I am sure the gauntlet gloves offer more protection.  That is a decision each rider must make for themselves.  

Here is the info on the gloves:

• Lightweight hybrid leather and mesh upper construction offers the ideal combination of durability, abrasion resistance and comfort.
• Synthetic leather palm construction with Clarino® reinforcements provides extra durability and protection where it is needed most.
• Exceptional impact protection afforded by Carbon Fiber knuckle protectors.
• TPR finger reinforcements.
• Thumb foam padding.
• Reinforced landing zone with built in foam padding offers additional impact protection.
• Airprene cuff with TPR Velcro® flap closure for secure, comfortable