Landracing Forum
Tech Information => Safety => Topic started by: Calkins on January 17, 2017, 04:52:18 PM
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I told myself a few years ago that if/when I started racing, I would make myself wear a neck restraint. Well, I have a set of leathers picked out, which has a speed hump. Does anyone have experience with using a motor bike neck restraint, similar to a Leatt STX RR, with a speed hump? Can you even have both? I have found some go kart neck supports that look like they may work too.
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Before we go farther - is the speed hump allowed in the class(es) you'll be running?
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Before we go farther - is the speed hump allowed in the class(es) you'll be running?
I am aware that I can only qualify for streamlined records with those leathers.
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Before we go farther - is the speed hump allowed in the class(es) you'll be running?
I am aware that I can only qualify for streamlined records with those leathers.
If you are racing SCTA/BNI then you probably also know you would have to meet the safety requirements of those records. I don't know the bike rules, so I might be wrong, and it might not require any additional safety equipment vs. what you are planning on running. I'd get opinions here but my final call would be to where you were buying the restraints from.
Good luck,
Sumner
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Bonneville is most likely the only place I will run. Currently, head and neck restraints are not required for motor bikes. And, I can not seeing them being required in the near future. But, one never knows...
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The Go-Kart neck restraints that we used probably would not work that well at Bonneville, especially if your on a fast bike. Up to around 100 MPH they would be OK, but over that I think they would probably blow off.
Those restraints did fill good if you got off on your head thou, and don't ask me how I know that.
Rouse
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For reference, this is the go kart collar I found;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322392982365 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/322392982365)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VGkAAOSw241YfSSz/s-l500.jpg)
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Make sure to tuck into a full crouch when tying out the protector. It should not push your helmet forward so it blocks your view.
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Being the long skinny drink of water that I am, I've always had a hassle trying to get tucked in - and see where the heck I'm going. The top of the eye-sot (well, what should I call it?) obscures forward vision.
But if I tuck down and cram the chin part of the helmet hard against the tank - the helmet is forced vertically up - and I gain some seeing out of that top of the slot.
But what about safety - have I compromised some of the safety designed into the helmet by wearing/using it incorrectly? I've often wondered. Comments?
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Being the long skinny drink of water that I am, I've always had a hassle trying to get tucked in - and see where the heck I'm going. The top of the eye-sot (well, what should I call it?) obscures forward vision.
But if I tuck down and cram the chin part of the helmet hard against the tank - the helmet is forced vertically up - and I gain some seeing out of that top of the slot.
But what about safety - have I compromised some of the safety designed into the helmet by wearing/using it incorrectly? I've often wondered. Comments?
In my opinion, how you position yourself while riding has little effect on safety. As long as you are wearing your gear as suggested. Your gear will be doing something completely different as you are flying, and tumbling, and sliding, etc. That is when it matters. The only thing I can see being "unsafe" while tucked in, would be binding up your neck/spine. One hard bounce from a hole, and you could do some damage.
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Justin said: "...One hard bounce from a hole, and you could do some damage."
Exactly my point. Add the simple physical stress of having that un-natural crook in the neck and it can really be unfun.
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Justin said: "...One hard bounce from a hole, and you could do some damage."
Exactly my point. Add the simple physical stress of having that un-natural crook in the neck and it can really be unfun.
Less fun than going through a mile marker? :-D
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At the BUB race in 2014 I "departed" my bike going way over 200 MPH. I was doing exactly what Jon was doing - hitching up my helmet so that I could see. I was not wearing a neck restraint but it sure would not have hurt. Although I had my eyes closed I could feel myself sliding and tumbling for over 1/4 mile. I also could hear and feel a BANG swish swish BANG, which was my helmet hitting the salt every time I tumbled. Luckily my neck did not get hurt, but I did get many big burns and a broken finger and broken clavicle.
So even though my helmet was tilted up as I was riding, as soon as I started tumbling it resumed its normal position. The helmet had a lot of scratches and scuffs and lost its visor but my head was fine.
Don
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The salesman who sold me the race helmet at the Triumph dealer is a racer and was trained to fit lids by the Shoei or Arai helmet representative. He said the helmet should fit snug so the stress between the head and the helmet is distributed over as much surface area as possible when you crash.
Arai makes helmets for all sorts of head shapes. He found one to fit my noggin. Then, he showed me how to tighten the strap. He said to tighten it enough so the helmet does not move around when I go into a crouch. His reasoning is that if I get a hit from the front, side, or rear, most stress will be on the side of my head and some will also be distributed to the top. That stress distribution away from the immediate area of the contact patch is harder to obtain if it is loose.
As tempting as it is, it is not wear a helmet loose, I am told.
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Justin then said: "...Less fun than going through a mile marker? grin..."
Oh, you remember that, hey? :roll:
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Justin then said: "...Less fun than going through a mile marker? grin..."
Oh, you remember that, hey? :roll:
Read about it a few years back. After Salt Talks last year, I told the two guys I was with about your run. They questioned taking their Rookie runs at that point! They both did well on their Rookie runs the next couple of days. We ran out of time for my turn. But, I am in no hurry. I haven't started building a bike yet.
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Justin.........I like the idea of a neck restraint :-) :-) :-) for the 'just in case' event :-o
But first things first :wink:...........build a straight frame and wheelbase and use the best tires and drive-line components............or buy a proven land-speed racer to get you started.
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I'm currently reviewing a few neck brace / spine protection systems as "over suit" safety products. I'll post up what I find out.
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I'm currently reviewing a few neck brace / spine protection systems as "over suit" safety products. I'll post up what I find out.
Great, Thank You!!!
Like I said before, I was planning on running a Leatt STX RR...
http://www.leatt.com/shop/braces/street-stx/stx-rr.html (http://www.leatt.com/shop/braces/street-stx/stx-rr.html)
(http://www.leatt.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/img_2001_1.jpg)
Or the slightly lower priced Leatt STX Road...
http://www.leatt.com/shop/braces/street-stx/stx-road-929.html (http://www.leatt.com/shop/braces/street-stx/stx-road-929.html)
(http://www.leatt.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/t/stx_front_web_zoom_1.jpg)
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Looking at the photos again, it looks like those do clear a speed hump...
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I wear a Leatt very similar to the one in the bottom picture when road racing. I am surprised how much adjustment mine has by changing some parts that were included with the brace when I bought it new. It can restrict you when you are in a crouch and need to pull your head all the way up. The adjustment helps.
Wearing leathers, road race boots, neck brace and a back guard is a pain. Especially in hot weather when standing around. I believe the back protector and neck brace are worth it because they may help decrease hyperextension during a crash.
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Thanks for the pictures Calkins. I'm thinking about using a neck protector when I do get out to the salt.
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.............AlpineStars and Dianese have air-bag type racing units of various types for leathers.
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- Update -
I watched eBay for a few weeks, and was able to score a low priced, new, opened box, neck brace. Rider's Direct out of Michigan had a Jason Britton edition Leatt STX. They were made a couple of years ago, based on the still current STX Road. Normal price was around $410 when new. I was involved in a bidding war, but managed to only pay $168! I tried in on this evening. I like it. I am very glad that I bought it. There is one other "over leathers" version that Leatt makes, and that is the STX RR, which normally sells for around $550.
Leatt STX - Jason Britton
(https://ohioriders.net/applications/core/interface/imageproxy/imageproxy.php?img=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridersdiscount.com%2Fforum%2Fleatt_brace%2Fleatt_stx_road_neck_brace_jason_britton_edition-1.jpg&key=f73bcbe2dadb15d5347b77a779f5acaaacca965f0e8b77739e605daf7f9235a3)
(https://ohioriders.net/applications/core/interface/imageproxy/imageproxy.php?img=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridersdiscount.com%2Fforum%2Fleatt_brace%2Fleatt_stx_road_neck_brace_jason_britton_edition-3.jpg&key=c7b14f282d6f44e2473c505f2c2c5adb08e1a8cd882d2e9ff01ee94792ae0164)
(https://ohioriders.net/applications/core/interface/imageproxy/imageproxy.php?img=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridersdiscount.com%2Fforum%2Fleatt_brace%2Fleatt_stx_road_neck_brace_jason_britton_edition-2.jpg&key=514caede09aed11d7486571b5a5aeb8d38053d461b29cdae581c8e23ec00170d)