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red devil fit checks & evolution

VansonRider

A-List Customer
Messages
356
it’s complicated. I did a very in-depth post in a moto forum here:

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=57787&highlight=Forcefield

But In brief:
Forcefield is the most protective (for the same thickness) or thinner for same protection, is the lightest, has (some) venting and decent coverage, but is not the cheapest and is stiff (though when body heat warms it it softens) .

D3O is nearly as protective thickness for thickness as forcefield, is the most flexible, has good venting but is heavy, some versions lack coverage and again it is not cheap.

SAS-TEC is generally thicker/a bit less protective, with not much venting but has many different shapes and sizes to choose from, is light (tho’ not as light as forcefield), flexible and cheap.

My own personal choices that I’ve made for kit I wear are forcefield level 2 for shoulders, elbow, knees and hips (with SAS-TEC for some jacket shoulders for max coverage) and D3O viper pro level 2 back protectors as they are nearly as protective as forcefield with big coverage and much more flexability.

if speccing a 1 piece suit for the track I’d probably not include an integral back protector and instead have space to wear a full length forcefield back protector with waist belt and shoulder harness that is separate from the suit and worn underneath. If money no object I’d get BKS to make me a made to measure race suit including the tech air airbag protection system.

I hope that helps! Ride safe.

My D3O experience happened 8 years ago, so I don’t know if it’s still applicable.

I had a jacket come with D3O armor, and I really liked it. It felt dense, would soften up within a few minutes of putting on the jacket, and I’d does harden on impact.

One spring, after maybe 3 years of service, I took the jacket off its hanger and put it on, but the sleeve felt weird and lumpy. Opening the armor pocket revealed that the D3O had broken in half. While in the closet.

No impact, never had a get off in the jacket, didn’t wash or dry it, no environmental reason for them to break at all. It was really odd.

I inspected the rest of the armor and the D3O in the other elbow broke in half when I flexed it, and the back pad cracked but didn’t break. The shoulders seemed fine, but I didn’t trust them.

I have no idea if they’ve updated the formula, or if my set was just defective, but I decided not to use D3O any more.

It isn’t isolated, on the Adventure Rider forum, AdvRider.com there are several threads about it, also some on Reddit, and in a few other places. A google search for Cracked D3O pulls them right up.

Here’s just on thread;
 
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yellowfever

One of the Regulars
Messages
193
My D3O experience happened 8 years ago, so I don’t know if it’s still applicable.

I had a jacket come with D3O armor, and I really liked it. It felt dense, would soften up within a few minutes of putting on the jacket, and I’d does harden on impact.

One spring, after maybe 3 years of service, I took the jacket off its hanger and put it on, but the sleeve felt weird and lumpy. Opening the armor pocket revealed that the D3O had broken in half. While in the closet.

No impact, never had a get off in the jacket, didn’t wash or dry it, no environmental reason for them to break at all. It was really odd.

I inspected the rest of the armor and the D3O in the other elbow broke in half when I flexed it, and the back pad cracked but didn’t break. The shoulders seemed fine, but I didn’t trust them.

I have no idea if they’ve updated the formula, or if my set was just defective, but I decided not to use D3O any more.
Thanks for sharing this experience, that is disappointing and alarming! I’ve never experienced/seen/heard of anything similar but I’ll be keeping a close eye on my D3O back pads given what you experienced….
 

red devil

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,954
Location
London
My D3O experience happened 8 years ago, so I don’t know if it’s still applicable.

I had a jacket come with D3O armor, and I really liked it. It felt dense, would soften up within a few minutes of putting on the jacket, and I’d does harden on impact.

One spring, after maybe 3 years of service, I took the jacket off its hanger and put it on, but the sleeve felt weird and lumpy. Opening the armor pocket revealed that the D3O had broken in half. While in the closet.

No impact, never had a get off in the jacket, didn’t wash or dry it, no environmental reason for them to break at all. It was really odd.

I inspected the rest of the armor and the D3O in the other elbow broke in half when I flexed it, and the back pad cracked but didn’t break. The shoulders seemed fine, but I didn’t trust them.

I have no idea if they’ve updated the formula, or if my set was just defective, but I decided not to use D3O any more.

Thanks for sharing, I hope it was a small batch that was defective.... otherwise I shudder at people who do not get the protection they should.

I will definitely keep this in mind!
 

floater

Familiar Face
Messages
63
How thick/warm/bulky is that funky psychedelic fuzzy zebra print lining on your burgundy goat little wing?

I’m looking at a similar 3rd stone but sadly wouldn’t use it much here if it’s too warm
 

red devil

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It is warm, as warm as wool lining I'd say. Where are you based?

That jacket is bull hide though, not goat, they called the colour "purple haze"
 

floater

Familiar Face
Messages
63
It is warm, as warm as wool lining I'd say. Where are you based?

That jacket is bull hide though, not goat, they called the colour "purple haze"
Thanks, and yeah sadly that’s not gonna work for socal weather

Bullhide makes sense, pics were crappy and I was just assuming it was a thick grainy goat like on those little wings

So, in your opinion, which jacket maker has the best, or better, burgundy/bordeaux/#8 leather for jackets?

I know you’re not the burgundy devil but I assume you’ve come across more than a few along the way, and I’m currently searching for one
 

red devil

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3,954
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Depends what characteristics you want in the leather and most importantly depends on the jacket type you are looking for.

If I have understood you correctly, you are looking for a Little Wing or something in the same vein, for this I can only think of Johnson Leathers as a custom order.

Some Japanese brands have reproduced it as well, but finding your size and the right colour will be tricky. I asked Electric Leather Studio if they would make it, but the answer was that they would rather develop their own designs - which I highly respect. They would make you a killer burgundy jacket though.
 

floater

Familiar Face
Messages
63
Depends what characteristics you want in the leather and most importantly depends on the jacket type you are looking for.

If I have understood you correctly, you are looking for a Little Wing or something in the same vein, for this I can only think of Johnson Leathers as a custom order.

Some Japanese brands have reproduced it as well, but finding your size and the right colour will be tricky. I asked Electric Leather Studio if they would make it, but the answer was that they would rather develop their own designs - which I highly respect. They would make you a killer burgundy jacket though.
Thanks for the feedback!

Not necessarily looking for a little wing, unless I could find one with a normal collar or have it made custom.

I’ve been looking mostly at winchesters and halfbelts but would also consider a cafe racer, but mainly I want a nice dark burgundy leather with character (texture/grain).

I was already set on getting a new one, but dealing with the jp store directly via email has left me waiting on them for over a month now just so they can confirm if they could bill & ship overseas, so I’m starting to loose faith on it and looking for alternatives
 
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red devil

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3,954
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Thanks for the feedback!

Not necessarily looking for a little wing, unless I could find one with a normal collar or have it made custom.

I’ve been looking mostly at winchesters and halfbelts but would also consider a cafe racer, but mainly I want a nice dark burgundy leather with character (texture/grain).

I was already set on getting a new one, but dealing with the jp store directly via email has left me waiting on them for over a month now just so they can confirm if they could bill & ship overseas, so I’m starting to loose faith on it and looking for alternatives

If looking for halfbelts and cafe racers, then you might want to look at Thedi leathers. They can get you the colour and texture you are looking for.

Here is variation of burgundy I got from them, this one being goat

1729970281400.jpeg
 

floater

Familiar Face
Messages
63
If looking for halfbelts and cafe racers, then you might want to look at Thedi leathers. They can get you the colour and texture you are looking for.

Here is variation of burgundy I got from them, this one being goat
This is the new winchester I was hoping to get but at this point it’s not looking good, I do like the thedi memphis although for that one I’d likely go with his vachetta verde deerskin since I also have a nice olive jacket on my pending list, I’m just not sure I could bear the long wait

IMG_5713.jpeg
 
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red devil

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This is the new winchester I was hoping to get but at this point it’s not looking good, I do like the thedi memphis although for that one I’d likely go with his vachetta verde deerskin since I also have a nice olive jacket on my pending list, I’m just not sure I could bear the long wait

View attachment 649964

Who makes this one btw?

For a Winchest, I'd go with JL. This is what my smoke in black cherry bison looks like in case you didn't see it.

1730055298516.jpeg


They do have a burgundy bison.
 

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