Which back protector?

[Mad Dave]

Hi guys,

Im looking to get a Knox back protector and have looked at a couple - the 'old faithful' quite well known one, i think its called a KC11 or something - basically its got kidney protectors etc and straps to your back. Im sure you all know the one I mean.

Pic:


I also looked at the new Knox Stowaway (i think thats what its called). It rolls up into a bag when not in use.

Pic:


Now, the top one looks like itll offer more protection but was v uncomfortable and the top of it is quite solid - so theoretically could ride up in a crash (if not wearing tight leathers) and cause damage to the neck area. The stowaway was very comfortable, fit perfectly and it would be very handy to roll it up into its bag. Thing is, the protector part of it didnt seem quite as sturdy, as if it wouldnt offer quite so much protection.

So, what do you guys think? Any links to reviews or personal experiences with either would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Dave

>>> Edited by Mad Dave on Wednesday 25th August 12:29

[dern]

Mad Dave said:

I also looked at the new Knox Stowaway (i think thats what its called). It rolls up into a bag when not in use.

I have one of these and wear it every time I have ridden the bike in the last 5 years. It's very comfortable, keeps your back warm in the cold, isn't rigid so won't sever your neck in an accident and should provide more protection than the thin foam sheet that came with the jacket.

However, with regard to the 'stowaway' aspect... not once in the 5 years I've had it have I rolled it up and put it back in the bag . It is handy for shoving in work lockers though.

Regards,

Mark

[pesty]

Dave I have thge one in your top picture.

It is fantastic and you feel realy well protected in it.

However I dont use it. I have a dainasi on that slips in the little pocket of my jacket.

The only reason I dont use it is because its suck a pain getting my jacket on and off with it on. a real pain.

But.... They come in 3 sizes. The guy at the bike show looked at me and gave me the large.
I think the problem is the shoulders are too big and that why I have the problem.

I think It would be ok with the medium size one.

So to conclude try it on with your jacket before you buy

[Mad Dave]

Thanks for the advice guys, ill try a few on

[Incorrigible]

I would guess that if it's uncomfortable then it doesn't fit

Would that be right

[pesty]

mines very confortable

just cant get me fecking jacket off whne i wear it.

Of course this may have more to do with the pies I seem to be consuming lately

[iguana]

Ive got the 2nd one also.


I grabbed a load of soft spine types in the shop, tryed em all on & got down to 2 that fitted me best & were most comfortable- then I looked at the price tags. The Knox jobbie was very signficantly cheaper (somat like £160 vs £70 I think it was) & seems almost as good to me as the expensive jobbie so thats the one I bought.

The roll up feature was not why I got it but has- for me anyway, proved handy for storage.

Dont find it as comforable to wear as going with out it & its a bit hot in the really hot sunshine, but generally big thumbs up.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks chaps. The rollup one felt really comfy when I put it on, i was very impressed - the other one felt very odd and not very comfortable. From posting this same thread on VisorDown, it would appear that the uncomfortable one offers a lot more protection, so I guess Ill just have to see which one I can live with!

Iguana> As an aside, how fast should a Bandit 600 go, top end? Bill tells me he never got it over 120mph and I certainly havent seen any bigger numbers - I know yours has been breathed on a bit, but what would it do when it was standard? I don't need to go any faster than that (gets windy enough at 80!) but it would be nice to know whether or not mine needs looking at!

[iguana]

Dave, well I don't think given the miles racked up now that mine is any quicker than a standard one to be honest, but it does take a long while to see more than 130 on the clocks, wound out for a long long long while it gets to a gnats cock off 150 on the clock. Lying on the tank & feet on pillon pegs its bloody windy tho!

Have taken it through the laser traps at Bruntingthorpe, again almost 150 on the clock- can't remember what the official laser gunned speed was, think it was 128mph.

So anyway either way you need to twist that right hand more, coz I guarantee I weigh a fair bit more than you

[iguana]

ps Dave, on that subject- ive always felt that the spark plugs are critical to the Bandits performance, leave it till the recomended schedule- 7500miles I think, & it feels sluggish & slower to hit higher speeds, & the trusty old Bandit6 has not really got enough performance to just give a few horses away! change em at 3 or 4k & IMHO it feels a lot better.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks mate. I must admit I havent changed them - and it sat in Bills garage for over a year without so much as turning a wheel. It seems to be running fine, and Bill said he never saw more than 120 on the clock so I didnt bother fitting new plugs. The idea of changing them doesnt fill me with glee I admit as they look like tricky bastards to get to - remove tank?

What are the best plugs to use?

Cheers
Dave

[iguana]

Ahh well than given Bills lavish love & care of the bike they are probabally the ones in there from new

Not too tricky to do, (you want to work on a VFR400 if you want tricky!) outer 2 are easy inner 2 tad more alkward but dont need tank off or anything, whole job should take 20 mins or so tops.

I would wager your carb balance is way out too if its not been done in years & will also not help perfomance, I get mine done approx once a yr dep on miles done & it does make a suprisiing difference.

Did you change airfilter/or clean it out if a K&N?

Plugs NGK CR9EK are the standard jobbies which have always been fine for me.

Oil & filter every 3k too keep the engine nice & sweet.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks mate.

I changed the oil and filter when I got it but will be changing it again soon (done nearly 2k miles since passing my test 2 months ago - i very rarely use the car anymore) but I didnt bother with the air filter - I considered it and then saw the words "remove fuel tank" and said sod it and went for a ride instead Does it have a K&N filter in it? It does growl if you open the throttle right up at low revs (e.g 6th gear,30mph) but I assumed it was the standard filter.

If carbs need doing once a year then I would imagine theyre way out - I certainly havent touched them.

It sounds like its about time I spent some cash on the poor old girl then - plugs, air filter (at least a clean if K&N), carb balance and general tune up.

At least it'll be a bit quicker afterwards

[tim2100]

I got 135 out of my bandit 600. but it was the faired one. plus the K model. Wasn't lying on the tank though and backed off, don't think I would have seen 150 though!!

Tim.

[Mad Dave]

Ive seen 120, led on the tank, throttle to the stop, down a hill. It flies up to 110 but just seems to stop accelerating when it gets to 115.

[jvaughan]

I clocked yours to 100 when I had a ride before I got a puncture that time in Salisbury... Felt as if it really wanted to go faster though... and im not the most aerodynamic of people !
The Africa Twin tops out at 115 and yours definatly felt faster

[Mad Dave]

Yeah it pulls really hard to around 110/115 and then just.....stops.

[dern]

Mad Dave said:

Yeah it pulls really hard to around 110/115 and then just.....stops.

It's not a jap import is it?

Mark

[Mad Dave]

Ahhhh. Its a parallel import. I assumed that meant it was identical to UK bikes?

[dern]

Mad Dave said:

Ahhhh. Its a parallel import. I assumed that meant it was identical to UK bikes?

Depends where it's come from. Some japanese import bikes and all japanese import cars are limited to 112 mph (or thereabouts) which is spookily similar to your top speed.

There are quite a number of bandit clubs and websites you could do a search of for derestrictors (if that's the problem) as I'm sure it wouldn't be that difficult to sort out.

Good luck,

Mark