Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

... v ,.0 8 v ;> o Z Shoulder cup design. ience an endo, a few first-turn crashes and two semi-high-speed get-offs while wearing the MOLO-X Foxes, JTs and HRPs. The Hallman unit was the only one that didn't make contact with the ground. However, all four did receive their share of semi-scientific impact tests. What we did find out, though, was that we would choose to wear the Roost-D-FlecLOr in any type of crash. It barely edged out the Flak J ak for a couple of reasons. Both the Roost-D-Flector and Flak Jak have suspended shoulder cups, but the Flak Jak's cup is too big and sticks up too high. If the blow isn't exactly at the LOp of the shoulder, the shoulder cup will slide either forward or backwards putting the impact directly on the shoulder like non-suspended pads. If the rider had very large and broad shoulders, the problem would be less drastic. The Roost-DFlector's cup doesn't stand as high and isn't as wide and it doesn't move around as much as the Flak Jak does on impact, especially when the blow is from the front or back of the shoulder. Another problem with the FlakJak is when there is a severe impact that stretches the netting and compresses the shoulder cup, the rear portion of the cup digs into the rider's shoulder blade. When it comes to shoulder impact protection, the V·2000 and Pro Armor are clearly one step below the RoostD-Flector and Flak Jak, since there's no netting in the suspension cups. The extended wing piece doesn't absorb the impact as well. We found that in shoulder impact, the blow is hardly absorbed. The majority of the impact is directly on the shoulder. Of the two, the Pro Armor seemed to work slightly better. In a crash where the rider lands on his chest area, all the chest protectors seem LO work egually well. They are all suspended from the rider's body, bu t the Roost- D-Flector and Flak J ak have the most "travel." However, the Flak Jak plastic is slightly more rigid than the Roost·D-Flector, and does the job better. The same goes for back protection - they all work very well, but we feel the V-2000 and the Pro Armor are the best, just because they cover the most area. Upper arm protection is best on the Pro Armor: It has the largest plastic piece and is the only one of the four that offers elbow and forearm guards that can be easily snapPed on. The V-2000 and Roost-D-Flector also have decent upper arm plastic pieces. The Flak Jak has the worst - they're too small, but they are the only ones that can be removed from the main body. The others are permanently ,~.attaehed,but woo't mmeoff ina crash. 22 Shoulder wing design. Cups interfere with helmet... wing-type interfere less. While wearing the Flak Jak, one of our test riders was involved in a first turn crash and had another rider plow into him. The upper plastic piece came unsnapped, and he had LO ride the rest of the moLO with it dangling around his wrist. However, he didn't receive a scratch, and the problem can be cured by putting LockTite on the snaps. Styling Conclusion It was hard for us LO decide which of the four pads was the best looking, but· when it came down LO a final vote, the V-2000 won. With ~he V2000 out of the way, the FlakJak took a unanimous second. The Roost-DFlector takes getting used to because it looks bulky and has a spira.! vent configuration. We rated the Roost-DFlector third over the Pro Armor because the Pro Armor looks bulky and complex. . Even though most of these shoulder pads have incredibly high prices, alI are a worthwhile investment. We feel that the more protection the better when either racing or trail riding; however, we don't know for sure if any of these shoulder pads wilI prevent such injuries as broken collarbones, dislocated or separated shoulders. We do know that some kind of shoulder protection is better than nothing at all. If we were going to buy one of these shoulder pads, we would buy the Roost·D·Flector. Jr's V-3 and V-4 will be more suited for ATVs and will retaiHor $69.95. But, the Fox has the best all-around protection design and costs much less than the others. Cost aside, we would stilI stick to the Roost·D-Flector and learn to cope with the restrictive arm movement and strange styling. • Comfort None of these are very comfortable LO wear, that's why many riders are turned off about wearing shoulder pads. They are the most noticeable and uncomfortable when just walking around, but while riding, they are rarely felt - except the Pro Armor. The biggest gripe we had about the Pro Armor was the collar area isn't cut low enough, and the front shield is too long. When entering a tum while sitting, the collar of the Pro Armor digs into the rider's throat and neck. The V-2000 does the same thing but not as bad. JT offers a shortening service for the V-2000; it costs $15.00. The new V-3 and V-4, with their short (ront pieces, will eliminate the problem. When it comes to arm mobility, the Flak Jak shines. The cutaway for the arms in the front plastic shield alIows for plenty of mobility. The (ront shield on the Roost-D-Flector is very similar to the original Flak Jak and has the worst arm mobility of the bunch. When the rider's arms are stretched straight out forward, the outer edges of the front shield cut inLO the inner forearm. Both the V2000 and Pro Armor have arm cutaways, but not as much as the Flak J3k. TheV-2000hasdecentarm movement but pinches between the shoulder and chest junction; the Pro Armor has about the same arm mobility as the V-2000 without the pinching. Putting on and taking off the V2000 and Pro Armor is a pure pain. Since the front and back shields are a one-piece unit, slipping them over the rider's head is not fun. The hole to slip the rider's head through is a little on the tight side on the V-2000 and Pro Armor. If the rider wears glasses, he must take them off first. The Flak Jak and Roost-D-Flector are much more flexible because ny on straps connect the pieces together making it easy to get on and off. They also compact better LO store in a gear bag. Once on, there are two straps on each side of the rider's waist that attaches the (ront and back shields together on the V-2000 and Pro Armor. We feel one strap on each side is sufficient - such as the ones the Flak J ak and Roost-D-Flector use - when you're in a hurry, four straps are a nuisance. Price Here's where the Roost-D-Flector roosts aU over the others. The ROOStD-Flector retails (or $55, while the other three shoulder pads retail nearly $90. In our opinion, all these shoulder pads cost (ar too much. Only the Roost-D-Flector is in the balI park. Th~ following is a points chart with th~ b~st in' ~ach division r~c~iving a scor~ of fiv~. From th~~, th~ oth~s ar~ scor~d only as compared to the best in that particular division, even if the best isn't p~fect. .........oa.dIDlI: FIlIkJlICk Pro Armor Roost·D-Flector V·2000 .......oIedIM: FIUJ8k Pro Annor Roost-D-Flector V-2000 e-fort Flak Jak Pro Armor Roost-D-Flector V·2000 5tJIhc: Flak Jak Pro Armor Roost-D-Flector V-2000 '1_ Stl 4 2 5 2 CIIIIt 2 5 4 3 ... ....- ,..... CIIeIt 5 3 4 2 ....- 2 5 4 3 5 5 55 ,..... 2 5 4 3 ..... , ..... .. ....., Ra 5 3 5 3 LeIlIa 4 2 3 5- 5 3 5 3 16 15 18 12 5 4 2 3 4 10 8 6 ...,..., ,..... 20 12 16 12 5 2 4 3 ,..... Caler"'" 4 3 3 5 8 5 6 18 ....... ........ ...... -...... - Extras: FlakJak Pro Armor Roost·D-FIector V-2000 2 4 3 5 ,tIWs 0 5 0 0 . ........... FIlIk .... Pro A _ Re»...r·D·fIectIar V-2000 50 51 51 45 . 2 9 3 5

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