I've broken my ribs three times in the last four riding seasons and at 62 it keeps taking longer for them to heal.  Ideally, the problem would be solved by not falling so much.  32" inseam and 37" KTM seat height, just doesn't add up though.  MC chest protectors, FOX and Fly, don't give the full rib protection I'm looking for.  Other than wearing karting or lacross rib protectors under my MC chest protector, what's available?

The Tekvest seems like a good option, although I have no personal experience with it.  I have read that they get pretty hot if you don't wear them loose and get some air flow going.


http://www.tekrider.com/off_road.html

I'm sure you could look into hockey or football qb pads, but they can be bulky and can get very hot and restrict movement. What kind of riding are you doing and how do you manage to land on your ribs?

TheIncident88, on 12 April 2012 - 08:26 AM, said:

Two different rib breaks were from the lower edge of the FOX chest protector (hard plastic with little padding) jabbed into my side, once on the right, next time on the left.

Switched to a FLY chest protector because it seemed to have more wrap around protection for the ribs.  I still managed to break ribs again with the FLY chest protector.  This time after a low speed tip over and dropping about 2' into a rut and landing on a rock.  In this instance, the chest protector didn't go up high enough to protect the rib cage on my left side.

My primary doc did blood work for testosterone levels and a bone density scan, neither of which showed any deficiencies.  He attributed to breaks to plain old trauma.

One of my riding buddies suggested wrapping myself in bubblewrap.  Funny guy.  None-the-less, at 62 I'm not ready to give up riding my 200XC-W, just looking for more ribcage protection.

I have broken mine twice and there is very little in the way of rib protection in the motorcycle world. I found and use lacross rib protectors and have looked at footbal protection. I have a shock doctor but the lacross setup allows more mobility and protection. There is a lot of room for development in this area. i hope it gets it....

Edited by vidarapido, 14 April 2012 - 10:27 AM.

If it's impact driving the hard plastic of the chest protector into your side, maybe you could just buy some EVA foam for a couple bucks and double sided adhesive tape or otherwise fix it to the inside of the chest protector? Not going to absorb a huge hit, but will spread the force over a larger area instead of being focused along the edge of the plastic. Plus it will be cheap and less cumbersome than larger pads.

Edited by TheIncident88, 14 April 2012 - 04:54 PM.

vidarapido, on 14 April 2012 - 10:27 AM, said:

What's the name of the lacrosse equipment manufacturer?  I'd like to see what they've got.

estube, on 14 April 2012 - 04:48 PM, said:

Dirt as in filth, Bike as in supporter. Mine is a Bike. I got it on ebay.

I've been eyeing the new Astar A8 chest protector.  I haven't seen them personally but seem to have decent side protection.
I went through the same dilema as you after breaking 2 ribs.  I currently wear football compression shirt that have rib protection on them under my EVS body armour.  Feels really good.

This web site seems to have a little of everything.  Just what I'm looking for.

http://www.sportsdepot.com/fbrib.html

i just bought one of these axo pressure suits. it has more rib protection than any other suit i have owned. you can find them cheap on fleabay. i just bought the air cage pro model for $89.99. really nice setup.


http://www.axo.com/u...ty/air-cage-pro

Just a few more to consider
Moto x vest
Skeletools
Rxrprotect vest

rodgini, on 19 April 2012 - 04:36 AM, said:

I've got an air cage and though I like it, I don't think it's gonna do much of anything to prevent broken ribs. But every time I've fallen on my side it's been on my shoulder. Maybe I just perfected my crash technique through 15yr of bmx/mountain biking. Tuck and roll baby.

TheIncident88, on 19 April 2012 - 05:30 AM, said:

TheIncident88, on 19 April 2012 - 05:30 AM, said:

i hear you on the tuck and roll!!! it is an art.  the air cage does offer rib padding which most pressure suits don't. will it protect your ribs from breaking??? probably not in the right crash but still better than most.

I have a Motoxvest for sale if anyone is interested. XL.  I find it to be too hot and restrictive

This topic is of particular interest to me as I just broke four ribs 12 days ago, having now survived my first "endow" (sounds like window, without the W).  I'm 47 and can't afford to be any more hurt than this.  Unfortunately, my chest protector was in the car...never again.  Im now wanting a full body suit, as the pain was intense and intensive care (icu) with a punctured lung is not recommended.  My protector is a fly and I'm now looking at it with a skeptical eye as it doesn't cover much.

I'm going to check out the Lacrosse protector.

I too broke 4 ribs, punctured lung (chest tube not fun), separated shoulder and a nasty hematoma from the top of my ankle to underneath my armpit and across my back. 50mph get off in the desert. I bought a RockGardn ballistic suit after I healed up and it had the best rib protection I could find at the time. It also had removable sleeve protection and you can remove the articulated back plate if you wanted. I liked being able to remove the sleeve protection as it gets pretty toasty here in Vegas.

The other thing I noticed about the RockGardn design was there were no plastic buckles in the rib area to assist the breaking of ribs again at the time.

They have since changed their design and I believe it is inferior to their original design. In my opinion anything I could find last year was either designed wrong as in not as protective as it could be or didn't fit well. Putting buckles anywhere in the rib area is not a good idea as far as I'm concerned.

I was able to find an old style RockGardn suit and snagged it about a year ago.

i got tired of breaking my ribs...i tried on the most expensive troy lee ones and felt exposed on the sides...i got the fox airframes and have taken a few more dumps that trashed the protector instead of my ribs...i have 2 thumbs up for the fox airframes...i know they work, i have the impact marks on the shoulder and side straps to prove it...

i wish they had elbow pieces with them, that was the only thing that got hurt...here is where i bought mine. i don't ride without it anymore...

http://compare.ebay....mTypes&var=sbar

Nike Pro Combat Hyperstrong Football 4 Pad Adult Shirt  is what I'm going to try under my FLY chest protector.

http://www.dowdlespo...mbat_shirts.htm  has the best price.

Edited by estube, 08 June 2012 - 09:11 AM.

There's some good ideas on here for chest protection.  It's been 8 weeks today and I started back doing push ups and assisted pull ups and lat pulls to build my rib muscles back up.  I'm sure the bone is pretty well healed, but a small amount of discomfort remains.  At 48, if this happened again, I'd sell my dirt bike and be done with it for good.  I bought one of the external "protectors with the shoulder armor and upper arm guards.  I think they're more for roost protection, but they may have reduced the rib injury had I been wearing them at the time.  Has anyone found or tried the type of rib protectors the quarterback in the NFL wear when they have bruised or broken ribs so they can play?

The fox air frames sound promising.  Another problem I have is being 6'1 220lbs with a 44 inch chest, most stuff for dirt bikes is made for smaller guys.  I'd love to hear from some bigger guys any protection that has saved them from injury.

Eric Klee
Hudson, Fl