Forcefield Pro L2 back protector

RiDE Best Buy is one of the most coveted awards in biking. A product bearing
this tag has passed our tough tests with flying colours and is great value for
money. The RiDE Recommended tag also highlights great kit.
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i swear by it...
Forcefield Pro L2 back protector
This Forcefield back protector is one of
those pieces of kit I can never imagine
myself being without. I don’t make a habit
of crashing, but each time I have, something
has always impacted my back. Be it the
ground, another rider and even another
bike. Each time I’ve managed to walk, limp
or be stretchered away with no lasting
damage to my back and I’m certain I owe
it all to this back protector.
It’s comfortable, so much so that you
forget it’s there – and that’s a big issue with
back protectors. Too bulky and hard and
you’re going to be less inclined to put it
on. The small price you pay for this level
of protection is, however, a bit of a stinky
one. In the hot summer months the lack
of ventilation causes you to get a seriously
sweaty back. Not so much of a problem at
a trackday, but a bit gross if you’re nipping
out for lunch.
Emma Franklin
top five bacK prOtectOrs
top five rucKsacKs
According to the RiDE Product Test December 2008
According to the RiDE Product Test July 2008
ForceFieLd
Pro L2
Comfortable but still
tough enough to be
highly protective.
Contact: www.
daviesodell.co.uk
Test rating: 29/30
Price: £80-£90
hALvArssons
trAck
heLd
reciA
oxFord MAx
Protection
BMW BAck
Protector 2
Very similar to the
Forcefield but slightly
smaller.
Contact: www.
iofama.se
Test rating: 29/30
Price: £80
Vest with padding on
collarbones and ribs.
Contact: www.heldbiker-fashion.de
Test rating: 29/30
Price: £115.50
Best-performing of
the hard-plate back
protectors.
Contact: www.
oxprod.com
Test rating: 27/30
Price: £50-£80
One weak spot let
down an otherwise
strong performance.
Contact: www.
worldofbmw.com
Test rating: 21/30
Price: £95
kriegA
r25
Tough, comfortable,
waterproof, with a
good capacity.
Contact:
www.kriega.com
Test rating: 39/40
Price: £79
ogio
no drAg
knox
six PAck
oxFord xPert
AeroPAck
vAnucci rAce
hArd sheLL
Versatile, with a
helmet carrier.
Contact: www.ultimatepursuits.co.uk
Test rating: 39/40
Price: £120
Generous capacity
with three pockets
and a carry net.
Contact: www.
planet-knox.com
Test rating: 38/40
Price: £40
Waterproof, with
waist and chest belts
to spread the load.
Contact: www.
oxprod.com
Test rating: 36/40
Price: £40
Modest capacity with
several compartments.
Contact: www.
getgeared.co.uk
Test rating: 36/40
Price: £90
top five baseLayers
top five twO-piece Leathers
According to the RiDE Product Test August 2010
According to the RiDE Product Test September 2010
hein gericke
seAMLess 3d
rev’it toP And
PAnts
ForceFieLd
cLiMAte controL
BMW FunctionAL
underWeAr
sPAdA PerForMAnce skins
hein gericke PsxcoMPetition
hideout cLAssic
tWo-Piece suit
Bks Lynx jAcket
And trousers
Weise tWo-Piece
touring suit
rst
rAzor suit
A really impressive
performance from
this comfortable suit.
Contact: www.heingericke.co.uk
Test rating: 19/20
Price: £50
Scored well for
comfort and wicking
abilities.
Contact: www.
autocom.co.uk
Test rating: 18.5/20
Price: £69
Comfortable, light
and non-itchy.
Contact: www.
forcefieldperformance.com
Test rating: 18/20
Price: £80
Impressive results
but prone to itching
at high temperatures.
Contact: www.bmwmotorrad.co.uk
Test rating: 17/20
Price: £60
Quality base layer
let down by poor
breathability.
Contact: www.
feridax.com
Test rating: 17/20
Price: £55
This is a thick and
heavy suit with good
levels of protection.
Contact: www.
hein-gericke.com
Test rating: 121/140
Price: £500
A protective suit
that has been built
to last.
Contact: www.
hideout-leather.co.uk
Test rating: 113/140
Price: £800
A good performing
suit let down by a
lack of ventilation.
Contact: www.
bksclothing.com
Test rating: 101/140
Price: £580
A good, safe, solid,
simple suit let down
by a lack of pockets.
Contact: www.
weise-clothing.co.uk
Test rating: 93/140
Price: £350
This high specification suit comes with
a back protector.
Contact: www.
rst-moto.com
Test rating: 88/140
Price: £330
top five chaiN OiLers
top five battery chargers
According to the RiDE Product Test May 2010
According to the RiDE Product Test June 2007
tutoro tWin
nozzLe oiLer
Simple, easy to use,
value for money –
just remember to
turn it on and off.
Contact: www.
tutorochainoiler.com
Test rating: 43/50
Price: £19.49
www.ride.co.uk
PdoiLer
AutoMAtic
scottoiLer
vsysteM
scottoiLer
esysteM
Electronic system is
simple to fit, simple
to set up but could
be more secure.
Contact:
www.pdoiler.co.uk
Test rating: 39/50
Price: £62
Well-made vaccumfed system is very
effective, let down by
complex instructions.
Contact:
www.scottoiler.com
Test rating: 39/50
Price: £89.95
Well-made, easy to
fit electronic system,
again with complex
instructions.
Contact:
www.scottoiler.com
Test rating: 38/50
Price: £210
AcuMen cL10
inteLLigent
chAin oiLer
Clever electronic
system can be tricky
to fit and set up.
Contact: acumenelectronics.co.uk
Test rating: 32/50
Price: £174.99
AccuMAte MuLtistAge sMArt
BAAs As125
indiMAte
BAttery tender
WAterProoF 800
BAttery tender
sAito ProchArger
internAtionAL PLus
Efficient in every test.
Comes with croc clips
and a permanentconnection lead.
Contact: www.
accumate.co.uk
Test rating: 68/75
Price: £40
Excellent at everything but recovering
totally flat batteries.
Croc clips only.
Contact: www.
baas-parts.de
Test rating: 66/75
Price: £35
Very good charging
capacity. Comes with
fused croc clips and
a fused permanentconnection lead.
Contact: www.
batterytender.com
Test rating: 65/75
Price: £30
Slightly better than
the Waterproof 800
except in tricklecharging.
Contact: www.
batterytender.com
Test rating: 63/75
Price: £45
Good at everything
but trickle-charging.
Has croc clips and
a permanentconnection lead.
Contact: www.
getgeared.co.uk
Test rating: 62/75
Price: £30
November 2010 | 75