The page on Body Armor Research has been updated with information from the Motorcycle Council of New South Wales, which has a series of articles on Safer Equipment. I'll post some quotes, but you'll want to read it all yourself. Under Protection from Injury:
A German study of motorcycle crash casualties, found that riders wearing protective clothing spent less time in hospital, and returned to work on average 20 days earlier, than those who were not protected. The protected riders were also 40% less likely to have suffered a permanent physical defect. The authors concluded that protective clothing was significantly effective in preventing or reducing at least 43% of injuries to the skin and soft tissue and 63% of deep and extensive injuries (Schuller, 1986).
Make sure you check out the injury risk zones page for an interactive display of what gets injured and how often. This is great stuff.
Update: I just noticed that one of the MCNSW's Current Projects is The Good Gear Guide.
This is a guide for riders when buying motorcycle gear, on how to choose clothing that will help to keep them safe. The project is an initiative of the Australian Motorcycle Council and is funded by the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. The Guide is in development and expected to be released mid year.
I've had good success with the Aerostich body armor like this http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/RockGardn-Air-Armor-Jacket-p-18229.html
Mine is all black, but I've used it in August on a 4 day ride in the Big Bend area of Texas. I've also crash tested it in sharp edge rocks & cactus. Only thing injured was my pride.
Chris Hardy
Lost Trail Rider
Posted by: Chris Hardy | May 14, 2009 at 01:17 PM