Regular readers may be aware that we feature motorcycle reviews on an on-going basis, both in the magazine as well as on carmag.co.za. We also publish performance figures that we acquire with the same VBOX equipment we use for testing cars.
But now we have had the opportunity to test what can only be described as the most important piece of protection for motorcyclists since the invention of the helmet.
History
As is the case with many safety products, it was a death that motivated its designer to develop it, in this case Dr Chris Leatt, a South African. After Leatt witnessed the death of a fellow rider, he decided to make a prototype of what was to become a stand-out safety item worldwide.
This was back in 2001. Three years later, in 2004, the first Leatt Brace was sold in South Africa. Apart from winning several awards for safety and innovation, Leatt also developed a bicycle-specific neck brace and launched it in 2010. Today the range consists of specific braces for road riding, off-road riding, Go-Karts and mountain bikes.
Wearing it
Here at CAR we have been testing three of these units for several months, and though we haven’t had any “incidents” that would really test its ability to save lives, our testers are so comforted by the knowledge that it is there that they all say they feel a bit, er, naked, without it.
The concept is quite simple; once you put it on, as well as your helmet, it limits your head’s movement in basically every direction, but especially sideways. This means that once an impact occurs, the Leatt Brace will limit the whiplash movement of your ahead, and in the process limit neck injuries.
Although movement is limited, you soon forget about the brace though. Also, when riding a bike you look ahead for most of the time, and doing the 30-40 degrees turn once you get to a junction doesn’t interfere with the brace at all.
It is quite simple really, the Leatt Brace has become a necessity.
For more information of this product and the whole range, visit Leatt’s website or follow them on Twitter. The current range retails between R2 450 for the GPX Adventure and R5 495 for the GPX Pro Full Carbon.
Have a look at the video below for more information.