The jacket that I have (First Gear Teton) has the new d3o armor in the elbows and shoulder only and an EVA foam pad in the back. I agree, if the jacket has the d3o armor for a back protector (or other hard pad), then no need to upgrade. I did a quick look at a random sampling of the jackets on the Motorcyclegear.com site and I could not find any jacket that had more than the "dense foam" back protector.
MAny manufacturers have an optional upgraded back pad. Many people don't think the armor back pad will be comfortable. The better ones are quite comfortable. The SAStec and 3D0 are soft until impact and they mold to your body, yet go instantly rigid with outstanding protection when impacted. High tec to get comfort and protection at the same time...you get what you pay for in this case, but they aren't really expensive...in the $40-$50 range...not bad.
Excellent comment. Keep the rubber side down.
When someone asks me if it's hot with all that gear on, I say that it's cooler then peroxide being applied by emt's.
Just used my "armor" again last night. Was just 20 miles from my reserved Hotel room in North Platte, NE when Severe Weather popped up on the Radar. My track was on the edge so I tried to sneak thru...was going approximately 30 mph when the truck drivers started warning each other on the CB to pull off immediately because of wind. It was about 10 seconds later a 60 mph+ gust of wind hit me directly broadside and I managed to correct...but barely! I stopped as quick as I could behind a big rig that was stopped also just off the edge of the highway. Put on the emergency flashers and then a gust of who knows ???mph took me and the Goldwing to the ground. I landed on my shoulder and the jacket sucked up the impact. I hunkered down for a couple minutes on the downwind side of the wing until the driver in front of me called for me to get in the truck. Storm moved thru in about 30 minutes and the driver helped me lift the Wing back to upright...
Glad you were stopped Tiny!
