It is common knowledge among bikers that the two
things that save your skin on the road are protective motorcycle clothing and
body armour. Of these two, the latter is focused towards preventing injury from
impact. Impact is the moment your body touches the hard asphalt. A number of
factors determine the intensity of the fall including the weight of the biker
and the relative speed at which they fall.
Depending upon the intensity, impact can be highly
injurious. This is why companies such as
EVOQE ensure that their motorcycle jeans armour is tested and certified
according to set standards. In this case the standard refers to the CE (Conformité Européene or Certified European) EN (European Norm)
1621-1:2012. The numbers 1621 refer to the armour being specialized for
motorbike riding purpose. The “1” refers to the area the armour protects
(everywhere but the back) and 2012 is the year the standard was last
updated.
CE EN
1621-1:2012 Test Method
This test method is specifically used for motorbike jeans armour worn on limbs and
joints. The test apparatus includes a 50 mm radius anvil mounted on a load
cell. The anvil is connected to the base through a high speed force transducer
that is used to measure the impact. The second piece of apparatus is an 80 mm-40
mm striking face or impactor weighing 5 kg.
The sample piece of armour is placed on the anvil and
the impactor is dropped on it. The height of the drop is adjusted so that the
impact speed is 4.47 m/s. This creates energy of about 50 joules. The force
transmitted through the armour to the anvil is recorded via the force
transducer.
To pass the test, the maximum value of force
transmitted to the anvil should be no less than 35 kN. Other than that, any
single value must not exceed 50 kN. The armour’s performance differs in high
and low temperatures, and humid conditions. Several other tests are undertaken
to ensure the armour delivers.
EVOQE Motorcycle Jeans’ Certified Armour
As an up and coming moto-garment company, EVOQE dedicates great time and attention to
the quality of its products. As such, all knee and hip protectors used in EVOQE
Motorcycle Jeans are CE Level 2 certified, which offer highest level of impact protection
for riders.
Additionally, the armour is removable and can be taken
out via an inside pocket of motorcycle Kevlar jeans with a hidden zipper. Soft
armour is used which does not feel uncomfortable and sits snugly on either the
knee cap or hip joint.
Forcefield Armour
in EVOQE Motorcycle Jeans
Forcefield
is one of the most reputable body armour manufacturing companies worldwide. It
is the winner of many awards based on the quality and performance of its
products. It claims to be “the world’s highest performing and comfortable body
armor” manufacturers. Indeed, Forcefield soft armour pads are some of the best
in the market.
Forcefield knee and hip protectors have a number of
features that differentiate it from competition. First, they are CE EN 1621-1 Level
2 certified. When tested, armours that transmit lower energy are more
effective. When submitted to the EN 1621-2 test, Forcefield body armours
transmit as low as 10 kN of force, making them highly reliable.
The Forcefield Isolator 2 Upgrade Armour used in EVOQE Xplore, Tourx, Gladiax Relaxed Motorcycle
Kevlar Jeans is made with exclusive Dri-M technology. It also comes
with RPT (Repeat Performance Technology). They are breathable, absorptive and
mould to the riders contour. The
lightweight body armour range disperses energy evenly over the surface.
Overall, Forcefield armours tick all the boxes:
comfort, performance, minimalistic design, and quality. In the EVOQE
collection, a large number of protective jeans use Forcefield knee and hip
protectors. These include the Tourx Motorcycle Kevlar Slim Fit Jeans and
the Xplore NS Motorcycle Kevlar Jeans.
