Sunday, 17 March 2019

How is the effectiveness of EVOQE motorcycle jeans armour tested?


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 (ConformitĂ© EuropĂ©ene 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. 

To take a closer look at EVOQE products, visit www.evoqe.co.uk

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