The Complete Handbook of Motorcycle Chest & Back Protectors
A practical reference for riders, shops, and fleets: how to select, fit, maintain, and profit from chest and back protection that actually works
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
From CE ratings to chest protectors that actually fit under a leather suit: the practical guide to selecting, using, and selling motorcycle impact protection.
About this book
A motorcycle chest or back protector is a piece of safety-critical equipment, yet most riders choose one based on little more than a brand logo and a vague sense of confidence. This handbook replaces guesswork with facts. It breaks down the physics of impact energy, explains exactly what CE Level 1 versus Level 2 means in practical terms, and shows you how to measure your own torso to get a correct fit, whether you're a weekend sport rider, an enduro racer, or a professional courier in city traffic.
The book goes beyond buying advice. It provides structured maintenance schedules that can double the useful life of a protector, explains how to diagnose foam degradation and plastic shell cracking, and offers clear troubleshooting steps for common problems like strap failure and hygiene issues. For the commercial reader, it details how to stock, sell, and even private-label chest and back protectors, including how to navigate liability and warranty requirements.
Written in clear, neutral language with concrete examples and checklists, this is a reference for the shelf, not a magazine puff piece. Whether you're outfitting yourself or a fleet of riders, this handbook ensures you understand exactly what you're putting between your spine and the pavement.
Reader Reviews
Rebecca Davis
★★★★★This is exactly the reference I've been missing. The chapter on CE levels alone is worth the price, because it finally explains the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 in terms of actual force transmission, not just marketing buzzwords. I docked one star because I wish there were a few more photos or diagrams, as the written fitting instructions are thorough but a visual would help confirm I'm doing it right. Still, a solid, reliable resource.
Lisa Allen
★★★★★It's a well-researched handbook, and I appreciate the neutral tone, which is rare in this space. However, I found the business opportunities chapter a bit too general for my taste, and I was hoping for more concrete supplier contacts or at least specific industry events, though I understand the book explicitly avoids naming names. The maintenance chapter is genuinely useful, and I'll keep the book for that section alone. It's just not as actionable as I hoped in the commercial part.
Steven Allen
★★★★★Finally, a book that treats motorcycle safety gear like engineering equipment instead of a fashion accessory. The physics section on how energy is absorbed and dissipated is clear and compelling, and the history of how the standards evolved prevented me from buying a potentially dangerous, cheap protector. I run a small riding school and have already adjusted our gear recommendations and maintenance schedules based on this handbook. An essential buy for anyone who takes riding seriously.
Jeffrey Johnson
★★★★★I'm a paramedic and a rider, so I've seen what happens when a chest protector fails, or isn't worn at all. This book is brutally practical, from the crash-scenario breakdowns in the first chapter to the proper fitment check on page one of the installation section. It's written in straight, clear prose with no fluff. I've loaned it to two riding buddies who are now re-evaluating their old, worn-out gear. This should be standard reading before anyone buys their first protector.
Gary Campbell
★★★★★As a fleet manager for a delivery service, I needed a defensible policy for equipping my riders. This handbook gave me the framework and the language to assess our current gear and put a replacement cycle in place. The troubleshooting section on foam deterioration is particularly useful. The only reason I'm not giving it full marks is that some of the standards talk can get dense, but for the reference purposes I need, it's been excellent.