In the world of body protection for Moto riders. The choices are ample. Yet, in my humble opinion as a physio who rides moto and deals with injuries daily. Many of these products miss the mark on their assignment from a protection, fit, function and user experience point of view.
In many areas, protective gear is outdated in style, shape, fit, and impact reduction technologies. This is a general observation across all protective gear, but helmets and boots are marginally better than chest protectors and elbow guards. I believe this is partly because helmets and boots are used by professional riders who demand higher performance from their equipment.
Chest protectors are optional in most categories outside of MXGP, meaning many pro-level riders aren’t required to use them, don’t use them, and therefore don’t provide feedback on their effectiveness and usability. Consequently, there seems to be a lack of customer pressure and feedback to improve a product that appears to be “working” from a sales perspective for most brands. RXR seems to have broken this trend.
RXR has been around for a few years now. But They have not really broken news in the protection field. Possibly due to the French ownership and the language barrier on their website and social posts etc.
However, the RXR brand is slowly growing in its exposure and product use. With many Pro level riders using the RXR Chest protectors under their gear (Julien Beumer recently posted a thank you message to RXR for the protection he experienced in his crash at Southwick). Another reason you may not realise the product is in use. Riders sponsors require exposure from Jersey prints and therefore the chest protector goes under the jersey. Out of sight out of mind.
Once you know about the RXR and their Air Shock Absorber (ASA) technology. The protection game changes. RXR and the R-Pro air protection aim to use the absorption properties of air, to control the force of the impact felt by the rider when crashing. The system blocks airflow between the different compartments after welding and factory inflation of our ultra-resistant polyurethane cushion gives our technology unprecedented impact resistance.
From a user point of view. The impact still hurts when we run out of talent and crashed whilst wearing the RXR R-Pro. It’s just managing the impact better. So Ideally the same crash in another protector may have resulted in an injury.
In concept, RXR is an adaptable Chest protector for all riders with differing protection requirements.
At its core, the RXR is a front and back chest protector. Suitable for the Pro level rider looking for protection, but movement freedom that is not bulky and lightweight in the fit department.
But with some simple additions to the R-Pro. You can adapt your protection to include side abdominal protection. With a simple velcro attachment and linking to the retraining straps.
Go further and maybe you want or need some shoulder protection for those sneaky tight trails where you might brush your shoulders on the odd tree at speed. Then the Predator kit is a simple addition to the purchase during your checkout for $50.00. The Predator kit. Separate to the Chest Protector but worn in conjunction. Allows for removable shoulder protection and removable elbow protection for a complete upper body protection system.
The R-Pro includes:
- A thermoformed EVA foam chassis for comfort and durability.
- An air cushion 2.0 for optimal deformation and absorption, or an ASA 3.0 cushion is always inflated.
- A flexible plastic shell distributes shocks on the air cushion.
- Removable side protection (except for Child size).
- A maximum thickness of 3 cm for use under the jersey.
This protective vest is close to the body, ultra-thin, comfortable, flexible, resistant, light, ventilated, and ergonomic for use under clothing.
The Fit Experience
Right from the ordering process online at rxrprotect.com I felt comfortable with the product I was buying. Once the Google Translate kicked in. The website had all the details I needed to feel I was getting the right sized product and the right options with the purchase. After I entered my height and weight it selected the appropriate sized R-Pro. After selecting the 3.0 ASA to have it ready for use on arrival (Something that will be the only option from RXR in future) I moved onto maybe one of the cooler sides of this product. Yes, Yes the protection is cool. But I will always be a racer and a kid at heart with Moto and the ability of RXR to put my name and number onto the R-Pro at purchase is one of those little super cool details that help make this product top-notch.
In the core arrangement. The R-Pro fits neatly. The ability to adjust the shoulder straps and the abdominal straps allows for a neat fit. Something Protective gear should do. Loose-fitting gear in my opinion can be more dangerous than wearing nothing at all. The shoulder adjustment straps are velcro and do tend to stick to the inside of the jersey. If you can get your adjustment set. Buy some additional velcro and cover the exposed area to stop it from sticking to your jersey.
The core front and back sections, whilst not overall thick at a max of 3cm. The R-Pro does have a solid feel that takes a few rides to get used to. But like anything, it disappears with time and becomes a normal feeling very quickly. This feeling is the trade-off for the additional protection over other models.
If using the Predator kit. You have the option to remove the elbow guards and just use the shoulders. Both sections allow for the removal of the pads for easy washing. There are a lot of zippers on the predator kit. But surprisingly, there were no issues with any rubbing or pressure points from them. They are positioned well and do not interfere with your riding position.
The white core section of the R-Pro does need a bit of love when it comes to cleaning time to keep the scuff marks from dirt off. But that’s a white anything. White in Moto looks good. But always needs a bit more cleaning time to keep it looking good.
Some things to note with the RXR Protect and the R-Pro. The 3.0 ASA does come with an expiry date. This is because the pressure the ASA works at will unfortunately not remain consistent forever. But like many products, especially in the protective field. They should be replaced more often than not to ensure they do perform as intended when you do have that inevitable crash.
These products are available for children. But more from a youth size up, generally riders on a 65cc machine and up will fit but check the sizing guides for your little rider on their size to ensure the product fits correctly. As for the ladies out there. Unfortunately, the RXR does not currently have a ladies’ style at this time. Something that may come with the future updates that are rumoured to be coming later this year in a 2.0 version of the R-Pro.
This Product is one that I have wanted to experience for some time now. The technology attracted me to it as the other offerings in the market at present are all very much the same. The moment I opened the box I was impressed by the R-Pro and continue to be with each use as I become more comfortable in its use. I hope to not test it too often but I hold its ability to protect me higher than any other chest protector I’ve used and crashed in.
The RXR Protects R-Pro in the anniversary edition pictured in this inspection is currently $225.00 on RXR Protect
