Motorcycle Investor mag Subscribe to our free email news MotoCAP open day A look behind the scenes at the
riding gear testing centre
Above
we have a section of liner where the seams have been
tested, and a patch of denim where the material itself
has been stress-tested.
Armour
was a popular topic and the quality can vary enormously.
The researchers were too polite to say the word
'rubbish', but that clearly applied in one case that was
carrying fake CE standard markings.
One of the tools for armour evaluation is this, which drops a weight on the material and measure how much force is absorbed. The differences between dodgy and Level 2 absorption is enormous.
Something
we weren't expecting was this, a device that can be used
to measure breath-ability (temperature transfer) and the
effectiveness of claims to wick away moisture.
One section that wasn't open on the day was the rain room, though we were given a video demo. It's essentially a converted container that can set up a mist or light dousing to test any 'shower-proof ' claims. Fortunately it can be used with a test dummy rather than a real person in the riding gear!
MotoCAP is also working on a project to assess the longevity of riding clothing, or at least how quickly its protective qualities deteriorate. That report is yet to be completed, but is worth keeping an eye out for.
So are manufacturers taking any notice
of this work? The belief is the local brands are and there
is a sense they are modifying their range accordingly. One
model that springs to mind is a DriRider Climate EXO 4
jacket, which in its latest iteration has scored a
five-star safety rating.
There is a lot going on behind the scenes with this project and it's well worth spending a bit of time on the website.
We reckon you just have to take it into
account before you buy any riding gear.
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