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Revolutionary Motorcycle Rider Protection |
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File under New Products Safety
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
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Industrial giant, Dow Corning, recently patented a new high impact protection textile, that when applied to bikers, would be heaven sent. The newly designed textile protects against high-energy impacts, but does not sacrifice flexibility, ease of use and comfort.
The new textile, named Active Protection System, can be integrated directly into motorcycle jackets or pants, in sharp contrast with existing material (eg Kevlar), that is to be removable (you can not wash Kevlar or gels). The APS material can be washed, so no need to remove from the jacket, it's integrated.
The Active Protection System is breathable, very flexible and weights next to nothing, so when applied to a motorcycle jacket, it gives comfort and freedom of movement.
According to independent tests, the APS material offers 40% more protection than specified in the European Standards for Protection (the strictest in the world).
This means the APS material and its resulting motorcycle jackets and trousers, will be lighter, more comfortable and offer 40% more protection than existing ones.
Impact Protection
According to Dow Corning "When the Active Protection System becomes instantly rigid under impact, it absorbs and distributes energy over the entire protective area. This reduces the impact force transmitted significantly, providing better protection that starts sooner and lasts more than twice as long as rigid systems."
This year will see the first major motorcycle garment manufacturer market APS based jackets. From all the reports I've been reading, I'd say this material is an important and good step for motorcycle riders worldwide. Any invention that increases our survival rate without reducing mobility or comfort is good.. very good !
Click here to read more about this incredible material. (Thanks Kenneth G.)
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| Legacy (Old) Comments |
1) Daffy said on:
(12/09/2006 11:33:09 GMT)
email:Daffy | website:
http://www.action-moto.chRevolutionary Motorcycle Rider Protection
"... you can not wash Kevlar..." Wrong ! Kevlar lined jeans, like Draggin Jeans, are easily washable (but don't like direct sun exposure during drying). Now, this APS system would surely be a great improvement in the biking safety, but as any technologic innovation, the price may be unreachable for the average... Wait and see !
2) tech hound said on:
(12/09/2006 23:39:42 GMT)
email:tech hound | website:
Lots of research into these things
Aside from function I wonder if the two are related materials and which one works better if not. www.gizmag.com/go/5995/
3) Mike Werner said on:
(13/09/2006 06:35:34 GMT)
email:Mike Werner | website:
http://motorbiker.org
I'd say it's totally different. I reported on a similar liquid technology sometime ago ({ Link } I think the difference is weight and breathing. The liquid armor would very well, probably better than the APS, but it's heavier, bulkier and less air circulating. Obviously, it's an opinion formed from reading the data, not trying it out..
4) dragsta said on:
(25/02/2007 04:40:26 GMT)
email:dragsta | website:
http://www.digiflux.bizRevolutionary Motorcycle Rider Protection
Yeah, I was my kevlar jeans and shirt all the time. Well, not ALL the time but every now and then. lol... I wonder if you can sew through this stuff to attach it to a jacket or if a machine needle will cause it to harden up.
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