JANUARY 31, 2007
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The Moto GPX Leatt-Brace |
Report by Rob McCullough
Photos by James Lissimore
The Product: Leatt-Brace MOTO GPX (Club Version)
Cost: Contact Leatt Brace Canada at 403 652-9929 for pricing.
Online: www.leatt-brace.ca
Canadian Distributor: WMM Partners Ltd info@leatt-brace.ca
Test Location:
Perris Raceway
Glen Helen Raceway Park
Test Duration:
4 Hours
Installation:
Initial assembly and fitting may take up to twenty minutes. Once the brace has been assembled, a proper fitting takes no more than a few minutes.
Fit & Finish:
The Leatt-Brace is difficult to rate for fit and finish as there is no other model to use as a benchmark. That said, only time will tell as to the quality of the brace and its components. All surfaces of the MOTO GPX may be washed by hand with mild soap and cold water, external padding may be removed to assist in the cleaning.
Track Tested:
As a rider who (foolishly) seldom wears a chest protector, I obviously felt the brace resting on my shoulders. Once on the track, however, it didn’t take more than a few laps for me to feel somewhat comfortable wearing the brace while riding.
Our initial riding took place at the famed Perris Raceway, which has a few small hills and, although I was warned that I may feel my helmet hitting the rear upper member of the brace, it was never an issue and the more I rode, the more comfortable I felt.
I tested the MOTO GPX with both the supplied positioning strap and with a modified No Fear Stratos Chest Protector. I preferred the Leatt-Brace floating inside the Chest Protector rather than attached with the positioning strap, which tended to prematurely tire my Trapezius muscles. I’ll have to experiment more with the strap but during my initial review, I preferred the chest protector/brace combo.
During our second day of riding with the MOTO GPX we visited Glen Helen Raceway and noticed the helmet hitting the rear upper member as Geoff Patterson had cautioned me about the previous day. Fortunately, loosening the rear adjustment screws and thereby lowering the rear member easily solved the issue. Once back on the track, I felt some contact between the helmet and rear member, but only on the steepest of hills and it did not prevent me from being able to look far enough ahead.
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McCullough was so pleased with the Leatt-Brace that he bought two! |
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Summary:
I feel this initial offering of the MOTO GPX from Leatt-Brace will pioneer the evolution of neck braces with continuous upgrades improving both comfort and safety. In 1986 I ruptured both of my anterior cruciate ligaments and with the advice of my surgeon, I purchased CTi knee braces to hopefully prevent any further injuries. To say that the knee braces felt awkward initially would be an understatement but with time the braces began to feel natural—and today I wouldn’t ride without them.
Although I have only ridden a few hours with the Leatt-Brace, I’m beginning to feel the same way about the Moto GPX as I did about the knee braces. Keep in mind that you can repair knees but, to date, the same success hasn’t been realized with spinal injuries.
I’m personally so committed to wearing the MOTO GPX that I bought two braces in case one becomes damaged preventing me from riding safely. In my opinion, it’s not a question of whether or not you can afford to own and wear a Leatt-Brace but whether or not you can afford to ride without one. In fact, since I have two models, if you see me at the track, feel free to ask about it and I'll let you try it out for yourself. BUY ONE NOW! 403-295-3500.
Other Notes:
The Leatt-Brace is available in youth and adult sizes.
Troy Lee Designs is currently developing a chest protector to work specifically with the MOTO GPX.
Rating:
10
Special Thanks:
To Geoff Patterson of Leatt Corporation for his patience and cooperation throughout our review.
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A modification was required to install the Leatt-Brace with our chest protector. |
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The brace fit perfectly after the mod. |
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Geoff Paterson demonstrates the safety of the brace design. |
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A view of the rear upper member. |
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The brace can be worn over or under the jersey without a chest protector using the positioning strap. It's quite a stretch to get the neck of the jersey over the brace but we were able to get our FXR jersey stretched over the brace with no problems and no damage to the jersey (see image at the top of this report). |
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