Both KTM and BMW are introducing their own branded versions of the Leatt-Brace™. Designed by South African Dr. Chris Leatt, the neck brace offers protection for your neck, the one part of your body that up until now has not had any equivalent protection compared to all of the other safety gear you could wear.
The Leatt-Brace sits on your shoulders and is designed to limit the extreme range of movement your head might be forced to make during a crash. It’s not connected to the helmet in any way but provides a solid surface to stop helmet motion, preventing damage to your spinal cord and vertebra from extreme forward, rearward, lateral or downward forces.
Although aimed at racers it isn’t overly cumbersome and could work well on the street, especially for those sport riders pushing the limits or stunt riders practicing their new moves. After all, if riders will buy frame sliders and protection cages for their bikes to protect the plastic and engine cases, something like this to keep their neck intact is almost a no brainer. There’s a lot of street armor being offered these days by companies like Icon, the Leatt-Brace could be a real positive addition to those types of products.
Thanks for the tip, Joe!
Link: KTM
Link: Leatt-Brace at Intermot
Link: Leatt-Brace
Related: Icon Field Armor
RobC says
As as MSA COC/Steward I think this is brilliant, anything that makes injuries less severe in MX is welcome. I would like this to be made part of the mandatory safety kit a rider needs for competition.
C. J. Luke, III says
On the chance that I might get flamed….I would have some concerns about wearing this on the street. As it is, a helment affords a certain safety liability in that it does restrict the vision somewhat. I wear a Shoie full helment and I have a much harder time turning my head to look down the street for oncomming traffic when the intersection has an acute angle. This is further complicated by my glasses as I have to look out of the corner of my eye where the rim of the glasses create a blind spot. It would seem to me that this collar would further limit that capability. I would certainly want to try one out before I bought it.
David Washburn says
I’m just got back into club racing at 42 this last year – after a 13 year break. I’ll buy this if it doesn’t restrict my head movement required for any racing situation. great idea and it’s not any more goofy looking than the back humps…
RobC says
CJ, what you mention is valid for street use, however out on a track there is only one rule… point your head/eyes in the direction of the race line! 🙂
I agree one would have to take it for a spin to see if it interfered with one’s ability to make observations at intersections, no use if it caused you to miss that 18 wheeler bearing down from the right…
As to glasses and helmets, that is a headache, I find that my glasses are pushed on to the tip of my nose and then the whole focus point is gone… may as well leave them off and ride blind! Something tells me I will need contacts when I buy that 650 Beemer I have my eye on.
todd says
hey RobC, just get a better helmet that fits your glasses!
-todd
Bing says
Our grandson, which rides a KTM 50, has tried on every neck brace. They do not fit over his chest protector and he cannot get his helmet on. He cannot move his head to
ride. Does anyone know if anything that will work on a small fellow that trail rides?