Do You Need a Motorcycle Back Protector?

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it depends what's already built into your jacket or suit, because a lot of riders assume they're covered when they're not.

What a back protector actually does

It spreads impact force across the spine instead of letting it concentrate on one point, and it protects against the kind of compression injury that a jacket's leather alone can't do much about. Abrasion resistance and impact protection are two different jobs. Leather handles the slide. The back protector handles the hit.

Check what you've actually got

Plenty of jackets and suits are sold as "back protector compatible" rather than including one as standard. That means there's a pocket sewn in, and nothing inside it unless you've bought the insert separately. It's worth checking your own gear rather than assuming, because compatible and equipped aren't the same thing.

See our guide on what CE Level 2 actually means if you want the detail on how back protectors are rated the same way as the rest of your armour.

Level 1 vs Level 2 for the back specifically

Same principle as the rest of your armour. Level 2 allows less force through than Level 1, and it's the standard most track days and serious road riders go with. Back protectors come in soft, flexible versions and harder shell versions. The harder shells generally sit at Level 2 and give slightly more coverage, at the cost of being a bit less forgiving to wear all day.

Built-in vs separate

A back protector built into the suit or jacket stays where it should, which matters in a fall. A separate back protector worn underneath is more flexible if you swap gear often, but only works if you actually remember to wear it every time. Every Motorce race suit and custom jacket is built with a CE Level 2 back protector as standard, not an accessory you have to remember to add.