Journeys, outings to the hills, short trips. Motorcycle riding is one of those pleasures that, once you’ve experienced it, it’s hard to give up. But to live this passion with peace of mind, it’s necessary to take some precautions, especially in terms of equipment and protection. After all, we all know that motorcycle riders, when flanked by motorists and truck drivers, are the weakest link on the road. So, it’s up to the rider (and the passenger) to equip themselves accordingly. The first step is wearing a helmet, but the second most important element is a back protector, which dramatically reduces the possibility of damaging the spine.
The story behind the back protector
It was the 1970s and motorcycles were already quite fast. Riders, then, generally behaved like daredevil heroes, speeding around lamp posts and doing jumps over low walls and on and off pavements. Not all, however, not everyone was racing about like there was no tomorrow. Indeed, those were the times when safety began to become a relevant issue in the racing world.
This sport took its first major step towards modernity thanks to the vision of Lino Dainese and Barry Sheene, who created the first motorcycle back protector in history. Bazza expressed a need for one and Dainese designed a solution that would become a key feature for everyone, not just World Championship champions.