This debate is as hot as that PeriPeri you get from Nandos… but hotter. The neck brace is an optional piece of safety equipment that divides people right down the middle. But what side do you stand on?

Wearing a neck brace is totally person dependent and can change from year to year. Having first hand experience when the original Leatt neck brace entered the market, and wearing one for years, I have more recently left it in the shed when out riding - for whatever reason? I’m a firm believer of more protection is better, so getting more information about neck braces can’t be a bad thing.

If you want HARD FACTS scroll to the bottom of this article where there is an independent case study on neck braces and moto accidents by Action Sports EMS.

Initially, a lot of AMA Pro Motocross and MXGP riders jumped on the neck brace band wagon, but many have also fallen off along the way. Whether that be from fitment issues, apparent riding restrictions, or myths about neck brace injuries, (Chad Reed is a huge non-believer), the amount of neck brace wearing pro racers is probably at an all time low since the product hit the market.

Over the weekend of the MXGP Lommel (Belgium), Dr Chris Leatt, who invented the first Leatt neck brace, was in attendance to present the facts about neck braces to riders and the media. Following the EMS action sport study based on 10 years of real-life crash data, followed up by an article in On Track Off Road (OTOR) magazine, Dr Leatt was able to address many of the questions from a lot of interested GP riders.

During his presentation and Q&A session, Dr Leatt tackled many of the myths surrounding neck braces and gave detailed explanations on how this essential piece of protective gear can substantially reduce the risk of serious injury or even death. Some quite staggering independent evidence is now available that categorically quashes many of the untruths about neck braces.

“It is our company mission to educate consumers on the benefits of neck braces and to abolish some of the myths surrounding them. As the sport continues to get faster and bigger, we are confident that neck braces will grow in their popularity because riders will look for that extra protection. It will give them the confidence to progress.” Dr Chris Leatt stated.

“There should be more people wearing them. I tell people that they should be wearing a brace. At world championship level, the speeds are getting higher, the bikes are getting faster, the suspension’s getting better, the jumps are getting bigger – it’s only a matter of time before the crashes become bigger as well. We can save some of those injuries by protecting ourselves properly,” said MXGP athlete, Shaun Simpson

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It’s all a Sales Pitch
Now you might be thinking that this is all in the hopes that you buy a Leatt neck brace, right? There is probably some truth in that, but what should be your main focus and take away from this article is that there has been some serious independent research done regarding neck braces over a 10-year time period by Action Sports EMS.

Action Sports EMS
Action Sports EMS in an Ambulance service based in the Midwest of America specializing in "Action Sports" such as motocross, hare scrambles, hill climbs, snocross and other motosport related events. The team have extensive knowledge of the events they service which gives them an advantage over services not dedicated to all things motosports.

“Over the years we have overheard and had conversations about the positives and perceived negatives of wearing various kinds of safety gear, in particular neck braces. Regardless of make or manufacturer people seem to think they are “bad”. This perception may be based on old designs, personal experiences, social media commentary, and/or a total lack of knowledge when it comes to body mechanics.”

“We as a team feel our riders need to be educated on the mechanics of a neck brace, what it can and cannot do. Furthermore, we must dispel these myths about a product designed to help protect the cervical spine and potentially save a life. The same can be said for seatbelts and air bags many decades ago. We feel the results of this actual patient data is proof that neck braces are providing the results intended since their creation. This is something the manufacturers of these devices have known for several years, and we hope the extensiveness of this report (and other reports like it) will finally show people real world data. We feel the manufacturers are on the right path and the data from the study will back up their claims.”

Neck Brace Case Study

Action Sports EMS did a case study on neck braces and they have put their finding on the website. Using 9430 accidents as data points, the extensive report is quite the eye opener when it comes to the neck brace debate. You will notice that Action Sports EMS never once mentioned Leatt in their findings, only referring to the products as ‘neck braces’. You will also find rival company Atlas neck braces pointing customers towards this study too, in an attempt to get the word out there about the facts around neck braces.

You can download the Action Sports EMS Case Study by CLICKING HERE.

Rider protection is personal preference. We can’t tell you what to wear when you going riding, especially when it comes to neck braces. Obviously we are pretty happy to say you would be a complete dumb-shit to go riding without a good helmet, boots, and protective clothing. But as neck braces are so personal - that’s a hard one to tackle. Though after having read the study ourselves, we would be lying if we said our neck brace wasn’t going straight back into our riding bag at the very least.

And with the choice of brands like Leatt, Atlas and Alpinestars to choose from, you should be able to find one that fits your lifestyle, riding and price range. Ask at your local dealer.

We have to thank the team at Whites Power Sports who are the NZ distributor of Leatt for bringing this neck brace case study to our attention. You can try on and buy a Leatt neck brace from your local dealer, or CLICK HERE to head online at Bits 4 Bikes and check out the Leatt range.