Knox Handroid
I don't normally look to Wired magazine for tips on motorcycle safety gear but they surprised me this month. The product they featured was the Knox Handroid, a protective system that employs an exoskeleton to do its job in case you have a get off.
The manufacturer, Knox Ltd., a British company, has been in the business of making body armor (or "armour" as they would put it) for 25 years. The Handroid is one of four gloves they have just released to the market, and it is the top dog of the bunch.
Priced at $250, the gloves combine Kevlar, kangaroo hide, and various plastics, along with stainless steel wires running throughout the unit. The gloves cinch down around the wrists, using technology common in ski boots, to ensure they stay on your hands when they're needed.
Can something like that be comfortable? Apparently so. In this video Brian Van, president of sportbiketrackgear.com, explains the design and talks about the feel. In his words, the Handroids "feel no different than any other race glove would." He also describes them as "super comfortable" and says "we're very, very impressed."
Comments
I'm not sure I would pay $250 for gloves but they do seem to have all the right technology to protect.
If I were racing, it would be considered standard equipment for me but I too have a problem with the $250 price tag, especially on my trike.
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