Alpinestars BNS Tech Carbon Neck Brace
While Alpinestars is best known for its top-of-the-line motorcycle boots and other safety equipment, it continually progresses into the area of protective gear, which is evident by their Bionic Neck Support (BNS) Tech Carbon neck brace.
As the name suggests, the BNS Tech Carbon is constructed from an advanced, high-performance carbon polymer compound. The brace offers optimized structural integrity and frame strength while providing heavy impact energy diversion capabilities in the event of a crash.
In addition to being designed with state of the art materials and safety in mind, Alpinestars was able to maintain a lightweight frame, as the brace weighs just over 1.6 pounds.
The BNS Tech Carbon works by diverting the impact energies that compress the neck in the event of a crash. When the helmet comes in contact with the BNS at the moment of impact, the overall load passing through the neck can be reduced, which may prevent a fracture or muscular injuries. The BNS is designed to help prevent catastrophic neck injury and minimize the risk of collateral damage as the impact load is channeled away from the neck.
When adjusting the BNS Tech Carbon to fit myself, I used the XS (extra small) SAS (size adapter system), which provides adjustable and versatile BNS fitment in size ranges extra small to medium, and large to extra large. Essentially, what the SAS does is replace the connection between the front portion and rear portion of the brace.
Inserting a smaller size brings front and rear of the brace closer together, which works best for a smaller rider. Likewise, a larger insert separates the two pieces farther away from each other, which is best suited for larger riders. After inserting the XS piece, the brace fit me perfectly.
In order to secure the BNS Tech Carbon and keep it from moving during a moto, Alpinestars provides a X-Strap System, which are two small straps that can be worn over or under the jersey to secure the BNS Tech Carbon to the rider. The X-Strap system does a great job of securing the brace so that there is little or no movement. I chose to wear mine on the outside of the jersey with great results.
I was very impressed with how well the brace fit me. It offers the perfect balance of fitting well enough so that it hardly moves around, yet it doesn’t feel like it’s too tight either. Also, it should be noted that I rarely notice the brace is on when I am riding. The only time I notice it is when I over jump an obstacle and feel the chin guard of my helmet make contact with the front of the brace. In which case, is perfectly acceptable because the brace is doing its job!
Taking the brace off is easy thanks to the BNS closure system. Removing it is as simple as pulling the release tab on the front, which separates the front halves of the brace. The auto-locking BNS closure system allows for rapid and efficient fitting/removal, which offers highly secure and convenient attachment, which can also be quickly opened in case of emergency.
I am very pleased with everything the Alpinestars BNS Tech Carbon Neck Support has to offer. In addition to superior protection, it is lightweight, easy to take on and off, looks great, and stays secure during a moto. In a sport as dangerous as motocross, it is best to arm yourself with as much protective gears as possible. Protecting your neck should be one of your highest priorities, and Alpinestars offers a great option with its BNS Tech Carbon neck brace.
The Alpinestars BNS Tech Carbon Neck Support retails for $349.95; for additional information, visit Alpinestars.
