New Ideas In Protective Equipment

New Ideas In Protective Equipment

JOFA ROCK AND SHOULDER GUARDS

WHAT SERIOUS motocrosser can ignore protective equipment that boasts Jim Weinert and Marty Smith as special advisors? Jofa Motocross Equipment, worn extensively by the leading riders in Europe, is now making its mark in America. In fact, 11 out of the top 15 riders in the recent 250cc AMA National Motocross series wore Jofa pads, and with good reason. Nearly 20 years of engineering, research and development have gone into the design of Jofa protective equipment, all of which has been subjected to rigorous laboratory testing to ensure proper fit and protection. American riders aren't totally unfamiliar with the Jofa line of motocross equipment, however, as it has been distributed in the United States up until the first part of this year under the Jofama label.

Jofa Rock Guard

We don’t normally think of hockey players and motocrossers as having much in common. Yet when it comes to clothing, both must have maximum protection and complete freedom of movement. The Jofa Rock Guard is a case in point. Originally designed for hockey, where a crack in the mouth with a high-velocity hockey stick isn’t an uncommon occurrence, the Rock Guard is a tough, effective protective device easily adapted to the sport of motocross.

The Jofa guard, constructed of highdensity, closed-cell polyethylene, fits snugly under the chin to prevent it from moving upward and injuring the nose. Protection is further enhanced by shock-absorbing rubber padding under the nose area and two slung straps across the interior to absorb impact and keep the outer shell away from the teeth and lips.

We’ve worn the Jofa rock guard on several occasions and were glad we did. It totally soaks up the impact of most stones pitched into the air by other bikes on the track. It also does a fair job of deflecting sand and small pebbles that normally sting your face every time you follow someone out of a slow turn.

The Jofa guard comes in red, white, blue, green and yellow. Mounting hardware is included.

Jofa Shoulder Guards

You can’t keep head and shoulders above the competition with protection that stops at the chin, thus Jofa also offers the motocrosser shoulder guards. To give you an idea of the kind of protection these items are designed to afford, consider the following test standards; The point on the molded shoulder cap directly above the head of the humerus is exposed to an impact of 25.3 foot-pounds. The impact measured directly below the joint may not exceed 661.5 pounds. Impact measured under the entire shoulder may not exceed 2646 pounds.

The strong, molded polyethylene shoulder cups are fastened via leather strips to bicep guards of shock-absorbing foam covered with brushed nylon and overlaid with a highly protective polyethylene shell. The shoulder/ bicep guard then attaches, by way of threeway-adjustable ties, to a high-density foam filled chest protector that also covers the collar-bone region and lower abdomen, and features a double-thickness breast plate. The entire chest unit is covered with an ultra-soft brushed nylon that we found very comfortable next to the skin. The combined unit is so remarkably lightweight—a mere 24 ounces—as to be unobtrusive, yet it wards off flying debris with the best of them. It fits comfortably over the shoulders and is held snugly in place in back by heavy elastic straps and adjustable suspender-type clips. All edges and metal eyelets are reinforced with carefully stitched white vinyl.

When we ride in the dirt, whether motocross, desert or trail, we expect at least two things from the equipment we wear. First, it must prove truly protective and be made to the very highest standards possible. None of that, “We’re not sure what it’ll really do, but it looks like it could do the trick.” Second, it must not hinder us in any way or interfere with total freedom of movement; that can be just as dangerous as not wearing any protection at all. We found that the Jofa Shoulder Guards fill both requirements. You can't ask much more than that.

Price and Availability

The suggested retail price of the Jofa Rock Guard is $4.95. The shoulder guards are priced at $44.95, which includes the chest protector and bicep guards. Both pieces of protective equipment are unconditionally guaranteed against cracks for six months after the date of purchase. The Jofa Rock and Shoulder Guards are sold at local dealerships or can be ordered directly from Volvo’s Recreational Products Division. |£j

Jofa Motocross Equipment c/o Volvo of America Corporation Rockleigh, NJ 07647