Knee Guard and Elbow Guard Preferences

[mtk]

Hey everyone,

I searched the Knowledge Base forums and didn't find any info on Elbow or Knee Guards in there. Right now, I've got Thor Core 4 pants and jersey, an HJC AC-X2 helmet, and Alpinestar Tech 6 boots for protective gear (and some Scott goggles). Having come home with bruised knees before, I decided that it's time to spend a little more money on some protective gear to help prevent such pleasantries.

However, I'm not sure which way to go on the Knee and Elbow Guards since I have zero experience with either. I ride mostly trails, with some "MX-type" stuff thrown in, but I've yet to turn a wheel on a proper MX track. I'm looking for equal parts of comfort and protection. I don't want something that will make the backs of my knees raw while protecting the fronts of them.

I've been considering the Thor Force knee guards as the "top line" option since they're around $60 or so. Knee braces, at $500 per pair, are not an option. I've heard good things about Thor gear, which is also a factor. On elbow/forearm guards, I have no idea.

So, what do you folks prefer or recommend and why?

Please, my 34 year old knees are begging you for mercy. They don't tolerate this kind of abuse like they did when I was 12.

[DaveS]

Knee guards:
Fox Pivots - I used these for a couple of years with Diadora Rainbow boots and liked the combo. The Pivots are a bit bulky, but very protective in the knee area, pretty comfortable and not terribly hot to wear. When I got new Gaerne SG1 boots the Pivots wouldn't stay in place so....
Thor Force - I've had these for a couple of months and have found them to be very protective, pretty hot to wear, comfortable, but had to be modified (removed some of the shin padding) to fit in my boots. The Pivots and Force guards are both graphics eaters so wear them under a set of pants that are tailored for knee guards.

Elbow Guards:
Fox 911 - I have the older three strap model, that were made in four sizes, and couldn't be happier with them. Very protective of the elbow and forearm, they stay in place with very low strap tension and are very comfortable.
Thor Elbowsavers - My son has a pair of these, puts them on voluntarily and doesn't complain about them so I figure they are fairly comfortable. They stay in place on his big (for an 11 year old) forearms and have saved him more than a few scrapes and bruises in the rocky areas we ride in.

[Faded]

I wear 661 'DJ' elbow and knee pads. They're offering a lot more now then they did when I bought mine though. Both have more than enough padding and are comfortable to wear. They don't move much and offer protection against unexpected spills. I haven't had any problems as far as fit/finish or life. Since I have them I find myself wearing them for just about anything (biking, snowmobiling, ect.). I have 'tested' them once or twice and didn't realize what they saved me from until long after the fact (a good thing IMHO). Didn't break the bank either.

[YZ pilot]

I wear 661 "Race elbow/forearm" and "Moto knee/shin ". Both have good padding and stay in place pretty well.

[bluebyu]

MTk

I have the thor force knee guards(l/xl) and am getting the asterisk braces.I'll sell them to you for $40 shipped

I only used them 3 times and they are in like new condition


pm me if your interested

[mtk]

Thanks for all the input.

bluebyu, I may take you up on that offer, but I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do at this point.

May 1st is the first roadrace of the season so the CR is playing second fiddle to the FZR400 at the moment.

[CR-FLAVOR]

with one artificial knee and constant hyperextentions in the other knee, buying astericks was the only option other than not riding, which is about the same as not eating in my book.
I paid about $560 with tax........worth every penny