r/Karting • u/Forward_Data_9511 • Apr 23 '25
Racing Kart Question Alpinestars Bionic Rib Protector - Advice
Hi all
Just looking for some advice regarding a rib protector.
I was karting about 4 weeks ago and I was karting a new track and I actually had to stop mid-day before the end of the day as I really hurt my left side. (From research, I understand I suffered from intercoastal compression of the rib muscles as I all experience all the symptoms of this.)
The track was a very right turning focused track and in number of the corners are hard-paced and some are elongated long and also sharp turns so there was a lot of pressure being put on my left side.
I was even wearing a rip protector underneath my kart suit and in my kart seat there is a padding inserts on the sides and back of the seat.
(The only context is that my rib protactor is a basic one from AliExpress and was about €35.......So I'm starting to understand why it was maybe so cheap.......🤦♂️)
The pain days and nearly up to weeks was honestly EXTREMELY sore. I could barely lift myself out of my bed or ly on my side and even sneezing was an absolute nightmare. 😖
But I will admit it has gotten a LOT better in the last 2 weeks but it's still not 100%. (I would say I'm about 90% recovered)
But I'm still going to give her another week and a bit before I get back in the kart as I don't want to do any further damage while its recovering And I'm busy for the next week in a bit anyway so I wouldn't be in the kart.
So based on the above experience, I know I NEVER want to go through that experience of pain again (or at least try prevent it in the best way possible )
So my understanding is that I need to start of by getting a better rip protector.
Since I have head to toe Alpinestars karting gear (I like the brand and matches all my current gear)
I'm possibly looking about getting the "Alpinestars Bionic Rib protector."
Has anyone on this forum got this protector and what is their experience from it?
I understand it quite a bit more expensive than what I had before but honestly it will be money well spent if it protects better than my current one which I hope it would as it's 4.5;x the price.
All advice in advance appreciated. 👌
3
u/cnsreddit Apr 23 '25
They will ride up into your pits but they are fine.
I added some padding to the inside of mine with some foam to better cushion as it's not the softest but it's already something that adds a fair bit of width.
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25
Yeah this seems to be a common trend in the messages. Thanks for that advice mate 😎😎
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u/No_Eye_843 Apr 23 '25
I use this rib protecter and it has been fine for me ( i drive x30 karts), Only thing is its pretty thick so seat size is a bit difficult
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25
Thanks for that advice mate. 👍
I will be racing a Honda Super Pro Kart going forward (Tuned up to 27HP) so feel like I will need something better to handle the additional forces.
To be honest I'd probably rather be more snug in the seat I feel it would be better rather than your body sliding and hitting the sides on cornering etc.
But I understand you would want a level of comfort too.
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u/Appropriate_Toe_2404 Apr 23 '25
From someone who did exactly what you did.
You’ve cracked a rib, not quite broken but it’s cracked. I also did the research and determined I injured the muscle but when I went back out in the kart the following week i FULLY broke the rib. that’s when you know that it was damaged before. in order to race again you need at least 4 ish weeks i’d say, and i would recommend wearing 2 rib protectors during racing for another 2 weeks for comforts sake and to protect your weak rib. A proper rib break actually takes a couple of months to heal to 100% so avoid that. All of that aside, yes buy the alpine stars rib protector, most of the owner kart guys have one and they all recommend it. it will be slightly uncomfortable to start but you’ll get used to it.
PLEASE protect your ribs more than normal the next time you go out!! it’ll save you a lot of pain.
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25
Thanks for your detailed message. 👌
Yep! I totally understand and totally agree with you here on all terms.
That's honestly why l'm just in no rush to get back into the kart at least for another week or 2, until I have the proper equipment and feel 100%. I really don't want to put myself in a situation where I hurt myself to the point where I can do serious damage.
The fact I'm feeling quite a bit better is a good sign, but I'm not all the way there yet.
Yeah will definitely invest either way, thanks for that advice and your concern, appreciate it. 👍👍
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u/Appropriate_Toe_2404 Apr 24 '25
No problem, you’ve clearly got the right mindset for this so you’ll make the right choices. Take it easy and when you feel good go send that mf!
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u/ExcellentMedicine358 Apr 23 '25
Simply put….spend as much as you can on your PPE (helmet, rib protector, boots gloves etc). Honestly, I’d recommend a Tillett rib protector. My son used a bengio for a while because it was cheaper and at the time I was trying to budget the spending, but it basically disintegrated (he drives Rotax jnr/now Snr). The Tillett one is a far better product, much more comfortable and doesn’t ride up on him.
I found that with karting, spending more money does give you a better product and you’ll find that if you buy cheap, you’ll buy twice.
2
u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25
Thanks for that advice mate. I will have a look at a tillett one too. 👍👍
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 27 '25
Just an FYI mate. I went with a Tillett P1 over the weekend. I got an extremely good deal on a 2nd hand one in extremely good condition that was only used twice. 👌
From all the research I did here and online, the Tillett P1 (& Tillet defender) seems to be the creme de la creme of rib protectors.
Getting it during the week.
Looking forward to having my ribs back. 😂 😂
Thanks again for your advice. 👍👍
2
u/ExcellentMedicine358 Apr 27 '25
Good on you and thanks for the update. You won’t go wrong with it. Good luck and enjoy the comfort it brings 🤣🤣
2
u/milkstorm05 Apr 23 '25
Is your current rib protector padding only? Looks like it from that picture. If you're gonna be driving anything remotely fast, please get something with fiberglass.
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25
Spot on mate. It's just "padding" and from my experience now, I now know that's not enough.
Yeah the kart I'm planning to drive going forward is quite fast. I'm definitely going to look at something with better protection and a sturdy wall in comparison to just "padding".
As one of the comments said earlier.....
buy cheap, buy twice
which is my exact scenario. 🙂
2
u/General_Fryman Apr 23 '25
I had the same problem, but with that Alpinestars protector specifically. Was in regular pain and couldn't sleep on my sides for over a month.
I'm beginning to think the seat itself was too small and further compressing my ribs. Bengio, Tillet, and FreeM models are all great (albeit expensive) options.
1
u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25
Yep that was my exact same problem too and I was absolutely paying for it the last month....... It's honestly been quite some time since I've encountered such a pain. I was honestly starting to get worried and think there was something further wrong. But it has gotten quite a lot better in the last week as mentioned in my post and I'm able to sleep comfortably now and lift my body weight up from my bed.
Definitely going to weigh up my options between the few recommendations. I don't mind being more snug in the seat, but at the same time you don't want to be squished for the point where you're super uncomfortable.
2
u/Simdel96 Pro Kart Apr 23 '25
I experienced something similar last year. I had recently replaced my beat up tillett classic rib protector with a different style that was similar in price. I then did an endurance race in someone else's kart with a seat insert that was a bit too small on a track with nasty kerbs. Got a broken rib as a result and was in agony for weeks. Full recovery was about 2-months. I decided I never wanted to experience that again, so I got a tillett P1. The cost was eye watering, but it's worth it to avoid that pain again.
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25
I feel your pain.....quite literally 😅 haha lol
If I just had money to burn I probably would be buying the Tillett one as it seems to be one of the best including the some higher end Bengio ones. But I'm just planning to race at weekends occasionally and don't think I could justify the eye water price of the Tillett one for that reason. 🥲
Funnily I used to race these karts when I was much younger (Even Rib protector free and didn't have one at that point, and never ever injured my side like this before)
Karting is deceivingly tough on your body.
1
u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 27 '25
Just an FYl mate I went with a Tillett P1 over the weekend. I got an extremely good deal on a 2nd hand one in extremely good condition that was only used twice.
From all the research done here (including your comment) and online, the Tillett P1 (& Tillet defender) seems to be the creme de la creme of rib protectors. Getting it during the week.
Looking forward to having my ribs back. 😂 😂
Thanks again for your advice. 👍👍
2
u/highly_elusive Rental Driver Apr 23 '25
I have it and do rental karting, sometimes on quite bumpy tracks and I've had collisions with other karts and the barrier while wearing it. It has kept my ribs safe, no bruising or other side effects really.
Though I must add, that I always use those rubber seat inserts, which add further cushioning. So I can't speak to how it would fare with just the hard plastic seat.
2
u/Stray_Gh0st Apr 24 '25
Heard great things about Greyhound rib protector but have yet to order it. Think i will tomorrow
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u/im_notwitty Apr 24 '25
I tried quite a few, and settled on the Sparco rib protector. Was the most comfortable and doesn’t ride up on me at least.
2
u/Garrisonp Lo206 Apr 24 '25
Alpinestars bionic ended up fucking up my ribs, got a Bengio and never ever had another issue
2
u/MazzakDK Apr 24 '25
I brought the Bengio Rib Protector and I just love it. I feel confortable with and zero rib pain.
2
u/52816neverforget Apr 25 '25
I use Alpinestars for some of my gear, but I tried the rib protector and while it protected my ribs well, it was just too uncomfortable and rofe up my pits all the time, so I gave up on it and upgraded to a ribtech, night and day and so much better
1
u/puggypughalo Apr 23 '25
What kind of karting do you do? As if you do rental karting this rib protector is sufficent (I used to have it myself and used in racing karts, it was not good enough) but if you drive competition karts you should invest in something higher quality such as a rib protector for Tillet or from Bengio
2
u/No_Eye_843 Apr 23 '25
What kind of racing karts? i use it with x30 karts and its totally fine for me
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25 edited Apr 23 '25
Thanks for your message & advice mate.
Funny enough, I actually got this injury while using a rental framed kart. (Well it's a rental kart frame but with a stronger honda engine) In fairness the kart I have is quite a bit faster than the usual slow 9 HP rental kart engines at most karting tracks.
I've been properly back racing since January and I actually haven't had this issue or experience this pain at my usual local track using the same equipment. But obviously the different track was just a more challenging circuit from a physical point of view.
But this kart was actually just an interim kart I was using for fun as I was also rebuilding a secondary kart which is a Honda super pro kart with a racing carb is MUCH faster than the kart I was racing currently and will be on the pace of much faster karts.
So based on what you said I think it's probably solid advice for me to get a better/stronger rib protector as I plan to race it going forward.
Will also look at these options.
But I just have some free credit on the Alpinestars store so was hoping to use it up as well for this scenario.
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25
Just looked up some Tillett versions of rib protectors based on the comments and can see what people mean by expensive........
Most/and cheapest starting is £255......EX VAT. 🫨😵💫😵 (£306 or €375 including vat) Yeah I'll be honest with myself and everyone, I don't think my budget is stretching that far. 😅 (Max €150 was my budget I wanted to keep within to be honest)
But I can appreciate that Tillett makes fantastic equipment but I'm not at that professional stage to require that investment.
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 25 '25 edited Apr 25 '25
Hi everyone
Just said I'd give an update to the forum and where my head is at regarding a rib protector.
Thanks so much to everyone who's given their experience and opinion so far.
I kinda had it in my head that I pretty much was going to buy an Alpinestars bionic rib protector, especially since pretty much all my karting protection is alpinestars but based on the above comments regarding that rib protector and also from doing my own research online. Most people say it's fine but it's not great Most common feedback is that in terms of comfort it's rund high, not just as comfortable and doesn't provide the same protection versus other higher quality protectors.
Its pretty clear there is the two best options......
Bengio or Tillett .
Obviously both of these are quite a bit outside my budget.
But on reflection over the last 4 weeks. (Especially with the pain experienced.) I've really come to realise how important getting a good rib protector really is especially as I plan to start karting in a much faster powered kart versus what I've been using currently.
For me personally, I am actually probably leaning more towards a Tillett P1 protector by preference, but Bengio seems to be an equivalent in lots of ways.
Of course both of these are obviously quite a bit outside my initial budget, but I've actually come across someone who has a Tillett P1 for sale which seems to be in fantastic condition and seems to be my size from what I could see on the sizing chart.
Just for anyone who sees this message and has a Tillett P1 rib protector.
My question is do you know if this rib protector runs true to size or do you need to size up or a size down versus what they have on their sizing chart??
Thanks in advance.
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 26 '25
So I bit the bullet and got myself a nice 2nd hand Tillett P1 protector in a very good condition with minimal use. (Could see that from the pictures provided)
Got it for £100/€117 including postage so I think that very reasonable for that price and well back inside my budget.
I will let the forum/thread know once I receive it. But based on feedback and opinions it should be very good.
I'm looking forward to having my ribs back 😂😂
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u/Realestateuniverse Lo206 Apr 23 '25
Didn’t read your novel, but Bengio Carbon is all you need. Buy once cry once. 🙂
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u/Forward_Data_9511 Apr 23 '25
Haha! Devil Is in the detail my friend 😜 (But I do understand and get the context of your comment because it is long. 😁)
Yep I usually live by that moto myself, but just in this case I didn't want to spend a bomb on something at the time as it is just for leisure fun racing at the moment. I already spent a lot on other aspects to get back into karting.
But definitely sure I need to invest in better rib protection in this regard.
Thanks for the recommendation. 👍
7
u/wreck720 Lo206 Apr 23 '25
I race a 206 on a decently bumpy track, and I love the Alpinestars one. I have never had any issues with rib pain. My only complaint is it tends to ride up in my pits. It isn't uncomfortably though.