The O’Neal PXR kidney belt is a lightweight and flexible kidney belt available at an entry-level price. The kidney belt is intended to provide support to the lower back, as well as support to the lower abdomen and protection of the organs. This serves as an addition under the motorcycle jacket, which often leaves some room for improvement in this area. It’s important to note that this is not a full back protector. The O’Neal PXR kidney belt is available on various websites at a competitive price, making it the ideal purchase or gift for beginner riders.
Several layers of protection
The O’Neal PXR kidney belt consists of a lower back protector, primarily made of polyvinyl chloride, rubber, and polyester. It is attached to an elastic belt and is designed to provide maximum lumbar support thanks to its injection-molded plastic exterior and comfortably shaped biofoam interior. The elastic belt itself consists of two parts: a large, wide belt with Lycra® lining and an adjustable strap with Velcro®, allowing you to securely fasten the kidney belt around your lower abdomen. Additionally, there are two external Velcro closure straps for a wide range of sizes, allowing you to adjust the belt tighter or looser as needed.
This ergonomic design is intended to contribute to maximum back support combined with comfort on the sides and back. The soft compression helps protect the lower abdomen and internal organs, provided it is not fastened too tightly.
Upon holding the PXR kidney belt, it is noticeable that the rubber-polyester protector is quite flexible and seems easy to bend, perhaps different from what you might expect initially. The honeycomb grid in the middle (black) is made of soft material and provides flexibility. The black leather pieces provide rigidity and firmness, while the white honeycomb on the rubber is more decorative and seems just as rigid as the rubber itself. The entire protector plate sits on a thick piece of biofoam for comfort and extra stability. The advantage of this is that not only lumbar support is provided but also further support for the lower back. This is something you would expect from a kidney belt, as its purpose is to provide extra protection to your kidneys. The Velcro of the adjustable strap feels sturdy and grips well together. The Velcro of the belt itself is slightly less powerful, but it remains closed when worn. There is some stretch in the elastic belt, but this is purely sufficient for breathing room.
Use on the motorcycle itself
The first few rides with the kidney belt were shorter rides and commutes. During these rides, I always wore the PXR kidney belt under my textile jacket, over the textile pants and the Kevlar jeans. Neither pair of pants was affected by the kidney belt, and there was no negative impact on freedom of movement. I’ve since taken multiple long rides with the kidney belt, ranging from almost 2 hours of non-stop highway riding on an XT660 to group rides of 4 hours filled with fun and sporty cornering. On the days when I rode from Rotterdam to Eindhoven and back without the kidney belt, I noticed that my lower back had more discomfort from the wind and resistance than when I made the same trip with the PXR kidney belt. However, the support provided by a full back protector is even greater, and it depends on the rider and/or situation which protection is preferred.
During the more spirited rides, I often didn’t notice the kidney belt while riding, which is an advantage. During breaks, especially at a terrace, it became noticeable. The different seating position made the kidney belt less comfortable. Fortunately, the Velcro is easy to undo, and the kidney belt can be folded double and stored in any bag or helmet until the journey continues. After a hearty meal, you may need to loosen the external Velcro straps of the kidney belt slightly, but this is also easily done. After more then a year of semi-regular use, the Velcro seems to still hold up well, but you can tell that some loops are wearing out. At the moment, it still closes perfectly, and the kidney belt stays neatly and snugly in place throughout the motorcycle ride. The O’Neal brand originated as a motocross brand and expanded into enduro and adventure clothing for motorcyclists and gear for BMX riders. O’Neal now also offers motorcycle clothing for the everyday rider.
A kidney belt or full back protector?
The PXR kidney belt falls under the protectors section for off-roading; ‘for use during off-road riding to protect your organs from shocks and vibrations. The kidney belt also comfortably supports your lower back and stomach, providing an additional layer in case of an accident.‘ And this is where the first point of criticism arises. For true off-roading, the PXR does not provide sufficient protection, and it would be better to consider a full back protector or even better, a chest-back protector/body armor for the motorcycle. If you’re riding a supermoto on a few dirt tracks, the PXR will offer sufficient protection, but for rougher work, one should look for something better.
For daily riders who primarily commute on highways, the PXR may already be sufficient to support the lower back and arrive at work less exhausted. For sporty riders who take more motorcycle rides on winding roads, the PXR can also provide more than adequate back support. However, if things unexpectedly go wrong, I would have more confidence in a full back protector than the PXR. The PXR wins in terms of price and convenience with putting on and taking off the protector itself. You can simply keep your textile or leather jacket on and still remove the protector when needed. This is not possible with many of the full back protectors. Whether a kidney belt or full back protector is the best option for you strongly depends on what type of rider you are and how you will use it. Ideally, having both is recommended, and depending on the ride, you can choose the right protector. And the cheap price of the PXR kidney belt is indeed an advantage. Personally, for commuting, I use the PXR the most, purely for its ease of use and because it’s easy to store on location.
Quality Meets Affordability in a Crowded Market
Type ‘Kidney Belt’ into Google and you’ll be overwhelmed by the numerous options. From store brands to well-known names, everyone offers at least one kidney belt, with most offering several. There are simply too many different brands and lines to compare with the O’Neal PXR kidney belt. Of course, you’ll need to test them first before making comparisons, which can be a bit challenging. Looking purely at price range and options, it’s apparent that the market is quite competitive. A cheaper option, such as Louis’ own brand Probiker MX II, is priced at just €16.99 at the time of writing. On the higher end, brands like Alpinestars Sequence Kidney Belt, Dainese Tiger Kidney Belt, or Richa Kidney Belt fall into the €30 to €35 price range. More professional belts like the Acerbis Niergordel Evo 2.0 can be even more expensive.
O’Neal’s PXR falls nicely in between with a price of £29.99 at Amazon and £14,70 on FcMoto. It offers the quality advantage of a major brand, almost at the price of a store brand. We won’t compare it with full back protectors, given the different markets. One provides much more protection, while the other is much easier to use on a daily basis.
Conclusion
The O’Neal PXR kidney belt is a lightweight and flexible kidney belt from O’Neal. The market in which the PXR competes is crowded and tight in price range. This means that you need to stand out in a different way. The multi-adjustability of the PXR’s straps helps it to separate itself from the rest. It seems that more thought has been put into the looks than with some larger brands. And the composition of polyvinyl chloride, rubber, and polyester feels sturdy yet flexible enough for daily motorcycle use. While the focus in off-road use is primarily on protecting organs from shocks and vibrations, the kidney belt is also suitable for providing comfortable support to your lower back and stomach in daily use. At the start of the ride, it is the most frequently used extra clothing that I use on the motorcycle.
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