The British shock absorption specialist, D3O, has come up with a solution in the form of D3O vibration dampening insoles for footwear.
One thing that never goes away when riding a motorcycle is vibration from both the road and the bike itself. Road vibrations is something we can address by tweaking the suspension or changing the tyres, but that high frequency buzz from some bikes can cause our legs and feet to go asleep especially when riding for long distances.
But who and what is D3O…?
Putting D3O aside for a moment, let us look at other motorcycle gear armour: If it is comfort you want, let us say for daily riding, the armour is soft and may not be able to absorb high impact forces. You can wear the jacket or pants as casual clothing.
On the other hand, if you want more protection, comfort is sacrificed because the armour is usually harder and larger. You will look like a cyborg if you want to wear that jacket around and the hard armour can be uncomfortable and limits mobility.
Enter D3O. D3O’s armour is made of substances that result in non-Newtonian properties. Non-Newtonian solid do not exist but there are non-Newtonian fluids. One good example is tomato ketchup which flows easier when shaken.
So, D3O’s signature armour is malleable and soft to the touch, allowing for great mobility and comfort, but the molecules will instantaneously together and stiffen to absorb large impact forces. And that is really all there is to it.
As such, D3O armour sees a wide variety of uses including in military helmets, bicycle helmets, the aforementioned riding gear, and shoes such as several models in Stylmartin’s line-up.
Back to the new D3O insoles…
The D3O vibration dampening insoles were developed from Formula One teams. These insoles are engineered distribute impacts and vibrations evenly across the soles for improved comfort.
There are three levels of protection: ‘Minimalist’, ‘Standard’, and ‘Loaded.’
Across all three, the main protection is afforded to the midsole area, where the foot meets the peg. The more premium versions feature additional damping material over larger areas.
The product is much welcomed, given that some of us riders have sought many ways to damp our bikes’ vibrations. D3O says it will be available in 2025.
