It has something of an insect, the Manis. Firstly because of the sliding structure of the plates, secondly because of the flexibility of all those plates in relation to each other and to the wearer, which is very impressive and - last but not least - because it really looks like an exoskeleton.
The part that is in contact with your back is padded over the entire surface with padding and foam. In relief, to maintain only the essential contact and further and above all to allow for lots of ventilation and air flow. The core of the Manis D1 consists of perforated, shock absorbing material. This is the piece that has to perform the real work, as the outer plate structure is effectively a form of external protection.
The whole structure gives in in every direction and the structure, which consists of four (G1) or five (G2) interconnected elements, allows you to travel lengthways, widthways, forwards and backwards. ‘Controlled mobility’ is what that’s called and if you were to look the term up in an encyclopedia, we would not be surprised to find a photograph of the Manis next to it as a definition.
The CE certification (CE-Cat.II-EN1621.2/2014 level 2) makes perfect sense. Mantis D1 is the official designation, G1 and G2 refer to the two different available sizes.
The Manis does NOT fit in every DAINESE motorcycle jacket. Protectors are reusable, even after a fall, and can be easily washed and maintained.
Below you will find an overview of Manis D1 back protectors and their matching jacket sizes.
| Back protector | Men's jacket size | Ladies jacket size |
|---|---|---|
| Manis D1 G1 | Euro 42 => 48 | Euro 38 => 54 |
| Manis D1 G2 | Euro 50 => 64 | - |
