Originally Posted by hyperRevue
I've never heard that Kashimax were designed to help prevent damage from a crash, which is obviously not to say that it isn't true.
I always thought Kashmiax, like bandanans, reload top tube protectors, etc... were just to prevent dings on the TT from drop bars swinging around and striking the top tube.
If Kashimax are in fact designed to prevent damage in crashes (which I find odd since they're only about 1.5 inches wide) then, yes, a bandana does not offer the same level of protection.
I believe they're to prevent the bars from damaging the top tube in a severe crash. They're obviously not going to protect much of the bike during a crash, but if said crash caused the fork and bars to turn very hard and suddenly they would prevent serious damage from being done to the top tube.