Airbag jackets/vests
Discussion
Anyone ride with one? Helite do some reasonably priced vests. Some of the other brands require a subscription or the bag won't deploy.
I quite like the Helite Roadster. It's one of the most discrete airbag jackets I could find. You wouldn't really know it is one if it wasn't for the tether connecting it to the bike.
https://heliteuk.co.uk/product/helite-roadster-men...
I've been riding for 14 years now though and never had an off so I don't know if the purchase is justified. On the other hand, £850 is a lot less painful than a broken neck should the worst ever occur.
I quite like the Helite Roadster. It's one of the most discrete airbag jackets I could find. You wouldn't really know it is one if it wasn't for the tether connecting it to the bike.
https://heliteuk.co.uk/product/helite-roadster-men...
I've been riding for 14 years now though and never had an off so I don't know if the purchase is justified. On the other hand, £850 is a lot less painful than a broken neck should the worst ever occur.
I can only speak on the one airbag product I have tried which is the in&box solution. I have two piece RST airbag track day leathers and a held vest which goes under my other jackets. So that one subscribtion covers all of my riding, I just take the box out of my leathers and into the vest whenever I swap from track and road. One charge covers 30 odd hours riding so I've never ran out of charge. If you make sure to turn it off it can cover a week of riding easy between charges.
Not had an off yet so can't say if it works but there is a thread on here if you search of peoples tales of airbags working well.
Once I started I honestly can't go out without one, feel like I've left without my helmet on. It does make me feel safer.
You've probably saeen this review, but the part where they interview the helicopter paramedic and he says he's never been to a motorcycle accident where the rider has had an airbag really stuck with me. Now that might be down to the rarity of them but they have been about a while now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0219r4QPLs
Not had an off yet so can't say if it works but there is a thread on here if you search of peoples tales of airbags working well.
Once I started I honestly can't go out without one, feel like I've left without my helmet on. It does make me feel safer.
You've probably saeen this review, but the part where they interview the helicopter paramedic and he says he's never been to a motorcycle accident where the rider has had an airbag really stuck with me. Now that might be down to the rarity of them but they have been about a while now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0219r4QPLs
Following the second time I smashed my already plated collarbone and now with 12 screws and also 8 ribs… I recently picked up the Alpinestars TechAir 5.
Alpinestars airbags cover the outside shoulder and around the ribs. It is significantly more coverage than the vest systems. Super comfortable and slim, it allows me to still wear my same sized bike jackets on top by just removing the jackets inbuilt back and shoulder armour and keeping the elbow protection in.
Alpinestars airbag systems appear to be the system of choice for most professional bikers on and offroad (they equip the vast majority of Dakar riders). The software is good, and the scope of body + shoulder coverage was important to me as none of the other brands offered the same protection. More expensive? Yes, but cheap compared to the pains of broken bones, surgery and rehab.
Alpinestars airbags cover the outside shoulder and around the ribs. It is significantly more coverage than the vest systems. Super comfortable and slim, it allows me to still wear my same sized bike jackets on top by just removing the jackets inbuilt back and shoulder armour and keeping the elbow protection in.
Alpinestars airbag systems appear to be the system of choice for most professional bikers on and offroad (they equip the vast majority of Dakar riders). The software is good, and the scope of body + shoulder coverage was important to me as none of the other brands offered the same protection. More expensive? Yes, but cheap compared to the pains of broken bones, surgery and rehab.
I wear a Helite Turtle 2 with a tether to the bikes frame. I've never fired it off so can't comment on it's effectiveness.
The one thing I would say is that if, like me, you find your size falls in the area of cross over between two Helite sizes then buy the smaller sized vest. There is enough adjustment in the smaller size to get it to fit comfortably and safely.
The one thing I would say is that if, like me, you find your size falls in the area of cross over between two Helite sizes then buy the smaller sized vest. There is enough adjustment in the smaller size to get it to fit comfortably and safely.
I wear a Helite E Turtle 2. before buying one I asked a motorbike copper who was wearing one what he thought of them. He responded that he had been to two similar bike accidents and the person in the air vests injuries were far less than the person not. He then started wearing one. He did add that there are too many variables for a straight comparison but it would never make the injuries worse so why not wear one. I went for the vest so I could wear it with anything rather than a built in one.
My wife had a 20-30mph accident a while ago on her bike while wearing one, did it save her from more injuries, no idea but it certainty didn't make them worse and apart from injured pride and some bruises on her leg she was fine. Her Hideout textiles needed a repair from the slide, just the outer fabric the inner protective layer was fine.
They do restrict air flow a bit when hot but as they shouldn't be really tight fitting the air still gets underneath. A bit like wearing a back protector you still get hot sweaty back. They also get comfier as you break then in.
My wife had a 20-30mph accident a while ago on her bike while wearing one, did it save her from more injuries, no idea but it certainty didn't make them worse and apart from injured pride and some bruises on her leg she was fine. Her Hideout textiles needed a repair from the slide, just the outer fabric the inner protective layer was fine.
They do restrict air flow a bit when hot but as they shouldn't be really tight fitting the air still gets underneath. A bit like wearing a back protector you still get hot sweaty back. They also get comfier as you break then in.
the cueball said:
How breathable is the Turtle 2 air vest?
I like the idea of it, however when I'm on tour I usually have a full mesh jacket, plus an inuteq cool vest as I get really warm.
Just worried that having the vest on could make me overheat.
I usually wear a mesh jacket in the summer as well as a cooling shirt. I've not really noticed much difference with the vest over the top. It's not tight fitting and if you're that hot it's not going to make much difference anyway. I like the idea of it, however when I'm on tour I usually have a full mesh jacket, plus an inuteq cool vest as I get really warm.
Just worried that having the vest on could make me overheat.
Tbf when it's really warm and I go somewhere local I'll just wear the vest over a t shirt....
There is a new tech air 5 out now in the US, tech air 5 plasma. It appears to be an improvement over the regular T/A 5. Release in Europe is Oct/ Nov this year.
My plan is to hold out until then, if it is a significant improvement I'll get one , if not I'll go woth a t/a 5 hopefully at a discounted price.
My plan is to hold out until then, if it is a significant improvement I'll get one , if not I'll go woth a t/a 5 hopefully at a discounted price.
Biker9090 said:
the cueball said:
How breathable is the Turtle 2 air vest?
I like the idea of it, however when I'm on tour I usually have a full mesh jacket, plus an inuteq cool vest as I get really warm.
Just worried that having the vest on could make me overheat.
I usually wear a mesh jacket in the summer as well as a cooling shirt. I've not really noticed much difference with the vest over the top. It's not tight fitting and if you're that hot it's not going to make much difference anyway. I like the idea of it, however when I'm on tour I usually have a full mesh jacket, plus an inuteq cool vest as I get really warm.
Just worried that having the vest on could make me overheat.
Tbf when it's really warm and I go somewhere local I'll just wear the vest over a t shirt....
I have a tethered helite turtle which I use for everyday riding, I dropped my bike once in a carpark while I was tethered and it went off so I got a new canister and carried on using it. I also have an alpinestars techair10 for track, the user interface was so bad I didn't have any confidence in it because you'd think it was turned on then come back from a session and it would be it off or sometimes it just wouldn't turn on at all. There has been an update which has seemingly made it more reliable but it definitely soured my faith in it.
the cueball said:
Biker9090 said:
the cueball said:
How breathable is the Turtle 2 air vest?
I like the idea of it, however when I'm on tour I usually have a full mesh jacket, plus an inuteq cool vest as I get really warm.
Just worried that having the vest on could make me overheat.
I usually wear a mesh jacket in the summer as well as a cooling shirt. I've not really noticed much difference with the vest over the top. It's not tight fitting and if you're that hot it's not going to make much difference anyway. I like the idea of it, however when I'm on tour I usually have a full mesh jacket, plus an inuteq cool vest as I get really warm.
Just worried that having the vest on could make me overheat.
Tbf when it's really warm and I go somewhere local I'll just wear the vest over a t shirt....
The tether cord has elastic in it before it pulls tight so you can fell you're risking pulling the pin before you do actually pull the pin. My cord length is set so that I can stand up on the pegs at the extreme of elasticity. You can set it looser (the tether length is variable) but it's the compromise that means you'll have to have "flown" a little further before the vest inflates in the event of an off.
I've just started riding at the start of the year and one of my first purchases before I even bought a bike was the Dainese D-Air Smart Jacket.
It fits me well, and from what I read is a well reviewed system that doesn't require a subscription. You just need to connect it to a PC/Laptop for updates every now and again. It doesn't have the all around protection of the Alpinestars but has chest and back airbags and is reasonably priced.
Fingers crossed I'll never need to put it to the test, but it gives me a warmer feeling having it on!
It fits me well, and from what I read is a well reviewed system that doesn't require a subscription. You just need to connect it to a PC/Laptop for updates every now and again. It doesn't have the all around protection of the Alpinestars but has chest and back airbags and is reasonably priced.
Fingers crossed I'll never need to put it to the test, but it gives me a warmer feeling having it on!
spareparts said:
Following the second time I smashed my already plated collarbone and now with 12 screws and also 8 ribs… I recently picked up the Alpinestars TechAir 5.
Alpinestars airbags cover the outside shoulder and around the ribs. It is significantly more coverage than the vest systems. Super comfortable and slim, it allows me to still wear my same sized bike jackets on top by just removing the jackets inbuilt back and shoulder armour and keeping the elbow protection in.
Alpinestars airbag systems appear to be the system of choice for most professional bikers on and offroad (they equip the vast majority of Dakar riders). The software is good, and the scope of body + shoulder coverage was important to me as none of the other brands offered the same protection. More expensive? Yes, but cheap compared to the pains of broken bones, surgery and rehab.
I tried a Helite and go someone to fire it up while I had it on. One thing was clea, apart from the obvious impact protection it also immobilises the spine and neck, pushing up under the helmet to prevent hyperflexion. Alpinestars airbags cover the outside shoulder and around the ribs. It is significantly more coverage than the vest systems. Super comfortable and slim, it allows me to still wear my same sized bike jackets on top by just removing the jackets inbuilt back and shoulder armour and keeping the elbow protection in.
Alpinestars airbag systems appear to be the system of choice for most professional bikers on and offroad (they equip the vast majority of Dakar riders). The software is good, and the scope of body + shoulder coverage was important to me as none of the other brands offered the same protection. More expensive? Yes, but cheap compared to the pains of broken bones, surgery and rehab.
I was an early adopter of the Dainese system which I’ve never had to test. It was fine, didn’t fit terribly, and thankfully I’ve never had reason to test it.
They have recently released an updated one, but the Alpinestars Tech 5 looks to have better coverage, so I am considering switching over soon.
They have recently released an updated one, but the Alpinestars Tech 5 looks to have better coverage, so I am considering switching over soon.
tech 5
i gave mine up, it stank, there is no way to clean it properly, i set it off three times for silly things, it cost more in reflation charges than the thing was worth, after going back to the gym for the last two years it no longer fitted,
i do more than 500 hours a year so it need servicing frequently
i have gone back to normal armoured shirt, i'm more comfortable, can easily layer to suit conditions, easily cleaned
the air bag dominated what i wore and the order i wore it in - I’ve moved away from the one big jacket does all mentality as well
overall, more comfortable move around better just more content
i gave mine up, it stank, there is no way to clean it properly, i set it off three times for silly things, it cost more in reflation charges than the thing was worth, after going back to the gym for the last two years it no longer fitted,
i do more than 500 hours a year so it need servicing frequently
i have gone back to normal armoured shirt, i'm more comfortable, can easily layer to suit conditions, easily cleaned
the air bag dominated what i wore and the order i wore it in - I’ve moved away from the one big jacket does all mentality as well
overall, more comfortable move around better just more content
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