Airbags

[OmegaA]

Hi, everybody,
I see that now there are many options for airbags. I wonder if you could enlighten me about airbag options I could use with almost any jacket - I have Rukka Navigatorr and Rev’It Sherlock, so I want using the airbag with both of them (maybe I will later get another jacket, I haven’t decided yet)
And what characteristics I should research when choosing a motorcycle airbag?
Thank you
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All-year-round rider since 2005

[kramdra]

Your mum has big airbags. I prefer without a jacket.

[Freddyfruitba...]

I recently took the plunge and bought one myself. I went for a Helite; for me the choice was between that and the HitAir.

From my research.... first choice is between buying clothing with built-in airbags or a vest; I went for the vest so I can use it with summer and winter jacket. Next decision is about the activation system - do you want a ripcord physically attached to the bike, or an electronic sensor which detects a crash and activates that way. For me, the huge cost of the electronic ones instantly dissuaded me off.

As regards safety features of the system - I guess that's something you need to decide for yourself. I wanted a rapid inflation time, and a system which protects the neck and spine effectively; Helite seemed to fit the bill. Havent 'tested' it yet; hopefully I won't have to any time soon.

The Helite comes in two flavours - their original is called 'Airnest'; but they now also do a 'Turtle', which has built-in spine armour on the outside - that made sense to me (ie, having armour on the outside of the airbag, rather than inside it, within your jacket) and I bought that. Kind of regret that now for practical reasons; it means that the vest itself is pretty big - 27" long - and can't be folded at all, so if you ride somewhere and park the bike up, you can't stick the vest in a topbox while you wander round town or whatever, you have to take it with you.
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[Rogerborg]

The main issue is: will you actually use it. I've had a HitAir vest for years, and for most of that time it's been hanging up in the garage.

I should probably sell it to some other mug...
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Cadbury]

[Baffler186]

I would advise only getting one if a) you have plenty of spare cash and b) you are certain you'd put it on all of the time.

In a car you are in a fixed position, and so is the airbag, and much more testing has been done under a variety of controlled conditions. Jackets though? There are many more variables and types of crash that can occur, when there is no telling what speed/position your body will be in, or what course it will take. I'm guessing if you slide or have a collision and you don't separate enough from the bike to pull the rip cord then the bag won't deploy.

I'm not saying they are a waste of money, but it seems like spending money on building a bomb shelter when you have no idea where you will be when the bomb is dropped?
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Cadbury]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[OmegaA]

[T.C]

I know I don't come here anymore, so please excuse me for interupting and showing my face, but given the fact that you are talking airbag jackets...................

Some of you I know choose to wear textile jackets rather than leather.

Some of you may be thinking about changing your textile jacket.

Have you or are you considering an airbag jacket?

If you are thinking about a new jacket, and if you are thinking possibly of an airbag jacket, then have a look at https://www.airvest.co.uk/ and if hou decide to take it further then quote HUDGELL10 and it will entitle you to a 10% discount.

I have seen these jackets in operation for real and they are superb.

They are not the cheapest, but then quality never has come cheap, although in reality they are on a par cost wise with other quality jackets.

If you are coming to the Ace on Friday 4th of May, Nick from Airvest will be there as our guest and will also be on hand and demonstrating the jackets as well as being able to answer any qustions and dispelling myths such as the cord activating the air bag when getting off the bike and extension cords

But the offer is ongoing, not just for Friday.

Hope this is of interest?

If not then please feel free to delete it
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It is better to arrive 30 seconds late in this world, than 30 years early in the next

[Nobby the Bastard]

The bcf appraoch to airbags is either stand someone on a bread basket and set off an airbag beneath it or alternately wait until someone rides past on a dirtbike and then explode it as if it's an ied.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[OmegaA]

[Dave....]

[MCN]

[Rogerborg]

"Never seen the rain."
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[OmegaA]

Do you know a place where I could rent HitAir for a bike, not a horse riding? I want to try both HitAir and Helite and decide
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All-year-round rider since 2005

[Freddyfruitba...]

[temeluchus]

[Rogerborg]

[T.C]

[OmegaA]

I now bought the airvest. It is Helite Turtle. Maybe my selection process will be useful to somebody in the future, so here it is
I had several considerations when choosing between Helite models and HitAir, top are the most important ones:
1. If I am going to use it all the time - gear must be comfortable
2. If it provides good protection - well above the minimum
3. If I can verify my assumptions related to points 1 and 2 above
4. Pricing
Helite Turtle originally lost on the first point as many users cannot lock it anywhere once they get off the bike. However, when I went to a shop to try it, I realised that it could easily fit my Givi Trekker 52N Top Case. Also, I realised that the vest is not heavy, I could easily travel with it on all the time. It would not restrict my movements either if I choose the right size. HitAir probably would fit anywhere too as it is even smaller, but don’t know how bulky it will be once protection plates are added.
Helite Turtle claims offering great protection and fastest deployment. New HitAir is slower, but I felt it still has adequate deployment time. HitAir also offers back, side and chest protection plates. While Helite Turtle boasts good back protector, I found it thinner than Forcefield Body Armour I currently have. And Turtle does not have chest protection. Therefore, I felt that Turtle may not protect as well as HitAir with additional protection. I spoke to the seller at www.Airvest.co.uk and he persuaded me that Turtle offered me adequate balance of comfort and protection (long distance commuting). And, since Forcefield felt too hot, I felt not having front protection plate will improve ventilation. I also considered Helite GP because it has front protection, but the seller from Airvest (Peter) told me that Turtle would be more suitable for my purpose. Still, I feel HitAir without plates will offer the highest ventilation
I could verify that Turtle is a good product by seeing in shops, but I could not with HitAir. I am not saying HitAir is worse, just my circumstances did not allow me travelling to see HitAir.
Price - older versions of HitAir are twice cheaper than Turtle. However, I read reviews even here that they are not comfortable, partially because of the weight. Current HitAir models are the same in price as Turtle, but then you need to add the costs of plates that you can buy separately, this eventually makes HitAir more expensive. And I used 10% discount code published here for Turtle. As a result, Turtle became cheaper option
I spoke to Airvest about sizing as I was between sizes: Helite recommends both sizes M and L for me - I am 175 cm (5’9”), waist 33”, chest 40”, weight 78 kg. The seller (Peter) recommended size M (he said he was 99% sure, if wrong, he will arrange collection and replacement for size L for free). I tried size L before, it felt comfortable too. Anyway, Turtle has quite generous adjustment laces to fit different sizes. And I chose black to HiViz - I used to wear HiViz jackets before, but I could never wash them out from dirt (they become dirty and stay dirty no matter how much I wash them except stripping a bit of the top layer of the reflective coating). Seller also confirmed that I would struggle cleaning HiViz vest
The item arrived, I tried it on. The manual says that it should reach half way down the buttock when deflated. This will ensure it will cover the pelvis. I sent photos to Peter asking his expert opinion and he said he still believes it still provides adequate protection, I don’t need size. However, if I want to be sure, I can fire the vest to see how far below it protects and he will send a replacement canister. And he offers free exchange for vests in any case. So, I decided to keep it. Not sure about firing, but maybe I will, I still have time to decide
Now I start wearing the vest and see how well it works
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All-year-round rider since 2005