Information On Motorcycle Air Vests

[Uncle Phil]

As I've said before, if it saves me one broken rib it will be well worth the price of admission!
Some folks pay large sums of money for a helmet when they know it's a 'one and done' deal and think little of it.

 

[Sadlsor]

It amazes me that you ever make any decision ….

Tom

Let's recall from my earlier, highly opinionated comments on the subject, this is far from any type of priority for me or my riding.
In fact, I'm still pretty doggone ambivalent about the whole idea.
Think of the esteemed, British Coffee Meister who makes regular appearances 'round here, who is known for his succinct and curt trademark "Pfffttt!"
I'll be using the funds for more training, before an airbag vest.
I'm known to "think out loud" in this space, and while most of you can't read my mind, and I don't expect you to, remember that much of the time, I can scarcely decipher it myself.
But to your point, Tom, as an analytical personality, I eventually will make a decision. On most things of relative import, at least.

 

[Obo]

It amazes me that you ever make any decision ….

Tom

He makes them quickly. How quickly he then acts on them is another story.

 

[Uncle Phil]

I'll be using the funds for more training, before an airbag vest.

I'm all for training but if you ride long enough and far enough, sooner or later you will encounter a situation that all the training in the world won't deliver you.
My last accident was the first time in 600,000+ miles and 50+ years of riding that I got hauled to a hospital and the bike left on a wrecker.
To me, the vest is just another piece of safety gear that can help me when the unexpected and unpreventable occurs.
Sometimes physics is just not on the rider's side.
In my mind the vest goes right along with helmets, protective riding suits, good boots, ABS, eye protection - the list goes on and on.
Anything that is practical, affordable and will give me a safety advantage I am going to investigate.
You blow up your own balloons, you throw your own parties.

 

[Sadlsor]

Agreed.
As is often said, we all have our personal level of risk acceptance.
If money were never a challenge, I'd have one already. Not that that means anything, or changes anything.

 

[James Bignall]

Well, after much procrastinating, forum and web surfing. I got myself a Helite Turtle 2 this week.
I’ve put a hundred miles of A roads with many junctions, stops and starts. As well as a little straight up cruising along. I gotta say. You really don’t notice wearing it.
Obviously, I don’t ever want to find out if it works. For those worried about the tether, it’s really not a thing. You can dismount attached and you get a gentle reminder ‘tug’ that you are still attached.
Whilst it isn’t cheap, and I hope to never use its function. I’d consider it a good buy.

 

[DeanR]

You really don’t notice wearing it.
You can dismount attached and you get a gentle reminder ‘tug’ that you are still attached.

Agree with its comfort. But you must have the tether mounted way looser than I. I can't consider getting off the bike when connected.

 

[Uncle Phil]

Agree with its comfort. But you must have the tether mounted way looser than I. I can't consider getting off the bike when connected.

The Hit-Air tether has a coiled section.
Their installation instructions say if you stand up on the footpegs and lean slightly forward, the tether should be fully extended (include the coils).
If I forget, I notice really quickly as the tether is connected on the right side and I am getting off on the left side.
As James said, it is just not that big of a deal.
The real issue is placing the tether end in plain sight so you remember to hook up - which is easy to accomplish also.
But, YEMV.

 

[JohnConner]

I was pleasantly surprised with the delivery time on my E-Turtle 2 vest. I ordered on Saturday and it arrived on Thursday. I ordered from Revzilla but the package came from Helite so I guess they drop-shipped from Helite. Got her charged up and ready for the next nice day that I can take her for a ride.

JohnConner

 

[Dave Pitman]

Another safety device I'm ambivalent over is the Leatt brace fitted on the shoulders and under the helmet, such as we see Noraly wear.
Interestingly, although the potential AND documented benefits of both the Leatt and the airbag are pretty much inarguable, these two pieces of safety gear are not compatible with one another.

Actually, the Helite 2 (the vests we use) will stabilize the helmet in a similar fashion as a collar from the test videos that I have seen. That was a positive point for us.

 

[James Bignall]

Yhea, the neck immobilisation, or at very least movement restriction. That was a big one for me. Broadly, neck and torso are the primarily lethal injuries. Fractures and arterial traumas.
Limbs can to some extent be fixed.
You can go down a few internet rabbit holes. But I really have not seen a bad word to be said re the overall safety benefits of such a simple piece of kit.
As long as I love my family as much as I love my bike. The helite will be part of my daily wear.
Each to their own, though.

 

[Dave Pitman]

 

[Weaselinsuit]

Watched that one this afternoon

 

[Daboo]

His points about the tethered airbags are why I bought my tethered Hit-Air vest.

Chris

 

[Weaselinsuit]

As mentioned in the Coffee thread yesterday, my Helite E-Turtle arrived yesterday. I haven't had a chance to use it yet but it appears to be a decent set of kit; well made, solid, fits well. Charging it is dead easy.

In reading through the instructions I learned that it's GPS based which I hadn't realized. So much for comprehensive research/reading comprehension skills pre-purchase. In any event, it means it may not activate or perform well in a tunnel or parking garage so if you are dithering between tethered or electronic that is a factor to consider. I've decided to rationalize the difference by considering that activation time is more important than parking garage protection so please don't confuse me with any facts or logic thanks. Besides parkades are for meeting confidential informants, not motorcycle riding....

The fork sensors aren't available in Canada as of yet but when they are I'll likely pick up one of them as well for even quicker activation and low speed activation.

 

[jspringator]

There is an E-Turtle mega thread on ADVrider. The unavailability of a fork sensor is discussed at length. After reading all of that I'm not sure that the fork sensors will ever be available.

 

[TPadden]

Well, after much procrastinating, forum and web surfing. I got myself a Helite Turtle 2 this week.
I’ve put a hundred miles of A roads with many junctions, stops and starts. You really don’t notice wearing it.

I've put 6,000 miles on my Helite Turtle 2 in the last 2 months, I REALLY notice wearing it over mesh when Temps approach or exceed 90F. In the future mine will remain in my A/C garage if touring forecasts 90+ Temps.

Tom

 

[Daboo]

I've put 6,000 miles on my Helite Turtle 2 in the last 2 months, I REALLY notice wearing it over mesh when Temps approach or exceed 90F. In the future mine will remain in my A/C garage if touring forecasts 90+ Temps.

Tom

I understand where you're coming from, Tom. And I see you live in the free state of Florida where the humidity might make a difference.

Here's an article by David Hough, author of Proficient Motorcycling. https://soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/when_youre_hot.aspx It's on hot weather riding. It'll go against everything you thought you knew about hot weather riding.

I was headed across South Dakota for the National in Spearfish one year. The temps were in the 95+F range. I pulled into a rest stop and two motorcyclists offered to share the only shade in the place. He had a Gold Wing. She rode a Victory Vison. We got to talking about cooling vests and she said theirs lasted about 30 minutes, and then was dry. Mine lasted me about 2.5-3 hours. Why? Because the airbag vest was partially blocking the flow of air going through the mesh jacket.

I've ridden for hours in Eastern Oregon in temps in the 110-116F range. It was hot. But I think I was actually better with the airbag vest on than without it.

Chris

 

[Weaselinsuit]

That was a really interesting article, thanks!

 

[TPadden]

I understand where you're coming from, Tom. And I see you live in the free state of Florida where the humidity might make a difference.

Chris

Nope, I do as little non-winter riding in Florida as possible (enough to leave the state). With as much time as I spend camping and riding long distances in the desert, with triple digit temps, do you really think I can’t tell the difference between dry and wet heat? The heat in San Angelo, Fort Stockton, and Big Bend, Texas was dry. The recent heat in Virginia, the Carolina’s, and Georgia was relatively low humidity. Living in Florida, if anything, has made me tolerate heat and humidity. In any case the air vest made me hotter; I felt much more comfortable when I took it off. You are certainly welcome to wear it in the +90’s; I won’t.

Tom