Wearable Motorcycle Air Bags

I bought one of these a year ago on Alibaba. Douhan in all black, the only way they had it at the time. Very well made, fold down tail-bone pad, pop-up high collar, coated steel wire lanyard, adjustable elastic and velcro on each side (for the circumferentially challenged) etc. Only $109 at the time. Took several weeks but the price was right. They HAVE TO ship the cylinders (2) separately because of air freight rules. It does fit tight but it HAS TO to work properly, kinda like a seat belt. I'm 6-2, 190 lb, fits over my padded riding jacket just fine but warm in the summer. Have worn it every time I ride ever since.
 
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Stupid question (maybe): Do you think the Alibaba one is as good as the Hit-Air or similar vests in the opening of the neck collar such that it doesn’t allow your neck to hyperextend? The lack of hyper extension at the neck is critical to the vest being useful if you get thrown from the bike
 
NOT stupid, but how can anyone tell by looking?? I was wondering the same thing. I've thought about a mechanical neck brace: https://www.leatt.com/shop/bike/neck-braces.html

At least there is a CE rating on these: https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=...rtificate%20-%20RICOTEST%20525163903%20OE.pdf

I don't know if there are any test guidelines for airbag vests yet or not. I sure don't want to volunteer as a guinneapig.

I would guess that the company in China makes the vests for one of the "well known brands" here. They didn't just decide to start making them by themselves. Those businesses just MAKE things, they don't invent or develop new products. Someone goes to them with a sample and a set of sepecs and gets a price on making 500 or 1000 units and they make them and a few more with their name on it. ZERO regard for patents, intellectual property, contracts, agreements, etc, remember?? (Partly because of smucks like me that buy them anyway)

I've been looking for someone with a Hit-Air or similar to compare it with, side by side.
 
Look at the inflation times. Tech-Air and D-Air are the gold standard, then Helite, then Hit-Air. I looked at these once and IIRC the Ali Express was a little slower than the Hit Air.
 
I just saw the older model AIR01 that I have on their website:

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...ml?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000023.12.11ff273espQ0ZF

There are pics of the inflated vest on here to show the pop-up collar and butt protection. This vest is significantly different from the newer version and more expensive!! Tariffs?? $204 with the CO2 cyl. but there is a 5% coupon available. I would guess the other brands that made in China will be going up in price a well if this price increase is due to tariffs.

Looks like the new model has much better ventilation and hi-viz yellow.
 
I just bought the Hit-Air Lightweight one:
Yup, getting older and probably more cautious (ugh, now 55 years old)- anyway, I showed the Mrs this vest and she basically demanded I get it (I have been riding for 30 years now, have been very careful, was never in a MC collision, and always use full gear and helmet). Besides, I’m well insured life insurance wise...Anyway, on to to the website:

https://hikesandmotorbikes.com/hit-a...g-vest-review/

Go down about halfway down the page to the video and you can see the vest activated. Inflation occurs at ~ 3:15 in the video if you don’t want to see the whole video- I think the one I got (the lightweight vest) inflates in 0.18 seconds, so pretty fast- not cheap at $489 shipped but if it’s needed and keeps injuries to a minimum, then it’s worth the price.

I got the reflective yellow one- hopefully the other drivers and the deer see me...

Always a good idea to protect yourself.
 
I bought a Helite Turtle in January when they were on sale. I didn't even know such a thing existed until conversing w/ a possible craigslist buy with a guy who'd had some fell-off-a-ladder health issues. Said if he didn't get his price, he'd buy a Turtle and keep the bike. "A what?" Anyhow, I wasn't sure which brand to purchase but they all at least seemed like a bunch of extra safety even though I already ride ATGATT. I got the Hi-viz version and in truth, I feel a little silly when I see my reflection in windows while riding or being around the cool kids I come across here in San Francisco. They have a black version if it matters.

BUT, I enjoy commuting by bike, and I enjoy the thought of staying in one piece. I have noticed that I'm more visible to those who a moment before wanted to occupy my space, and the CHP guys don't even give me a second glance as I roll by (and I might sometimes be on the wrong side of the fog line..) I also ride very conservatively and don't split lanes above ~25mph. I'm okay with that. I'll be 52 this year and ain't nobody gonna mistake me for a hooligan. I also don't have an ST or any touring experience, but I'm keeping my eyes open for a sweet deal on something I can spend the winter getting to know and saying bye bye to cracked and hardened rubber and crustiness. I'm mostly just a lurker, but this is one thread I can comment on.

Getting past the silliness, my review is that when you hold it, it feels heavy, but I don't notice any heft while riding. I wear an Alpinestars touring/adv sort of style jacket with all the armor and a size large Turtle. I'm probably about 6'1" and around 170lbs. I tried xl, but it was way too big. They also have long sizes, but seems like you'd need to be pretty tall. I already notice I sit on the bottom of the back as is. An extra lanyard to attach to another bike is kinda silly at $25, but is the spare cartridge? I dunno, but me as a kid coulda put a lot of BBs out into the world if my airgun had that sort of energy source. Helite says you can remove the back protector from your jacket, but I have not. I might want to go Turtle-less and don't want to be compromised in my back protection. I really should check into that, but I fail to understand how protection from your protection could be bad. I'm happy to also say I can't tell you if it actually works, but the demo videos seem pretty convincing. I keep thinking it's like those movies where they throw a dummy out a window, it hits the pavement, the camera stops, the actor takes the dummy's place, shooting resumes and the actor jumps up unhurt. But it's real.

I would suggest the second CO2 cartridge to have on hand. For the Turtle, you're allowed six inflates before they ask for it to be returned for inspection. I suppose I'd want an inspection if I actually used it, but until I could get that done, I'd certainly keep using it until there was an opportunity for inspection (unless it was obviously damaged.) And I'm pretty sure if it disappeared today, I'd be at the shop tomorrow to buy one even not on sale. I can't really speak to heat - my commute usually starts in the low to mid 50s, and seldom continues over 80*. I'll most likely wear it no matter the temperature. Truth is I'm used to it and feel somewhat vulnerable without it.

I don't ride a lot on the weekends, so I'm not sure how much I'd use it if when not commuting, but were I heading out for a tour, darn right. I'd sure be happy to see more of us with this vest. Spread the safety and normalize the dorkiness!

-Ryan
 
I dropped my bike (2004 Honda ST1300) when I fell to the low side while attempting a slow speed U-turn on a sloped gravel surface. The bag inflated before I hit the ground. Frankly, I did not even notice it until I picked myself off the ground and I found that my jacket had become quite snug. I have had similar drops in the past, which tended to knock the wind out of me. This time....nothing. The bag deflated slowly over about 5 minutes. I had a spare CO2 cartridge with me, but as I did not have the instructions with me, I was not able to figure out how to re-insert it. Back home, I watched a video on how to reinsert the cartridge....three minutes later, done. Buying a new spare cartridge was a bit of a pain: none of the local motorcycle retailers carry any Helite products and most of the Canadian websites that listed them were out-of-stock. I eventually found a website in Calgary that had one.
The surface of the airbag is very tough. Despite hitting the gravel and sliding a bit, I could find no visible damage to the vest. It looked like-new after the fall.
My vest is Hi-Vis yellow and people have said they see me for miles.
The combination of my jacket and vest is fairly heavy to hold on a hanger, but when worn and on the bike, the weight is not noticeable.
Remembering to clip the connector to the cord from the bike is a bit of a pain, at first. When I first started wearing it, I always forgot to connect it. However, after having to pull off to the side of the road four or five times to connect the clip, it has become a habit, like clipping in your seatbelt before driving off in your car.
It should be noted that, in Canada at least, while CATSA will allow you to pass through security with the CO2 cartridge, Air Canada will not allow you to carry it either in the cabin or in your checked luggage. This is as of July 19, 2019.
Finally, the first few times that I wore it, I did try to walk away from the bike before un-clipping. All that happens is that you feel a tug and you reach down and un-clip.
 
After my recent deer strike and Dohboy's I am considering one of these. I think I had both feet on the pegs and both hands on the bars when I hit the ground upside down. Is there a vest that inflates both with a tether and/or from a G force initiation?
 
Dainese makes one that inflates if you to a half gainer (just kidding) - but it does incorporate technology that triggers the bag - not a tether. LINKY It does, however, need to be returned to the mfr every few years for a checkup. Probably not an issue for those of us who cannot ride year 'round, but something to consider since you live in Florida.
 
amorley said:
I bought an XL Helite Turtle Airbag Vest Hi-Viz. I have been wearing it over my Aerostich Roadcrafter R3 Lite suit (XL Long) which has upgraded TF5 armour and the back pad armour. Although the vest is not light, it fits well and I don't really notice it when riding, or walking around. I have attached the lanyard to the metal front seat mount on my BMW K1600GTS so that I can stand on the foot pegs without accidentally inflating.

As stated earlier, I have only a few hundred miles experience in January riding with the Helite Vest. My first significant ride will be at the end of April which will be a bit more than 3,500 miles. I'll update my opinion on the vest after that ride.

Andy
Click to expand...


Andy -

Do you have time to do an update?

Ray
 
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