Air Bag jackets/Vests

[MrGrumpy]

In a classic case of thinking about slamming the stable door after the horse has bolted, I've been wondering about whether jackets / vest incorporating air bag technology would have helped in my recent accident. Given that I seem to have received a lot of impacts in the ribs, neck and back, I'm guessing that it seems quite possible that some sort of airbag tech might have helped reduce the injuries I sustained.

Anyone got any experience of such jackets / vests eg in what circumstances they work best, which sort might be best?

btw I was wearing a standard armoured textile bike jacket (from JTS) and kevlar lined Hood Jeans. The jacket stood up pretty well - no obvious signs of damage or abrasion ( I don't think I slid much), though obviously impact protection could have been better. Hood Jeans were fine, except that the back pocket was ripped to shreds. Helmet (Schuberth C5 (nearly new!!!!) - was quite badly damaged on the top with some nasty scrapes and contusions, but clearly did its job pretty well.

[Bellman]

I was looking at the large selection of airbag jackets and vests just last week in Sportsbikeshop. While they do seem a good idea protection and safety wise, it's yet another layer of kit to wear. Base, intermediate, and heated or cooling beneath whatever jacket you wear. Most of them are heavy enough with shoulder and elbow armour and a back protector. Then lots of riders wear a hi-vis vest adding another layer.

Most jackets have zippered vents but you can still get hot and sweaty in the summer months. Off the scooter clumping about in heavy bike gear is just as bad, and when you sweat it doesn't evaporation and dry especially the back area.

I don't think I've ever noticed another rider wearing an air bag vest or jacket, unless they're pretty inconspicuous when worn.

[MrGrumpy]

Yeah...there's no point in having an air bag system if its restricted to a single jacket. I wear a textile jacket in the winter, but a variety of leather jackets in Spring and Autumn and such things as Kevlar lined Hoodies in the summer. Maybe there's a vest system that can be worn over any jacket.

[Peanut]

I have a Helite Gilet that goes over your jacket and connects via a lanyard to a strap connected to my Burgman 650 Executive.
You need to exert more 40psi for it to go off so if you forget to unclip say whilst dismounting it won’t go off.
The new ones work by sensors I believe?
Not cheap but a brilliant no brainer for any biker , protects neck, spine and rib cage and goes off in one twentieth of a second once you disconnect from your ride ,I simply never ride without it.

https://heliteuk.co.uk/product-category ... rotection/

[Chocky]

I have just bougt an Alpinestars TechAir 5 airbag vest. I also bought a Tech Air 5 compatible jacket to go with it. This has flexible panels which enable the air bags to expand outwards, rather than inwards! Alternatively, get a jacket that is a size too big (when wearing the vest). Tip: don't get a winter jacket to wear over the vest as you will be far too warm most of the year.

I did see some cheaper jackets (~£200 - £300) which claim to have airbags in them, but you have to rent the electronics (~£13/month) to activate the system.

I also saw an advert for a cheaper TechAir 5 jacket (from a German company I think) but beware - you will have to pay import duty and I'm not sure how they would get around the restrictions of shipping items containing pyrotechnics.