Airbag vests could be for the upper body what helmets are for the head. And they could mean the difference between life and death. We’ll spend a small fortune on a helmet or a riding jacket and pants, yet we have trouble justifying the price of an airbag vest. On this episode, why should we consider an airbag vest, what will it do for us, what choices do we have and what are we paying for?
Compulsory in the Moto GP since 2018
Airbag garments have been compulsory in the Moto GP since 2018 and starting this year, 2021, they’re also required for riders in the Dakar. But, you could say that these are top level riders doing extreme things so that’s understandable, but will they really add that much safety for the average rider and could an airbag reduce or eliminate injury in a get-off? There are also advantages and disadvantages between the mechanical and electronic style airbag systems, and there is at least one, that you likely haven’t heard of that uses an external sensor.
Image: Craig Renneker
Craig Renneker - Airbag Vest Crash Survivor
Craig Renneker is an Adventure Rider Radio listener and he’s also a passionate motorcyclist whose done a lot of travelling and riding. He’s tried out a few airbag vests and has experienced a couple of crashes while wearing one, and on this episode Craig tells us about how he attributes surviving those crashes to the airbag vests.
KLIM - Jayson Plummer
Jayson Plummer is a Product Line Manager at KLIM Technical Riding Gear
Website: KLIM
The Ai-1 Airbag Vest and In&Box DPP (Detect-Protect-Perfect) platform is the first continually evolving motorcycle protection technology driven by artificial intelligence. The In&Box detection module offers unprecedented crash sensitivity through continuous algorithm updates. The Ai-1 vest is comfortable and low-profile for use with any riding jacket, and is one of the highest rated motorcycle airbag systems available. Ride protected by the smartest system in motorcycle airbag technology.
In&Motion - Pierre-François Tissot (Pef)
Image: Pef Tissot - In&Motion
Pef Tissot is one of three engineers who founded In&Motion in France in 2014. They specialize in smart protection systems which they integrate in to some partner brands such as KLIM.
Website: In&Motion
Helite - Gérard Thevenot
Image: Gérard Thevenot; Helite
Gérard Thevenot, a French engineer who specializes in fluid mechanics and is passionate about light aeronautics founded Helite in 2002. His awareness for safety in these sports such as hand gliding and paramotors led him to develop an airbag system for microlight users. He then expanded the Helite airbag technology to other high risk activities including motorcycling.
Helite offers both mechanical system vests and jackets, as well as electronic system vests for motorcyclists, giving the rider phenomenal protection in an off or crash, protecting vital parts and the neck with ultra-fast detection.
Website: Helite