It is that time of year, less biking, more internet surfing…. Whilst surfing, I have been looking at the new airbag jackets, this kind of thing: https://www.dainese.com/fr/fr/moto/d-air/d-air-road/stelvio-d-air®-d-dry®-xt-jacket-201D20035.html Other manufacturers do similar kit, but I like the look of the ‘tether free’ type more. As I ride all weathers (except ice/snow) the textile, goretex shell stuff is my go to for a jacket. The only problem being limited ventilation in my ( heavily discounted) Rukka jacket. So, anyone using the Dainese kit, thoughts, anyone looked at it up close and thinking of buying? In the back of my mind the one thing I do not like about textile kit is the lack of protection in the event of an off, the jacket (linked) seems to have all bases covered.
Lots of discussion on here if you search. The only thing, buried in the small print, will be what to do after an bag is inflated. The new Dainese under jacket needs a new bag fitted each time at £200 odd each time. The leathers are 2 inflations and return to factory. Helite now offer an electronic version and I still think the Helite bag offers better protection. Andy
Is the Helite one not for Harley riders? It looks cr@p In fairness, if a new bag is required, not a problem. I am not doing trackdays and have no intention of trialing the kit. Just peace of mind. If it saves/saved injury, then all good.
I wear the the Alpinestar Techair5 under my Klim Badlands jacket. Lots of ventilation and I keep the shoulder & elbow armour in the jacket. In very hot weather a Knox mesh jacket over the TechAir and BKS leather trousers.
Sartorial elegance is going to be the last thing on my mind if I’m launched into the air I’ve worn a Helite Turtle 2 for several years, I don’t notice it except when it’s 35°C but then most gear struggles at that temperature. Andy
Around 30’ when it gets tricky. The Dainese have decent size airvents. Protection, having watched the (promotional..) Dainese video, the airbag system looks really good, with a slightly different ‘core’ to the other systems out there. Bloody expensive. If I buy one it must have everything, including Goretex shell outer. Oh, and it must be discounted!
The biggest drawback with any of the tether triggered kit is that is will only go off when you become separated from the bike. Ideal for a highside or off over a car etc, not so good in a long sliding lowside when you stay tangled with the bike. The fancier motion sensor stuff can protect in a greater range of accident scenarios (as long as they manage to inflate without bursting). The more expensive astars tech air race items have 2 charges and can have street or track algorithm installed depending on your planned use this week. While they are moveable, they only go in astars or other licenced kit such as BKS or Vircos, so this can be limiting for some.
Held Airbag vest. Very affordable. Only needs a new gas canister when it's gone off. In motion tetherless. Can be worn under or over a jacket. Battery lasts about 30 hours between charges.
I have the Furygan vest. Similar to the Held. Like that In&Motion brain can have both road and track algorithms and can be swapped between jackets e.g. into an RST airbag suit. Only downside is the subscription cost although you can "suspend" it for up to 4 (consecutive) months in a year.
I love this , although I don’t think the orange would work with my monster Stripe. If you crashed at the top of an alpine pass I wonder how long it would take you to stop bouncing.
I’ve worn a tethered Helite vest for some years, luckily ive never activated it, either for its intended or accidentally, I only know examples of the latter. I’ve seen two demonstrations by airvest U.K. the Helite agent, after the first I bought the vest, before the second I was expecting to buy the later tetherless version, but I came away less enthused as there are times such as being in a tunnel it wouldn’t deploy. They have a work around solution, but I was not convinced enough to change. The two disadvantages of the vest are weight and ventilation, I rarely ride without it, but I chose not to take it to the US when we rode coast to coast and I’m glad I didn’t as it reached 50 C in Death Valley with many days over 40.
There have been a few track lads over the summer on fb trackday addicts page with the bags bursting during inflation or not inflating on some brands. A quick search on that page brings up the rst/inmotion one as one such product that folk were having issues with. Not saying who is right or wrong, merely that its not isolated concerns.
Interesting. I have the V4.1 suit bought in April 2021. I also have a two piece RST airbag suit that I crashed in a Snetterton with good protection. About a 45 mph crash and not a mark on me. The V4.1 suit was recalled last winter for an “upgrade”. The process to upgrade the airbag was quick and efficient. I wonder if it was to do with this?
I’ve also heard of the InMoition airbag (the system RST uses) bursting. It may be why Hideout switched from offering InMotion to Helite. I expect no airbag system is perfect. While there are various positive examples of tethered systems working, a ripcord can be too slow for the airbag to inflate in time for some crashes. IME, the D-Air system is the most hassle-free airbag when integrated into a jacket like this one. And I’ve never experienced or heard of any problems with them. I haven’t seen the D-Air Stelvio jacket in real life, but it’s got excellent spec: laminated waterproofing, direct-to-body ventilation, Level 2 armour. Regarding abrasion resistance, it’s CE AA rated (as good as textiles get, unless you step up to BKS 100SX or Hideout Hi-Pro).
