Don't go jumpin' around wearing your Tech-Air 5 airbag vest
- Thread starter JMardy
- Start date
gixxerjeff
Dogs best friend
:laughing
Reminds me of the very early vests that had the lanyard to the handlebars.
Several stories of guys getting home and forgetting to unclip before stepping off the bike.
"Hi honey, I'm home! (POOF!)"
Reminds me of the very early vests that had the lanyard to the handlebars.
Several stories of guys getting home and forgetting to unclip before stepping off the bike.
"Hi honey, I'm home! (POOF!)"
greenmonster
Well-known member
Glad to know the vest works at least. I bought a Helite airbag jacket last November that is tethered to the frame and I’ve already had a few instances where I was getting off and felt that tug reminding me unplug. Fortunately it takes 60 pounds of pull to deploy the airbag.
senpai71
Professional troublemaker
I have a Hit-Air vest, and managed to pull the bike over by forgetting to untether when I got off and turned to walk away. To be fair, the bike was very 'upright', so it didn't take a lot to pull it off balance, but still... Luckily managed to grab the bike before it really went far, but hurt my back grabbing it and desperately trying to keep it upright.
KooLaid
Hippocritapotamus
I can easily imagine going to lunch, and hopping off the last few stairs from the restaurant goofing off.
I can also assume this vest won't work TOO well on a dirt bike then...?
greenmonster
Well-known member
I went back and forth for a while between the newer electronic vests and the old analog tether style. Both have advantages over the other but I ended up going with Helite because of the increased protection around the neck and the fact that the airbag is built in rather than separate. I needed a new jacket anyway.
RVFRick
Well-known member
Interesting. I have the Dainese Smart Jacket.
For this case I'd say advantage Dainese Smart Jacket: the airbag system can only detect danger and activate if it senses the vibration of the engine. With an electric motorbike, the Smart Jacket D-air system is armed only when the motorbike is going at least 6 mph. measures for high frequency vibrations of a motor in order to activate.
Another + for Dainese is turnaround time - it can be refurbished at the D-Store SF on the same day. Call ahead to make sure they have your size in stock.
The downside is it costs $300.
How do I know this? My fail story is accidentally deploying it in my minivan. I had the vest resting on the seat and zipped up. The magnetic clasp works really well (a good thing actually) and auto armed the jacket. While driving, the vibrations of the car activated the vest and when I made a sudden stop it slid of the back seat onto the floor and "BANG!". What the heck was that?!?! Then the tell tale hissing sound of leaking air made me realize the bad news. :facepalm
I later learned that there is a storage mode clasp built into the jacket that would have saved $300 and half a day of my time. Live and learn.
Don't ask about the other dumb event that triggered the jacket :rolleyes
greenmonster
Well-known member
Ouch, if the Helite deploys a new gas canister is $25 and can be installed in minutes. I know, I know, the Helite doesn’t work if I get rear ended or in any situation where I don’t separate from the bike.
dittoalex
Too much lean angle...
Helite has a cordless version where you install a sensor on your triple tree, and it looks like they're coming out with an off-road version this year.
RVFRick
Well-known member
Never thought about the non separation event. Thats kind of what happened to me on my other incident. I fell at 25 mph with the bike and the vest did its job.
Last edited:
greenmonster
Well-known member
I’d heard about the cordless version but it was recalled shortly after it’s release last year for some reason or I would have got it. Good to hear it’s coming back along with a much needed off-road version.
KooLaid
Hippocritapotamus
hmmmm, maybe off road might be a bad idea for me. I tend to dump it pretty often since I ride lots of slow speed technical stuff under 10 mph. I'd hate to have it activate every time I dumped it....which can be pretty often sometimes. Maybe a sensor over like 20-25+ mph
Jel
Well-known member
Thanks for the fair warning. I was gifted a Tech Air 5. Not enough space under my existing jackets so I guess I gotta get a new one. I hear that they might be training staff at certain authorized resellers on recharging them if they deploy.
One thing I like about the Tech Air is that it is more of a shirt than a vest and has better coverage in the shoulder/collar bone area.
I'm glad that there are other manufacturers out there and the tech will only get better and hopefully the prices go down as well.
One thing I like about the Tech Air is that it is more of a shirt than a vest and has better coverage in the shoulder/collar bone area.
I'm glad that there are other manufacturers out there and the tech will only get better and hopefully the prices go down as well.
greenmonster
Well-known member
And as the technology grows why not have airbag pants? Airbag gloves? Airbag helmets? Seriously if I’m going down I want look like the Michelin man before I hit the pavement or another solid object.
