Wearable Motorcycle Air Bags

migresch said:
Here is a real-life SMIDSY (Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You) test of a Helite Turtle Airbag vest.

The following is from my accident report of 2 weeks ago:
The southbound passenger vehicle was proceeding straight then suddenly attempted a left turn into the northernmost entrance of the Esso gas station located on the east side of the street. I was traveling approximately 25 to 30 kph in a straight line, northbound, on Milner Road, on my side of the road, just passing said entrance. The driver of the vehicle claimed he did not see me. He struck my motorcycle with the left front bumper, fender and headlight assembly of his vehicle. My motorcycle was struck on the left side, just below my left foot. The left foot peg was broken off. The frame of the motorcylce may have been bent. The left side case is heavily damaged as is the exhaust pipe. The bike and myself were thrown sideways and spun through about 45 degrees. The right rear wheel of my motorcycle then hit the curb, causing the motorcycle to crash onto it's right side. This caused me to be thrown off the motorcycle. At that time, my Hi-vis inflatable airbag jacket deployed. This cushioned my landing at a point about 8 feet from the motorcycle. My full-face helmet, Hi-vis armored jacket, armored overpants, heavy motorcycle gloves and motorcycle boots also cushioned the impact. The right side right side of the motorcylce is also heavily damaged. This includes but is probably not limited to: the side-case, handlebar, mirror, fairing and exhaust pipe on the right.

The insurance placed 100% of the fault on the driver of the car. Damage to the bike was estimated by the adjuster to be over $7,500.00CAN. They paid out what they deemed fair market value: $5,400.00CAN. They will also pay for 100% replacement value of my SHOEI Neotec2 helmet (just under $1,000.00CAN) and 100% of replacement value of my airbag vest (also just under $1,000.00CAN).

My injuries: a scrape to my left shin; a scrape to the back of my right hand; a scrape to my right wrist.

I give credit to 3 things for my relatively minor injuries:
1) Practice, practice, practice of evasive manouvers; in this case, I swerved right and accelerated to try to get away from the car. Had I not done so, he would have hit me at a 45 degree angle to the front left of my bike with the middle of the front of his car. Had I stopped, he would still have hit me.
2) ATGATT which included
3) The airbag vest which deployed while I was in the air after "high-siding". I landed on the right side of my back, my right shoulder, my right hip and on the right rear or my helmet.

I can 100% recommend the Helite Airbag vest.

I will close with: No matter how Hi-Vis you THINK you are, you are INVISIBLE. Ride accordingly.


Mike
Currently without a ride since my bike got totaled.
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Glad to hear that there were relatively minor injuries and the airbag vest worked.
 
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I wrote this up back in October over on BMWSportTouring (and was promptly and roundly denounced!!) about my experience and comparisons with three different low-cost airbag vests. Zero deployments to date -and would prefer to keep it that way- so no thrilling testimony on that.

https://www.bmwsporttouring.com/topic/94051-would-you-buy-an-air-bag-vest-for-125/

If anyone has another vest, Hit Air, Helite, or other at the Georgia Spring Rally, I'd like to compare the details side by side. I have some spare CO2 cylinders and we can do a demo deployment if anyone is interested.
 
I have a Hit-Air MLV-P. If you go to the national rally in Spearfish, we can do the comparison there.

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Current price looks to be $474.

Chris
 
Lowndes said:
I wrote this up back in October over on BMWSportTouring (and was promptly and roundly denounced!!) about my experience and comparisons with three different low-cost airbag vests. Zero deployments to date -and would prefer to keep it that way- so no thrilling testimony on that.

https://www.bmwsporttouring.com/topic/94051-would-you-buy-an-air-bag-vest-for-125/

If anyone has another vest, Hit Air, Helite, or other at the Georgia Spring Rally, I'd like to compare the details side by side. I have some spare CO2 cylinders and we can do a demo deployment if anyone is interested.
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I will be wearing my Helite Turtle 2 to GA Spring Rally, so we can test there with your spare cartridge.

Ray
 
I bought #2 last spring. My deployment cord was a non adjustable piece of wire that I replaced with an adjustable strap. I have a Helite and needed something for a pillion who I figured (probably rightly) wouldn't ride again. I figured something was better than nothing. I have a Alpinestars Tech Air 5 coming so I may give it to a friend of mine.
 
This may come across as a stupid question, but do the CO2 canisters have to be replaced from time to time (like due to leaking of the CO2 gas)? My Hit-Air I believe is < 1 year old at this point, but I want it to be ready to fire if needed. I believe mine is the same as above in Daboo’s post- the MLV-P in yellow
 
I’m sure it’s possible that they can leak but that’s not something I’m thinking of.

However, there are instructions to weight the cartridges and it should be a specific weight. Which of course I can’t remember right now!

I weigh both my main and spare cartridges at the start of the season and off I go!
 
Erdoc48 said:
This may come across as a stupid question, but do the CO2 canisters have to be replaced from time to time (like due to leaking of the CO2 gas)? My Hit-Air I believe is < 1 year old at this point, but I want it to be ready to fire if needed. I believe mine is the same as above in Daboo’s post- the MLV-P in yellow
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The Helite FAQ has advice on the maintenance of the vests and the life span of the CO2 cartridges.

Motorcycle Airbags - HELITE FAQ - Helite Moto

helitemoto.com helitemoto.com
 
So if the canister leaks - short of catastrophic failure - where would the CO2 go? Into the vest/airbag? Tires go flat vests go plump? Or is there a seal between the cartridge and bag to keep it from getting any gas until it needs it all - instantly.
 
My assumption is the CO2 gas exits through the sides of the cannister. In the vest, the CO2 cannister is not punctured till the lanyard is pulled. So there's no difference between it installed in a vest, or laying on the shelf. And when I first heard of CO2 cannisters leaking, was in respect to tire repair kits...where again, they had no puncture to leak from.

Chris
 
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