Do you use an airbag? D-Air, Tech Air?

[bogie]

In a magazine I read the other day, the D-Air vest that fits under any jacket, is under £600. no armour in it but offers many times more protection than regular back/chest armour. Could be a good option. No connection to bike, completely self contained system. Starting to look much more convient, albeit another few layers of vest to wear will be warm in summer months....

[Timbo_S2]

I've been using a D-Air suit for trackdays for the last 18months; only one small spill that didn;t trigger the airbag...

Lasts ages between charges and doesn;t take long to charge anyway. You can also pull the GPS data from the suit, giving laptimes / speed / g force etc. which is handy. Mine travels with the bike on foreign trackdays, so haven't had the fun of taking it through an airport yet!

[Salted_Peanut]

bogie said:

In a magazine I read the other day, the D-Air vest that fits under any jacket, is under £600.

There’s a gaggle of similar airbags: the Held eVest (among others featuring an In&Motion airbag), as well as the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 and Helite E-Turtle. I don’t think the Smart Vest is the best of this inflating bunch. Held’s eVest goes for about £300 (plus annual subscription) and offers more neck protection.

But where Dainese excels is stealth: I tried on a Racing 3 D-Air jacket like mjw7’s, and it felt like wearing a regular leather jacket with a back protector. Impressive comfort and convenience.

mjw7 said:

[Junior Bianno]

Anyone got the new Alpinestars Tech-Air 5? Looks good - fits easily under my jackets, has a built-in back protector that makes me feel better about it, tech seems good and no subscription. Only downside I can see is that it doesn't have much in the way of neck protection. Looks like it offers more protection than the Dainese vest, but is roughly the same price.

Just wondering if I'm missing anything?

[Bob_Defly]

If you wear one of the aftermarket ones under a current jacket, do you remove the current back protector? I.e. Does it inflate between you and the back protector, causing issues? Or can you leave it in?

[Steve Bass]

I think you need to do a consumer test and report back

[Salted_Peanut]

You remove the regular back protector to give room for the airbag to inflate. Plus, the Tech-Air lives in its own CE-certified back protector.

Junior Bianno said:

Looks like it offers more protection than the Dainese vest, but is roughly the same price.

There's no catch: the Tech-Air 5 gives way more airbag coverage than the D-Air Smart. The only advantage of the Smart vest is that you can wear it on top of your jacket (handy for tight leathers). But the Tech-Air's more protective.

Still, I think the-best-of-all-worlds is a Tech-Air Street (or Race) in a Tech-Air-compatible jacket: this setup lets you see the airbag status on your arm – simpler to check at a glance than using an app while riding!

Cycle World interview with Colin Ballantyne said:

With the road-going version of Tech-Air, Ballantyne [who headed the Tech-Air programme] explained, “We vastly increased the coverage of the system, taking in the shoulders, chest, full back and also the sides.” Alpinestars also switched to a new “one-piece woven” material in which the bag is created entirely in the loom, with no subsequent stitching or cutting. The result is a very fine, thin airbag—“a much cleaner, lighter solution.”

Ballantyne stressed the importance of shoulder protection. “In the majority of the crashes that we conducted,” he said, “the shoulder was always the first point of contact for the torso. Also, by having shoulder protection, you have a continuous, inflatable cushion all around the top of your body.”

HTH

[Junior Bianno]

Thanks - that's good info. Going to buy one this week. Tried it on and it feels great.

For those asking about the back protector, I think you would definitely remove your existing back protector. This will more than cover you and another back protector might affect the function of the airbag.

[jdearauj]

I ended up purchasing the Ixon IX-Airbag vest. I had been looking at about 5 different airbag vests from Alpinestars, Daniese, Klim, Held, Ixon and Helite. The fit of the Ixon airbag vest is great and the inemotion software worked from the start. The only issue with inemotion is the subscription fees, but they had various options and to me it just made more sense.

My main reason to go with the Ixon and not the Daniese or Alpinestars, was the multi use option before it needs to be sent back to manufacturer. So if i'm on tour and the airbag goes off by accident or in an accident. As long as the airbag vest is still ok, all i need to do is replace the gas canister and it will be good to use again. I think the Ixon is quoted up to 6 deployments before it needs to go back to Ixon. So i could continue using the airbag vest for the rest of my tour. Now if i had the Daniese or Alpinestars vest, i would need to send the vest back to the manufacturer to be fixed and have gas canisters added again. This again at a high cost and to me is pointless for my use as i would not be able to continue my tour unless i carried a spare back protector.


Review the Bennetts Social did on the Ixon airbag vest:
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/prod...

[wa16]

jdearauj said:

I ended up purchasing the Ixon IX-Airbag vest. I had been looking at about 5 different airbag vests from Alpinestars, Daniese, Klim, Held, Ixon and Helite. The fit of the Ixon airbag vest is great and the inemotion software worked from the start. The only issue with inemotion is the subscription fees, but they had various options and to me it just made more sense.

My main reason to go with the Ixon and not the Daniese or Alpinestars, was the multi use option before it needs to be sent back to manufacturer. So if i'm on tour and the airbag goes off by accident or in an accident. As long as the airbag vest is still ok, all i need to do is replace the gas canister and it will be good to use again. I think the Ixon is quoted up to 6 deployments before it needs to go back to Ixon. So i could continue using the airbag vest for the rest of my tour. Now if i had the Daniese or Alpinestars vest, i would need to send the vest back to the manufacturer to be fixed and have gas canisters added again. This again at a high cost and to me is pointless for my use as i would not be able to continue my tour unless i carried a spare back protector.


Review the Bennetts Social did on the Ixon airbag vest:
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/prod...

i made this point once but got shouted down by 'know it alls' - a gentle low side or a tumble on even ground would set the thing off but you may still be able to ride the bike home but with no protection using the A* or Daniese

[SAS Tom]

wa16 said:

i made this point once but got shouted down by 'know it alls' - a gentle low side or a tumble on even ground would set the thing off but you may still be able to ride the bike home but with no protection using the A* or Daniese

Obviously each crash is different but at the D-Air stuff knows when to go off. If it’s gentle enough that it doesn’t think you need it then it won’t go off. If you’re mid crash and it decides you suddenly need it then it will go off then.

[jdearauj]

SAS Tom said:

wa16 said:

i made this point once but got shouted down by 'know it alls' - a gentle low side or a tumble on even ground would set the thing off but you may still be able to ride the bike home but with no protection using the A* or Daniese

Obviously each crash is different but at the D-Air stuff knows when to go off. If it’s gentle enough that it doesn’t think you need it then it won’t go off. If you’re mid crash and it decides you suddenly need it then it will go off then.

The Inemotion software is always updating and allot of the riders in MotoGP use it for there airbags. So i don't think the A* or Daniese vests are any safer or better. The bottom line is the choice is there for you to make. I was just providing my input.

[Salted_Peanut]

I think the three are similar: Tech-Air, D-Air and In&Motion provide you with ongoing software updates, and none inflate in a gentle spill.

jdearauj said:

The Inemotion software is always updating and allot of the riders in MotoGP use it for there airbags.

Genuine question: I read that In&Motion was around in 2016-18 (using MotoGP experience for development), but is it still in MotoGP?

[Salted_Peanut]

I have (thanks to a big sale) a Tech-Air Street. It's like the Tech Air 5 but with added lights on your arm What would you like to know?

[jdearauj]

Salted_Peanut said:

I think the three are similar: Tech-Air, D-Air and In&Motion provide you with ongoing software updates, and none inflate in a gentle spill.

jdearauj said:

The Inemotion software is always updating and allot of the riders in MotoGP use it for there airbags.

Genuine question: I read that In&Motion was around in 2016-18 (using MotoGP experience for development), but is it still in MotoGP?

I have seen a couple of riders using Ixon this season, so i assume the answer is yes. I know Miguel Oliviera & Tito Rabat both have it in their race suit. I have not done any further research to confirm who else uses it and if it is being used in other suits.

[Salted_Peanut]

Cool, and great to see another airbag system in MotoGP. I think we'll all benefit as MotoGP drives competitive R&D.

[bogie]

Not sure if I could be bothered to put on a separate vest each time and I wonder how much warmth it will add, could be sweaty come summer, although I guess you could wear the vest under a mesh jacket in warmer months.

I would be more tempted by a jacket with integrated airbag, I just like the convenience of putting my jacket on and not worrying about whether there is a back protector or airbag in it.

I see most of the major brands expanding their range to include an airbag system or jacket now. Im sure in a few more years there will be a huge choice and an airbag will just be an uplift in spec/cost from a L2 back protector which are almost default now in decent jackets

https://www.motocentral.co.uk/rst-gt-airbag-ce-lea...

[Stuart Fordyce]

bogie said:

Not sure if I could be bothered to put on a separate vest each time and I wonder how much warmth it will add, could be sweaty come summer, although I guess you could wear the vest under a mesh jacket in warmer months.

I would be more tempted by a jacket with integrated airbag, I just like the convenience of putting my jacket on and not worrying about whether there is a back protector or airbag in it.

I see most of the major brands expanding their range to include an airbag system or jacket now. Im sure in a few more years there will be a huge choice and an airbag will just be an uplift in spec/cost from a L2 back protector which are almost default now in decent jackets

https://www.motocentral.co.uk/rst-gt-airbag-ce-lea...

i don't have an airbag but I do have a Forcefield vest with a back protector and chest protector as part of it - doesn't add much warmth at all (I got caught out by this on a rather chilly trackday at Snetterton). It takes seconds to put on, and if I ever get back out on the bike again it will be replaced with an airbag in due course. The thing about having a separate vest is that you can take it between textiles and leathers if you need to...

[jdearauj]

bogie said:

Not sure if I could be bothered to put on a separate vest each time and I wonder how much warmth it will add, could be sweaty come summer, although I guess you could wear the vest under a mesh jacket in warmer months.

I would be more tempted by a jacket with integrated airbag, I just like the convenience of putting my jacket on and not worrying about whether there is a back protector or airbag in it.

I see most of the major brands expanding their range to include an airbag system or jacket now. Im sure in a few more years there will be a huge choice and an airbag will just be an uplift in spec/cost from a L2 back protector which are almost default now in decent jackets

https://www.motocentral.co.uk/rst-gt-airbag-ce-lea...

I went from wearing a Forcefield Pro L2K back protector to now using the Ixon jacket. It is so slim that you do not actually feel it that much. I feel it allot less than the forcefield. I'm very happy with my purchase and don't mind putting the vest on each time before i ride. I know some of the airbag vests like the held one comes with internal fasteners which can then clip into a jacket you have already. So you do not need to put on the vest first everytime.

[Junior Bianno]

Well - that was an interesting weekend! Picked up my new Alpinestars Tech-air 5 airbag on Friday - just in time for an overnight trip down to the Mull of Kintyre. All was good during the day - vest was comfortable and there were no issues. Instructions were clear and managed to get it hooked up to app etc.

Got to the hotel carpark and that all changed! It was a tricky steep driveway with a not very level parking area. I was a bit concerned I had parked the bike right and perhaps wasn't paying as much attention as I should to getting off the bike gracefully. It's a big old machine (Multistrada) and with panniers I find it a bit tricky to get on and off at the best of times. Anyway, I managed to catch my foot on pannier as I got off and stumbled backwards. Didn't hit the deck but nearly did. Sure you can guess where this is going. Next thing I know there's a big pop, the airbag had gone off and I looked like the Michelin man. Was quite a shock tbh.

Surely this can't be right. The bike was parked and I fell in the same way as if I had tripped over a kerb. Took it back the shop and they are sending it back to Alpinestars for a report. Need to wait and see if it's faulty. If not I don't know where to go with it - would not be happy walking about with something that could pop at the least misstep and cost £269 every time it happens!

It was a PITA the next day as well. I wanted to wear the vest as I didn't have a back protector in the jacket, but it was still half full of air. Did get it on but it felt uncomfortable and I looked fairly ridiculous. It did fully deflate after a few hours to be fair.

Definitely something to consider if you're thinking about getting one of these vests.