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

[bogie]

If the Dainese system was available in some of their top end "regular" leather jacket range, i might be tempted to invest. Im sure given time and volume the price will come down a bit and choice of jacket expand

The Helite jacket looks good, but I dont like the clip to bike system, I prefer the Dainese sensor based kit ......

https://www.helite.com/biker-airbag-leather-roadst...

I wonder how long it will be before we have airbag trousers ? around the hip protection would be good considering the ease of breaking pelvis/hip in a bike accident.....

[SAS Tom]

This has got me interested now so I've been looking into it a bit more.

So I mentioned Dainese's published figure of 2kN of transferred force in a crash compared to the CE level 2 standard of 20kN. As a comparison the Forcefield Pro Sub 4 back protector is tested at 3.38kN. That's not very much difference at all. It actually makes the cost ratio vs amount of force reduced look extremely expensive! I don't know if that extra kN could be the difference between injury or not but it's a much smaller gap than I first thought.

A Furygan D3o back insert is about 7kN so there's a bigger difference there but it's still nowhere near the minimum for CE Level 2.

I'm going to see what else I can find out but it seems there is a fair bit of info although maybe not that easily accessible.

[mckeann]

Tom, that was my thinking too. You can also buy SASTEC replacement armour that is 8.5Kn spec stuff which is much much better than the standard under 35Kn rubbish that comes with it.

But despite all that, when you see the coverage of the alpinestars vest over the full rib cage, and shoulder area, compared to the armour, it gives more coverage in places that have no armour.

[mckeann]

I can't find the image, but there was an advert in the latest issue of performance bike, that showed the inflated air bag, not just the uninflated vest. If someone still has the magazine they could post a photo

[SAS Tom]

mckeann said:

Tom, that was my thinking too. You can also buy SASTEC replacement armour that is 8.5Kn spec stuff which is much much better than the standard under 35Kn rubbish that comes with it.

But despite all that, when you see the coverage of the alpinestars vest over the full rib cage, and shoulder area, compared to the armour, it gives more coverage in places that have no armour.

Yeah they do cover a lot more area than traditional armour. In my last post I wasn't meaning to come across as airbags are pointless. I was trying to give some comparison between standard armour and airbags. Obviously in those areas there is an improvement over standard armour but not so big. Where the airbags come in is exactly as you say in that the coverage is much bigger. So there is more protection in more areas.

[Dick Seaman]

mckeann said:

I can't find the image, but there was an advert in the latest issue of performance bike, that showed the inflated air bag, not just the uninflated vest. If someone still has the magazine they could post a photo

[mckeann]

Well done that man. Cheers dude.

[2wheelsjimmy]

SAS Tom said:

This has got me interested now so I've been looking into it a bit more.

So I mentioned Dainese's published figure of 2kN of transferred force in a crash compared to the CE level 2 standard of 20kN. As a comparison the Forcefield Pro Sub 4 back protector is tested at 3.38kN.

That makes me want to go and by the forcefield!

[Fish]

I've been using the Helite stuff for 9 years. I now wear their new Helite touring jacket with the turtle tech... Excellent jacket can just be a little warm in Summer. Would heartily recommend.

While this uses a lanyard it is very easy to use and it is a bit like putting a seat belt on it feels weird riding a bike without it!

I woudl definitely recommend Helite over Hit air as their kit reacts much quicker and provides better coverage..


the jacket is fully waterproof so you don't have to put two things on, just zip the jacket up and off you go...

I did one drop my bike with a jacket on and it had inflated before I hit the ground.

This is what I wear: https://www.helite.com/touring-grey-adv-rider-jack...

Edited by Fish on Friday 15th September 14:22

[Janluke]

Fish said:

I've been using the Helite stuff for 9 years. I now wear their new Helite touring jacket with the turtle tech... Excellent jacket can just be a little warm in Summer. Would heartily recommend.

While this uses a lanyard it is very easy to use and it is a bit like putting a seat belt on it feels weird riding a bike without it!

I woudl definitely recommend Helite over Hit air as their kit reacts much quicker and provides better coverage..


the jacket is fully waterproof so you don't have to put two things on, just zip the jacket up and off you go...

I did one drop my bike with a jacket on and it had inflated before I hit the ground.

This is what I wear: https://www.helite.com/touring-grey-adv-rider-jack...

Edited by Fish on Friday 15th September 14:22

I recently bought the turtle vest, its fairly easy to get in the habit of using the lanyard. My mother recently fell off her horse while wearing one and at 72 sustained no injuries. Now I realise the two modes of transport are not compatible but it made me think it was worth the purchase price.

[mckeann]

2wheelsjimmy said:

SAS Tom said:

This has got me interested now so I've been looking into it a bit more.

So I mentioned Dainese's published figure of 2kN of transferred force in a crash compared to the CE level 2 standard of 20kN. As a comparison the Forcefield Pro Sub 4 back protector is tested at 3.38kN.

That makes me want to go and by the forcefield!

I have the forcefield. As a back protector its fantastic, but it doesnt do ribs, or shoulders or any of the other bits that are covered by the vest

[2wheelsjimmy]

mckeann said:

I have the forcefield. As a back protector its fantastic, but it doesnt do ribs, or shoulders or any of the other bits that are covered by the vest

Yeah. I was in need of a new decent back protector.
I'd get the dainese system, if I could afford it.

[tjlazer]

fk it, I've put my money where my mouth is and bought Dainese Misano jacket. Figured it's an early birthday present and possibly the easiest biking related purchase to get past the wife ever. She basically insisted I buy it so it's all good! I like the fact everything is integrated, easy to use and best in class. I hope to never test it, but I'd rather it was there than not if I did have an off. I'llt some pics when it's arrived and setup.

[gland]

tjlazer said:

fk it, I've put my money where my mouth is and bought Dainese Misano jacket. Figured it's an early birthday present and possibly the easiest biking related purchase to get past the wife ever. She basically insisted I buy it so it's all good! I like the fact everything is integrated, easy to use and best in class. I hope to never test it, but I'd rather it was there than not if I did have an off. I'llt some pics when it's arrived and setup.

Great! Are you getting it for road or track or both?

[tjlazer]

gland said:

Great! Are you getting it for road or track or both?

Yes, both. I ride all week so it's mainly for the road but I have more track days planned next year and the tech is should still be valid there as well.

[Bikesalot]

I use a Dainese D air Misano 1 piece on track.

Crashed twice, both huge impacts on my shoulder (caved in shoulder plates too..)

First crash at Cadwell I got up, and rode the trackday the day after.

Second crash in Spain I managed to loose it and get spat off at 90mph mid corner. Most of the damage was to my toe funnily enough even with SIDI Vortice boots the weight of the bike just 'crushed' a toe (nail is still growing back..blergh)

Anyway, Had I not dragged my head along the floor ruining my helmet and had a very sore shifting foot i'd of bent the bike back into shape and headed back out - I went out for a session the day after but it was all bit painful to change gears.

What i'm getting at is my D air has saved me twice. I don't ride on the circuit without it.

It's not a pain free crash - I was a bit stiff for a few days after but I didn't need medical attention and most importantly for me, no time off work and no undue stress on the family.

For me, it's all the extras you get - GPS laptimer, 3 Axis data. I can plug my suit in after a day at the track and plot my route on the track, see where I'm braking, accelerating etc, real insightful stuff.

Everyone used to laugh at me in my Dair and say how expensive it was, and how I was being a posh tit.

4 of my friends now have them having seen the consequences of crashing with and without. And I'm seeing them more and more in the club race paddock and at trackdays.

[tjlazer]

Here's a link the full 2017 brochure of the range and the various protection, as you can see the race suit is quite different in coverage to the street protection (much more around the chest on the street). This was enough to convince me to buy it and the testimonial above makes a lot of sense! http://www.2radboerse.at/fileadmin/media_data/prod...

[tjlazer]

Ok so I rode this all weekend as I had a long planned trip to Wales. I didn't crash so I've not truly tested it (!) but let me say this is a quality bit of kit. Fit is excellent, albeit the arms seems slightly shorter than my D1 jacket, probably because of the extra armour (and airbag) on the shoulders. It really gives you a feeling of extra protection, it is heavy but not noticeable once on. Finish is first rate and leather feels substantial. To be honest it does seem a bit of a bargain given all the tech that's in this thing, the GPS just hooks up quickly and the battery lasted all weekend with at least 5 hours riding over each of the 3 days. Basically it's mega. I bought a rain jacket in case as the unit isn't waterproof on this version but it looks good, feels good and a decent technical layer with a tee underneath will be enough in the fresher autumn air. 600 miles done so far so I washed off some bugs and it looks good as new. Thr tech is explained elsewhere, nothing better out there, so in summary: Recommended.

[gland]

Thanks for the pic - I really like the look of that. Will you be happy enough with a waterproof over that during winter or might you miss a textile option? And about the hump: would a backpack sit awkwardly? Reason: I like my Kriega R30

[tjlazer]

gland said:

Thanks for the pic - I really like the look of that. Will you be happy enough with a waterproof over that during winter or might you miss a textile option? And about the hump: would a backpack sit awkwardly? Reason: I like my Kriega R30

I wore a rucksack there and back, no issues at all. For me I prefer leather, I'll just layer up as it gets colder.