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Thrills we thrive on
Thrills we thrive on
If you ask me, motorcycle clothing with airbags should be the new standard. Motorcycling is fantastic, but it also involves certain risks. You shouldn’t dwell on that too much, and certainly not for too long. Above all, keep enjoying riding your bike.
But if you can protect yourself better against those risks, why wouldn’t you? Our advice: invest in an airbag for your motorbike. How does it work exactly? And what types of airbags are available for riding motorbikes? We’ll tell you everything you need to know.
There are various types of airbags that you can wear on your motorbike. There are airbag vests that work standalone, i.e. on their own. You wear these under your motorbike suit or motorbike jacket if it is “airbag-ready”. This means that the seams with which the suit is sewn are flexible enough to withstand the stretch they need to give when the airbag inflates. You can also wear this type of airbag vest over your suit. A standalone airbag is triggered when sensors in the vest detect an abnormal movement at a certain speed.
However, there are also airbag vests that are triggered by a cord attached to your motorbike. This is known as an anchor. If you fall – whether you slide or are thrown from your motorbike in a highside – you will be removed from your motorbike. When the attachment cord (the anchor) detaches from your motorbike, the airbag is activated.
Thirdly, there are also airbag systems that are incorporated into motorcycle clothing. Instead of wearing a separate airbag vest, you simply put on a motorcycle jacket or suit with an airbag built into it. These airbags often work in a similar way to a stand-alone airbag vest, i.e. without an anchor.
Motorcycle clothing with airbags is no longer limited to the racing segment. Whereas airbags were once only seen in racing suits on the track, they are now found in motorcycle clothing for everyone. Whether you are an adventure rider, a sporty street rider or always ride in retro style. There is suitable motorcycle clothing with airbags for everyone. For example, the RST brand offers a complete Adventure line with built-in airbags, as well as a motorcycle jacket with a retro look and airbag.
Airbag vests or motorcycle clothing with airbags contain a small battery. The battery life varies depending on the airbag system, but is often between 20 and 25 hours. You can easily charge an airbag vest or motorcycle suit with airbag. It’s just like charging your phone. LED lights on the lower or upper arm or on the chest indicate the battery status.
In addition to a battery, an airbag vest or motorcycle clothing with airbags contains a cartridge that is responsible for inflating the airbag. Most airbag vests contain one cartridge, which means that you will need to have it replaced once it has been deployed.
In some cases, you can replace the cartridge and the airbag yourself, but in most cases you will need to have this done by a specialist. Inconvenient? Well, you take your vest or motorcycle suit to the service point (often the motorcycle clothing shop where you bought the item), wait a few days and voilà. Then you can be sure that it has been done properly.
The top-notch motorcycle suit with airbag from Dainese – the Mugello RR D-air suit – has two cartridges, allowing the airbag to inflate twice. That means you can crash twice before you need to have the airbag replaced. Alpinestars also offers an airbag vest with two cartridges. However, this luxury comes with a hefty price tag.
In the event of a crash, fall or accident, the airbag detects this thanks to its many sensors within a few (think 30 to 60) milliseconds and then inflates within a few milliseconds. The airbag then remains inflated for a few seconds.
What this airbag protects depends on your airbag or airbag vest. One system protects your entire upper body, while the other only protects your shoulders, collarbones and neck.
With some airbag vests or motorcycle clothing, you can adjust when the airbag is deployed. Using a programme on your laptop, you can set whether the airbag is deployed at 50 km/h or 80 km/h.
The 50 km/h setting is ideal for use on the road. After all, a collision with a car travelling at 50 km/h can be quite severe. The 80 km/h setting is useful if, for example, you frequently ride on the track and do not want the airbag to deploy in every “minor” crash.
Of course, we hope that you will go through life without any crashes. After all, we don’t wish a crash on anyone. Unfortunately, you don’t always have control over things. And we all make mistakes sometimes. So how does it feel when your airbag deploys?
Actually, it’s not exciting at all. You hardly notice it. I myself have crashed with my airbag suit three times now (sadly..).
When I got up, I noticed that I felt a bit like a Michelin man. As if you’re wearing clothes that are a little too tight. Only then did I realise that the airbag in my Dainese Misano suit had deployed. It certainly doesn’t feel uncomfortable or too tight, so don’t worry. You won’t suddenly find yourself squeezed into your suit.
The result? A shoulder that was only a little sore and a nice bruise on my hip. It wasn’t a serious crash, but it’s precisely those minor crashes that can damage your collarbone. That’s when you’re really grateful for an airbag like that.
As we mentioned, you must have the pattern and/or the entire airbag replaced if the airbag in your motorcycle clothing has been deployed. Do you have a one-piece motorcycle suit with an airbag? Then you can still wear your motorcycle suit. The suit still offers protection, you just lose the protection of the airbag. But the other protectors still protect you. The same applies to a motorcycle jacket whose airbag has been deployed.
Do you wear a separate airbag vest? If your motorcycle clothing is otherwise intact, you can continue to ride. You will also not lose your entire motorcycle suit or motorcycle jacket if you need to have the airbag replaced. That is the advantage of a separate airbag vest.
Motorcycle clothing with airbags. Is it worth the money? If you ask us, definitely yes.
Investing in your safety is always a good idea. Of course, we understand that not everyone is willing to pay nearly £1,700 for a one-piece motorcycle suit with airbags. But motorcycle clothing with airbags is becoming increasingly affordable. And this certainly does not compromise on quality. More and more brands are including it in their basic collections. Are you ready for new motorcycle clothing? Then definitely consider investing in motorcycle clothing with an airbag.
