Air Vest safety

I'd also be worried about the compression effect on the rider's chest, particularly if he sustained ribcage or chest injuries. Pressure on the rider's chest from the vest might easily prevent breathing immediately after a crash.

Good Point

Yes, makes sense, since the vests would be of a certain size, while people, even in a size range, would have different builds.

How Safe Are Motorcycle Airbag Vests ?

I don't think that the manufactures of these jackets are saying that they are the end all of end all for biker safety. You would have to agree that there will be many accidents in which these jackets will be very effective. In your first example you totally ignored the riders who are tossed in the air some 10-20 feet with nothing but a mere t-shirt on for protection, I would think that the jackets will come in very handy in that type of situation, how about you? So, I don't think that your first statement is 100% correct.

For your second statement, yes any material will burn through if given enough time, but I think that the jackets are meant to absorb as much energy as possible, I would still rather have an inflated jacket on rolling on the ground than not have one at all.

Thirdly, "making you look like the Michelin Man" if I'm in the middle of an accident please make me look like the Michelian Man's father and mother put together. Wouldn't that mean more protection? You are in a accident not a beauty contest. And there are Airbag Jackets that have full head and neck support better than anything I have seen on the market.

Fourth, we can go through the process of choosing a 8-15k bike but now that we have to choose a jacket the world is coming to an end? Please, choosing the right type of Airbag Jacket in not as difficult as you are making it sound.

I think that as with any safety product there will be pros and cons to each side but at the end of the day if I'm in a accident and I'm 10-20 feet in the air going 30-60 mph, you can bet your last dollar that I would want to have an Airbag Jacket with Neck support on my back!!!

Now, I may be involved in an accident in which I could be broad sided by a car going 40mph and more than likely the jacket would not have a chance to inflate, but guess what I probablyy would not survive anyways. I believe that if is your time to go, it is your time to go no matter what, but if it's not your time to go wear as much protection as possible. I'm going to by a Motorcycle Airbag Jacket.

That's my two cents.

How Safe Are Motorcycle Airbag Vests ?

Hi Mike,

I'm not saying that they are bad, just syaing that I have my reservations. I remember some extensive tests done here in France on these jackets, and the conclusion was that it takes to long to inflate them. This was about 3 years ago, so maybe that has changed in the mean time.

I'd need to play around with one to get a real feel how they are.

How Safe Are Motorcycle Airbag Vests ?

You can see extensive details on airbag jackets and reviews,etc at { Link }

The airbag expands outwards (not inwards) and therefore does not compress the chest.It has the major advantages in therefore holding the jacket taut for max abrasion resistance, reduction of snagging, prevention of being ripped off and MOST importantly creating an airbag splint around the body , holding the spline immobile significantly reducing the likihood of spinal injury. In ADDITION the airbag has an neck AND hip AND shoulders AND back AND bum AND chest protection. Any impacts are absorbed by the compression of the airbag and redistribution of the load over the whole body.

Accidental inflations are prevented by the need for a substantial 25kg force on the coil wire/key box. Your own body weight when thrown from the bike does the work.

I'D be worried about other riders whithout the airbag jackets (rather than what the airbag jacket does/does not do - it is afterall a proper armoured motorcycle jacket WITH THE ADDITION of the airbag technology!!!

How Safe Are Motorcycle Airbag Vests ?

Mike,

So sorry, believe every ounce of protection immediately at impact or thereafter is worth more consideration than you would give it. As for myself, am currently recovering from 8 rib fractures sufferred in an accident just days ago. Moreover, while I'm skeptical of whether the jacket would have inflated in time to totally prevent the first few ribs from breaking, 250-500 milliseconds inflation time most assuredly would have been enough time to save the other ribs that were broken on the rebound. My helmet and jacket did what I needed them for but, ouch!...the cage needed some help. My point is that injuries often occur in succession and that the Airetronics product or others inflatables will still help reduce total injury. Moreover, I just purchased the product and for anyone else laboring over the $250 decision to protect themselves from injury and a $10,000 or more medical bill, well...good luck.

re: How Safe Are Motorcycle Airbag Vests ?

Jim, sorry to hear about your accident. Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe these airvest are the way to safer riding, but I don't think they're there yet. They're just in their 1st generation.

I was looking at some add-on vests from Dainese a couple of weeks ago. You know, those bright fluor-yellow vests that you put over your motorcycle jacket. This is starting to look more interesting, since you can keep your normal jackets, and put one of these over your own.

How Safe Are Motorcycle Airbag Vests ?

A motorcyclist's life was recently saved by the airbag jacket in Baltimore.

Here is a link to the story:

{ Link }

How Safe Are Motorcycle Airbag Vests ?

Thanks for that link. Looks like history was made...