My most important discovery at the last Intermot and why everyone is talking about it

“Isn't that dangerous?” That's the most common reaction when I talk about my hobby. Riding safely on a motorcycle: It's only since I had a serious fall in August 2018 that I've started to think more deeply about the subject. I was actually at the Intermot as a dealer, but I made an important discovery for me: the airbag system for motorcyclists!

How does the airbag system work?

Unlike in a car, we are exposed to the road “naked” without appropriate protective clothing and have to wear the airbag directly on our body.
What you need to know:

• The airbag is worn as a vest, jacket or integrated into the suit
• The trigger inflates an air cushion and thus protects the affected areas
• There are mechanical and electronic variants

Motorcycle airbag systems are available electronically or mechanically

And what is better now? The ADAC has published a detailed practical test on this. The functions and assessments are as follows:
Mechanical airbag system

• The mechanical ripcord of the system is attached to the motorcycle
• Always ready for use, the device does not need to be charged.
• Primarily used in vests

Manufacturer: Helite, Held
Electronic Airbag System

• Airbag is triggered and inflated electronically
• Installation on the motorcycle is not necessary
• The system works via GPS system and algorithm
• The device must be charged regularly.

Manufacturer: Dainese, Alpinestars

Can the airbag deploy “accidentally”?

The ripcord triggers the Helite airbag when the pulling force reaches 30 KG, so the protective vest shouldn't just inflate. The electronic airbag measures your movements several times a second and recognizes dangerous situations - so we shouldn't experience any surprises here either.

Protective clothing is reusable

If the vest does come loose in a non-dangerous driving situation, you can of course reuse it. The capsule for the CO2 supply and the ripcord can be bought cheaply and replaced.

Manufacturers use space technologies

No joke. The latest generation of Dainese has Findings from the last Mars mission used for production: The new items should not only be ultra ergonomic, but also ultra cold-resistant.

Prices go up at 449 los

The protective vests have their price - which is no surprise when you look at the complex structure (especially the electronic airbags). I was really lucky that the guard rail had not yet been installed and I "only" broke my collarbone.
Therefore, for me, buying it is out of the question!
At what point did you decide to get an airbag system? I look forward to your comments!

If you decide on an additional system or a combination with integrated airbag, do not forget to read our storage solution to watch.

I can recommend a good place to get competent advice https://www.zso-motorsport.de/ in 51379 Leverkusen. Wilfried can give you detailed advice in this area. A visit is always worthwhile!

Don't worry! Our motorcycle wardrobe can easily handle the additional weight of the airbag. You can find the different styles here .