Airbag Jacket any good? ( Hit Air Safermoto jacket & vest)

[swann]

A guy told me this afternoon that Evel Knievel came up with the idea for an airbag vest. I found a couple references online to Evel promoting some kind of safety vest but didn't find much about it. I saw lots of folks concerned about it exploding and accidentally being activated by forgetting to unclip it. The videos don't show it exploding, and I can personally vouch for it not going off just because you forgot to unclip it when you step away from your bike. :blush
Oh, and the other main concern people have is thinking you need to send it off to repack the airbag - nope you can just snap it back together following the instructions on the video. I haven't set it off (yet) but I have an extra co2 canister in case I do.

[SaferMoto]

Just thought you guys would be interested in seeing this short video

http://youtu.be/VqnLLy0NsiI

[swann]

Well, I ended up inflating my HitAir YS vest this morning. Practicing this concept of bump starting while trying to waddle the bike fast enough on the flat road, letting out the clutch in second gear poised to pull the clutch back in if it doesn't start, and relaxing a moment too soon when it seemed to start then changed it's mind, means coming to a very quick stop. "There was nothing I could do, I had to lay 'er down." But let's not dwell on such trivial details, shall we? No pictures = never happened...

It inflated very quickly. I landed on my shoulder so the vest didn't cushion the main part of this particular type of fall. But it puffed up in front and back. It stayed inflated for longer than I can imagine anyone would need it for protection. It was a little hard to wiggle out of so I could turn off the fuel petcock. I wear the vest over an Olympia Motosports Air Glide 3 Mesh Tech jacket that has armor in it.

Deflating the air chambers and snapping it back together took only a minute to do, very easy. There's a video http://www.safermoto.com/media/reassembly.html with peppy music showing how to put things back to usefulness. It's almost as easy as falling off a motorcycle. *ahem*

Moving on, another concern I've seen people asking about is having a metal canister going across the ribs. When changing the co2 canister, I noticed there is a flat rigid protector area behind the cartridge which would likely spread out any force the canister might put on your ribs. But the front also inflated a lot and it seems unlikely that a force would be strong enough to get through the air bag and past the shield to make much of a difference between having the canister there or somewhere else. Not tested science though, just an observation.

Only one question remains, what to do with the used canister? I emailed our trash and recycling company to find out.

Just ordered two additional cartridges, and a buckle connector holder for when I forget to drape the detached tether across the seat and it dangles by the hot exhaust pipes! Too bad there isn't airbag pants or sleeves.

[SaferMoto]

Originally Posted by swann

Well, I ended up inflating my HitAir YS vest this morning. Practicing this concept of bump starting while trying to waddle the bike fast enough on the flat road, letting out the clutch in second gear poised to pull the clutch back in if it doesn't start, and relaxing a moment too soon when it seemed to start then changed it's mind, means coming to a very quick stop. "There was nothing I could do, I had to lay 'er down." But let's not dwell on such trivial details, shall we? No pictures = never happened...

It inflated very quickly. I landed on my shoulder so the vest didn't cushion the main part of this particular type of fall. But it puffed up in front and back. It stayed inflated for longer than I can imagine anyone would need it for protection. It was a little hard to wiggle out of so I could turn off the fuel petcock. I wear the vest over an Olympia Motosports Air Glide 3 Mesh Tech jacket that has armor in it.

Deflating the air chambers and snapping it back together took only a minute to do, very easy. There's a video http://www.safermoto.com/media/reassembly.html with peppy music showing how to put things back to usefulness. It's almost as easy as falling off a motorcycle. *ahem*

Moving on, another concern I've seen people asking about is having a metal canister going across the ribs. When changing the co2 canister, I noticed there is a flat rigid protector area behind the cartridge which would likely spread out any force the canister might put on your ribs. But the front also inflated a lot and it seems unlikely that a force would be strong enough to get through the air bag and past the shield to make much of a difference between having the canister there or somewhere else. Not tested science though, just an observation.

Only one question remains, what to do with the used canister? I emailed our trash and recycling company to find out.

Just ordered two additional cartridges, and a buckle connector holder for when I forget to drape the detached tether across the seat and it dangles by the hot exhaust pipes! Too bad there isn't airbag pants or sleeves.

Just saw your order come in, now I have an answer

Another thing on the canister/ribs question, our newer -C vests also inflate between the CO2 and the chest minimizing any impact in that area.

We have a HUGE box of used CO2 in our warehouse, to expensive to ship back to the manufacturer in Japan, so we will eventually take it to a scrape metal place and hope they can re-cycle them.

Glad to hear there were no photographs so it never really happened

[swann]

Oh, and in addition to the flat rigid protector behind the canister, you can also get chest armor that velcros in between the vest and your ribs. Just another layer of protection you can add.

[swann]

Always glad to help out and serve as a warning, I mean example, to others. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! I should have kept my feet out until I was sure the bike was accelerating. Lesson learned for the next time I went around the block and tried again. Too bad easy drops like that aren't the only kind of get offs.

Since the canister is on the outside of my vest, I'm not worried about it causing any damage to my ribs.

I'm surprised there isn't a place that refills the canisters. Reduce isn't practical in this case, but ideally reuse and recycle should be.

[swann]

Canister should at least be recyclable although probably too small for safe refilling:
http://www.ehow.com/info_10025254_pr...co2-tanks.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpIW2oX7rI0

http://www.drs.illinois.edu/css/fact...nderSafety.pdf

[SaferMoto]

Originally Posted by swann

Canister should at least be recyclable although probably too small for safe refilling:
http://www.ehow.com/info_10025254_pr...co2-tanks.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpIW2oX7rI0

http://www.drs.illinois.edu/css/fact...nderSafety.pdf

I cant get any of the US CO2 manufacturers to produce the CO2 with the pressure we need Sent samples to all of them with a resounding NO from them all

Thank you for the links

[HaChayalBoded]

If anyone is interested I just put a new one (size XL) in the fleamarket.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=839813

[SaferMoto]

Originally Posted by HaChayalBoded

If anyone is interested I just put a new one (size XL) in the fleamarket.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=839813

See my replies in that thread. Dont use Bungee cord to tether the airbag to the bike

[gozirra]

Just thought I would post up after reviewing the whole thread, and getting to talk to Neil (niel?, neal? bob?) at Long Beach.
Yes I will have one (soon), but like most 'mericans that get injured, I added the recovery 70. (fatty gunna fat) and almost all of it in the belly.
Dont laugh, I had every question answered, danced around the tiny booth, wanted to adopt one to take with me everywhere, and even got a fitting. Yeah the look on his face when my "no it wont fit" was realized (hurt puppy look).
I will be back to order one up - soon. Probably even in the dont hit me day or night setup and spot me from 2 cities over color.

Oh and the new vest is nice, even though I am in fatty no buckle size, the vest is tall enough for a 6'2 or 3" almost all torso build. I have wide (swim) shoulders and had no fitment issues in the try on. Build quality is clean and tight.

Thanks again for the time (I still do not understand how you can answer so many crazy "wat is dat?" and "do it go under my jacket?' style questions at the show)

Jay
(and thanks for the info on the NEXX helmets)

[SaferMoto]

Jay,

Not sure who you were talking to but my name is Alan I was so sad to see your "puppy dog" look and your dancing was smooth :)

Let me know when you are ready and we will take care of it. My wonderful wife Beth keeps me sane after 10 1/2 hours of answering the same questions over and over. People get mad when you anticipate the question and answer it before they ask

Nice meeting you at the show and we are always happy to answer questions on the product

Alan

Originally Posted by gozirra

Just thought I would post up after reviewing the whole thread, and getting to talk to Neil (niel?, neal? bob?) at Long Beach.
Yes I will have one (soon), but like most 'mericans that get injured, I added the recovery 70. (fatty gunna fat) and almost all of it in the belly.
Dont laugh, I had every question answered, danced around the tiny booth, wanted to adopt one to take with me everywhere, and even got a fitting. Yeah the look on his face when my "no it wont fit" was realized (hurt puppy look).
I will be back to order one up - soon. Probably even in the dont hit me day or night setup and spot me from 2 cities over color.

Oh and the new vest is nice, even though I am in fatty no buckle size, the vest is tall enough for a 6'2 or 3" almost all torso build. I have wide (swim) shoulders and had no fitment issues in the try on. Build quality is clean and tight.

Thanks again for the time (I still do not understand how you can answer so many crazy "wat is dat?" and "do it go under my jacket?' style questions at the show)

Jay
(and thanks for the info on the NEXX helmets)

[gozirra]

Yeah so I should have mentioned, me and names, not so much.
But I will be sending my buddy to your booth in Seattle, and I will tell him to get fitted and purchase.
(he may fight me on this but I if you tie him down we can get him in better gear and maybe a sale)
I think his name is still Erik, and he is a lanky fellow, show no mercy.

Thanks again.

[SaferMoto]

Originally Posted by gozirra

Yeah so I should have mentioned, me and names, not so much.
But I will be sending my buddy to your booth in Seattle, and I will tell him to get fitted and purchase.
(he may fight me on this but I if you tie him down we can get him in better gear and maybe a sale)
I think his name is still Erik, and he is a lanky fellow, show no mercy.

Thanks again.

We are not going to be at the Seattle show :( we have had long standing plans for this weekend that involve beer and dirt bikes so they cant be cancelled

[gozirra]

His loss for being in the PNW, thanks for the heads up.