This is just second hand, but I've heard one of the main inflatable vests requires a subscription in order for it to work. So even after you buy it, you still have to continue paying the subscription so it will work. Something about that concept just doesn't sit right with me.

 

Hmmm yeah, you're right. As I look into it I'm seeing some manufacturers charge subscription and others don't charge subscription but make you re-fill it with them exclusively. Does feel odd and a bit heavy-handed.

 

I recently purchased the Helite e-vest. Once purchased there is no subscription and you can replace the inflating cartridge yourself if you actually have a get-off and the vest does its thing. They do have instructions about the refill and inspection of the vest to make sure it is OK to reuse. If in question, you can send it to them for evaluation. Pricey, kind of, but after watching a youtube video of a guy doing a low slide on the Stelvio Pass if finally made the purchase.

 

Great info, thank you. I watch a lof of crash videos and riding tutorials, too. Fear is a fantastic motivator.

 

In over 50 years of riding and have had a lot of mates who been involved in serous bike accidents, most have had broken/injured legs, arms, feet and hands and no marks on the body wearing leather/bike jackets, my best mate killed wearing a full face helmet where the chin guard hit his chest and snapped his neck and not a mark on his body, my point is would an inflatable safety jacket stop you getting injuries where most bikers suffer most injuries.
I been down the road a few times in my 50+ years, first time hit from behind stopped giving way to on coming traffic waiting to turn in to my mate place and the car went over the top of me, left knee injury at 17 years old, then a few years later a car stopped in front of me without brake lights and clipped his rear bumper, same knee again when it got hooked on the handle bars, and last injury 8 years ago when my Norton decide to throw me over the handle bars at a slow speed emergency stop, fractured left arm and broken left thumb, no injuries to the body in all them accidents, I have also been down a few time on cranking the Norton over and pushing it to its limits in tight twisties to find gravel all over the corner from cars leaving blind driveways.
My point is always wear a good leather jacket or bike safety jacket, a good helmet and boots, I don't wear gloves and I still have all my fingers and open face helmet that fits right and I still have my good looks.
If you do come off in a slide, never tense up, roll with it but it's easy to say that but go limp and you will come out with less injuries and you might walk away from it, all depends on the seriousness of the accident.
Some accident we have no control of the outcome, but that's the risk we take every day in our lives.
Fear and worrying about what might happen can be more dangerous when riding, I never think about it, I just enjoy my time on the bikes.

Ashley

 

I am jealous I miss 9! Besides tearing it up on 9 for many years I miss the weekend scene at Alice's and the Skyline plaza....FTG

 

I have been wearing the Helite Turtle air vest. I don’t have the electronic version, mine has the tether attached to the bike. The air cartridge can be replaced by the user if you come off and activate it. Part of the air bladder surrounds your neck and, when it inflates, it will stabilize your head and neck to help prevent the types of neck injuries described above. My only minor complaint is with the tailbone portion of the vest. It’s long and when in the saddle it pushes the vest up and rides up against the back of my helmet. Not a show stopper but after a few hours of riding it is noticeable.

 

Thanks a lot, appreciate these insights.

 

Like air bags on cars seems a lot more get hurt when they go off, just from a minor accident, but if you feel safe with one then all good, I still enjoy my ride without one, beside my mate who broke his neck was riding his mates bike on a corner he knew and wearing his mate full face helmet hit the power pole that got in his way, even an air vest would not have saved him as it was the force of the full face smashing into his chest that killed him. RIP Eddie my old mate.

 

Thanks Ashman. RIP Eddie.

 

Gravel rash ain’t nice. But a good set of leathers will avoid that. An air vest will help buffer high impact injuries, but only so far. When I had my big off in 2013 I had a brand new set of Ducati leathers on, with massive amounts of padding around the shoulder. But when I slid into the steel pole supporting the crash barrier my Humerus still splintered. And I doubt an air vest would’ve done much better. Some impacts are just too severe. But my main issue with the vest would be how hot it’d be to wear, especially in Summer, & I could see it gathering dust in my cupboard

 

Air bag won’t protect limbs but it’s not designed to do so. They will help protect against shock loads to the thorax and, to a limited extent, hyperextension/hyperflexion of the neck. ( which is what happened to mr.ashman unfortunate friend).
They have massively reduced injuries in racing and horse riding. But they’re not going to eliminate all injuries - you’d need something like a zorb ball for that.
So go for it if it makes you more comfortable.

 

‘+1 Don the Man

The vests are not there to completely eliminate any and all injuries. They are designed to absorb and spread the impact loads to these critical areas of the body. As mentioned, there is plenty of data to support their effectiveness in doing so.
Wearing the vest with a summer riding jacket is not any less comfortable than wearing leather in hot weather.
Bottom line, if you are not inclined to wear it, you’re just not going to.

 

I've nothing useful to say, so I'll just chuckle at the username who started this thread. It couldn't be more appropriate.

 

Big fan of my Hit Air vest. You can also rearm yourself. Never ride without it.

 

It is my understanding that what has driven the development of these vests is racing.
A get off of any kind at racing speeds can lead to very serious injuries.
They are new to the market and newly developed so the "first adopters" rule applies when it comes to cost.
That being said, what you don't encounter on the race track are light poles, culverts, mailboxes or trees.
Riding a motorcycle is never going to be a completely safe activity.
Every week someone dies wearing a full set of gear.

 

Riding a motorcycle is never going to be a completely safe activity.

Correct, so the question each must answer to themselves is, how much risk am I willing to take? Some may decide to ride with a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers. Some will wear the full kit. That’s what’s great about personal freedom, everyone can decide for themselves (so far).

Every week someone dies wearing a full set of gear.

And every week safety gear saves someone from a more serious injury or death. Simply saying, “I rode around wearing this or that for decades and I never got seriously hurt” or, “I knew someone who wore safety gear and still got hurt or killed” is making a statement based on a sample size of one. Completely meaningless and totally inconclusive. When you look at the data for a legitimate sample size of incidents it shows that wearing safety gear reduces the risk of serious injury or death. Which leads us full circle to my earlier point. It’s a matter of personal choice as to what each individual is willing to risk. There is no right or wrong answer and probably nothing will persuade either inclination to change their opinions.

We have hijacked the thread from the OP who simply wanted to get feedback on people’s personal experiences with the vests, not a debate on their merit or lack thereof.

 

I have a HitAir vest RS1 model.
It’s about $500,but saved me in hospital bills twice already.
No subscription needed.
It inflates,you repack yourself and install a new co2 cartridge

 

I tried one out at a motorcycle show about 8 years ago where a booth was doing demos. Can't remember the brand but it was one with a leash. I thought it was a great idea. It's a mean world out there for bikes today. If you can afford the protection, go for it.

 

Riding is risky. Living is risky. What it comes down to is how much risk are you prepared to take, & how much risk mitigation are you prepared to tolerate/expend/endure. For a large number of Bikers, me included, negotiating risk is part of the thrills & skills of motorcycling

 

I’ve been wearing an airbag vest for almost 7 years. First 3 with a Hit-Air tethered and last 4 with a Klim electronic. I do not get on the bike without it on these days. So some facts. Will it keep from breaking an arm or leg in a crash, no. It is intended to support your head , protect your back, and keep the body parts that keep you alive, intact.

Is the vest hot, sure but so is the rest of my full gear I wear year round. The vest is a gear investment and a choice in how much bodily protection you want when you ride. Are they expensive, sure but if it saves you from a few broken ribs and a punctured lung in a minor crash, where you’ll be out of work for several weeks. What’s that worth to you.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies.

As an update, I went ahead and bought the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 vest from my local Triumph dealership and I absolutely love it! I marvel at the technology. If you understnd what it does and how it works, it's truly amazing the protection it can provide in an instant. I'm so happy having it as part of my defense against crash injury. It's comfortable, easy to maintain, really just great. For me it's no inconvenience at all.

As an aside, i really like the guys at my local Triumph dealership. For one reason or another I've spoken with a bunch of them in the sales, service and parts departments. They all have the same vest I got, and all of them have had it deploy in an accident/crash. Hearing their stories, from such different situations resulting in the same successful resolution was eye opening!