Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road
Airbag Bike Jackets - The way to go? Airbag Bike Jackets - The way to go?
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
Page 4 of 4 123 4
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #46  
Old 20 Feb 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
Would we talking about "negative comments" if the device in question was an underfairing explosive to counteract the blast effects of the car in front hitting something and sending out lethal bits of metal? Most people would see it as science fiction and yet such reactive armour exists and is in wide spread military use.

The fact that an airbag is a well publicised bit of automotive technology and looks like a nice comfy kiddies baloon makes people want to believe in it. The fact is that the application of the airbag without the seat, seatbelt, crush zones, retracting steering column and pedals and the logic to control deployment, the airbag is just as new an application as the reactive armour. An airbag is a brief pulse of high pressure gas that acts like a spring for a few milliseconds. Deploy it too close and it'll break bones, too late and you might as well use that kiddies baloon. Is saying I'd rather not have the deployment controlled by a random bit of steel cable negative?

Andy
Reply With Quote
  #47  
Old 20 Feb 2009
everywherevirtually's Avatar
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Here, there, everywhere
Posts: 55
Thumbs down I'm not convinced
They show the guy in the news clip with the Ducati that sustained a broken pelvis and back and then the news reader goes on to say that it is exactly these kinds of injuries that the jacket will prevent .


That's strange... I've never wrapped my jacket around my pelvis...


Also... if the air jacket is so great at protecting you then why is the guy testing it wearing a full suit of body armour?



There is an agenda here and I'm not sure who is driving it :confused1:
Attached Images
 
Reply With Quote
  #48  
Old 20 Feb 2009
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
It's a gas
Ai lad that's a bonie point ya made there. I had also decided the air bag jacket would have to supplement armour or include such a jacket. The short time of inflation is important too but best point you made is the spring effect. That is So important. I saw a demo video of a falling builder onto a carpark. I was immediately impressed and would have bought such a jacket if a salesman had been there. Now I'm much less convinced. It seems the jacket would be best in a collision at a junction so I'll keep working at care there. Interestingly in UK most male riders crash on corners. Funny I've skidded out on diesel and slick road where my armour was great and adequate. The biggest risks to me are my own mood and lack of grip. I'm much more interested in eradicating diesel spills. No ammount of care can protect there. Linzi.
Reply With Quote
  #49  
Old 20 Feb 2009
Matt Cartney's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 1,350
I think this argument mainly boils down to cost. There's a significant proportion of people in the world (and on the HUBB!) who trot out the line "If it saves your life then it's worth it..." Blah, blah, blah. They bang on about never riding with anything less than a three hundred quid lid and the finest body armour money can buy and insinuating that anyone who doesn't is an idiot.
Sure, buy the kit you can afford, but I'm afraid some of us just don't have that much cash lying around. My relatively cheapo £120 Hein Gericke Tuareg was a stretch for me to buy (and its protected me fine in a coupl of offs), I bought my helmet in a sale and my back armour is stuff I bought years ago for snowboarding.
At the end of the day, you can't predict all eventualities and simply going out and spending lots of money won't keep you safe. As well as riding motorbikes I climb mountains, canoe and ski off-piste. If I'd bought all the kit I'd been told was 'essential' and would 'save my life' over the years I'd have an absolute crap load of nice kit but would never have had any money to go places and use it.

Matt
__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
Reply With Quote
  #50  
Old 20 Feb 2009
everywherevirtually's Avatar
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Here, there, everywhere
Posts: 55
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Cartney View Post
I think this argument mainly boils down to cost. There's a significant proportion of people in the world (and on the HUBB!) who trot out the line "If it saves your life then it's worth it..." Blah, blah, blah. They bang on about never riding with anything less than a three hundred quid lid and the finest body armour money can buy and insinuating that anyone who doesn't is an idiot.
Sure, buy the kit you can afford, but I'm afraid some of us just don't have that much cash lying around. My relatively cheapo £120 Hein Gericke Tuareg was a stretch for me to buy (and its protected me fine in a coupl of offs), I bought my helmet in a sale and my back armour is stuff I bought years ago for snowboarding.
At the end of the day, you can't predict all eventualities and simply going out and spending lots of money won't keep you safe. As well as riding motorbikes I climb mountains, canoe and ski off-piste. If I'd bought all the kit I'd been told was 'essential' and would 'save my life' over the years I'd have an absolute crap load of nice kit but would never have had any money to go places and use it.

Matt

I couldn't agree more Matt . I don't ride a motorbike to be safe.

If I wanted to be safe I'd stay at home.

I don't have any objection to mitigating some of that risk by wearing a helmet, boots gloves and a jacket but you have to draw the line somewhere. The last near miss I had a car did a U-turn in the road in front of me. My front wheel made contact with his drivers door but I managed to stop the bike... just. The ABS kicked in. I wonder if I would have skidded to a straight line stop sooner without the ABS :confused1:. On that occasion the only injury I sustained were some slightly crushed crown jewels . Do I forever wear a cod piece now for fear that I might bruise my manhood? I don't think so.
Reply With Quote
  #51  
Old 20 Feb 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
Quote:
Originally Posted by everywherevirtually View Post
I wonder if I would have skidded to a straight line stop sooner without the ABS :confused1:. .
A locked wheel on a hard smooth surface produces almost zero deceleration, that's why the back end tries to overtake the front and you low side. You'd have stopped longer/harder. Demo we used to do on training courses (I worked for an ABS manufacturer for 13 years up to last year) was to run a toy car down a tilted board with cotton wound round the axles for brakes and blu-tak for locked wheels. Try it if you don't believe me, the car braking stops on the board, the one with locked wheels dents the skirting board.

Cost is an interesting one. For certainty I'd pay thousands. The question to me is how much better is a £100 jacket than a £300 one. Testing above the CE level by the magazines has suggested some £100 gear is better than some at a lot more. Pot luck there IMHO although the helmet rateings hopefully show how this will develop.

Andy
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 4 of 4 123 4

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Jackets. butchdiamond Camping Equipment and all Clothing 17 25 Nov 2008 00:24
HG jackets/suits mountainboy65 Equipment Reviews 8 2 Jun 2008 13:19
Cycloak jackets? Narelz Camping Equipment and all Clothing 4 1 Jun 2004 22:49
Airbag jacks LandRoverNomad North Africa 7 22 Apr 2002 23:35
Ferroce jackets gozell Camping Equipment and all Clothing 1 4 Apr 2002 19:31

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 17:21.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top