Alpinestars has joined Dainese and Furygan in making an airbag vest that fits underneath any jacket.
Airbags were first included with a leather jacket or suit usually for racing where it is now mandatory in some categories.
They were followed by airbag vests that could be worn over the top of a jacket, or vests that were only suitable with a particular jacket.
Now this new age of airbag vests can be worn under any jacket, making them suitable for everyday riding protection.
We’re not sure exactly what happens when you wear one of these new vests underneath a tight motorcycle jacket. When it explodes, does it rip your jacket open like the Incredible Hulk?
The manufacturers say they work just fine if you zip out a thermal liner. They also say these vests provide thermal protection.
So in an Aussie summer, they could be awfully hot and uncomfortable, even with a flow-through ventilated jacket!
Alpinestars Tech-Air 5
Alpinestars will unveil their Tech-Air 5 airbag at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on 7 January 2020.
It works via accelerometers that detect a crash.
The vest connects via Bluetooth to the Alpinestars Tech-Air smartphone app which shows whether the vest is armed, unarmed or triggered. Not sure why you need that because surely you will know when it’s been triggered!
There are no more details such as price or how much it costs to have the airbag re-armed after it’s been triggered.
The most important detail is whether you can re-arm it yourself like the Furygan or you have to send it back to the manufacturer like the Dainese vest.