Airbag Bike Jackets - The way to go?
 

Airbag bike jackets seem to be in the news lately. I found these interesting clips on UTUBE. Personally £600 to £1000 for a replacement jacket looks pretty expensive. I wonder if the government might consider giving grants towards one of these things? Probably not (it would interfere with their gold plated pensions)...

YouTube - Autobike Airbag Jacket

YouTube - abj1

YouTube - airbag motorcycle jacket

My biggest concerns with these are the way they are triggered, how much of a pull does the lanyard need before they go off, If you park up and walk away forgetting that your lanyard is still attached will it trigger?

Also I just know that my 'mates' wouldn't be able to resist giving it a tug while at a cafe/bar/waiting at traffic lights!

I'll bet it would be quite handy for deep river crossings though...


Seriously though, it does look like a good idea, though having once tried to use a coiled cord beteween my belt and ignition key to make sure I didn't leave it in the bike when I got off, I for one know being attached to the bike like that would take quite a bit of getting used to. It would have to have a hell of a quick response time too.

heavy
 

A couple years ago a friend who worked for a motorcycle magazine was loaned one. He let me put it on, and was HEAVY.
I would have appreciated something that may have saved me from a broken collar bone in Russia, but unless they are lighter now, I couldn't imagine wearing that all day long every day....

There was a picture of a WSB or MotoGP rider on the back of MCN about a year ago, after a off. Apparently, Dainese were/are developing them.

Seems like a good idea but I think the fear of setting it off by accident while getting of the bike, outside a coffee shop/bar/bikers meet/race meeting, surrounded by other bikers is what will kill it. Can you imagine the embarrassment?

:rofl:

Anyway, I'm all for safety but don't want to see bikes full of idiot devices like cars are now.

An article at the end of the BBC news tonight had a stunt(I think I heard that right) demonstrate one of these air jackets, then a guy from St Thomas' hospital saying they should be compulsory:eek3:
They then showed some motorcycle accident 'crash' scenes with bikes that looked like they had been torpedoed, I ask you, what use would an inflatable jacket have been to the 'riders' of the bikes shown? maybe a parachute may have been more appropriate, I hope our government is not really going to listen to this latest crap,or it will be something else for us to dislike that 'one eyed Scottish idiot' for.
:oops2:

Yep
 

Agreed, also did you notice that Jeremy Clarkson apologised for insulting the one eyed Scottish idiot's appearance. Smart Cooky--that leaves him having been called a Scottish idiot. I can't help but notice that if he has one eye and is Scottish that's just a description. I'm a two eyed Scottish er person. I also think that the one eyed Scot is an idiot and won't apologise as I've no job to lose. Linzi.

Last time I bought a jacket, I went to my shop of choice to try a few out in SW London.

Personally, I like IXS as a brand a lot and have worn about 3 or so pieces o kit from tham that have lasted a loooooong time. So, the one I own now I bought in about 2003. The only other jacket I was considering was another IXS with the inflatable air-bladders. It was also Goretex lined, and airmoured. I don't remmeber it being that heavy, but all bike kit is IMO and it was not that expensive (£350ish?).

In the end I went for the standard. I just did not have the money to go the extra £80, but I don't think it would have been a bad buy...

PS: found it. No idea of price, though. IXS Airbag Jacket STUNT (appropriate name...)
http://www.ixs-fashion.com/b2c.asp?PageNo=DEFAULT

I saw the Beeb's article too, but in the morning, where it was a little bit longer, and the surgeon was revealed to be a biker himself. They also pointed out it was highly unlikely that any legislation would be brought in at all, but that it was a way of drawing biker's attention to these jackets.

Impact Air Bag Riding Jacket | Insidebikes | Carole Nash

Talks about one, and I presume they all function in much the same way. It says you need 25lbs of pull to trigger it, suggesting that just getting off and walking away wouldn't exert this much with out you noticing. Also says it's repackable and you then just replace the £7.50 gas cylinder, so it's not like setting it off is going to ruin your jacket, just your reputation.

You can also get over/under jackets too, so you don't even have to abandon your favourite current jacket.

Thank you Dr Parfitt
 

I for one am profoundly grateful to Dr Andy Parfitt and his colleagues at St Thomas' Hospital for his concern for my welfare and his endeavours to protect me from myself. Up until this point I had conducted my entire life under the illusion of free will, that I ride my motorcycles knowingly and accepting of the risks involved. I realise now that I was wrong and see the error of my ways and wholeheartedly accept the right of Dr Parfitt to decide for me what risks he decides it is acceptable for me to undertake. Although I am a fully grown, tax paying and voting adult it is irresponsible for me to live my life in a way that Dr Parfitt deems unsafe and unacceptable and fully defer to my betters in their right to dictate how from now on, I should indeed live my life and that all along I should have lived it according to his and his colleagues standards.

Why I believe Dr Parfitt ought to go further and restrict the use of motorcycles capable of speeds in excess of 20 mph altogether so that we all may live our lives in complete safety. And then move on to other activities Dr Parfitt would like to stamp out. My profound thanks to Dr Parfitt for at least trying to restrict my foolishness for my own good and to protect me from myself. Thank you Dr Parfitt.

Thought old Parfitt may be trying to do himself out of a job, perhaps postmen should suggest that people stop sending letters:thumbup1:


As a doctor why don't he 'bang on' about underage drinking or get out on the streets of london and tackle Knife crime?

Oh, of course we have the Police for that? :confused1:


Or the up to 11pm plastic police :oops2:



Better known as CHIMPS .... Can't Help In Most Police Situations :rofl:

...or the 30000 people die as a result of medical errors every year :nono:

BBC News | UK | Medical errors 'kill thousands'

Indeed
 

And I'm sure neither of you bother with your seatbelts either, after all who on earth would want the State to tell us we should do something to prevent ourselves going through the windscreen?

I'm not 100% certain they should be made compulsory, but I'm 90% certain that the type of cynical comment made above makes bikers look like anti-social prats who deserve every bit of legislation thrown at them possible.

Mister Parfitt's a biker himself, I believe, and he's only trying to save your skin (literally). And think, if it keeps you out of hospital, you're less likely to be the victim of medical error.

seconded! I fail to understand what your problem is 'fastship'. Sounds like your full of 'ship'.

Not at all - I simply feel able to assess the risks myself and take responsibility for my own life accordingly. I don't feel the need to abrogate that control to a nanny state like you guys seem to want to. Grow a spine for God's sake!.