I have invested in an air vest this morning, after doing some research over the last week I found the air jacket I wanted and then found a place to buy it - Love Life & Ride (www.lovelifeandride.com) I have gone for a Helite Turtle Air Vest which is very subtle, light and inflates in 0.09 of a second. It is basically an air bag for motorcyclists, the lanyard connects to the bike, if you have an off, the trigger is pulled inflating the jacket before you hit anything I spoke with Nick from Love Life & Ride (near Reading) on the phone yesterday and he invited me over this morning for a cuppa and to talk about which would be best for me. He explained it is the height of the person that is more important than the belly size so it covers you from neck to bum. He demonstrated a jacket while I was wearing it and it really feels like an air cage around your torso, holding your head steady and protecting your back, kidneys, ribs and collar bone. When I had made my purchase Nick also helped locate the best place on my bike to fix the lanyard. He is a fantastic bloke and if you are interested in one of these vests then do give Nick a call on 0118 328 0338 I didn't receive any discount or promotion for saying this, he is just a nice bloke and a good product. I have uploaded a video on my YouTube channel so you can see the demonstration YouTube video
Hi DD The air vest I have got can be inflated/activated up to 200 times so they are totally reusable, when the vest inflates, it stays solid for 10 or so seconds and then gradually deflates, unscrewing the gas canister deflates it quicker. A new canister (£19 to £24 depending on jacket size) is screwed in place and the trigger mechanism reset. The vest just deflates back to its normal size without needing to tuck anything back in place, there is some velcro bits along the neck line, but other than this it is ready to be reused within five minutes once the canister is replaced. The lanyard has a bungee bit on it so if you get off without detaching it you will feel the resistance - it takes quite a big tug to trigger the vest and you have a good chance off feeling the lanyard pull before the trigger is activated Nick also has some ex rental vests in limited sizes for sale at a big discount - give him a call and he can let you know what sizes he has got.
That's what I would have thought, but it just becomes part of the routine when you get off the bike. Switch off bike - unclip the vest - and carry on The lanyard is long enough so I can get off and stand next to the bike and then unclip it, the bungee bit is pulling on the vest when I do this so it will quickly become habit to unclip it before getting off
I'm sure you'd get used to it. After the third time of pulling the Optimate off the shelf beside the bike's parking spot in the garage I now remember to unplug it before inserting the ignition key and rolling it off the stand.
Good news chaps, Nick has got back to me and he is offering 10% discount for us forum members. enter TRIFOR in the checkout for 10% off - it can't be used with any other offers as it is quite a saving already. This is exclusive to our forum members and not public domain, so he will ask for proof that you are a forum member before shipping, I guess this would be your name on the forum or a link to a post you have made. Do take advantage of this guys, for summer riding, trips abroad, a commuter, track days or a bimble along the twisties, these jackets can save you anything from a broken rib to your life. https://www.lovelifeandride.com/product-category/on-road-airbag-vests/
Bumping this thread as a couple have asked about air vests recently Discount code may/should still be valid
The air cylinder on the air bag takes a pull of 25-35kg to operate. That gives a good reminder to disconnect if you walk away without disconnecting> Don't ask how I know I have a Helite airbag vest and have tried to walk away from the bike several times without disconnecting the lanyard. I have never fired the airbag though, but I have a spare cylinder, just in case!!!
I bought one of these today...I always ride with a high vis vest anyway so going to an air bag type one was no biggy from an aesthetic pov...and is a happy compromise (compared to looking cool) that I'm happy to make being mortgaged, married and kids, to allow me to ride. I ride a bike. So that's cool. I ride a triumph, so that's cool² ...I ride a triple, so cool³! Am very happy with my Turtle2 vest... And Nick at 'Love Life and Ride' was brilliant! I'm not going to preach about the whys and wherefores about an airbag vest, it's up to you and there's no judgement either way. But if you're unsure...I'd do it. Stick it on a cc and pay it off over 2 years, you won't notice, but will be happier for it! Ride safe amigos.
I'd be very interested to hear how you get on with this after a couple of weeks use. I'm considering one of these because I've a couple of jackets I still want to use. Do you know if the protection extends to the hips when inflated? I've a replacement hip and want to protect it as much as possible. (I was told I shouldn't use a mountain bike or motorcycle because replacing a damaged replacement can be problematic). Cheers Oldfart
Hi Old Fart, The Helite air bag vest does not extend to cover the hip, it comes down to the top of the pelvis.
I'm exceptionally happy to report back - but feel free to nudge me if I forget... Can't really comment on the hip protection. There's plenty online of course to look at (https://www.helite.com/motorcycle-airbag-high-visibility-turtle) or, if you are near Reading, go and see Nick - he is at the London motorcycle show in February, or get hands on with a vest and see for yourself if it affords the protection you want. I am no way endorsing the vest for your issue...but one would think that if you "land on the vest" or it breaks your fall, that can only be a good thing to absorb an impact before the hip does? But I'd advise you get hands on...it's the best way to find out... Good luck! I'll let you know how I get on. Let me know what you want to know!
Thanks DB for responding. Even though the vest doesn't protect the hips I don't think that's enough reason to put me fully off. (I'm not sure if any of the bags cover that area). Sadly I don't live near Reading, nor can I make the London show - and there is a lot of riding time between now and the NEC show in the autumn, so perhaps a phone call to Nick would be a good idea. From what you and others have said and the fact I can use it in conjunction with other jackets tips the balance, for me, in favour of Helite. I might just put my hand in my pocket. Thanks for the advice. Oldfart
No problem oldfart. I'm sure Nick will be happy to talk you through whether the vest suits your needs. I agree about the vest rather than a jacket...I like the interchangeability. If I don't think about the cost...I am very chuffed! And even when I do think about the cost it doesn't feel frivolous, it feels like the right thing to have done.
Old Fart, Looking at where you live Helite usually have a stand at the Stafford Classic show in April. That would be closer than Reading or The London Show
