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The Affordable Airbag System

MJ Approved: Gear Lab[1]

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The Affordable Airbag System

Courtesy of Digiman Studio

SaferMoto Motorcycle Airbag System

In the unlikely event of ejection from a fast-moving motorcycle, the split-second before impact is the only thing separating you from (we hope) stomping away in anger – or if fortune frowns upon you, an unplanned visit to your local emergency room.

Deep-pocketed gear manufacturers like Alpinestars[3] and Dainese have engineered complex, GPS- and accelerometer-based solutions which instantly inflate airbags to avoid collarbone fractures. Those tech-laden suits perform remarkably well, though we recently came across an airbag system that takes a decidedly low-tech approach to crash protection – one that just may be crazy enough to work.

Using a tether that attaches the rider to the bike, SaferMoto packs a CO2 cartridge into a jacket or vest that's linked to a trigger designed to deploy its contents in about 250 milliseconds – slower than the pricey full-body systems, but still quick enough to react in time to protect the rider, according to SaferMoto CEO Alan Cunningham.

During our planned detachment test while standing safely next to a motorcycle, we heard a BB-gun-like poof and felt an instant puffing of the neck and spine areas, which sustained a stiff, constricting grasp for several seconds before the internal polyurethane bladder was finally ready for collapse. Incidentally, the attachment point on the bike requires a serious tug to separate, in the interest of avoiding unintended Michelin man impersonations.

SaferMoto runs between $350 and $500, and has attracted a following among riders like this knee-dragging fellow[4], who took a slide on a racetrack without effect.

We can't personally confirm or deny whether this safety device operates as advertised – and as with all things crash related, we hope to never find out. But for a relatively affordable piece of equipment that offers a decent chance of reducing injury, the SaferMoto seems to be worth every penny of its sub-$500 price. [$350-$500; safermoto.com[5]]

References

  1. ^ MJ Approved: Gear Lab (www.mensjournal.com)
  2. ^ Close (www.mensjournal.com)
  3. ^ Alpinestars (www.mensjournal.com)
  4. ^ like this knee-dragging fellow (www.youtube.com)
  5. ^ safermoto.com (www.safermoto.com)
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