We all have heard or know someone who has experienced the benefits of air bags in cars, but there is a future for air bags in the motorcycle world, also.  In June, Honda added air bags to the fully loaded 1800 Gold Wing.  Honda’s air bag system consists of crash sensors attached to the front fork of the motorcycle. The sensors detect rapid deceleration and send the information to a small on-board computer, which determines whether a crash is occurring.  The computer sends a signal to an inflator, which releases nitrogen gas to deploy the air bag, packed into a dashboard-like module in front of the driver. The process takes a fraction of a second.  The system is designed to keep the driver’s body from hitting whatever the motorcycle hit and reduce the chances of the driver being thrown over the handlebars. It is not designed to protect from side or rear impacts or to protect passengers.  And Yamaha Motor Corporation is developing an air bag system and is using a scooter with air bags for research in Japan.  Motorcycle manufacturers are engaging in a lot of Research & Development in the area of air bags.

Another safety system in use/development is “air jackets.”   A company producing Hit-Air jackets  by 2005  were doing 1.5 million annual revenue in Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America. Due to product liability issues, the Hit-Air has not yet been marketed in the US, but if it ever does its sales could rise considerably higher.  While numbers on the safety effects of the Hit-Air jackets in actual accidents are not available, the shock absorption capability of the jacket in product tests is impressive.

Air-assisted rider protection systems will only become popular if the act of wearing them is easy and doesn’t detract from riding.  Another company’s product, The Airetronics vest, is a step in that direction.  It's virtually unnoticeable during normal use.  The Airetronics products have brought air-assisted rider protection down to a more reasonable price point that is within reach of many motorcycle owners. 

Whether the concept of an airbag jacket for the motorcycle will ever become as accepted is car airbags have been remains to be seen.

But as we all should know and realize, no matter what the safety features, we need to be alert at all times and drive defensively.

Ride sfe,

Butch and Kathy