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Motorbike Air-vest.
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A guinea pig!
I resemble that remark.
I'm quite happy to destructively test it - for the benefit of the forum.
The way I look at it is this. It's not rocket science. There are only a few components.
1. The firing mechanism, which is just a spring loaded pin that punctures a co2 cartridge. It is held in place by a ballbearing that is pulled away by a tether strapped to the bike.
2. The bladder. This is just a long balloon that is inflated. It's similar to the ones used in life jackets (Which I have already examined and fired). The main thing to see is how this is routed throughout the jacket, the materials used and any seams or weak points.
3. The jacket itself. What is it made of, how well is it made, and how abrasion resistant is it?
I will have a look at the Hellite ones as well (I think my local bike shop stocks them).
This isn't a scientific test (before anyone gets up on their high horse). For the sake of €80 it is worth a look.
As regards buying a cheap Chinese helmet, the comparison isn't completely accurate (for me). I have never ridden without a helmet, in my 36 years of riding. During that time I went from cheap helmets to expensive helmets, as I could afford them. Nobody would argue that they aren't essential safety gear. If someone could show me that a cheap helmet would perform as well as one that cost 625% as much, I'd give it pause for thought. But helmets also have other factors like comfort, fit, noise etc.
Airvests, for me at the moment are a "nice to have". And I am not going to spend another €1,000 on a nice to have. If I get the cheap Chinese one and find it is a pile of poo, then I will have learned something. If it fires accurately, looks reasonably well made, and doubles as a florescent jacket, then I would consider it €80 well spent, and will do until I have the money, like the helmets, to get a better one (or two).
And as regards "risking your life". If we aren't wearing them now, how are we risking our lives any more than we already are? An airvest, even a cheap one, is not going to make biking more riskier.0 -
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LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »A guinea pig!
I resemble that remark.
I'm quite happy to destructively test it - for the benefit of the forum.
The way I look at it is this. It's not rocket science. There are only a few components.
.....
Good post, pretty much sums up my thoughts on it. And had I known they even existed I promise I would have been the guinea pig.0 -
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LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »Then again, it's not as if I'll be taking the bike out in this weather.
:cool:;) 0 -
LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »My Aliexpress vest will be a while, all post out of China is stopped, obviously.
Then again, it's not as if I'll be taking the bike out in this weather.
Eh, apart from an hour or two in the morning the weather is brilliant lovely crisp dry days with the merest suggestion of sunshine.....
You need to broaden your approach to the seasons my friend
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There's a video doing the rounds, released by UK police, of a head on collision with a bike & car.
Apparently the rider was wearing an air bag jacket & while he suffered serious injuries, all concerned were in no doubt that he would have been killed without it.
I have been considering one lately, getting older, bones more brittle
:(
Wow flipping hell... he did a stoppie head first into the car. That's crazy. Hope he was not too bad.0 -
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Right, timely subject this: I went to a demo of, and got to try one, this a.m. - including of it being inflated.
Def something I'm going to think about now.
[EDIT] - video added, 9th March : Helite Turtle 2 Airbag Vest
Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
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Well, after much tooing and frooing, the Chinese airvest finally arrived.
In fairness, the pandemic didn't help matters, and the supplier was more than helpful, sending out a second unit when the first one went waywards. The second one seemed to jump between the airport and dispatch for a long time, judging by the tracking information, then the supplier intervened and it got moving again.
So what is it like I hear you all ask? I've examined it, taken it apart and dry-fired it, so to speak. I'll upload a video of it inflating later on.
So far I'm impressed. I half expected it to be garbage, but it is well made and had no loose stitching, seams etc. It reminds me of the Richa florescent vest. It is made from 600D fabric, the same as that vest, and the Helite, so looks and feels pretty hard-wearing. It is made of webbing or mesh material on the inside, with a number of well stitched zippers to access the bladder. On one of the photos, I have taken out the bladder and laid it where you can see it, following the path it is positioned on the inside. The bladder is made from pretty thick, flexible rubbery tubing.
I've also blown it up manually and it's pretty much what you'd expect, an inflated tube that runs up, along, down, back up, along, down and around the body.
It is fastened across the front by three robust clips, and has webbing up the back and under the arms, so that it can expand when inflated.
The firing mechanism looks solid, and is fairly simple. A spring, a captive ball, and a firing pin. I've set it off without a gas canister, and it works. It also takes a fair tug to do so, so it would be hard to set off by getting off the bike. It's securely fastened using bolts, to the bladder. It says that it takes 60lbs of pressure to set it off, which is the same as the Helite. I certainly felt a good tug when I got off the bike with it attached, and it didn't fire. It would be difficult to set it off by accident.
So, think of a Richa vest (which are €60 anyway) with the added bonus of an airbag.
https://www.richa.eu/en/sleeveless-safety-jacket
I don't particularly like the cord that attaches to the bike. It is steel wire, with a clip and a curly bit to give a bit of adjustment. But this can be replaced with a fabric cord and clip, which are available separably. Or can be made from a bodyboard/surf lanyard etc. Not a biggie.
Is it as good as a Helite turtle or turtle 2? Probably not, but at a fraction of the price it certainly has a role to play. It cost €82 delivered, while the turtle2 is upwards of €500.
I haven't seen a helite or hit-air in the flesh, but on videos, it looks like they cover the lower body/arse better, and the bladder is in a more enclosed pathway. In the Chinese one, the bladder is not as enclosed, but can't move around in any case.
On that note, it looks like the Richa, in that it is fully across the front and back of the body, so it will restrict airflow if you have a mesh or vented summer jacket. The helite looks more tube-like so would possibly be cooler.
The gas canister was bought from a marine supplier (CH Marine) for €12. It's a standard 33g one.
I've ordered a second one for my wife.
And to address the idea that I wouldn't buy a Chinese helmet, that is correct, but the only thing below my helmet is my thick head. Under this is my Revit jacket,with CE2 body armour and back protector. Hence, I think of this as an added protection rather than an essential. Hopefully I'll never have to use it, but I'd say it would fulfill the role of an air cushion between me and a hard object pretty well.
So, to sum up. If you have to money to get a helite, or hit-air, absolutely buy one. If you don't, but want to get something that is good value for money, and adds a bit more safety to your ride, then this is worthwhile. At the least it is a good hard wearing florescent vest.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32976637823.html?spm=a2g0o.store_home.productList_4093388.subject_10 -
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n2WmraxBgI
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