Airbag Suit/Vest for Track | GTAMotorcycle.com

Airbag Suit/Vest for Track

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bastak

Well-known member
Hi all - considering options for an airbag suit/vest for track duty next year.

I own the Alpinestars Missile Suit which is Tech-Air compatible, but the Tech-Air Race Airbag (size L) seems to be constantly out of stock at distributors. It comes with 2 charges but I suppose it might take a while if it ever needs to get recharged (and expensive?). Since I own a Tech-Air compatible suit, it's my top choice, assuming I can get my hands on one. Anyone have experience with this product?

Most of my track days will be at Calabogie going forward. There was an airbag vendor at most Calabogie track days this past year, but I don't remember the name of the vendor or the product. Anyone know / have experience with that product?

Would appreciate any other feedback/experience specifically for track duty.
 
I race in a Techair. Only bad thing I've experienced is deploying the airbag in the pit -BUUUUT 100% my own fault.

I've crashed in it a few times now, zero injuries since I started using mine. Service times weren't bad, a couple weeks round trip for it. I think I've been running mine since 2018 in every condition.

Not a single regret with it.
 
172Driver said:
I race in a Techair. Only bad thing I've experienced is deploying the airbag in the pit -BUUUUT 100% my own fault.

I've crashed in it a few times now, zero injuries since I started using mine. Service times weren't bad, a couple weeks round trip for it. I think I've been running mine since 2018 in every condition.

Not a single regret with it.
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Awesome. Thanks for the info and glad to hear it's worked well for you to prevent injury. Curious to know what happened with the accidental deployment in the pits?
 
bastak said:
Awesome. Thanks for the info and glad to hear it's worked well for you to prevent injury. Curious to know what happened with the accidental deployment in the pits?
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Hot and grouchy at Mosport! unzipped and started wiggling/flailing my arms out of the sleeves of the leathers before I disarmed the system.... BOOM!

I've heard stories of them "deploying themselves" or going off in trailers etc but I'd bet my left big toe its just the owner not being careful about them either being turned off or letting the flaps that arm it to connect in transit
 
the vendor at Bogie sells Hit-Air, i've used one for 2 seasons and found 2 issues with it:
1 - mine ripped when it hit the pavement and destroyed the inner tube
2- it wont deploy if you're sliding with the bike

i've since switched to the A-star Tech-Air and have deployed it 3 times, works like a charm however sending it to get repacked is a PITA, and costs $400 + shipping to CA but you get 2 deployments before having to send it back
 
Sounds like the Tech-Air Race is your best bet, even if it is among the most expensive (has more sensors than most systems, apparently). When I bought my Tech-Air 5 last year, I ended up getting it from FC-Moto in Germany, as the Canadian sellers had no stock. Doing a quick search, FC-Moto doesn't have a large, but Sportbike Track Gear does (I'M BRIAN VAN FROM SPORTBIKE TRACK GEAR AND SPORTBIKE TRACK GEAR DOT COM!!!). The exchange isn't very favourable, though...

My take on the tethered vs gyro systems is that the tethered ones are better if you crash a lot and aren't worried about lowsides. They're much simpler and cheaper to refill, using CO2 cylinders instead of argon. But the good ones aren't much cheaper, and as mentioned above, really only guarantee protection against highsides, as the point of separation from the bike often happens after you've hit the ground. That said, I did see one help out massively in a turn 1 lowside at Mosport, as the rider slid back first into the wall with the bag inflated.

I'm not sure if the Tech-Air 5 works in the suit you have, but it might be a good compromise, as it's not as costly as the race system, and can be used both on the street and track with any suit or jacket, as long as there's sufficient room...
 
Thanks all for the feedback. Really good info. Seems like the Tech-Air Race is the way to go. I'll pester the Canadian vendors a bit in the off-season.

@mbroyda I figured it would have to be sent to Italy so CA is an improvement! Good to know the rough cost of repacking - not unreasonable all things considered imo...

@Priller thanks I had seen that one from STG, but yeah the exchange rate is a real kick in the nuts. I injured my knee severely playing soccer 3 years ago (blown knee / unhappy triad) and the recovery has not been pretty post-surgery. Hoping that the airbag will at least help reduce the severity of injury in a crash and maybe save me from more months/years at the physio. I'll look into the Tech-Air 5 as well - man, any room left in that suit is getting smaller and smaller by the week lol...
 
Tech-Air 10 does look good. Thanks for sharing! This article seems to suggest that it could be used with other suits as well, perhaps not just Tech-Air compatible ones like Tech-Air Race. Definitely interested. Let's see what pricing looks like when it hits the shelves.
 
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