Unlike motorcyclists who have normally had to rely on their leathers to protect them, car drivers have had the luxury of airbags and many other protective devices in place should anything untoward happen. However, the obvious difference between the two transport options seems to be on the change thanks to the steady introduction of inflatable jackets. While it might sound like nothing more than a novelty that will as soon die out as quick it came along, which appears to be the stance that many critics have taken, it is actually an amazing lifesaving device that is growing in popularity with motorcyclists.
This air assisted piece of kit, or ‘air vest’ as WebBike World coined, is designed to be worn underneath your normal protection of a motorbike jacket. What makes the jacket to inflate is two CO2 canisters that are designed to spring into action when the motorcyclists leaves the motorbike. Normally in these type of jackets and vests the C02 canisters are pierced thanks to a wire that’s attached to both the bike and the jacket, which therefore senses the rider’s removal from the motorbike and as a result causes the undergarment to inflate.
Having this type of technology on hand is a great breakthrough for motorcyclists because it can be the difference between fatality and injury, however, that being said, there still are many issues that need to be ironed out of these inflatable jackets if they are to stand the test of time. The fact that these air assisted items of clothing can inflate to enormous sizes, means that outer garments that go over the top tend to have to be larger than the size you’d normally opt for. While this might sound like a hindrance to some riders, overall it does appear that the benefits of having an inflatable jacket underneath far outweighs the pain of having to purchase an outer jacket one or two sizes bigger.
If you’re curiosity about these lifesaving jackets isn’t quite satisfied, you can visit YouTube and watch the video of the ‘air vests/jackets’ in action, which successfully demonstrates just how significant these new motorcyclists devices are. In addition to being able to witness the inflatable jackets in action, leading car and motorcycle name Carole Nash is backing these air assisted garments 100%. When asked about the jackets, Carole Nash had this to say: “Technology is becoming an unstoppable force across the globe. Over the past few years there have been a handful of exceptional developments in the biking space, key safety features have been unveiled, ensuring bikers are enjoying safer riding experiences, something which we are always keen to back.”
