Video: Alpinestars Tech-Air Street Airbag System First Look

Alpinestars unveiled its new Tech-Air Street Airbag System Vest, the latest generation of protection based upon the company’s Tech Air Race Airbag System used in its MotoGP/World Superbike/various national series sponsored riders’ racing leathers—but now designed to be used for the everyday rider, in both on- and off-road environments. The culmination of 13 years of R&D, more than 180,000 miles of road testing, and a multitude of computer simulations and full-scale crash tests, the Tech-Air Street Airbag System is the first self-contained motorcycle rider airbag system that functions independently without the need for any sort of tether (wireless or otherwise) to the bike. This critical design advantage means that you have the freedom to ride any bike on any surface with the Alpinestars system and have comprehensive torso protection in a crash.

The Tech-Air Street Airbag System utilizes a setup that is securely integrated into a specially designed breathable mesh vest that is worn under a compatible Alpinestars textile jacket (at the initial launch there were two jackets—the adventure-tour-oriented Valparaiso for Tech-Air and the summer season vented Viper for Tech-Air—that are currently made to accommodate the new system, but more will join the list). Similar in design to the Tech-Air Race unit, the Tech-Air Street’s high-pressure inflatable airbag protects the rider’s complete back, shoulders, kidney areas, and chest in a crash. The system’s sensors and control unit typically are able to detect an impending crash in 30-60 milliseconds, with the airbag fully deploying in 25 milliseconds (for comparison, the average eye blink is 300-400 milliseconds).

While some other airbag protection systems must use sensors attached to a motorcycle in order to detect an impending rider impact, the Alpinestars Tech-Air Street system employs sensors inside the vest’s shoulder areas close to the rider’s body that work in conjunction with the main control unit and sensor inside a water-resistant casing built into the vest’s back protector. Using the experience of designing the sophisticated algorithms used in the Tech-Air Race airbag system (which is able to detect and even predict a low-side as well as high-side crash), Alpinestars engineers were able to tailor the complex algorithms specifically for the unique demands of street riding. While optimizing the predictive capabilities of the Tech-Air Street’s software, Alpinestars found that it was not only able to detect imminent impacts from a crash due to the motorcycle hitting an immovable object or even being hit from behind when stopped, but also in situations where a loss of control would result in a crash, including off-road riding. This means an adventure-tour rider won’t have to make any changes or modifications should he decide to continue where the pavement ends.

Alpinestars made sure that the Tech-Air Street Airbag System is simple, convenient, and easy to use. For example, because the system is built into the vest that attaches to the compatible jacket, activating the system is done by simply zipping up the jacket; no fumbling with switches or buttons with gloved hands. Like the Tech-Air Race system, riders can check that the system is activated by the LED display located on the left sleeve. The system’s lithium ion battery pack offers 25 hours of continuous use with an approximate six-hour charge, and a convenient micro USB charger allows four hours of riding time with a one-hour charge.

The Tech-Air Street Airbag System is CE Certified to the 686/89/EEC European PPE Directive, using a version of EN1621-4:2013, which guarantees impact protection performance from 25 milliseconds to 5 seconds, and both the compatible jackets (as well as others that will soon be compatible) include CE-certified shoulder and elbow armor. The system is also certified for the pyrotechnic articles directive that assures the safety and stability of the system inflation devices. This means that the system can be legally and safely transported by car, ship, train, and aircraft, allowing riders the freedom to use the Tech-Air Street system while on a rental bike vacation overseas.

The Tech-Air Street Airbag Vest system is set to debut in Europe in the spring of 2015, with its US introduction scheduled for a later date. No price was available at post time.