Which Motorcycles Have Airbags? Are Motorcycle Airbags Safe?
Most people don’t think about airbags when they think about motorcycles. But maybe they should. Airbags are becoming more common for motorcycle riders, and for a good reason. A motorcycle crash could happen in the blink of an eye, resulting in serious injury or death without them. Here’s what you need to know about motorcycle airbags.
Do Motorcycles Have Airbags?
Yes, there is, but as an aftermarket addition for the most part. The Honda Goldwing is the only motorcycle with a standard airbag feature. The Goldwing is the Cadillac Fleetwood of motorcycles. It’s no surprise it would have the world’s first production motorcycle airbag system. This standard feature became available in 2006—check out the original launch in the video above.
Although aftermarket airbags are available to install on your motorcycle, the more affordable and less invasive option would be an airbag vest or riding suit. If you decide to settle for the built-in system, check that you research safety ratings, company reviews, and any potential recalls.
How Do Airbags Work?
According tocarsurance, almost 75% of motorcycle crashes involve a collision with another vehicle, and a quarter of motorcycle deaths happen because of collisions with fixed objects. A motorcyclist has less than two seconds to complete all collision avoidance actions in an accident.
It’s not easy to figure out how to bring the human body to a stop within 100 milliseconds without causing further harm. An airbag is an amazing innovation in a car, but for it to be effective on a motorcycle takes things to another level, and it all starts with a sensor connected to an electrical circuit.
The circuit is attached to an airtight cylinder. In the event of a collision, a chemical explosion occurs within the cylinder. On impact, a heating coil is used to heat a chemical called sodium azide.
This chemical turns into a gas when heated at more than 300 degrees Celsius. The gas then turns into nitrogen, expanding rapidly inside the cylinder, which inflates the airbag in about 30 milliseconds.
The downside of the earlier airbag designs is that sodium azide gas is toxic. Potassium nitrate and silicon dioxide are now used to neutralize the gas, making it safe. Due to its volatility with water, further safety measures have been taken by adding calcium sulfate to eliminate moisture.
Airbag Vest vs. Motorcycle Airbags
As with otherautomated vehicle safety technologies that save lives, there are differences between an airbag vest and a motorcycle airbag. While all are designed to protect you, in terms of motorcycle airbags, which is the best?
When it comes to motorcycle safety, one of the most important things you can do is invest in a good airbag jacket. Airbags have been shown to reduce the risk of serious injury in a motorcycle accident, and brands likeHeliteare some of the best on the market. So if you’re serious about staying safe on your motorcycle, an airbag jacket is a must-have.
There are airbag vests and jackets. They use the same technology as vehicle airbags, with the exception of a CO2 cartridge used to activate the vest’s airbag.
Airbag vests use a tether connected to the frame near the seating area. The other end is connected to the CO2 cartridge on the vest. When a crash happens, the tether pulls on the plunger of the CO2 cartridge, activating the vest, and causing it to inflate instantly.
The areas protected by the vest are the chest and back. Many videos on YouTube show how this vest has saved riders from injury during a motorcycle wreck.
A lot of thought goes into a built-in airbag system for a motorcycle. These include the size and shape of the airbag to account for different speeds and various impact riding positions. After extensive simulations and crash test research, a large V-shaped airbag was developed, offering the ideal contact surface for riders.
Honda’s built-in system operates the same as a car. The collision triggers a frontal airbag, protecting the rider from being thrown over the bike and impacting the windshield and handlebars.
Motorcycle airbags lack a firm support surface behind them. To solve this issue, Honda uses tether straps to secure the airbag to the frame. The best option depends on your budget and if you require extra safety. Having one or the other is better than nothing, but neither safety equipment can protect the entire body from injury.
So, ensuring you wear all your gear is always a good practice when riding. Finding thebest roadside assistance serviceis also a benefit worth having just in case the unfortunate happens.
Do Motorcycle Airbags Save Lives?
Many people are unaware that airbags on a motorcycle work—but they do. Motorcycle airbags can save lives by preventing riders from being ejected from their bikes in a crash and by cushioning them from impact with the ground or other objects.
The devices are also becoming more advanced and can protect both the rider and passengers. Honda’s airbag is forward-thinking and a great safety feature. It’s a benefit every motorcycle rider should be aware of.
Manufacturers don’t need to spend a lot of money developing an airbag that will only be used on a specific bike. Instead, they could develop an airbag ideal for various applications. This means more airbags would be available, protecting more people.
Why Don’t More Motorcycles Have Airbags?
There are several benefits to having motorcycle airbags. They can reduce the risk of serious injury or death in an accident, provide extra protection in a slide or fall, and absorb impact energy in a collision, protecting the rider’s spine and neck. So why don’t more motorcycle manufacturers make airbags standard on their bikes?
Simply put, it’s expensive to make them. Adding a built-in airbag system to every bike would take serious engineering, increasing the bike’s price at purchase. Consequently, riders may be unable to afford them or the custom airbag systems needed for installation.
Fortunately, a plethora of gear, such as Helite’s leather airbag jacket, backpack, and B’Safe airbag vest, are available to keep you safe on the road.
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