Thanks. Regarding your Spain trip. I have a Macna cooling vest and want to know if it should go over or under the airbag?
Alpine stars Tech Air Plasma 5 airbag jacket
- Thread starter Arsey
- Start date
No idea . Sorry.
But under would be safer if you come off !
I wear a heated Kris jacket. Can’t find anything where I read it was not recommended to be worn with heated jackets. Looks a great bit of kit
I think I read somewhere (possibly Bennetts?) that you shouldn't use it with heated clothing.
Yes, they do not recommend using with a heated vest. Also if you read the Bennetts review, the frontal impact is level 1. I currently have a Helite Turtle, I am looking to upgrade, but will wait until some more companies upgrade their offerings.
...me too, and hopefully the prices will come down too!
I’m really torn between one of these and the MOTOAIRBAG MAB V4 Modular Airbag Vest. Did you consider the moto airbag Arsey? And can I ask Is the tech air true to size of did you go up a size ?
I tried them both on Sunday and ended up purchasing the A*. Just more practical and wearing it under the jacket makes more sense to me. They charged it up at the store and I rode home in it, almost forgeting all about it within 15/20 minutes. The store have posted the box & packaging to me this moring.
I think this was the MCN article that was supposed to be posted above, not the Ducati article…..
If you read the Bennetts reviews, the Motoairbag gets top spot. I currently have an Helite (they are bringing out another model, saw it at the classic bike show, it's a zip together vest with front protection). I like the Tech Air, but what put me off is the lack of front protection and you can't wear it with heated gear.
The other interesting fact from the Helite chap was, there is a 7% or so failure rate with electronic air vest inflation, but something like 0.001 with the tether types, now Helite sell tether and electronic, I was asking about the electronic, although he did say the electronics are improving all the time
A couple of people mentioned that Bennet’s have said not to use the Plasma 5 with heated gear. I don’t know why they would put forward this opinion, and there is NO reference to such a restriction that I can find anywhere in the AlpineStars User Manual, which is full of all sorts of other safety warnings so if this was true I’d expect to see it stated.
I believe the only potential issue would be if the heat from the base layer was high enough to exceed the maximum operating temperature of the airbag, which is 50c, so not a realistic concern IMHO; you’d burn your skin at that temperature!
TBH I would not be put off by this and will wear my warm and safe base layer under the Plasma if it gets cold enough to need it…
I believe the only potential issue would be if the heat from the base layer was high enough to exceed the maximum operating temperature of the airbag, which is 50c, so not a realistic concern IMHO; you’d burn your skin at that temperature!
TBH I would not be put off by this and will wear my warm and safe base layer under the Plasma if it gets cold enough to need it…
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no worries Arsey.
If you read the Bennetts reviews, the Motoairbag gets top spot. I currently have an Helite (they are bringing out another model, saw it at the classic bike show, it's a zip together vest with front protection). I like the Tech Air, but what put me off is the lack of front protection and you can't wear it with heated gear.
The other interesting fact from the Helite chap was, there is a 7% or so failure rate with electronic air vest inflation, but something like 0.001 with the tether types, now Helite sell tether and electronic, I was asking about the electronic, although he did say the electronics are improving all the time
Interesting. Yes, I watched the Bennett’s (YouTube) review of the Motoairbag and was very much leaning towards that option. But, when I tried it on and allowed to sit on my bike with it on, it was just too intrusive for me, plus the tethering on and off was playing on my mind. I then tried the A* and knew almost instantly that I would wear it all the time because it was just easy to wear. The other considerations for me is air flow. 70% of my riding is in southern Spain and I think the Motoairbag would reduce the airflow into my Klim Induction. Fortunately, heated kit is not an issue for me. Also, it’s another item to carry or remove when you get off the bike unless you’re going to stuff it in a top box, and I use my Vario top box for my helmet.
I don't think there is any right option. Any air vest must be a bonus. Although if you google the tech air plasma, there are a few worrying reports, a few of the vests going off whilst people have unzipped them and are taking them off. There is also a chap in the US who believes his injuries in a low speed off were actually from the air vest crushing his ribs, think he has started a law suite against Alpine.
The thing that concerns me about the Tech Air Plasma, is its front protection and it is now classed as level 1, whereas the previous Tech Air was level 2. But I guess for more comfort the air bladder on the Plasma is smaller. You pays your money as they say
The tether thing has never bothered me, I have had a Helite for nearly 8 years, on my second now, so quite use to the tether.
