Hit Air Jacket

[Wapping]

As your cutting reveals, it's based on the subjective results of one crash. Time and a clear drop of recorded injuries in motorcyclists wearing air jackets will tell all, but that could be years away.

Don't get me wrong, I am not dismissing the jacket at all, just as I wouldn't dismiss wearing seat belts in cars or the fitting of airbags. Those are proved to work after years of global statistics and it would be foolish - or plain pigheaded - to ignore the clear results.

The jacket? Well, I guess you would need to know how many motorcyclists suffer the injuries the jacket is designed to prevent. Does anyone know? Then see if that number reduces significantly if sufficient of the jackets are sold and tried 'in anger'. A trial of one is conclusive proof of nothing much beyond good advertising blurb.

Will I buy one? Maybe, as wearing one probably cannot do much harm, even if it does no good. Though I do wonder what the effect of ramming the gas canister into my ribs might have.... Life's a struggle, sometimes

 

[essjay]

definately - it could be years until we know how good they are but for now I'm happy enough to wear it.

 

[oldnfat]

Definately with you on this one Essjay.

 

[Pauly S]

bikesafe course

I recently did the bikesafe course,and we got a 30 min lecture on carrying stuff in yer pockets,or hanging round your neck.
Underneath your ribs are 2 balloons,when they get punctured by something,i.e, keys,tools,whatever you may have in your pocket,youre in trouble,so anything which raises your ribs away from the road,or surface,or whatever you hit, has to be a bonus.
Consequently all i carry in my pockets,is tissues,and a vee wipe sponge.
i used to carry my other keys round my neck on a lanyard,not any more, they go in the luggage.
As regards setting off the bag whilst at the lights, a smack in the gob,and a feck off, when you next see them normally works.
A punch in the gob normally offends.
i take on board essjays comments about the full jacket and i think i will go with the waistcoat.
I bounced down the road once, just like the fella on the hit air video, 2 days of concussion and not knowing what the feck happened, and my arm in plaster for 8 weeks, and im looking to buy one.
Of all the scaphoid bones there are 8 , i broke 5.
The shoei lid i had on, had a dent in it, the size of a golfball, trust me it hurt like fook.and that was falling from a 125 i was mending for someone.
apparently i rode the bike home, mangled as it was,not that i can remember.
does this help?

 

[barrys]

I have one

I've owned an IXS airbag jacket, which is fitted with the Hit Air system for about three years.
Never deployed in anger touch wood, and who knows how effective it might (or might not) be if it were. The jacket itself is of good quality and no more cumbersome than any other textile jacket I've owned previously. I therefore take the view that, given the choice, you may as well wear one.

No one item of motorcycle safety apparel can ever guarantee the outcome in the event of an accident, but anything that might possibly mitigate the effects is surely worthy of serious consideration, provided it is comfortable and convenient to use.

And by the way, fears of accidental deployment and resultant "I'll get my coat" embarrassment ouside your local coffee shop etc are pretty much unfounded - it requires a very hefty tug to activate the thing!

 

[wknight]

Using the Vest

I bought the vest a little while ago and am extremely pleased with it. The cable is another one to hook up as I have an autocom and this time of year a heated jacket so you certainly don't forget to unhook and I do feel rather attached to the bike.

That said you don't know you are wearing it, just like another piece of gear. My only small gripe which they have now fixed is I felt that it was rather black and I am a hiviz person so I came up with a simple solution. Underneath is I wear a hiviz long sleeve thin layer and I think it makes you stand out pretty well. Now you can get a hiviz version.

It may not be for everyone but my view is that even if it helps a little bit its better than nothing.

 

[JPB]

I've just bought the hi-viz version of the vest for wearing over my Aerostich Darien. Like the man said, once on you don't know you're wearing it and so far I haven't had any problems remembering to hook-up and unhook at the appropriate times.

My only concern is that it's probably going to make things a bit warmer in hot weather.

 

[Account removed]

My only concern is that it's probably going to make things a bit warmer in hot weather.

Hot weather !! can someone pls remind what it's like

 

[JPB]

Hot weather !! can someone pls remind what it's like

It's what you get if you ride on the Continent between May and September

 

[laser173]

Hi

Has any one got and use the Hi Viz Hit Air vest?

I am considering buying one but would apprieciate any help and advise. I use an XL fabric jacket. WouldI go for an XL vest or XXL?

Many thanks

Graham

 

[neil 23]

Definately an XXL

 

[laser173]

Hi Neil

Thanks. Would you reccomend these vests?

Graham

 

[neil 23]

Hi Neil

Thanks. Would you reccomend these vests?

Graham

Recently bought one from someone on this site, not used it yet due to weather !

They seem really well made, but as others have pointed out, no real evidence that they would prevent any injuries but IMHO it would be better to have one on if you went down the road than not to have one on !

Every little helps, so to speak !

 

[Bendy toy]

Recently bought one from someone on this site, not used it yet due to weather !

They seem really well made, but as others have pointed out, no real evidence that they would prevent any injuries but IMHO it would be better to have one on if you went down the road than not to have one on !

Every little helps, so to speak !

Ny body part is important but the main risk in a crash is excessive neck movement in any direction which can kill or disable as easily as a head injury. It's interesting that BMW sell neck braces (Leatt maybe?) though they dont list an airbag jacket.