How Many Have Purchased/will Wear Airbagvest?

[CarlS]

After much research and conversations, I decided that I'm going to try this one:

Helite Turtle 2 Airbag Vest​

I can get it in a Hi viz color and it can be worn over my jacket or under it. It is a tether system. In talking with riders who travel and camp, they prefer not to have to mess with recharging every night, especially when camping in primitive areas. Plus if you have to use, you can insert a new canister on the spot.

From Cycle Gear

 

[sikatri]

Did you mean tether?

 

[CarlS]

Did you mean tether?

Yes, thanks for catching that.

If you go to the website, I think you will see the reviews seem to be straight forward.

 

[DaveM]

Be free ride naked .

You mean you people don't already

 

[CarlS]

My offspring bought me the Helite Turtle 2 airbag vest for my 80th birthday. We bought it from Cycle Gear online. Cycle Gear shipped it to my door. I've had it six days now and have worn it twice. I wear it over my Tourmaster mesh jacket. I haven't been on the open road with it yet. We have been under heat advisories every day for over a week.

It is not much warmer than the mesh jacket in urban/suburban riding. I have worn it with a temp of 88 F and the heat index at 103 F. I rode for about 35 minutes. I also wore it when the temp.was 91 F and the heat index was 105 F. I rode about 25 minutes. I believe on the open road, I could ride about an hour in these temps before taking a break.

Pros:
1. It is very well made, heavy duty and should be durable, even in a sliding get off.
2. It appears to offer good protection and really good support of the neck.
3. I like the high viz.

Cons:
1. It is a little bit warmer in the heat of the day, but not nearly as bad as I envisioned. Definitely tolerable.

2. It is heavy and a bit bulky; but I'm sure I'll adapt to that.

3. It takes a bit of time to unfasten the tether to dismount and unbuckle the vest to take off. But with practice that will become second nature.

4. It is one more item to carry and secure when you are off the bike at a destination.

All in all, I believe it to be a wise investment and after a few months it will be as natural as wearing a helmet.

In the photos below, I'm wearing the vest over my Tourmaster riding jacket.

 

[sikatri]

Awesome review! Thanks @CarlS!

 

[Vector]

Nice gift.

Personally I’ll never wear one.

 

[CarlS]

Nice gift.

Personally I’ll never wear one.

Yes it definitely is!

 

[CarlS]

Vector, you don't have the horrendous traffic that I do.

 

[Vector]

Vector, you don't have the horrendous traffic that I do.

True, but we who ride can be in the sticks and some fool in a cage can still cause trouble.

 

[CarlS]

True, but we who ride can be in the sticks and some fool in a cage can still cause trouble.

No doubt about that. I have hundreds of the inattentive, aggressive fools to contend with until I can make it to the sticks.

 

[Vector]

Cell phones should not function in moving cars.

 

[Bloodknot]

Cell phones should not function in moving cars.

What would the thousands of us that rely on our phone clipped to the bars of our bikes do for navigation?

 

[CarlS]

Cell phones should not function in moving cars.

I think the penalties for using a mobile phone, that is hands on use, should be as great or greater than DUI/DWI.

I use my phone in my cage for navigation and traffic alerts. It is in a holder and I don't touch it.

 

[Vector]

What would the thousands of us that rely on our phone clipped to the bars of our bikes do for navigation?

I've never needed navigation in the 54 years I've been riding. Pull over... any distraction while riding can lead to disaster.

 

[CarlS]

I've never needed navigation in the 54 years I've been riding. Pull over... any distraction while riding can lead to disaster.

I can and have navigated across the US without a GPS. However, a GPS is a much easier and safer way to find a specific address or road. I do do use a paper map to plan my routes.

Here in the metro area, it is difficult to find a place where you can pull off. The pavement goes to the curb and the sidewalks go to the curb. There is no emergency lane. The distraction of looking for a street sign or looking for a place to pull into is far worse than listening to turn instructions via Bluetooth. I rarely look at the GPS which is on the handlebar right in front of me.

I find using a GPS for a specific address far easier and safer than hunting for a place to pull into. Also the GPS gives me traffic updates and accidents or road construction in real time.

 

[Bloodknot]

I've never needed navigation in the 54 years I've been riding. Pull over... any distraction while riding can lead to disaster.

You should try the country roads of Wales where we are off to next month. Not only are they an intricate network but the place names are unpronounceable to us “foreigners”

 

[shanered6]

Hey !... there's nothing wrong with the names in wales its the native Briton language

 

[Lozzman]

Several members in my motorcycle club here in Australia wear them. I haven't been that interested as I thought it was just a gimmick to make riders feel safe. No one has had one deploy as yet. I will start asking about them.

 

[CarlS]

Several members in my motorcycle club here in Australia wear them. I haven't been that interested as I thought it was just a gimmick to make riders feel safe. No one has had one deploy as yet. I will start asking about them.

Not a gimmick. Motorcycle racers have been using them for several years. I hope mine never has to be deployed.