It may have taken just over a decade, but Alpinestars has finally done it. This bike racing season sees the brand new Alpinestars electronic airbags being showcased on the track.
This new equipment is a fantastic advance in motorcycle technology and has been a long time coming. For professional riders, the suits come as a potential saviour to their career and could be the difference between minor cuts and bruises and a broken collar bone – resulting in missing the entire seasons racing.
The airbags created by Alpinestars are cleverly encased within the suit itself in the shoulder pads as the neck and collar bones are the most commonly injured area of the body during a road crash. The electronic hub is slotted nicely into the hump behind the neck. This means there is no extra, unnecessary bulk and the entire system only adds a mere 500 grams to the weight of the suit.
The suit itself is a phenomenal design with sensors throughout the body to help the suit predict when the rider is crashing. This ensures the airbags are released at the precise moment needed. Alpinestars have spent the last 10 years developing the algorithms to ensure the airbags are deployed just before impact at an incredible 0.05 seconds. The cylinders used to inflate the airbags are within the shoulders and contain a nitrogen based mix of gases. This gives the rider 5 seconds of protection.
Furthermore, the airbag then retracts ready for a second use should it be needed, allowing the rider to jump back on their bike and continue riding.
Although these suits are only currently available for road racers, Alpinestars ensure us they will join the retail range within 3 years.
Honda of Bournemouth stock a wide range of Alpinestars motorcycle gear including Alpinestars boots as well as Honda motorcycles and Honda motorcycle parts. Please visit the website to find out more.
