Other than a helmet (which many don't even want to wear), there is little protection for motorcyclists in the event of an accident. A company by the name of Impact Jackets has been selling motorcycle jackets with airbags for a few years, but at $500, many find the price too high. A Baltimore man can likely provide a terrific rebuttal to the high cost argument since the jacket saved him from plenty of pain after he was thrown 100 feet from his bike. Amazingly, the airbag jacket-wearing rider walked away from the life-threatening crash with sore ribs and a broken thumb, making it the best 500 bones he's likely ever spent. Paramedics that reached the scene of the accident were surprised more damage wasn't done. Impact Jackets has a pretty good video that describes how the airbag jacket works.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
HUGE BRAIN @ Oct 18th 2007 7:58PM
Makes sense to me--smart idea.
Makes even more sense to forget the motorcycle and drive a car instead;-).
LeRoy @ Oct 24th 2007 11:24AM
I ride and my regular leather jacket costs $500. I def check this out. Hey, maybe our wives will buying their husbands them as gifts (since they hate when we go riding anyway)
mtnprincess @ Oct 24th 2007 2:40PM
man, put that HUGE brain of urs to use and think about all the idiots out there in cars...if they would only pay attention to driving and others on the road, us motorcycle riders would b lots SAFER out there !!!
Eric Biran @ Oct 18th 2007 9:10PM
I'm sure you could easily spend $500 on a nice leather jacket whether it was for riding or not. At least this one gives back to the cause.
I like that you can repack it and with a single CO2 cartridge are good to go again. Imagine if airbags in cars were like that. It's crazy to think that with an accident just severe enough to set off multiples of the up to 6-10 airbags in cars today, the most expensive damage may actually be caused by the airbags themselves. But I guess safety comes at a price.
toronado455 @ Oct 18th 2007 10:08PM
Car airbag systems need to evolve to the point where deployment is not a huge cost event. Or else just calibrate them to only deploy in serious accidents.
psarhjinian @ Oct 18th 2007 10:41PM
They do selectively deploy (ie, only at certain speeds, only if someone is sitting in the seat, etc) in many cars.
wbeck @ Oct 18th 2007 9:11PM
Heh... this takes the whole hitting your buddies kill switch while sitting at a redlight game to a whole new level...
Dirk Dundenburg @ Oct 18th 2007 10:00PM
The good thing is that the smart riders will buy them along with helmets, further increasing their survival rate and we'll still be able to maintain our donor organ supply from the dumb ones who ride with no protective gear.
Guenther @ Oct 18th 2007 10:09PM
The price of this actually seems pretty reasonable. Lots of jackets come in between $300 and $400. Non-reactive rider protection has come a very long way since a leather jacket kept the weather out. Top grade jackets (and pants) do work.
Nucbuddy @ Oct 18th 2007 10:38PM
Top-quality motorcycle suits are $2,000.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/42/11469/ITEM/Alpinestars-Replica-Racing-Leather-One-Piece-Suit.aspx
Add boots, gloves, helmet, and other accessories, and you are looking at a minimum of $3,000 to achieve reasonable protection on a motorcycle.
icu812ru469 @ Oct 19th 2007 12:17AM
Most bike riders are "cool" or ID 10 T virus infected people, so they won't wear some dopey air jacket. Most would probably not wear helmets were it not illegal to ride without them.
paul34 @ Oct 19th 2007 1:23AM
Ever since Florida got rid of its helmet law (although you must carry a certain insurance requirement to be able to ride helmet-free), I must say that riders who wear helmets have actually become quite rare around these parts.
It's sad - especially since most riders I see have helmets, not on their heads, though - but ATTACHED TO THEIR BIKE!
It's so ridiculous that you just have to laugh and shake your head at the same time. The bike doesn't need a helmet.
Anyway, though, I suppose it doesn't really make a difference to me, since I am a believer in personal choice. However, I also believe that with that freedom comes responsibility.
I know people will argue with me here, but, look - if you want to get injured in the head when you didn't have to, then go right on ahead. You're not going to physically hurt anyone else by doing so - you're only hurting yourself. That's your choice, your freedom.
I just wish more people would use that freedom more wisely. I understand there is a certain feeling of riding helmet-free, but really, you do have to make compromises in real life, especially in public traffic - ESPECIALLY in American public traffic.
jamesFF @ Oct 19th 2007 2:01AM
Ever since our stupid governor of Pennsylvania got rid of the helment law, most of the bickers stop wearing them.
We almost lost the quarterback for the Pittsburg Steelers thanks to him.
Torqued @ Oct 19th 2007 7:48AM
You almost lost the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers thanks to the stupid decision he made to not wear a helmet. People need to take some responsibility for their own actions. I can't believe you'd blame the governor for almost killing Ben Roslisburger.
CoffeeJedi @ Oct 19th 2007 11:39AM
Yeah, how DARE the governor make it ILLEGAL to wear a helmet!?!?
think before you post
Alex @ Oct 19th 2007 11:39AM
Rendell is an Eagels fan...
bwendholt605 @ Oct 24th 2007 9:36AM
What the hell is a "helment"? And what does "bicker" have to do with motorcycles? "Bicker" means "to argue." Evidently you already suffered some kind of brain trauma, judging from your post.
biker granny @ Oct 24th 2007 12:34PM
If our Lord had wanted him dead, he would be dead, whether he was wearing a helmet or not. We each have a date by our names and that is when we go not before, not after.
I hate a helmet. It feels like someone is choking the life outa me. The wind just pushes the helmet back even more than the strap.
It makes me feel like if we crashed with a helmet on, something would grab that helmet and rip my head right off.
From someone who's been riding forty years, I hate a helmet.
And a comment to the person who poked at the one who can't spell. I'm sure you have an area in your life someone could poke at (we all do) so let up.
Have a blessed week, Biker Granny
inqste @ Oct 19th 2007 5:53AM
I wonder wearing the jacket would work in cars without airbags.
Juvenille @ Oct 19th 2007 12:37PM
This is probably one of the dumbest things I've heard :)