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Published in: Gear
Recently, at Rawhyde’s Adventure Days 2020, I had a chance to hear from and speak with Lee Ettleman of Dainese Los Angeles and Mark Kincart of Klim to learn about the new airbag units. Both Klim and Dainese have developed non-tethered autonomous air bag systems able to deploy in just milliseconds during on road motorcycle accidents.
Dainese's 3rd generation D-Air Smart Jacket design leverages 25+ years' worth of proprietary airbag technology used in Moto GP and brings it to the adventure motorcycling community. Klim’s Ai-1 Airbag Vest was developed in an exclusive partnership with In&Motion who is also a supplier of airbags in MotoGP. Klim has put the Ai-1 through over 10 million miles of algorithm testing and data collection over the last few years of development. They even had 3 riders wear test rigs in the Dakar Rally for data gathering purposes. Both companies are known for their high end product lines and fittingly are offering cutting edge technology able to stay up to date as their algorithms integrate new data.
•The Similarities
Both vests are lightweight, breathable and comfortable. These designs primarily cover your chest and back, but also extend over the collarbone; neither airbag unit wraps around a rider’s sides for rib protection. Using argon gas instead of C02 allows both to deploy quickly enough to maintain impact readiness; the Ai-1 deploys in 60 milliseconds (ms), 35 ms for detection + 25 ms for inflation, and the D-Air inflates in just 45 ms. In the spirit of comradery, Lee was even kind enough to be the live test subject for Mark during the deployment of the Klim demo unit.
While it’s hard to put a price tag on safety, they are certainly affordable enough given what they achieve and buyers will be happy to know they are designed to be reusable. Dainese recommends their vest be serviced and repacked by a certified dealer (for a nominal fee) after each deployment and Klim recommends the unit be inspected after three deployments. The Ai-1 uses a single canister available for purchase and replace yourself if need be. The battery life for each product should last a few days of riding between charging with Dainese’s unit claiming 26 hours and Klim’s 25 hours.
•The Differences
The Dainese jacket is armed when you button the collar and sensors detect engine vibrations maintain readiness. If you step off the bike to walk around and happen to trip and fall, the airbag will not deploy; however, if you stop at a light and are hit from behind it will. Klim’s unit is manually “armed” and “disarmed” and the algorithm is looking for “unnatural motion” so it’s hard to say exactly how the algorithm would react in off bike or stopped traffic scenarios.
Klim’s Ai-1, is designed to be worn under your jacket while Dainese’s D-Air is abrasion resistant and can be worn either under or over garments. The Ai-1 has an integrated CE1 back protector while the Dainese does not. However, Dainese claims the airbag is equivalent to 7 back protectors and covers more of your back when deployed. For riders who prefer both, wearing a separate back protector will not interfere with airbag deployment and Dainese’s unit easily folds in half for storage or travel.
The Dainese Smart Jacket retails for $699 (comes in track & street models) and updates its computer via USB cable from your laptop. Klim’s Ai-1 Airbag Vest costs $399 with an additional $12 per month/$120 a year fee to lease the In&Box computer which updates via WiFi. Extra argon canisters for the Klim Ai-1 are available for $99 each.
Whichever route you decide to go, airbag technology has a long history of protecting riders at the highest level and thankfully now Klim and Dainese are putting that tech in your hands.
•Additional Info
Christopher Scott is a freelance photographer in Los Angeles, CA. Unlike many people who rode as kids, he discovered motorcycles in his late 20s. First a Yamaha YZ125, then a WR250, and a Suzuki SV650. After a 4 year hiatus from bikes, in which he sold virtually everything, worked as a tour guide and is now leading a more nomadic lifestyle he got the bug again after shooting a BMW GS article for BMW ON and now rides a 07 BMW F650GS Dakar. His favorite activity is exploring new places on two legs, two wheels, or a 4x4.
Continue reading...
Recently, at Rawhyde’s Adventure Days 2020, I had a chance to hear from and speak with Lee Ettleman of Dainese Los Angeles and Mark Kincart of Klim to learn about the new airbag units. Both Klim and Dainese have developed non-tethered autonomous air bag systems able to deploy in just milliseconds during on road motorcycle accidents.
Dainese's 3rd generation D-Air Smart Jacket design leverages 25+ years' worth of proprietary airbag technology used in Moto GP and brings it to the adventure motorcycling community. Klim’s Ai-1 Airbag Vest was developed in an exclusive partnership with In&Motion who is also a supplier of airbags in MotoGP. Klim has put the Ai-1 through over 10 million miles of algorithm testing and data collection over the last few years of development. They even had 3 riders wear test rigs in the Dakar Rally for data gathering purposes. Both companies are known for their high end product lines and fittingly are offering cutting edge technology able to stay up to date as their algorithms integrate new data.
•The Similarities
Both vests are lightweight, breathable and comfortable. These designs primarily cover your chest and back, but also extend over the collarbone; neither airbag unit wraps around a rider’s sides for rib protection. Using argon gas instead of C02 allows both to deploy quickly enough to maintain impact readiness; the Ai-1 deploys in 60 milliseconds (ms), 35 ms for detection + 25 ms for inflation, and the D-Air inflates in just 45 ms. In the spirit of comradery, Lee was even kind enough to be the live test subject for Mark during the deployment of the Klim demo unit.
While it’s hard to put a price tag on safety, they are certainly affordable enough given what they achieve and buyers will be happy to know they are designed to be reusable. Dainese recommends their vest be serviced and repacked by a certified dealer (for a nominal fee) after each deployment and Klim recommends the unit be inspected after three deployments. The Ai-1 uses a single canister available for purchase and replace yourself if need be. The battery life for each product should last a few days of riding between charging with Dainese’s unit claiming 26 hours and Klim’s 25 hours.
•The Differences
Klim’s Ai-1, is designed to be worn under your jacket while Dainese’s D-Air is abrasion resistant and can be worn either under or over garments. The Ai-1 has an integrated CE1 back protector while the Dainese does not. However, Dainese claims the airbag is equivalent to 7 back protectors and covers more of your back when deployed. For riders who prefer both, wearing a separate back protector will not interfere with airbag deployment and Dainese’s unit easily folds in half for storage or travel.
The Dainese Smart Jacket retails for $699 (comes in track & street models) and updates its computer via USB cable from your laptop. Klim’s Ai-1 Airbag Vest costs $399 with an additional $12 per month/$120 a year fee to lease the In&Box computer which updates via WiFi. Extra argon canisters for the Klim Ai-1 are available for $99 each.
Whichever route you decide to go, airbag technology has a long history of protecting riders at the highest level and thankfully now Klim and Dainese are putting that tech in your hands.
•Additional Info
Continue reading...
