While Honda is refining there airbag technology for motorcycles, a Taiwanese company called MotoAiris following an entirely different approach – that of a wearable airbag.
Dubbed the “Wairbag” by its UK importers, where it is now available for the first time, the airbag is integrated into a range of stylish (if surprisingly rather ordinary looking) motorcycle jackets and is fitted with a parachuting-like ripcord which attaches to a sturdy part of the motorcycle – like the handlebar.
In the eventuality of a collision when the rider is separated from the bike, the ripcord cable tightens and triggers a small CO2 cartridge (no explosives here!) which promptly expands the airbag. In principle this should cushion your fall to some extent at least.
The airbag itself is manufactured from a resilient vinyl, similar to that of a car’s airbags, and although the main area of protection is the rider’s neck with an inflatable section under the jacket's collar, the airbag does also form a cushioning layer around the entire chest and back area.
Assuming you survive to tell the tale, the airbag can be recycled by simply removing the CO2 cartridge and replacing it with a fresh one.
Does it go pop when you swing your leg off the bike without detaching the ripcord cable first? If you give it a proper hard tug, it just might. But to avoid any embarrassing situations the manufacturer has ensured that it requires a force of around 12kg to activate.