In the May 2024 issue of Rider, I stated in my First Gear column – “Invest in Yourself” – that, as part of our commitment to safety, our staffers are now required to wear an airbag vest anytime they are on a test bike or at a press launch. Fully autonomous airbag vests are so effective at protecting a rider’s torso and vital organs that we consider them as indispensable as a full-coverage helmet.
Alpinestars provided each member of our editorial team with a Tech-Air 5 vest, which looks like a heavy-duty T-shirt that zips up the front. The vest has a built-in ventilated back protector with a compartment that contains argon gas canisters. Inside the breathable fabric of the vest is an airbag that, upon deployment, protects the back, shoulders, chest, and sides of the torso. The vest should be form-fitting, and it is worn under your riding jacket. There should be at least 1.5 inches of space around the circumference of your torso to allow room for the air‐bag to deploy inside the jacket. You can keep the shoulder and elbow armor in your jacket, but you should remove the jacket’s back protector since the vest has one built into it.
A charging cable is provided, and the battery is good for up to 30 hours of riding time (to be on the safe side, I charge mine after every ride). Pairing the vest with the Tech-Air App allows you to get over‐the‐air firmware updates, change ride modes (Street or Race), and check battery status. Zipping up the vest and securing the Velcro flap at the top turns on the Tech-Air, and a series of red/amber/green LED lights on the front indicate when the vest is activated.
The Tech-Air’s electronic system has six integrated sensors (three gyroscopes and three accelerometers) and an AI-enhanced algorithm that monitors conditions and deploys the airbag in the event of a crash. Alpinestars says the Tech-Air 5 decreases impact force by up to 95% compared to a passive back protector, equivalent to “18 back protectors,” and the system also protects the rider’s shoulders, chest, and ribs.
Once the vest is on and my riding jacket is zipped up, I forget I’m wearing the Tech-Air 5 – so much so that when I took a parking-lot speed tumble and the airbag deployed, it took me by surprise. Deployment takes only 20-40 milliseconds, depending on the vest’s size. Alpinestars’ research found that most crashes last 1.5 seconds, so the airbag deflates after about 5 seconds. On a hot day, the non-breathable airbag impedes airflow, but that’s a small price to pay for such a high level of protection.
If the Tech-Air 5 deploys, it must be returned to Alpinestars to have the airbag inspected and the gas canisters replaced. For the first three deployments, only the gas canisters need to be replaced ($179). After the third deployment, the canisters and the airbag need to be replaced ($299). Service takes about a week.
The Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 retails for $789.95, about the same price as a premium helmet, and it’s available in sizes XS-2XL. At press time, the Tech-Air 5 was discounted on the Alpinestars website and other retail sites because it will soon be replaced by the Tech-Air 5 Plasma, which includes a Nucleon Plasma back protector, the addition of an Off‐Road mode, and gas canisters that can be replaced by the user.
Read all of Rider’s apparel reviews here.
($179) FOR CANISTERS ONLY , Thats a LOOOOOOOTT of South African money , $789.95 is a lottttttt of money also
Johan, the cost for a canister replacement shouldn’t be an issue unless you go down frequently, in which case I’d suspect you have bigger problems than what should be a very rare expense of $179.
Well said, Paul.
way too expensive, and way too HOT for anyone riding anywhere where the avg temp needs to be below 82-83 degrees F while riding.
Expensive and hot maybe. Worth it to limit the cost of a hospital stay and more serious injuries absolutely.
Agreed!