2023 Airbag Vest on a Budget Price Comparison

In this video we show that there is a motorcycle air bag vest for every riding budget.
Many thanks to the Helite Airbag Vest Company and Sean Kerr at the Bikes and Beards Channel for their gracious permission to use their airbag videos. This saved the channel a bunch of money, since I didn’t have to buy extra CO2 cylinders to do a demonstration. Yea we are cheap bastards here at ROAB, but that’s the whole idea of Riding On A Budget!
Please use our Helite affiliate link below if you would like to purchase any of the Helite airbag vests included in this video:
helitemoto.com/?ref=RIDINGONA...
Use the coupon code RIDINGONABUDGET for a 10% discount
You can find the remaining vests on Amazon.
Hit Air Motorcycle MLV-YC Neon Reflective Airbag Vest (XL-3XL)------$599.00
Hit-Air MLV-C Light Weight Motorcycle Airbag Vest - Adjustable XL-3XL (Black)-----$575.00
Amazon has various Suppliers of Motorcycle Airbag Vests for Men and Women,-------$122.99+

[@paulstevenconyngham7880]

Thanks for making this man

[@ridingonabudget]

You are most welcome.

[@mranvo]

I have a Helite Turtle 2 in hi-viz yellow (you can get hi-viz orange too). My requirements for such are: (i) inflation speed (ii) inflation volume (iii) areas of protection (iv) protection during the slide (v) deflation onset and rate and (vi) inflation trigger mechanism (mechanical or electronic). I haven't had an Amazon air bag in hand but I can say that the Helite air bag is made with abrasion resistant fabric (cordera-like feel) that will help protect the airbag (and you) during a slide. I've had mine deploy during a low-speed tip-over and it performed well, especially the around the neck helping to stabilize my helmet and minimizing the risk of whiplash or collar-bone-break-by-helmet. I view an airbag as the second safety item you should get after a helmet.

[@ridingonabudget]

Good to hear you are using the Helite ABV. I use the Amazon $20 version. I agree that ABVs are a very important addition to all motorcyclist safety gear. If you are looking to get another one of Helite"s products please check out my affiliate link and the discount code in the video description for 10% off anything in their catalog. Merry Christmas and ride safe!

[@duncanward1718]

I could easily see these being made compulsory at some point. Right now they're where helmets were in the late 50's, early 60's but in 10 years as the price comes down, why wouldn't you wear one?

[@ridingonabudget]

As the video shows the prices range from $130 - to +$1,000. So no need to wait!

[@martinfoster5163]

That's a decent video on prices. I test motorycle PPE for a living and did a side-by-side timed inflation test of a Chinese ABV and a Helite Turtle of the same size (XL). The Helite inflates in 100m/s (1/10 second) and the Chinese (clone) inflates in 500m/s (1/2 second). I use GoPro slo-motion (1080p at 240 fps) to get timings. The materials and build quality are essentially the same but the trigger mechanism of the Helite is what you are paying for. I'd love for ABV's - especially tethered - to be cheaper but so far the clone versions have failed to clone the trigger system properly. My evidence is in a video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpbFnX5tgsmBoZYsi=JqW9AYtChpb-p1cs

[@ridingonabudget]

I watched your video several times and do appreciate the point you are making, I was a bit confused about which airbag you were showing in each camera. I did carefully read the caption but I was still confused which abv was being tested. When I make the ABV 2024 episode I would like to include your information and your video, with your permission. Thanks for sending me this and keep up the good work.

[@martinfoster5163]

Yes I watched it again and realized it was a bit confusing. There are 2 parts to the video showing 2 different things. The first part shows only Helite Turtles. I was testing generic CO2 canisters against Helite brand CO2 canisters. I could not find any inflation time difference between the generic CO2 canisters with 45g of CO2 and Helite’s yet Helite charges 10x more. This test also verified Helite’s claim of about 100m/s inflation time. The size M actually inflates faster (75m/s) because the bladder volume is smaller. The second clip shows a Fuanqui that is standard inflating in 500m/s. The Fuanqui airbag on the right is the same ABV but with a Helite trigger mechanism installed. It inflated in around 100m/s. I replaced the trigger box to see if I could inflate the Fuanqui faster. It worked. I’ve updated the video description to reflect what is going on. I hope that clears it up. You’re welcome to use my video to spread the word. You’re not the first. :)

[@axelgustav5497]

I'm all for budget but my life is worth more to me than a $199 Amazon airbag vest that seems sketch AF (didn't see any safety standards mentioned). Think about how much money you spend on the whole bike, insurance, gas, your time on the road... Debating between the Helite backpack and vest. Either of them seem very worthy their price tag and actually a bargain compared to some of their competition. You want cheaper vests? If everyone starts buying one, there is more demand which will give us more options, better products and better prices. Again, don't gamble your life by skimping out on a cheapo vest - would you buy your helmet of AliExpress too?!

[@ridingonabudget]

Yes that is very true and I agree 100%. If you do decide to purchase a Helite vest I hope you will take advantage of the discount code I listed in the video. The reason I covered lower cost vests is the idea that if a person could not afford one of the more expensive vests, it would be better to ride with a cheaper vest rather than no vest at all. I ride with one of the Amazon vests because I can’t afford a Helite vest. Maybe one day they will send me one to test. 😮 Ride Safe my friend and please subscribe.

[@davidmatthews3093]

I use a Lidl helmet and it’s great. I do wonder which manufacturer makes it because it’s an excellent bit of kit at a bargain price. Am I worried it’s less than one tenth of the price of a big name helmet? No I am not. It’s beautifully made and exceeds the standards of the more expensive helmets that I also own.

[@stephengrainger7586]

Put the price down

[@ridingonabudget]

The prices are in the video.