ATGATT alert! Dainese “Smart Jacket” Portable Airbag Vest May Save Your Life in Motorcycle Crash

Each area of ​​interest has its own entertaining acronyms, from SNAFU in the military (and everywhere else) to the seemingly endless variety that we internet users use, IYKWIM. The world of motorcycles is no different, and one of my favorite acronyms is ATGATT or “at-gatt”, which means All the equipment, all the time. It’s a safety mantra for bikers who understand and respect the risks they take and fully equip themselves before riding their motorcycle, because we are not protected by a roll cage, crumple zones, technology automatic braking systems or airbags.

Well at least the airbags used be on the Unavailable list. At present, there is still only one motorcycle you can buy that offers an airbag, a $ 32,000 variant of the Honda Gold Wing touring motorcycle, but a product of the Italian clothing manufacturer from Dainese sport, the $ 699 D-air smart jacket, takes on a more personal feel. approach (and affordable) by incorporating an airbag system into an inflatable vest which can be worn under or over a riding jacket. There’s also a $ 799 version that incorporates the airbag system into a normal riding jacket, and full one-piece racing suits that cost $ 2,500 and are very popular in MotoGP and among racers in general. – for good reason. There are also specific versions of the Smart Jacket for riders.

Dainese was kind enough to send me a Smart Jacket to test, but like helmets, armored vests, and other “safety†gear, this is one of those products you hope you never will. really have to “test” in an accident. I’ll just say that after wearing one for several weeks over and under my riding jacket, I got used to putting it on before setting off putting on my helmet, jacket, boots and gloves. But there are a few initial steps to take to ensure the high-tech Smart Jacket is ready to ride and perform well if requested.

The D-air Smart Jacket and other equipment must be registered with Dainese after purchase to be “activatedâ€, then there are specific setup steps to follow but they are not complicated. Basically, you connect the airbag inflation system and then activate the unit’s many sensors. And yes, there is an app required for operation.

Once setup is complete, the Smart Jacket is powered by an internal battery that lasts over 24 hours and charges via USB. Once activated and connected, the Smart Jacket sensor set begins to operate, checking impact and motion signals 1000 times per second. The vest or other D air products do not physically connect to your motorcycle with a wire or tie; they are fully autonomous.

If an accident or impact is detected, the system inflates air bladders that protect the upper body in the front and back in 25 milliseconds – much faster than the time between an initial impact. with an obstacle and the moment when a cyclist’s body collides with a vehicle or the ground. Video of the vest in action shows it inflating with a loud bang and the airbag cover extends from front to back and over both shoulders. When it deploys inside a jacket, the jacket inflates a little but the airbag does not protrude like previous generations did.

Dainese claims that the inflated back protector of the vest is better than the combined strength of Seven typical back protection pads and also covers a wider area. At the front, the airbags protect the chest and upper body. Dainese claims that its “complex algorithm activates the airbag in the event of lowsiders, highsiders, collisions with objects or other vehicles and rear collisions” – a phenomenon far too common these days.

Is it worth it? Many cyclists claim that the Smart Jacket and other portable airbag systems have saved their lives or at least saved them from serious injury. What price is too high for driving safety? $ 699 is a big change, but many ATGATT enthusiasts drop much more than that on carbon fiber helmets and other high-end riding gear. And then there’s this other motorcycle axiom: “If you’ve got a $ 10 head, wear a $ 10 helmet.” Seven bills for proven extra protection and the peace of mind that comes with it sounds like a good deal to me.