Bungleaio Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Had a helite tethered ever since I first saw one at motorcycle live about 5 years ago. The guy did a demo on me and I was convinced, bought one there and then. The only times I’ve ridden without it has been when I’ve done test rides as it’s a tethered one. I know they are expensive but my theory is if things go wrong and you’re flying through the air then you couldn’t spend money fast enough to prevent an injury so paying now is worth it, to me at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 I'm sold on this make, but as I don't live near dealer who stocks these, how does sizing work as over jacket, is it adjustable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideWithStyles Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Yes to a point, what id do if a dealer is not near you is visit a motorbike show like nec or the london one, they will be there with a stand and get to try it on with them to help you and possibly go home with one on discount?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Thanks RideWithStyles, good idea, big outlay so want to get size right and thus let it do it's job properly ,appreciate your time 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Frog Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Motorcycle live at the N.E.C is coming up in November. Cheers Ian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 That's excellent, thanks Ian your a legend 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonio Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 It's worth getting someone who knows about them to help you size them, as you need to get the right amount of free play between you and the jacket to allow the inflated air bag to give you the support to your back and neck without putting you in a stranglehold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 That's sound advice Bonio, thank you for taking the time to post 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trooper74 Posted October 27, 2023 Author Share Posted October 27, 2023 10 hours ago, megaross said: Because most people work from home these days as a result of dinosaurs updating their ways after covid forced the change. I did before covid to be fair, I do now - office is a boiling hot shithole with piss coffee full of noisy ***** who just sit there nattering while I'm trying to work, and people with no proper social life. But I digress... I rather like these vests they're meant to be the bollocks in an off. But the reality is I wouldn't wear one every ride, if your rides are exclusively for pleasure then I reckon it's a sound bet. If like me you use your bike for everything you aren't going to piss about with a vest realistically. I'd like one I could retrofit to my jacket (or that came as part of a decent leather jacket) and that works on gyro rather than pullcord. Sorry thats nonsense ... the majority of people that work cannot work from home ... thats a daft thing to say .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interference Fit Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 7 hours ago, keith1200rs said: The Tech-Air 5 states that it has been tested with a 6kg backpack. In don't understand the concerns about having to send it back to be inspected and recharged - by the time I have the bike repaired and I am fit to ride again I will have it back. Agreed - if I ever need it, the process and cost of inspection and recharge will be the least of my worries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 I didn't even know this was an actual thing. Just been looking on amazon, they are not too expensive I guess. https://www.amazon.co.uk/KIMESS-Motocross-Motorcycle-Motorcyclists-Cylinder/dp/B09SZD2S4G/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3G1XUWJ6T4X64&keywords=air+jacket&qid=1698433067&sprefix=air+jacket+biker%2Caps%2C1514&sr=8-5 £123 on Amazon. Doesn't say if you wear them on top of another jacket or if it replaces your original jacket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungleaio Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 4 minutes ago, janinej said: I didn't even know this was an actual thing. Just been looking on amazon, they are not too expensive I guess. https://www.amazon.co.uk/KIMESS-Motocross-Motorcycle-Motorcyclists-Cylinder/dp/B09SZD2S4G/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3G1XUWJ6T4X64&keywords=air+jacket&qid=1698433067&sprefix=air+jacket+biker%2Caps%2C1514&sr=8-5 £123 on Amazon. Doesn't say if you wear them on top of another jacket or if it replaces your original jacket. That goes over the top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 (edited) 17 hours ago, Angela Collen said: I'm sold on this make, but as I don't live near dealer who stocks these, how does sizing work as over jacket, is it adjustable? There's a lot of adjustment in the Helite. If I remember right I went for my usual size as they are designed to fit over your usual jacket. Edited October 28, 2023 by Mississippi Bullfrog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxie49 Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 I have a Helite Hi-Vis untethered. I didn't buy it new, bought it 2nd hand. A bit dirty from use but at £250 it was a bargain. Comfortable to wear, remembering to keep it charged is a pain, worn it a few times and it's started beeping at me to tell me the charge is low. It lasts about twenty odd hours on a full charge. I like the fact it can be repacked yourself if it inflates, it helps keep you warm and dry on the cold winter commutes, and, with the fork sensor, will also detect falls or rear end shunts when at a stand still. Personally I prefer to be untethered, I always worry about walking away from the bike and forgetting to disconnect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 11 minutes ago, manxie49 said: I have a Helite Hi-Vis untethered. I didn't buy it new, bought it 2nd hand. A bit dirty from use but at £250 it was a bargain. Comfortable to wear, remembering to keep it charged is a pain, worn it a few times and it's started beeping at me to tell me the charge is low. It lasts about twenty odd hours on a full charge. I like the fact it can be repacked yourself if it inflates, it helps keep you warm and dry on the cold winter commutes, and, with the fork sensor, will also detect falls or rear end shunts when at a stand still. Personally I prefer to be untethered, I always worry about walking away from the bike and forgetting to disconnect. That is something I would do, walk away and it would go off. Is the one on Amazon cheap and nasty? How much do they usually go for if second hand £250 is a bargain? Please could someone post links. I will need a size 'extra small' but maybe a 'small' if it has to go over a jacket. I'm only 5'0. JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxie49 Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 (edited) I bought this one locally of a guy who was selling up, giving up biking, compared to the new price £250 was a snip. The only thing I did after I bought it was to send it back to Helite and have it serviced, they even give it a bit of clean. I don't know about the one on Amazon, however I'm always very careful about buying things like this from sites such as Amazon and E-bay. A good starting point is Sports bike Shop, have a look at the different products, read the reviews and do some hunting ...... In fairness to the tethered vests, I don't actually think they inflate that easily, I think you'd realise you were still tethered before they inflated, but yes, it is the sort of stupid thing I would do, probably parked at the Creg TT week with a thousand other bikers stood around pissing themselves laughing Oh, final thought, the vest is comfortable when riding the Tracer, however, on the Beamer, which is a sports bike, I don't wear it. The collar of the vest hits the back of the helmet and stops me comfortably being able to move my head, it sort of pushes my head forward due to the riding position, just something to think about. Edited October 28, 2023 by manxie49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Sisko Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 (edited) 17 hours ago, janinej said: https://www.amazon.co.uk/KIMESS-Motocross-Motorcycle-Motorcyclists-Cylinder/dp/B09SZD2S4G/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3G1XUWJ6T4X64&keywords=air+jacket&qid=1698433067&sprefix=air+jacket+biker%2Caps%2C1514&sr=8-5 £123 on Amazon. Suggest you read this review before parting with your hard earned cash. https://jalopnik.com/this-suspiciously-cheap-wish-com-motorcycle-airbag-vest-1847338206 and https://www.motorcyclenews.com/advice/buying-selling/fake-motorcycle-airbag-vests/ Edited October 28, 2023 by Capt Sisko 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Sisko Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 1 hour ago, manxie49 said: ........ I always worry about walking away from the bike and forgetting to disconnect. In 18months of use and yes, having forgotten to unteather mine on numerous occasions it's never gone off. All that said, if / when time comes to replace mine, I'd either replace it with an untreather one or a jacket with a build in air vest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxie49 Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 2 hours ago, Capt Sisko said: In 18months of use and yes, having forgotten to unteather mine on numerous occasions it's never gone off. All that said, if / when time comes to replace mine, I'd either replace it with an untreather one or a jacket with a build in air vest. Yes, agreed, you do have to give the things a good old tug before they go off, I seen one being demonstrated two years ago, look on the guys face who was wearing it was classic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinlim Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 On 27/10/2023 at 09:47, geofferz said: I'd they stay inflated under the weight of a rider hitting the deck at 90 I reckon they will shun off a backpack pretty easily! My concern is that if I carry a 35l bag most of the time and if the airbag went off that in the fraction of a second it take to inflate the airbag will push through the point of least resistance. A heat full bag may cause the airbag to push towards my ribs. And I'm too vain to put a topbox on my CBR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonio Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Agree, top boxes are butt ugly. But a tail bag? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 Looking at the helite vest, there seems to be two versions of tethered type, the original airnest with knox back protector on inside about £300 new, then turtle with sas back protector on outside at £550, which version have you guys used, just so I can make informed purchase, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideWithStyles Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 They have different feel and sizes that might make one or the other be better to you than someone else between the knox and sas. so personally it would be a sensible to try on before you buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 Thank you RideWithStyles, I was planning on trying them on, but different places have different styles they sell and quite a difference in price for the newer one (tyrtle) so was wondering whether turtle is worth the extra or if airnest is still good kit, if I can't go to nec in November, sportsbikeshop have both to try, only info I can get online is slightly different material(as you said) and back protector changed, hence question, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 Thank you RideWithStyles, I was planning on trying them on, but different places have different styles they sell and quite a difference in price for the newer one (tyrtle) so was wondering whether turtle is worth the extra or if airnest is still good kit, if I can't go to nec in November, sportsbikeshop have both to try, only info I can get online is slightly different material(as you said) and back protector changed, hence question, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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