BLOW IT UP
I’m a long-time reader, fi rst-time writer. I have
been riding for well over 20 years, with my
(un)fair share of incidents and carrying the
physical anomalies that goes with it — think
plates and screws and a mildly misshapen
wrist, elbow and unnatural clicks etc.
However, I cannot keep away from
motorbikes, with a VFR800i for the “relaxed”
touring-type rides and my beloved VTR1000F
(so underrated) for those more adrenalin-
driven blasts and track time.
As I get older, with more to lose, I look
more for safety items that will not necessarily
prevent falls but might mitigate injuries. If I
fall again, I know I am likely to be hurt more
badly. So, with existing injuries and age, I have
been looking at infl atable vests and the like.
The infl ated pricing and infl atable Dainese
leathers are out of the question but what do
you know about other options? Did I miss a
review or could you please do one?
Ben, SA
Greg: Ben, airbag technology is available in
quite a few jackets nowadays. A quick Google
search will throw up a bunch of possibilities.
I note that prices vary markedly, as will, I’m
sure, eff ectiveness. We are planning a big test
on some of these in the near future. Until then,
I’m reluctant to endorse one over the other. I
would suggest, however, that you stick to name
brands with backup in Australia. That nice-
looking jacket for bugger-all from an obscure
off shore manufacturer might not save you
down the track.114 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDERLETTERS
ARR139_110-117_Letters.indd 114ARR139_110-117_Letters.indd 114 6/21/2017 9:36:40 AM6/21/2017 9:36:40 AM