Protective Gear For Motor Bike Riders

Hi Ky,

Here is that link that was mentioned. I guess that the bulk of life threatening injuries are neck/spine related, and as suggest that the airbags correspond to that.

For examply, you may be able to make X-shaped bags that surround the torso, and tend to limit twist to the spine...

You could also have an 'inner tube' torus that inflates around the pelvis, helping to prevent crushed and broken pelvis injuries. (Pelvii?)

Also, the air bottle could be carried by the bike and not the rider, if the air line is longer than the lanyard. As the airbags will only take half a second to inflate or less, then that represents a certain amount of inertial flight time by the body... at which point, both the lanyard and airbottle are released.

I also think it a good idea to use a lanyard, which can also be used to trigger the kill of the engine/brake the wheels, and call 911. I do believe that bike racers already wear a kill switch lanyard (velcro) as well as snowmobiles and jetskis (pwc) so it might be difficult to get the average harley rider to want it.. but it is not unheard of.

great stuff

Chris

Wow Chris that link is exactly what I had in mind. Sorry for reinventing the wheel. So it has been done! Great, but why is it not being more published. Is it too "girlie" maybe? After watching that, I would even consider getting on a bike again.

naturalextraction if you see this post just blame my lack of time for not picking that up earlier in the piece. I could have saved my self the trouble of posting. It was well meant though, so I should be safe and not be accused of plagiarism.

Another one bites the dust, Ky.

Hold up there my friend... I think this discussion is far from over.

The link only shows a basic component of the technology, and what you have started is a discussion of what can be done with that technology.

When you start a thread, it often goes in unexpected directions, and people bring in all kinds of fascinating research to the discussion... There are so many things that we could find out and explore about this.

don't give up yet. It is just getting started, and it has intrigued me.

Airbags on their own provide a buffering effect, due to load spreading and energy absorption. For a bike rider, I think that it will have to inflate an outer skin, so that it can support sliding or rolling, because if you de-bike while travelling at a higher speed, you still have a lot of inertia to deal with.

Secondly, given that the airbag could inflate an outer skin, there is the 'rigidizing effect' to consider, which can help prevent bending and breaking of the wearer from impact.

I think that most of the bike safety programs teach 'staying upright' and staying on the bike as long as possible, so perhaps some sort of emergency inflate button/trigger should be incorporated that doesn't involve leaving the bike?

cheers,

Chris

It was this sentence by Drew:

Bottom line being, there isn't much we can engineer to increase safety on two wheels.

That triggered my response and made me do "it". "Maybe there is" was my reply. If it could only avoid one broken bone and otherwise not interfere with the ride it should be something to be looked at.

Other than my thoughts I will not have any time to contribute with developing this to a stage were it would become available to any one interested. Just something I have been thinking about, even before the other thread started.

Ride on, ride on, Ky.

I have heard about other jackets with a deployable airbag system, and I agree this is something that could help. I like it because it doesn't interfere with the rider any more than a good set of leathers and a backpack.

As for the stiffening to protect lower extremities, what about that material I read about that gets stiff when force is applied. The first I heard was a knit wool like cap that could be worn by snowboarders to protect them like a helmet, I read recently about another material which might work in bullet proof vests. As I understand, it works like corn starch in water; it gets firm when force is applied rapidly but is pliable when applied softly.

Drew

fascinating... is it real? I wonder how the 'shock lock' works on a molecular level?
(I didn't find an explanation.. but it is proprietary I guess) ga

chris

Hey Chris, haven't had time to read the link - but the tech has spread to all sorts of damping and power transmission uses. I would say it's the same deal.

But it ain't going to to be much help in Union Ky.

Yes it is real, and I was quite excited when I discovered it a while ago. Further information can be found below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D3o

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilatant

http://www.sixsixone.com/d3o.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EBWGbhsuws

Also a google search of "3do" produces plenty more links. Primary development and use has been in sporting goods, but military applications (and probably even police riot gear) are following.

shocking!

I hadn't heard of that "stuff". Sounds like a very likely candidate for comfortable clothing until you hit the ground! I like what I read of it so far.

All well and good having this external armour. But when you come to a sudden stop in a vehicle accident at even a low speed, this armour may protect you externally. But your internal organs will be travelling at the same speed, until they hit they're internal limits. Which will probably mean ruptured arteries.

I have been riding sportbikes on the street and track for a while and with all the new advancments in helmets and gear, the sad truth is A) you cant fix stupid and B) Darwins theory of natural selection applies to this discussion.

It is interesting food for thought though.

You can cover yourself in as much protective clothing as you like, it will never be a solution. As you are not solving the problem and, the problem being your thought process as you're piloting these vehicles; which can cause death. Whether it be you sitting in your comfortable protective volvo, being completely overrun by an 18 wheeler truck, where the driver has lost his concentration or been distracted for a moment. Or whether it be a motorcyclist loosing control of his vehicle, leaving the road and colliding with a pedestrian. In our vehicles we surround ourselves with things that distract us (not a good idea really). Humans are not perfect, we make mistakes; which often result in accidents. But while we are piloting these vehicles, we need to concentrate on the job at hand and, remove as many of these distraction as we possibly can. As the results of our failure to do so can be very shocking.

Any thing that can avoid even one broken bone will help the cause. In the near accident, which I survived, nothing short of a parachute would have helped. Coming to think of it................. naaaaa............,Ky.

The latest in motorcycle crash-proof technology can be viewed at http://biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=21816

Ouch

Drew

Umm - I guess he came to rely on it.

that is hilarious horrifying... it has to be an Onion piece or something...

chris

Sad that it reminded me of what you and Garthh are trying to put together in that new thread. I still have the shakes just watching it a couple of minutes ago. I think he was more distracted by the chick and was thinking of taking her for a ride, later on.

Darwin again, Ky.

Darwin?

His chances of less injury would have been better with an inflatable suit, never mind how stupid and absentminded he would have been. Shocking, that truck hit me as hard as it hit him.

It would be a challenge to get street riders to wear extra protective gear.

From my years of of off-road racing I got used to wearing body armor. I was surprised how hard you could get off and just stand up find the bike and go again, but I was younger then. It does appear as though the inflatable stuff would be a benefit when dealing with over-bending (neck, joints, etc). The armor only seems mostly to help with direct impacts.

Now when I ride a street bike I wear a jacket that has armor sewn in and never ride without a helmet. Just looking at other street riders very few wear jackets with sewn in protection and some don't even wear helmets!

Most racers will wear extra safety stuff if it doesn't cause other problems but I am surprised at the blatant risk-taking of some. The X games (motorcycle flips off jumps) and the Isle of Mann TT comes to mind.

Ever notice the shoes?

once you catch a footpeg in the shin off road, it's hard to ever even think about even short boots

all I can think when I see a weekender on the street with topsiders & dockers on is

Wow that's gonna leave a mark

It's amazing how many street rider wearing a openfaced beanie or no helmet

Myself I like my chin, I think I'll keep it

How about the girl that jumps on a bike with some guy, the girl wearing shorts and sandals and no helmet. The driver should know better. Even a low speed lay over is gonna mess up those pretty legs.

you mean like this?:

Edit Post #34

Message From CR4Admin: Please refrain from posting picture with nudity.

I like the fingerless gloves or no gloves the cruiser guys wear....

If you go down....even slowly, what's the first thing to hit the pavement? Your hands....to protect your chin and face because you are wearing a beanie helmet....

Good luck working for a while with road rash on your hands....

Got insurance???

PS....tank tops are great protection as well....

Go to www.killboy.com and look at some of the guys/girls riding Deal's Gap....funny.

Don't forget the tassels on the end of the grips, nothing like a good whipping at 60mph

I saw this guy with apes about 8 inches over his head, every 30 seconds or so the bars would give a nice shudder, he had ridden 3 hours over from Oakland, judging by his colors

how much control can you have when you're sitting in a recliner with you hands over your head

I could not agree more... they are ridiculous looking, and senseless for function.

Priceless stuff Green B

My fav;

I'd caption this; will need the best gear he can get!

This is nice as well......

I could look through these for hours, but being there is the best. You just never know what you are going to see....

But it's ok if you are riding a Harley to not wear any gear, they dont crash...it's just those "crotch rockets" that crash all the time.

I hope you were being sarcastic...

Having ridden a cruiser style bike and a sport bike, I will state that the sport bike is less likely to crash...given the rider's skill level and stupidity factor. The reason I say this is the riding position and the mechanical ability of the sport bike will get a skilled rider out of trouble where my old cruiser would scrape and bottom out in corners if I suddenly had to make an emergency maneuver.

I do admit that many of the sport bike riders in America have a lower skill set and a higher stupidity factor that leads the statistics to show them more likely to crash, but that is only one reason not to rely on statistics alone.

_{disclaimer: I am an American but I rode extensivly in England and took a British advanced riding course, I also rode with many Brits and feel myself a good judge of their skills which I don't see in the U.S.}

Drew

LOL

I thought you could see the sarcasm in my post.

I agree with you on the safety of sportbikes VS cruisers, I will never own a cruiser for that reason..LOL

I especially like the leopard skin air bag and the impact absorbing pine dash board. Is that an ejection seat after it cleared the crash or just a way to get home from the pub?

I didn't see any big bikes with apes. would that be evidence that they don't steer well in corners like this?

HA

Seriously! (Ref; post 34.) A set of cheeks is to risque that it was reduced to a liner, tell me it's not off topic, (which was referencing post 27). Yet cheesy thigh and legs on the Hardly (#35) is still posted. Wow! That's just goofy, editing staff. Besides it was serious to the topic and just how stupid and very real "no protection" exists in this sub-cultural group. I, as others, see this extreme lack of protection constantly in the summer months. Frankly that severity in lack of protection and responsibility should be illegal.

we have a high percentage of children reading our stuff.

oh please,

that old bit of propaganda again

the average age is closer to 60 than 16

& Ky in a dress has far more potential for permanent damage

please pass the eye bleach

Well, swinging that handbag can do a bit of damage as well.

I think Green's post of the cruiser might benefit from a black spot more than the cheeky post. And I agree (and gave the GA that brought it back from the realm of OT) that it is relevant to the thread.

I disagree that it showed too much skin and might be offensive. It might be degrading if we were supporting that type of clothing or behavior instead of using it as an example of what not to do.

At least they didn't delete it entirely as has been done in the past.

Drew

So back to protective gear- how about a bike built to really test it.

?

you've witnessed as many flameouts around here as i have.. if not more.. so you KNOW there is lots of children readin' and ritin' around here...lol (thats what I meant )

No - its just been put 'off topic' - which we all look at anyway. "We" being the regulars. (click on the +/- in the top RH corner to expand/contract)

I've also voted it towards "on topic" - as is is - and "major OUCHY cold shiver" if you've had some gravel rash.

And it's a great statement of what this thread is up against in education and attitudes.

To those wanting it back on topic - be careful of the double negative - in this case a "No" vote means "toward On-topic" - and a 'yes' vote means further 'off topic'.

Caution at null it may change back to 'yes' = GA. Read carefully.

actually it started with 5 OT (from the poster) and has been given 4 ga's so far.. probably soon to be more.

some things are just more important than motorcycles!

in fact... she IS the protective gear.... just protecting him from all the schoolyard bullies who must now be silent.

No Chris, it was reply to an on topic post, and up the first time I saw it - and cringed.

Not sure if you've seen this one. Yep, they made me wear a helmet.

Hiding that beautiful hair. I don't think the balloons would have made a difference though. See if this one goes off topic

Just cringed again - different reason.

Not an OT in sight. Well, there were inflatables involved I suppose.

As far as full gear goes, it's better to sweat than bleed.

That's my .02 on that.

Yep, better blow up than crack and variations thereof, Ky.

A catscan tech my wife works with was in an accident with his dirt bike. He broke BOTH wrists. I saw him at a hospital picnic a week later... with both arms immobilized. Luckily he had an understanding girlfriend who would feed him, and he won't be seeing patients for a while.

Then... a friend of mine on a Honda Goldwing? got into an accident last Friday. He got a broken wrist, a broken nose, and assorted cuts and abrasions. The Doc said that one inch difference and he would not have had a nose to put back together. The bike is totalled... and our friend has concluded that his biking days are over.

My wife works in an ER and she sees all the broke bikers... many more than she would like.

Anyhow... I do NOT see a bike in my future... I'm too old for this kinda S#!T.

Bill

Hi Bill

Surrounded by a few bubbles, in both cases, could have saved a lot of body work. What does your wife think of this. It's possibly the last thing she wants to be reminded of, I know, but it would be interesting to see what a professional body assembly person would think.

Me? On a bike? I don't think so, Ky.

I described them to her built in air bags and she thinks it might be a good idea, but she still does not like bikes. "It is too easy to get hurt... or dead."

Bill

I thought I would share something related to this thread and the illusion of sportbikes being dangerous.

In the last 4 years I have lost 2 friends to stupidity on sportbikes. The first was doing a wheelie in 3rd gear over 150 KMH on a GSXR1000, front wheen came down and immediatly went into a wobble (his GSXR had a Scotts damper for this reason) his freind's whom he was riding didnt. he hit a culvert in a ditch and was thrown over the bars when the bike hit the immovable object, he then flew through the air to hit a parked car and was killed instantly.

The second freind was killed less than a month ago, he had just sold his Buell1125 and was bikeless, so a friend lent him his 06 R6, he had just shifted into 3rd gear, wide open throttle in a 60 KMH zone and hit a 3/4 ton pickup broadside turning into a driveway going over 200 KMH. he was killed instantly.

Both instances were self inflicted and a result of stupidity. I have been riding sportbikes for a long time and thought about getting out of it a couple of weeks ago, but you cant live your life like that, if you did, you would have a hard time getting out of bed each day.

I am keeping my bike and have no intention of giving up this hobby. I would like people to remove the image of sportbike riders as a bunch of young hooligans, but its hard when you have people stunting in town and whatnot. Sportbikes are not toys and a 600 CC bike is not a beginner bike, as much as younger guys try to rationalize it when buying their first one. Within a week they are doing standup wheelies on the highway. This is what makes the sport look bad.

Both of my buddies who died were "older" the first was 30 and just married and worked with me uin the Aerospace industry, the second was 40 and was only riding for a year and it was on 2 buell's, not an inline 4....the novelty of the accelleration and noise and handling, etc is what killed him, he was only on it for an hour when he hit the truck.

I am not going to re read this for spelling mistakes, I just typed as I was thinking out loud..sorry if it is a little scattered..LOL

Its early.

Very sad to hear and I really mean it. In both cases it seems that no protective gear in the world would have made a difference. Tragic stuff!!

When thinking of my proposal I was more thinking of small inner city prangs or near misses which then end up in sliding and tumbling at lower speeds. Don't ask me how low but I am imagining the ones where people brake arms, legs, collarbones etc. In any case 8 weeks out of action, at least.

Take it easy out there GB, a shock can't last forever! Hope all goes well, Ky.

I just turned over 188k miles on my present cruiser. I have seen alot of idiots trying for darwin awards. I saw a guy do a wheelie while passing between cars on a two lane highway, Just for the sake of showing off. A few idiots should not cause the opinion of many to regard all of us motorcycle riders at dumb. Safety courses exist. Here in Oregon we have team oregon courses for beginners to experts. http://teamoregon.orst.edu/to_web/index.shtml. If you pass the course(s) and actually apply what you learn you can be a safe rider with a small likelyhood of being hurt. People kill themselves in cars too. It is the attitude of the driver more so than what they are driving.

BTW guys, thanks for the support on my posting! I didn't think I was out of line and apparently you all seemed to feel the same. Cool.

Those who have ridden for years (me over 35) know some tragedies, no doubt. I try to really talk with friends or people of all ages about the hot doggin. "There is a place and time for everything" really applies here. Some people just shouldn't anyway. I try to be a good example on public streets and be extremely courteous. It seems to help.

Sorry for the losses GB, very sincerely. Your right, don't let it scare you out of something you enjoy though. I know guys who have ridden over 50 years, in one case 72 years with one "incident" he calls it. It's the lack of control exhibited by the individual, for the larger part, that provides those extreme consequences.

The moderation discussion spilled over to the pub

The moderators have the job to ride herd over the lot of us & when ever one of them gets personally offended& is queried, trots out community standards as the alleged yardstick.

could someone spare some eye bleach after seeing Ky in drag

being in drag is liberating... you should try it!

I do it only once a week, so whats the problem?

Ky - I think you have invented the super-repelling force-field. Air bags, tricky viscous liquids, come nowhere near. Nor will traffic. Truly brilliant!