Helite Air Vests- what do you owner's think of the products?

[Paul_F]

The expense of destroyed gear from an actual accident is one thing, a $400 recharge and 4 month wait for dropping the bike at a dead stop in a parking lot is quite another…

Best,
DeVern

Four years ago I had parking lot dead stop tip over and it did not activate the Helite.

Also I have neglected to detach the Helite tether and in dismounting and attempting to walk away, the stress on the vest was fortunately not great enough to deploy it.

Apparently a significant force is required for a Helite to work, which I think is a good thing, especially after the above experience.

[Omega Man]

Added a bit to the title for clarity.
OM

[rangerreece]

The air bag technology that is out there I highly recommend. I did not post the after action review from my deer strike in the forums, simply because I had about 40 photos, and it was just easier to post on the Facebook page.

The Air bag vest (Helite I) definitely saved my life or prevented me from sustaining incapacitating wounds. Since the incident Rhonda has purchased the Air Bag jacket from Helite. She tried it on at the rally and was able to get the right size.

As a result of increased sales through word of mouth, I think it’s a safe bet that Helite will be at the rallies in the future with seminars and sales. You would be able to get the right fit there.

[RIDERR1150GSADV]

The tethered vests are the way to go IMHO as I won't pay a penny for a subscription in order to use a $800 piece of equipment I paid for. What if you forgot to pay?
Does the vest not work when you have an accident???

[STEVENRANKIN]

I am not too concerned about the tethered systems, I am so used to unplugging my heated gear in the winter, I think I could do the same with a tether.

Thanks so far for the feedback and stories. I need to loose a few pounds I have gained by sitting around healing from my accident before I commit to sizing and purchasing a jacket. I will say, Helite has reached out and told me if I give them my specs, they will fit something for me.

I love the light gray touring jacket, they sell but their 4X didn't fit. They have bigger sizes in the black version but I am not much for black riding gear. St.

[akbeemer]

Annie and I started wearing Helite vests when we bought them at the SLC rally in 2017. We have not had an accident to test their effectiveness other than each having a low speed tip over. In Annie's case I think she may have been injured had she not had the vest on. She was parking her F800GS and maneuvering to get it with the rear wheel towards the curb. The camber of the road was steep and when she fell she landed with the curb in the middle of her back; shoulders on the sidewalk and butt on the road. I caught it out of the corner of eye and expected to find her injured. In fact she was giggling as she struggled to get up; when the vest deploys the wearer is momentarily like a beadle on its back. People came out of the store we were in front of to help because when the vest deploys it sounds like a pistol shot.

After wearing the vests for five years we now both feel incomplete without them. The only time I've ridden without the vest on was when on my Ural riding around the Great Falls rally grounds or in high heat while riding on forrest service roads. I would not recommend the air bag jacket over the vest. The vest offers far more flexibility in its use. It can be worn over heavy winter gear or a mesh jacket on a hot summer day. It also is easier to adjust for fluctuations in the girth of the user. I do not find the vest uncomfortable to wear, although on very hot days it does add a bit to the misery. Crossing Idaho last summer we rode in temperatures above 100f. most of the ten hour day and saw 106 for a few hours. It sucked but it would have sucked no matter what we wore.

[patm]

There is one thing good to say about those smart air vests, they're convenient. As long as it is armed, it should deploy in a get off.
A friend of mine had his vest deploy accidentally when it fell off his bike in his garage. The manufacturer was nice enough to reload it at no charge as that is not supposed to happen. All that convenience is relying on software scripts and experience learning. Hopefully yours won't ever need to deploy but if it does happen, the device should react correctly and prevent serious injuries.

Regarding subscription plans, my understanding is that some manufacturers have one time fees instead of subscriptions. And not all smart vests have to be reloaded at the factory.

My own experience is with a tethered Hit-Air. Other than sometimes forgetting to attach it, I've never had it deploy. It is heavy but not uncomfortable even in very hot days. I believe that vest has better neck and lower back protection than some of the smart vests. In any case, any vest, any protective clothing, is still better than no protection at all.

[tsconver]

There is one thing good to say about those smart air vests, they're convenient. As long as it is armed, it should deploy in a get off.
A friend of mine had his vest deploy accidentally when it fell off his bike in his garage. The manufacturer was nice enough to reload it at no charge as that is not supposed to happen. All that convenience is relying on software scripts and experience learning. Hopefully yours won't ever need to deploy but if it does happen, the device should react correctly and prevent serious injuries.

Regarding subscription plans, my understanding is that some manufacturers have one time fees instead of subscriptions. And not all smart vests have to be reloaded at the factory.

My own experience is with a tethered Hit-Air. Other than sometimes forgetting to attach it, I've never had it deploy. It is heavy but not uncomfortable even in very hot days. I believe that vest has better neck and lower back protection than some of the smart vests. In any case, any vest, any protective clothing, is still better than no protection at all.

Some have one time fees instead of or as an option. I know that on those onetime fees though you can loose some functionality. For instance I think on the Klim if you want the adventure mode active you have to do the annual subscription. Otherwise that mode is not available. Wait until car manufactures figure this out and say if you want airbags above 55mph you have to pay an extra fee. Personally is is a bunch of crap to charge the fee for the vest then force a subscription at the rates they cahrge.

[RIDERR1150GSADV]

This is another view from Ryan at FortNine..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2jZryt607U

[crna59]

The tethered vests are the way to go IMHO as I won't pay a penny for a subscription in order to use a $800 piece of equipment I paid for. What if you forgot to pay?

That's why I've bought into AlpineStars... no subscription! No tether!

[tsconver]

That's why I've bought into AlpineStars... no subscription! No tether!

But it is $300 bucks to have it repacked and charged in the event it deploys in a minor fall over. I can redo my Hit-Air in 5 minutes and have it fully functional. Never deployed mine but my wife had a drop at a stop sign and hers went off. After I got done laughing I was able to repack it.

[craydds]

But it is $300 bucks to have it repacked and charged in the event it deploys in a minor fall over.

It does not deploy in a minor fall over.

[akbeemer]

It does not deploy in a minor fall over.

It should not deploy in a minor fall over.

See post #22

[glenfiddich]

Kevin’s comment that the Helite sounds like a pistol shot reminded me of the Helite seminar at SLC. Tulliver, my service dog who was also a great bird dog, was asleep at my feet till the presenter deployed one as part of his demo. Tulliver immediately leapt to his feet looking for the duck!

I bought a tethered version after reading about Reece vs Bambi. I drape the tether over my tank as a visual reminder to hook up pre-flight.

[brownie0486]

I've had my Helite vest for 3 plus years now. I don't wear it all that often, I should but don't.