D-air Racing

[DZircher]

Has anyone researched importing these into the US? I've read reference to a few on-line articles that stated that distributors would be reselling these in 2011 or 2012 however I keep being told that they are not available for sale here.

Naturally, I'm interested in any tools that could reduce the chance of serious injury and the prices I've been able to catch a trace of don't sound insane to me.

Does anyone know of any comparable alternatives?

-dana

[MarkMarine]

Alpinestars has the techair. I think you can get them here.

[Paul_E_D]

Have they been shown to reduce injury? Seems like a lot of broken collarbones still in motogp. Probably because they break from impact at the elbow as the forces transfer to the weakest link.

[GingahNinjah]

Select LionHeart Moto suits can be purchased with the optional M.A.N.E. system which is an inflatable collar

[scottieducati]

I guess it's all in your perspective, but broken collarbones / arms / wrists / legs aren't what I'd consider a "serious injury" when it comes to racing bikes. The D-air and similar systems are focused on protecting vital organs and your neck / spine area.

[DZircher]

I guess it's all in your perspective, but broken collarbones / arms / wrists / legs aren't what I'd consider a "serious injury" when it comes to racing bikes. The D-air and similar systems are focused on protecting vital organs and your neck / spine area.

I consider those serious injuries and vital organs, neck and spine as life threatening.

[scottieducati]

I consider those serious injuries and vital organs, neck and spine as life threatening.

Then I agree with the above. None of the airbag suits will help you in that regard. Or at least be nowhere near a sure-thing. The airbag suits, by design are aimed at, as you define, curbing life-threatening injuries.

[Paul_E_D]

Aah, In that case we will likely never really have enough data to determine if they reduce fatalities. There are just relatively few, and the circumstances are normally so brutal that an airbag around your shoulders isn't gonna suffice...

[DZircher]

Then I agree with the above. None of the airbag suits will help you in that regard. Or at least be nowhere near a sure-thing. The airbag suits, by design are aimed at, as you define, curbing life-threatening injuries.

Ok, this is a good perspective. As usual, I'll start trying to dig up more information, hopefully not provided solely by the manufacturer to try and sort through any impact studies.

[THE STUFF 187]

I was looking at the Spidi vest. It's $200 & would go over your suite. Seems like a cheap alternative. I'm going to rock one next season

[Chippertheripper]

There was a little kid (fucking ripper supposedly) with one on at nyst. He needed to be helped off his bike so it didn't 'splode.

[carsick]

As usual, I'll start trying to dig up more information, hopefully not provided solely by the manufacturer to try and sort through any impact studies.

Coming soon: Diz-Air

[Rada]

There was a little kid (fucking ripper supposedly) with one on at nyst. He needed to be helped off his bike so it didn't 'splode.

Back pack looking thing? White Gixxer 600?

[DZircher]

Coming soon: Diz-Air

You're not thinking big enough! Here's a quick glimpse of our prototype just hours before we begin retooling the shops.

http://www.all4humor.com/images/file...e%20Airbag.jpg

[MarkMarine]

How's the knee doing? You dont have the fear do you? You should get back on a bike ASAP, even if it's just to ride around

[DZircher]

How's the knee doing? You dont have the fear do you? You should get back on a bike ASAP, even if it's just to ride around

No Mark and I really mean that. My very significant friends are very angry with me because we have extremely different thresholds of risk. I am researching better safety equipment in an attempt to offer some middle ground. Hopefully, that's a reasonable compromise.

[Chippertheripper]

Back pack looking thing? White Gixxer 600?

Yeah. And a 125 too. Spanish, I believe. From Spain Spanish.

[Rada]

Yeah. And a 125 too. Spanish, I believe. From Spain Spanish.

I had a nice scramble with him in UNSS last round. Fun stuff.

On the OS. I concur that the inflatable stuff would be good for saving the important stuff like your neck and maybe some ribs. The damn collarbone is a fuse. It blows out to save other stuff from getting really messed up.

Heal up this winter and see you back out there in the spring Dana!!! That YZ will make a good training steed!

[MarkMarine]

No Mark and I really mean that. My very significant friends are very angry with me because we have extremely different thresholds of risk. I am researching better safety equipment in an attempt to offer some middle ground. Hopefully, that's a reasonable compromise.

I think the risk of a life not fully lived is greater. Maybe there is a way to articulate that?

[TTD]

Your body has a built-in "airbag" system to protect your vital organs... it's your rib cage.

As Rada said, the collarbone and ribs are sacrificial. Hopefully you already wear a full torso protector to help the ribs do their job?

As others have said, to me a "serious injury" is the spine, head, etc. Things that don't always heal. Rada wears the new version of the Leatt brace which I might look into again. I had the dirt bike version and it was useless on the racetrack (unless you were in a Motard riding position)

[DZircher]

I think the risk of a life not fully lived is greater. Maybe there is a way to articulate that?

I agree completely. there's a bit of rhetoric in that we're the racers.

[Paul_E_D]

Yes, Diz. Your collarbones are goners. Ribs too. Your hands and feet are likely to break as well. It is the cost of speed. You likely have already bought the best protection you can. A vanson suit and safeTarmour or whatever it's called is still the industry standard I believe. Sidi boots and good gloves. Arai or similar helmet.

There is a physics problem inherent to our sport. High speed, plus HARD surface = potential pain. That first time you smack pavement for real is life changing. It's unimaginably hard. When you body stops that quickly it compresses your ribs and rattles you brain. There MAY be some improvements to be made yet in safety gear, but these physics are hard to overcome.

Rather than assuage your friends with a fortune in gear that is likely no better than what you have already, just HYPE UP the danger to prove to them that you ARE crazy, because let's face it...we racers are nuts.

OR, get a D-air and let us know how it works!

[MarkMarine]

I still like the alpinestars gear.

When I was in the marines, I spent some time on a carrier. I worked on deck when I wasn't flying, and they have you wear this vest with a CO2 cartridge that will automatically inflate when you hit the water (From 88' up you'll probably be unconscious after you hit and unable to pull the manual inflate) and the way it worked was the lever to pull was spring loaded, but had to break this little tablet to inflate. And that tablet would dissolve in water. I was out on deck near the end of our tour, it was raining and I was walking in front of the glass windows the deck boss sits behind, and the god damn thing popped. It blew up huge, I couldn't move my arms enough to unclip the buttons holding it on... Picture that little kid in the Christmas story. Right in front of the squids. Hahaha. I couldn't pass any of them in the chow hall after that without some kind of jab or comment.

If you get this thing, I only hope the only time I get to see it inflated is in the pits. And it's that funny