Honda Gold Wing Official Airbag Demo

06/25/2009 · 3 Comments

I have mixed feelings about this but applaud all efforts to minimize injury.

Categories: Video

3 responses so far ↓

Canajun // 06/25/2009 at 7:55 am

Like you I applaud the effort, but I’m not sure the dynamics of the typical motorcycle accident lend themselves to this type of solution. It will be interesting to hear (if we ever do) about how well the technology works in the real world as opposed to the lab or demonstration stage.
One thing for sure though – it will be expensive.
Todd Vierling // 06/25/2009 at 9:30 am

There’s a give and take when it comes to an airbag on a bike (which has been tried before). In a situation where the rider collides with a forward object and is thrown, the airbag may not do much at all. However, if the crash results in a sideways drop or similar control loss, the bag might be able to push the rider away from the bike as it is going down, possibly reducing injury.

I don’t really see how (based on physics) this will help any other way, because a crash on two wheels inevitably leads to rider separating from vehicle — usually pretty quickly thanks to the friction difference between chrome/plastic and rider.

The quintessential Italian leathers maker, Dainese, had a better idea: they designed an airbag to help cushion the neck and stabilize a helmet in the event of a crash, assuming that the rider would be the first thing to hit the ground noticeably. (They cleverly hid the airbag in a speed hump.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo9Vlt5tGwY
Mr. Motorcycle // 06/25/2009 at 4:17 pm

I can’t see it hurting. If it helps just a little bit, why not.

Myth Exposed: “Avoid Using the Front Brakes Because it Will Throw You Over the Handlebars”

Myth: Avoid using the front brakes because it will throw the rider over the handlebars. ***** Comment: In reality, the front brake is responsible for 60 to 70 percent of the bike's stopping power and should be used. In emergency braking situations, the effective center of mass of the bike shifts forward toward the front wheel and tire, which creates a higher adhesion value to the front tire that tends to prevent the front wheel from locking unless the brake torque is extremely high. Another consequence is that the traction force in the rear wheel and tire is reduced, allowing the rear wheel to lock up and slide. With braking action on the front wheel, the rear wheel, even if locked, will not move from side to side and the bike will continue straight. *****

Myths Exposed: “Accelerate Around a Turn to Regain Control”

Myths: Accelerate around a turn to regain control. ***** Comment: The safest way to approach a turn on a curve is to slow down before entering it. Acceleration should be undertaken only near the end of the curve. Rapidly applying the throttle in the turn, when the bike is in a lean could result in the rear tire breaking traction and the bike going into a slide. The same effect may occur with substantial rear-brake application. *****

Myths Exposed: “Speed up when bike Weaves or Wobbles”

Myth: Accelerate to recover from high speed instability (wobble or weave). ***** Comment: In actuality the rider should gently ease off the throttle, place his upper body on the gas tank to effectively change the center of gravity and graduall slow down. Initially accelerating may slow the wobble or weave until the next oscillation occurs, but then the result will be a much more pronounced instability. Hard braking will alter the suspension characteristics and may likewise cause a crash. *****