Harley-Davidson collab offers high-tech protection for bikers on the road – but it comes with a hefty price tag

A NEW collab between a renowned gear maker and Harley-Davidson has produced a new form of high-tech protection for bikers.

The new device is based on suits designed for Moto GP racers but gives it a “stylish” twist for street use.

The image of the biker has long been that of the risk-taking bad boy (or girl) largely thanks to media like Easy Rider and Sons of Anarchy.

And that outlaw reputation has also had a deterrent effect on potential new motorcyclists who see life of two wheels as risky if not outright dangerous.

But the vast majority of bikers are just normal folks and many are extremely safety conscious.

One of the main issues with bikes has been the lack of safety kit relative to cars.

First off, you’re not wrapped in a metal box with crumple zones to protect you against a crash.

There also aren’t any seatbelts, lane-holding software or pre-collision alarms.

Perhaps the biggest missing features, though, are airbags.

These have been legally required on all cars since the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act took effect in 1998.

But despite decades of research, there has not yet been any widely accepted way to put airbags on a bike.

Some larger models have built-in airbags, particularly the Honda Goldwing which pioneered the practice in 2006.

For smaller bikes, though, there simply isn’t the space to incorporate them into dashboards, which are often little more than a central speedometer.

Instead, a number of innovative firms have worked on putting airbags not on the bike, but on the biker.

Dainese is one of the most well-regarded of these and has been making protective gear for Moto GP riders since the 1970s.

This includes suits worn by the first ever 15-time world champion, Giacomo Agostini, and Valentino Rossi, who is widely considered to be the greatest racer of all time.

It has also incorporated airbags into its jackets, vests and suits for several years.

Now, for the first time, a big-name manufacturer has thrown its weight behind the tech.

Dainese have launched a collaboration with Harley-Davidson to create the new Smart Vest.

The garment uses Dainese’s D-Air hardware but is wrapped in leather to fit Harley’s more traditionalist aesthetic.

It includes an airbag in the chest and central back, as well as a series of sensors that can detect a crash and deploy the cushions.

But this is only activated when going over 6mph to prevent accidental deployment if you topple over while stationary (we’ve all done it).

When the bags are released, they inflate enough to form a seal with the user’s helmet to provide extra spinal protection.

All you have to do is charge up the internal battery using the attached USB cable.

The manufacturer says that this will last up to 24 hours between charges.

However, all that added protection comes at a price, with the vest itself clocking in at $850.

And if it is activated, you will need to have it serviced by an authorised dealer before it can be used again, at a cost of $350.

Then again, it’s still cheaper than a trip to the ER and could make all the difference in a high-speed crash.

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