Motorcycle airbags: a hidden danger in the event of a fall?

When a motorcyclist falls at over 60 km/h, injuries can be serious, even with protection. Motorcycle airbags were developed precisely to limit the damage. Their purpose? To absorb impact and protect the body. But beware: badly designed airbags can sometimes make the situation worse.

Too inflated = Too dangerous

A motorcycle airbag works by inflating very quickly to absorb the impact. Problem: if it inflates too much, it becomes too rigid. Result ? It no longer absorbs the energy of the fall sufficiently, sending some of it back to the pilot’s body.

The risk of rebound

An airbag that is too hard acts like an elastic wall:

• On impact, it slows the motorcyclist down sharply.
• Then, instead of dissipating the energy, it releases it… causing a rebound.
• This rebound can throw the rider back in the opposite direction, adding a second shock to the body.
  Result: the rider is subjected to twice as much force as a shock without rebound.

Physical consequences

• Whiplash, cervical or back injuries.
• Increased risk of trauma due to double impact.
• Less energy dissipation = more internal damage.

The solution: A cleverly designed airbag

To avoid these undesirable effects, a good airbag must :

• Be flexible and gradually deflate (like the ASA Air Shock Absorber system).
• Avoir une coque externe qui répartit l’impact (technologie RXR Protect avec coques PVC).
• Incorporate a special absorbent foam (such as R2O foam, which prevents bouncing).

In conclusion

An airbag must not only protect, it must also manage impact energy. Too rigid, and it can do more harm than good. The solution? Technologies like the R-Pro 2 from RXR Protect, which combine flexibility, absorption and optimum safety.