HIT-AIR MV-2 MOTORCYCLE AIRBAG VEST By Dan Rubenstein, photos by Safermoto and Jaene Leonard A truck pulls out from a side street…An SUV makes an illegal u-turn…A car changes lanes on the freeway without looking… Impact. You’re hit, thrown airborne and slammed onto the road. You were smart to wear armored leathers, back protector and a full-face helmet. But. Massive impacts are too much for traditional padding to absorb and in the U.S. every year over 5,000 motorcyclists are killed. Sadly, it’s a risk all riders have been forced to accept- until now. Designed to reduce the shock of impact, the MV-2 vest is a groundbreaking product that protects in ways normal gear can’t. When the rider and motorcycle separate, compressed gas from a replaceable cylinder fills the vest, enveloping you in what feels like a giant blood-pressure cuff. The chest and back, tailbone and hips are shielded by air bladders and a donut-shaped pillow surrounds the neck, restricting flexion. Made of lightweight mesh, the vest fits comfortably over a jacket and weighs 3.5 pounds with the optional chest armor. Stylish and understated, the MV-2 looks surprisingly good over leathers. It’s interesting how people react to the vest. It seems everyone has an opinion as to how effective it is. One guy in particular had an unusual theory that once deployed, the vest would raise the rider’s center of gravity, causing increased injuries due to tumbling. Even if this is true, the benefits the Hit-Air offers far outweigh any peripheral trauma that could occur. Testing by the Japan Automobile Research Institute proves The Hit-Air’s ability to absorb life-threatening shocks. Dummies equipped with air-bags showed a 60% reduction in chest deflection, 50% less head acceleration and 25% less body g-force compared to those with padding only. Dummy testing is one thing but actual crash testing paints a vivid picture. Club racer Alan Cunningham was wearing an MV-2 vest when he high-sided, tumbled and landed on his head during a recent event at Infineon Raceway. The Hit-Air inflated instantly and stabilized his head, preventing serious neck injury. Another misconception is that the Hit-Air is a one shot deal. Unlike an automotive airbag, the vest is reusable and extremely durable. Resetting the vest is a simple ten-minute job that involves squeezing any remaining air from the cushions and snapping six buttons together on the neck and hip pockets. The gas cartridge is then replaced and the trigger is reset using the supplied Allen wrench. Thankfully, I’ve yet to personally test the vest but I did deploy it in my garage, which revealed several details. First, there’s no chance of the vest going off by accident, as the tether needs to be forcefully yanked before the vest inflates. According to the manufacturer, sixty-pounds of pull is required to trigger the vest, so forgetting to disconnect the cable when dismounting won’t result in embarrassment. Wrapped in the vest’s firm embrace, I felt my breathing slightly restricted but almost immediately the pressure was relieved as automatic deflation began. Moving my neck was nearly impossible and my back and chest were totally covered as well. Airbag technology raises the game of motorsport protection to a new level and the best part is the price. At $339 it’s cheaper than a high-end helmet and well within the reach of most riders. Sizes range from XS to 3XL. Fully armored textile jackets start at $399 and replacement gas cartridges cost between $14-$19. · Safermoto

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Danny Molina Added: Jan.26.2010

GRIP LOCK Light, convenient, visible lock for all bikes By Larry Wright Let’s be real, there is no guaranteed anti-theft system for anything, including motorcycles and scooters. If someone wants to steal your ride bad enough, they will find a way to take it. However, whatever steps you take to “harden the target” will go a long way toward preventing your ride from becoming another crime statistic. The OEM security stuff is child’s play to most thieves; a key ignition and steering lock can be bypassed in seconds with little effort by even the most inept criminal. So, layering more advanced anti-theft systems becomes important in protecting your investment. The more layers, the better. But all the layers in the world won’t work if they are not used consistently. I generally carry my heavy-duty disc lock and U-shaped front fork lock, but I rarely use them, for the following reasons. 1) They’re heavy. I think each weighs at least 2 or 3 pounds. 2) It is way too easy to forget they’re on and I run the risk of dumping my bike and/or damaging my brakes/calipers or forks. 3) The disc lock scratches my front disc and the fork lock is too big to carry conveniently. 4) My hands seem to get dirty when putting them on or removing them. 5) The locks stick and are very temperamental; it’s tough to get them locked, and I have to jiggle them to unlock. 6) I have to stoop or kneel down to put them on (OK, call me lazy). I need something different—something lightweight, but tough enough to resist tampering, something highly visible and impossible to forget so that I don’t ride away with it on. I need something that does not damage my bike and is conveniently located up off the ground, away from brake dust and road grime, where I don’t need to stoop down to affix or remove it. And, above all, I need something with an easy-to-use lock mechanism that is secure, reliable, and operates smoothly. Keep in mind that some bikes and many scooters have the front brake disc completely covered so they have to use the even less convenient and less visible rear disc to affix a disc lock. I’ve found the solution! The Grip Lock. It’s one of those things you look at and say, “Hey! Why didn’t I come up with that?!” It can be used as a throttle and brake lever lock, depending upon how it’s adjusted. It is designed to immobilize the throttle or, in combination with slight pressure on the front brake, to hold both the throttle and front brake lever securely. Holding the front brake can also help keep the bike from sliding or rolling down an incline and may help prevent someone from trying to push or roll your bike away. The Grip Lock comes in a variety of colors and is made from 30% glass-reinforced nylon with three hardened steel bars molded inside. Surely it won’t prevent the most determined and well-equipped thief—but let’s be honest, what will? The Grip Lock is supposed to be very hard to cut, even with a hacksaw or cordless Dremel tool, because the glass and hardened steel inserts will damage the blades. The company claims that it takes three to four minutes to cut through each of the three steel inserts, I’d imagine with the right tools and without regard for any possible damage to my grips, I could get it off in a few minutes, but not without drawing some seriously unwanted attention! If you go to the grip-lock.com site, they have several videos of cutting and prying efforts to defeat the lock. Quite impressive really. The Grip Lock clamps down over your throttle grip using a machined stainless steel hinge pivot hinge, closing down like a clamshell over your brake lever and once closed, the spring-loaded steel lock pushes in like a button. Easy! I suggest you consider adding the Grip Lock, as another layer of security to your theft-prevention arsenal this year. Grip Lock $79 MSRP (includes delivery) or Aerostich $57 (plus tax/shipping) · Grip Lock · Aerostich

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Paolo Asuncion Added: Jan.26.2010

Tire Stripper and Balancer Review and Pics by Dan Rubenstein No motorcycle workshop is complete without a tire machine, yet many home users are put off by the cost. The Harbor Freight unit I had been using was inexpensive, but it was awkward and its clamping jaws bent my rim so badly the tire leaked. A $1000 plus commercial unit was out of the question, but I needed something better. The quest for an affordable machine that wouldn’t damage my rims led me to Tire Stripper, a company out of Texas that manufactures and sells the Tire Stripper. Priced at $475, the Tire Stripper is well within the reach of home users, yet sturdy enough for heavy use. Made to hold wheels up to 24 inches in diameter by 14 inches wide, the Tire Stripper can be used to change ATV, motorcycle and even car tires. The main unit is well constructed of a one-quarter inch steel plate with a three-quarter inch thick center post, over which the wheel is placed. Unique to the Tire Stripper are three adjustable plastic spacer blocks bolted onto the base, providing clearance for brake disk or sprocket. A rubber-coated lock attaches to the lip of the rim and holds the wheel in place preventing wheel-spin. Simple, but effective. Unlike the clamping jaws of the traditional machine, this rubber-coated lock holds the wheel without compression. Assembly took only 30 minutes, with another 15 minutes required to replace the rear tire. The second time through was easier, taking less than 10 minutes, but with practice this will take even less time. The company’s website video demos a tire strip in just over 5 minutes. I recommend watching it before getting started. Much of what makes the Tire Stripper work so well is the Mount/Demount Bar, which slides over the center post, making for one-handed operation. This frees up the other hand to keep the tire in the relief valley of the wheel during installation. The unique double-tube design of the Mount/Demount Bar prevents twisting as the last few inches of the tire are going over the rim. The Delrin-coated heads of the Bar slide easily against the wheel, further preventing damage. The Bead Breaker locks onto the center post, and unlike foot-pedal systems, won’t slip off the tire, making for nearly effortless action. A wide plastic footpad won’t scratch or gouge the rim. With the rear tire mounted and inflated to seat the bead, Tire Stripper’s $135 Wheel Balancer was used to finish the job. The kit includes large and small centering cones which accommodate virtually any sized wheel including Formula Race Car rims. The balancer’s axle spins on ABEC- 7 bearings, which are extremely precise and super low friction – so it’s important to note that the wheel will keep moving slightly even when balanced. The well-written directions help to make this a 10-minute job. With shops charging $20 - $30 per wheel for mounting and balancing, The Tire Stripper is great for racers or track day junkies. Perfect for pit-use, the optional trailer hitch-mount turns the back of your truck into a trick tire machine. For more information go to: · The Tire Stripper

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Paolo Asuncion Added: Jun.30.2009

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