New Goldwing gets an airbag

Originally Posted by sv4me

it was a joke!

Yes, I should have quoted SVeeedy.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by SVeeedy Gonzales

But that's not often, is it? (or maybe it is in the US?) most of the time coming off a bike involves coming off at the sides

Not so, one of the most common forms of accident is hitting a vehicle in your path, ie the **** gabbing on the phone that pulls out in front of you, an airbag may never save you from coming off, but if it slows you down before you come away from the machine job done. Clearly it would only ever suit certain shapes/sizes of bikes, but it could well work.

The thing that concerns me is the risk compensation factor, as cars have got 'safer' (yeah...right) that is: compulsory seat belts/airbags/ABS/etc etc, drivers have got even more careless than they were before, I don't want to see that happen to riders too.

Ok it looks silly but i think its a good idea. It would of helped me in my off. I hit a car side on and was thrown over the top of the bike into the car.

The thing that concerns me is the risk compensation factor, as cars have got 'safer' (yeah...right) that is: compulsory seat belts/airbags/ABS/etc etc, drivers have got even more careless than they were before, I don't want to see that happen to riders too.

you read my mind there siddo

ok. you hit a big bump to fast/clip a car/bird flys into you. just as your about to save it. THUMP a giant **** sends you flyin' off the bike! i don't think so. my flat mate rear ended a car went right over it, not a scratch. if that had slowed him down me might have hit the car instead.

I personaly don' think it's an airbag per say. i think honda realised how heavy the goldwing was and decided that, rather than shave weight off. they would add hellium filled balloon

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by Godikus

ok. you hit a big bump to fast/clip a car/bird flys into you. just as your about to save it. THUMP a giant @rse sends you flyin' off the bike! i don't think so.

A common misconception. In the very early days of airbags there were occasions where they went off spontaneously and at unnecessary times, (although far far fewer than is sometimes thought), but the control mechanisms are much improved nowadays and this problem really isn't a concern.

Still not sure it is a positive move though, but not for technical reasons, that's really not an issue.

In a car an airbag works well because you're already restrained with a fixed seat behind you and a seatbelt on.
On a bike you'd have to be sitting dead centre on the seat, travelling in a straight line and also be upright, with the crash sensors setting off the airbag at exactly the right amount to decelerate you (and a pillion if there is one). There are a lot more factors to take into account than a car... and in a car you can't fall off after the airbag activates.
Still, if it saves one life it'll be a good thing (so long as it doesn't claim any others)

Goldwings have always had airbags

You found them sitting on the seat riding

Originally Posted by hutchy

Goldwings have always had airbags

You found them sitting on the seat riding

I thought they were windbags?

I believe that one cause of KSI on bikes is the biker hitting something hard, sliding forwards and shattering their pelvis on the handlebars. This airbag may help to stop some of that.