FAQs

The vest contains a folded airbag connected to a CO2 cartridge. When the system detects a fall or accident, the airbag deploys in approximately 100 milliseconds, inflating fully before you hit the ground. The airbag protects the cervical spine, back, abdomen, thorax, hips, and sacrum. After deployment, you replace the CO2 cartridge - it's ready to use again within two minutes.

Yes. The mechanical system deploys whenever you're separated from the motorcycle, regardless of speed. The electronic system detects incidents from low speed upwards. Most electronic models activate at speeds above 18 km/h and cover low-side and high-side falls, collisions, and stationary impacts. If you add the optional fork sensor to an electronic vest, coverage extends to 0 km/h.

The airbag provides protection to the spine, chest, abdomen, hips, and sacrum. For localised impacts (like hitting a post or guardrail), the Turtle Technology back protector spreads force across a larger surface than the airbag alone.

No problem. The airbag is designed to deploy safely, even in confined spaces. Once deflated, replace the CO2 cartridge and the vest is ready to use again. The vest itself is undamaged by accidental deployment.

Mechanical vests use a lanyard that connects to your motorcycle. If you're separated from the bike in a fall, the lanyard pulls a pin that releases the CO2 and inflates the airbag instantly. No battery, no electronics, no charging - fully mechanical and reliable.

Electronic vests use an onboard sensor unit (the CDU) that monitors your movement in real time. When a fall or accident is detected, the vest inflates automatically. No lanyard required. The CDU runs on rechargeable battery and charges via USB.

Mechanical - best if you want zero maintenance, no charging, and a system that responds instantly to separation from the bike. Works at any speed. No electronics means nothing to learn.

Electronic - best if you want automatic detection without a lanyard, and coverage at low speed or standstill. Requires charging every 25 hours of use.

See our full Mechanical vs Electronic comparison for a detailed breakdown.

The CDU battery lasts approximately 25 hours of active use. It charges fully via USB in 3 hours. If you ride regularly, plan to charge 1 to 2 times per week. The vest will alert you when battery is low.

CO2 cartridges are classified as compressed gas and are restricted or prohibited on aircraft and some public transport. Check with your airline and transport provider before travelling. We recommend ordering replacement cartridges at your destination or shipping them separately by courier if allowed. Do not pack a cartridge in carry-on luggage.

Helite products come in a range of sizes and each range is different. Please consult the product pages or size guide to find your fit.

Start with your height, then check your chest, waist and hip measurements against the chart. Measure over a t-shirt or a thin jumper, except for the GP Air and e-GP Air, which are sized over a race suit. A properly fitted vest should feel snug but not restrictive - it needs to stay in contact with your body to detect a fall.

If you're between sizes, contact us and we can advise based on your riding gear and build.

Some vests are designed for layering over any motorcycle jacket. These include the Turtle 2, e-Turtle, and other over-jacket models. They have adjustment straps to accommodate different jacket thicknesses.

Other models like the Vented, Touring, Roadster, and H-Moov are integrated products - the airbag is built into the jacket itself. These cannot be worn over another jacket.

Check your specific model's product page to see whether it's an over-jacket or integrated design.

No. Once fitted correctly, the vest feels like a second skin. It doesn't restrict arm movement, shoulder rotation, or your ability to control the bike. Many riders forget they're wearing it after a few rides.

The cartridge size depends on your vest model and your size within that model. Smaller sizes use a 60cc cartridge (17L airbag volume). Larger sizes use a 100cc cartridge (28L volume). Your vest's documentation specifies which is correct, and our CO2 Cartridge Guide has the full breakdown by model. Always use genuine Helite cartridges - substitutes can affect deployment reliability.

Cartridges are marked with an expiry date. Check the date before each ride. Do not use an expired cartridge. If your vest has deployed, you must replace the cartridge even if it looks fine - a used cartridge cannot reliably deploy twice. Store cartridges in a cool, dry place, away from heat and direct sunlight.

All Helite airbag vests include a 2-year warranty from Helite SARL. If you register your vest at my.helite.com within 30 days of purchase, the warranty extends to 4 years at no cost.

The warranty covers manufacturing defects and failed deployments. It does not cover normal wear and tear, physical damage from impacts or crashes, or cartridges.

Go to my.helite.com and create an account. Follow the registration form and enter your vest's serial number (found on the label inside the vest). Upload a photo of the serial number if requested. Once registered, you'll receive confirmation and your 4-year warranty is activated.

Yes. All Helite airbag vests are fully reusable. After deployment, deflate the airbag completely, replace the CO2 cartridge with a new one of the same capacity, and the vest is ready to use again. The entire process takes under two minutes.

Yes. All Helite airbag products are CE certified. CE certification is the relevant European safety standard for personal protective equipment. It confirms the product has been independently tested and meets defined protection and safety criteria. You'll see the CE mark on the vest and in all product documentation.

All Helite vests distributed by Helite NZ carry full CE certification.

Helite airbag technology has been trusted by riders in 50 countries. Thousands of deployments have occurred in real-world accidents - from commuter falls to track crashes - and the technology consistently performs as designed. We regularly hear from riders who say the vest made the difference in their recovery.

Keep the vest dry and clean. Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth if needed. Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, extreme heat, or moisture. Do not machine wash, dry clean, or submerge the vest. If the airbag or cartridge are exposed to water, let them air dry completely before use.

Periodically check that all zips, velcro, and adjustment straps are in good condition.

The airbag and cartridge are water-resistant for short-term exposure (light rain, splashing). They are not fully waterproof and should not be submerged. If the vest gets wet, dry it thoroughly before storage.

Turtle Technology includes a rigid SAS-TEC Level 2 back protector that sits over the airbag. In a normal deployment, the airbag protects the spine and torso. But for localised impacts (hitting a post, guardrail, or debris), the rigid protector spreads force across a larger surface than the airbag alone. Testing by the independent CRITT laboratory found that this approach provides four times better cushioning than a standard airbag alone.

Turtle Technology runs right across the Helite motorcycle range: Turtle 2, e-Turtle, GP Air, e-GP Air, Touring, Vented, Roadster, H-Moov and the Off Road vest. See the Find Your Fit page for a full model comparison and sizing information.

The fork sensor is optional and works only with electronic vests. It provides additional deployment triggers at very low speeds (0 km/h standstill) and in scenarios electronic-only detection might miss. If you frequently stop-start in traffic or ride in urban congestion, the fork sensor adds an extra layer of safety. It's not essential but can be a worthwhile addition.

No. Mechanical vests come with the lanyard included. Electronic vests include the CDU sensor and USB charging cable. Everything needed to start riding is in the box. The only consumable you'll ever need to buy is replacement CO2 cartridges after a deployment.

Your vest's documentation specifies which cartridge it needs. You can also check the physical cartridge in your vest - the capacity (60cc, 100cc, e-50cc, e-60cc, or e-100cc) is printed on the label. Here's a quick reference:

Mechanical vests:

Turtle 2, GP Air, Vented, Touring, Roadster, H-Moov (most sizes) - 60cc cartridge (17L)

Turtle 2 (L-L and XL-L), Touring (5XL and 6XL), Roadster (5XL and 6XL) - 100cc cartridge (28L). Roadster 3XL and 4XL can take either, so check the label.

Electronic vests:

e-Turtle (XS-XL), e-GP Air (all sizes) - e-60cc cartridge (17L)

e-Turtle (L-L and XL-L) - e-100cc cartridge (28L)

Off Road electronic (all sizes) - 2 x e-50cc Off Road cartridges (14L)

If you're unsure, email us with your vest model and size and we'll confirm which cartridge you need.

See our Refund Policy for full details. In short: you can return a product within 30 days of receiving your delivery, as long as it's unused and in sellable condition. You cover return shipping, and refunds are processed within 5 working days of us receiving the item. If something arrives faulty, contact us and we'll arrange a repair, replacement or refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

Yes. Our checkout runs on Shopify, which is certified Level 1 PCI DSS compliant. That's the strictest level of the card payment industry's security standard, and Shopify's certification covers every store on its platform, including ours. The whole site also runs over an encrypted HTTPS connection.

You can pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay or Afterpay. If you have any questions about paying, contact us.

We ship throughout New Zealand via courier. Most orders arrive within 2 to 3 business days. You can check shipping costs and delivery timeframes at checkout.

Order online. We process orders within 24 hours and ship within 48, using NZ Couriers or NZ Post, and every order is tracked. Most cartridges arrive within 2 to 3 business days, and shipping is free on orders over $150. If you're not sure which cartridge you need, contact us with your vest model and size and we'll confirm before you order.

Yes. Helite airbag vests are stocked by authorised retailers across New Zealand. Current stockists include Moto1 and MotoMail. If your local bike shop doesn't stock Helite, ask them to get in touch with us. We offer competitive trade pricing and support for retailers.

You can order directly from our website and we'll ship throughout New Zealand. Contact us if you'd like advice before purchasing.

All business customers receive the same 2-year warranty, extendable to 4 years via registration. We also offer bulk registration support for schools, riding clubs, and fleet operators. Contact us to discuss your specific needs.