Mechanical vs Electronic
Helite makes two airbag deployment systems. Both are CE certified, both protect the same vital areas and both are fully reusable. The difference is in how they detect a fall. Here's how each one works, and who it suits.
Same protection, different trigger
| Mechanical | Electronic | |
|---|---|---|
| How it deploys | A lanyard pulls a pin when you separate from the bike | An onboard sensor detects a fall pattern automatically |
| Connection to the bike | Lanyard clips to the bike before you ride | None needed |
| Battery | None | About 25 hours per charge, charged by USB |
| Before each ride | Clip the lanyard on | Press the on/off button |
| Speed coverage | Triggered by separating from the bike, not by speed | Above 18 km/h, or from a standstill with the optional fork sensor |
| Best for | Commuters, tourers, new riders and everyday riding | Sport and track riders, pillions and riders with more than one bike |
| Available through Helite NZ | Turtle 2, GP Air, Vented, Touring, Roadster, H-Moov | e-Turtle, e-GP Air, Off Road, H-Moov |
The mechanical system
The mechanical system uses a lanyard, a short cord that attaches to a fixed point on your motorcycle. If you fall and separate from the bike, the lanyard pulls a pin that releases the CO2 cartridge, and the airbag inflates in under 100 milliseconds. It takes a pull of between 20 and 30 kg to trigger it.
There's no battery to charge, no software to update and no sensor to maintain. You clip in when you get on the bike and unclip when you park. Simple, proven and completely predictable.
It suits riders who want reliability without electronics, including commuters, tourers, new riders and anyone who prefers a straightforward setup.
See a Helite vest tested
An independent rider's test of a Helite motorcycle airbag vest.
The electronic system
Electronic systems have a crash detection unit (CDU) built in. It follows your movement in real time and, when it detects a fall or collision, triggers the CO2 cartridge. There's no lanyard and no physical connection to the bike.
The CDU runs for about 25 hours on a charge, charges by USB and switches on with a single button. On its own, it detects accidents at speeds above 18 km/h.
The optional fork sensor mounts on the front fork and pairs wirelessly with the vest. In Helite's frontal impact testing it detected the crash in 31 ms, compared with 62 ms for the vest sensor alone. It also covers you when you're stationary or riding slowly, and its battery lasts about 5 years without recharging.
It suits sport and track riders who don't want a lanyard to manage, pillion passengers, and anyone who rides more than one bike.
How Helite compares with other brands
The trigger system is one choice. If you're also weighing Helite up against other airbag vests sold in New Zealand, we've put five of them side by side, including the areas where the others do better.
Still not sure?
If you ride mostly on the road and want the simplest, most reliable setup, the mechanical system is a solid choice. If you're on track, ride a sportsbike hard or want wireless protection, the electronic system is worth the extra investment.
We're happy to talk through your riding and help you choose the right option.