Airbag Equipped Harley-Davidson Smart Vest Offers Advanced Protection

Harley-Davidson Press Release:

The new Harley-Davidson® Smart Vest combines comfort and style with advanced airbag protection to offer riders peace of mind. Powered by proven D-air® from Dainese Technology, the Harley-Davidson® Smart Vest is designed to instantly deploy in the event of a collision on the chest and central back area to add potential impact absorption.

The Dainese D-air airbag technology is backed by more than 30 years of research. A series of sensors monitor what’s happening around the rider more than 1,000 times per second and constantly process the data in real time. It is designed to deploy instantly on impact in the event of a collision with objects, with other vehicles or in a rear-end collision event. The airbag covers the chest and central area of the back and form-seals with the rider’s helmet. The system is powered by a rechargeable battery with up to 26 hours of life and is charged with a common USB plug.

Both the Men’s Harley-Davidson® Smart Vest (P/N 98017-24VM, size S to 2XL) and Women’s Harley-Davidson® Smart Vest (P/N 98021-24VW, size XS to 2XL) feature a black heavyweight cowhide leather perforated shell for cooling airflow and stretch side panels for superior comfort. Both designs feature zippered handwarmer pockets, 3M™ Scotchlite™ Black Carbon reflective material to enhance nighttime visibility, and embossed Harley-Davidson branding across the back shoulders. The slim design limits bulk, and the vest may be worn under or over a riding jacket (if worn under, allow about two inches of space in case of deployment).

An indicator light on the left chest reports the status of the jacket. When the vest is zipped and the snap-tab power switch is fastened, the indicator light colors report battery status and flash blue when the vest is ready to trigger the airbag as needed. The vest also vibrates to indicate that it is ready. The vest is activated when it senses the vibration of a running motorcycle engine or speed exceeds 6.2 mph (10 kph) – the vest will not deploy away from a running motorcycle, if the wearer were to trip and fall, for example. If the vest is deployed the airbag and two gas generators must be replaced by a select authorized Harley-Davidson dealer.