Airbags seem to be the flavour of the times for the safety “experts”.
A host of airbag leather race suits is now available, airbags are mandatory in most motorcycle racing and some companies such as Dainese, Alpinestars and Furygan, are now releasing aftermarket airbag vests that go over or under a normal jacket.
As for motorcycles airbags, we can see they may be a safety device in crashes where the rider hits something head-on or is hit from behind, but not glancing blows or being hit from the side.
The Goldwing airbag in the “tank” area is bulky and would only fit big tourers.
However, Honda’s new patent is for a much smaller airbag.
It would be suitable on smaller motorcycles as shown in this patent drawing of a scooter published by Visor Down.
We imagine this will also be a cheaper airbag than the one in the Goldwing.
It’s not the first time Honda has considered adding airbags to smaller bikes.
In 2017, the company exhibited an airbag designed for scooters at the Honda Meeting in Tokyo. (See image at the top of this page.)
The danger of this type of cheaper technology is that safety experts will one day deem it as a mandatory fitment on all bikes just as they have with ABS!
Honda patent blitz
Honda has been having something of a blitz on patents in the past couple of years.
While this idea seems quite reasonable and may make it into some future motorcycles, a lot of the others are less likely.
A 35-year-old British rider who survived a horrifying head-on collision has credited his airbag-equipped full leather suit as a lifesaver.
This confronting video showing in-car footage, a rear angle and a following car’s video has been released overnight by Yorkshire Police to highlight the value of riders wearing the full gear — or as we call “ATGATT” (All The Gear, All The Time).
The 41-year-old Subaru driver, Florian Pratt, who was travelling at 70mph (112km/h), was banned from driving for three years and jailed for 16 months yesterday (10 January 2020) at Sheffield Crown Court.
Judge David Dixon said: “Anyone in control of a high-powered sports type car needs to be aware of the vehicle’s capability and their own capability.
“You failed to take any account of the bend that led to this incident. The message must go out loud and clear. If you drive any vehicle you must drive with care.”
Airbag lifesaver
While the Suzuki rider chose to remain anonymous, he has credited the protective gear he was wearing at the time, including a full-leather air bag suit which activated and inflated on impact, as a lifesaver.
He suffered a broken back, broken sternum and broken wrist in the devastating smash last April near Sheffield.
Apart from the suit, the other lifesaver was the fact that the experienced rider braked so hard, he did a high front-wheel stoppie that would have flung him largely clear of the car.
Roads policing constable, PC Phil Carson, says that without the airbag suit, “he would most likely have died”.
“We often see motorcycle riders wearing shorts and trainers, and they think it’s OK because they have a helmet on – it’s not,” he says.
“You might be travelling in a safe manner, but that doesn’t mean everyone else is.
“Please make sure that you’re wearing the right kit, it might be expensive but without it, your life could be at risk.”
A host of airbag leather race suits is now available, airbags are mandatory in most motorcycle racing and some companies such as Dainese, Alpinestars and Furygan, are now releasing aftermarket airbag vests that go over or under a normal jacket.
A rider, aged 35, spent a harrowing few seconds stuck to the tray of a hit-run ute driver this morning (10 January 2020), causing him to crash his black Triumph motorcycle, Queensland police say.
The driver of the white utility was last seen speeding off on the Ipswich Motorway, Rocklea, and the motorcyclist was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police are now appealing for assistance to find the driver.
Officers were called to the inbound side of the Ipswich Motorway about 8.30am following reports a white utility had struck a motorbike and left the scene.
“A black Triumph motorcycle was travelling inbound on the motorway between the Granard Road exit and the Sherwood Road exit about half an hour earlier,” police say.
“Initial investigations suggest the white trayback was being driven dangerously through traffic before forcing the 35-year-old rider from Heathwood off the road.
“He became stuck on the tray of the ute for a few metres before he was able to detach himself and subsequently crashed the bike.”
The incident caused significant delays to traffic.
Investigators are appealing for anyone with dash cam vision or information to contact police.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Quote this reference number: QP2000066829
We wish the rider a full and speedy recovery and we hope the driver is found and charged.
We have tried to gather statistics before for the proportion of hit-run incidents that involve motorcyclists without success as relevant departments don’t keep those figures.
However, we suspect riders figure in a higher proportion of hit-runs than they represent as a percentage of traffic on the road.
Reasons for this could be: drivers are unaware they have hit a rider; they think they can get away with it because an injured rider can’t pursue them; or they simply don’t care.
Goulburn fatality
In NSW, a 56-year-old male rider died about 5.15pm today (10 January 2020) after his motorcycle went down an embankment off Crookwell Road at Pejar, about 40km north-west of Goulburn.
Hume Police officers found the rider, but he was already dead.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Our sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends.
Victorian crash
Image: Ballarat Courier
Victorian Police are appealing for witnesses after a collision between a 2015 white Triumph Street Triple R and a black Holden in Ballarat East on Tuesday (7 January 2020).
The accident occurred on Victoria Street near the intersection of Queens Street about 5.35pm.
A 25-year-old Ballarat East male rider was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The 74-year-old Bacchus Marsh male driver was uninjured.
Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident or with dash cam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
We sincerely wish the rider a full and speedy recovery.
NSW police have launched a critical incident investigation.
They say officers were patrolling the CBD about 3am today (8 January 2020) when they attempted to stop a motorcycle on Hunter St, near Steel St.
Pursuit
“A pursuit was initiated after the motorcycle allegedly failed to stop, before being terminated shortly after due to safety concerns,” the police say.
They would not comment further on the speeds as the incident is subject to investigations.
“The motorcycle continued to travel along Hunter Street before being found crashed on Scott Street, after hitting a pole,” police say.
“Officers rendered first aid; however, the male rider died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.”
Our sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends.
Crime scene
Specialist forensic officers created a crime scene, closing off Scott Street remains between Wolf and Watt Streets.
A critical incident team from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District is investigating the incident.
Their investigation will be subject to an independent review with information provided to the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
A 27-year-old Crestmead man has died after a head-on collision between his motorcycle and a car on Springfield Greenbank Arterial Road, south of Brisbane, overnight.
Queensland Police say their initial investigations indicate that about 7.10pm, a car heading south and a motorcycle heading north collided.
The rider suffered critical injuries and died at the scene.
The Forensic Crash Unit are investigating.
Any members of the public who witnessed or have dash-cam footage of the incident are asked to contact police.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Our sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends.
Night rider
The Arterial Road is largely straight, but does have some crests, and runs between an Army Reserve and bushland.
There could be a number of causes for the accident with fault on either side.
Riding at night through semi-rural areas such as this can have dangers for riders.
Two male riders have died on New Year’s Eve in NSW in a tragic end to 2019, bringing the total number of motorcycle deaths for the year to 67.
That is seven above the three-year average and was the third rider death in NSW in 24 hours.
Dubbo death
Just before 9pm last night (31 December 2019), emergency services were called to the Mitchell Highway in Maryvale, just north of Wellington near Dubbo, following reports of a crash between a motorcycle and utility vehicle.
The rider, believed to be a man aged in his 20s, died at the scene.
Police say the male driver of the utility, and a female passenger, were airlifted to Orange Base Hospital with multiple injuries.
The utility caught fire and was extinguished by NSW Rural Fire Service.
Orana Mid-Western Police District officers have established a crime scene and the Crash Investigation Unit are investigating.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Coffs Harbour crash
At 9pm, emergency services received reports that a male rider was found on the road near his motorcycle at Coramba Road, Coffs Harbour.
Passers-by tried to revive him until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived. Despite their efforts, the man died at the scene.
The man is yet to be formally identified.
Coffs Clarence Police District officers will prepare a report for the Coroner.
Anyone who may have been driving along Coramba Road around the time of the incident, and witnessed or captured dashcam footage of the motorbike, is urged to contact Coffs Harbour Police Station on (02) 6691 0799.
Anyone with information about any of these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Our condolences to the riders’ family and friends.
We also sincerely wish you all a safe and hazy New Year.
In a tragic end to 2019, a 22-year-old male rider has died in a late-night crash in Sydney’s Royal National Park while on a group ride.
NSW Police say the accident occurred at 10pm on Monday (30 December 2019) on Lady Wakehurst Drive at Lilyvale, in the Royal National Park.
“Police have been told a group of motorcyclists were travelling north when the bike left the road and struck a road sign,” they say.
The rider died at the scene.
Officers from Wollongong Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Inquiries continue, and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Our sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends.
Night riders
Night riding can be fun, but it is also more dangerous for a host of reasons.
Stories about helmet safety and legalities, Arlen Ness and Charley Boorman, road rules, crashes, lane filtering and a big-bore kit attracted the most interest from our readers in 2019.
With more than 300,000 readers a month, we have a pretty fair idea of what subjects are of interest to our readers.
So we have compiled a list of the most read stories from our website in 2019.
Top stories of 2019
1 Sticker fine
Our readers love stories about riders winning over an injustice.
Ian Joice told us the external certification sticker had the word “VOID” across it from age and sun damage while the internal label was faded due to wear.
We reckon it proves that riders can legally remove the external sticker so long as the internal label is still there, no matter what condition it’s in.
2 Lane filtering
ACT police finally nabbed this driver for road rage
Sadly, iconic American motorcycle customiser and cool dude Arlen Ness died, aged 79, in March.
There must be a lot of riders out there who admire his work, ride bikes with paintwork designed or inspired by him, own some of his accessories, or wear some of his riding gear.
In November we also lost Luigi Termignoni, aged 75, the founder of eponymous motorcycle exhaust company. Our glowing obituary was also one of our most popular stories, although not in the top 10.
4 Helmet safety
Anything to do with helmet safety usually rates high.
Cop injured under new speed rule crash police emergency 40km/h
Most riders seem to believe they are in danger of being rear-ended under the rule in some states that requires motorists to slow to 40km/h when passing emergency vehicles (25km/h in South Australia).
Meanwhile, the transport department that failed to disqualify his and other drivers’ licences for similar offences has been overhauled and the boss sacked.
Rider trainer Tony Gallagher says he watched as his 2001 Kawasaki ZRX1200R sank into thin bitumen and fall over in a Crows Nest main street parking bay.
It wasn’t a hot day, either, just faulty bitumen. It’s since been fixed, but Tony is still out of pocket for damage.
But this time they would be riding Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycles!
Two weeks ago the pair completed the journey. From your interest in our articles about the trip, you will be keen to find out when the TV series airs. Stay tuned and we will to keep you updated!
9 T-boner
Lane filtering has made commuting safer and more enjoyable. Any articles we publish about the lane filtering rules is always well received.
S&S Cycles big bore kit for Royal Enfield 650 camshaft-kit-royal-enfield-650
There has been a lot of interest in the Royal Enfield 650cc parallel twins.
So when American engine giant S&S announced a big-bore kit, the article shot into our top 10, although that could be because there are millions of Indians who love the brand!
5 perennial favourite stories
As well as the news articles that emerged this year, there are older articles that continually rate among our readers.
A male rider – as yet not formally identified – has died overnight after a crash at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Just before 1.30am (Friday 27 December 2019), emergency services were called to Glenayr Avenue, near the intersection of Hall Street, Bondi Beach, after reports a motorcycle had crashed.
NSW Ambulance paramedics attended and treated the seriously injured rider before he was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital; where he was declared deceased.
Our sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends.
Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command have begun an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
The body of the 58-year-old Nobby male rider was found on Cudmores Rd about 5.50pm on Friday, 13 December 2019.
He had been riding south on a blue and white Suzuki GSX1400.
Queensland Police originally said he “lost control of his motorcycle, leaving the roadway and crashing into a concrete culvert”.
Image: Google Maps (not the vehicle in question)
Police are now seeking information about the identity of the make and model of the vehicle that lost the black component pictured at the top of this page.
The black component is about 18cm in length and was located at the scene of the incident.
The renewed call for help seems to indicate that the object may have caused the rider to lose control and crash.
Police are also seeking witnesses who saw his Suzuki or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to contact them.
They believe a box may have been carried “in some fashion” on the bike at the time. We suspect they mean a top box.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Quote this reference number: QP1902484971
Once again, our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased rider.
However, Honda’s new patent is for a much smaller airbag.
Image: Ballarat Courier
