GET AN AIRBAG. Me and another track rider crashed in the same corner in the same way. Both highsides. He went to the hospital with broken ribs and collar, i walked away with a bruised ego. It cost him several thousand at the hospital but it cost me only an airbag deployment Will be upgrading from a techair 5 to this!
I second this me and my brother own a tech air 5, its saved my brothers ass multiple times, I didn't wear mine cause it was too hot, the one time I didn't wear it. I crashed t1 road atlanta and now have a metal plate in my collar bone along with hospital bills.
@@Skippz01No, do NOT use a separate back protector. The airbag has a built in back protector. If you put another protector behind it, the forces of the airbag deployment will be directed into your body rather than into the expansion panels of the suit.
I had the same experience, 8 broken ribs, fractured scapula, punctured lung. At the time the accident happened, I was considering an airbag but just didn’t pull the trigger. Biggest mistake ever…I know the back protector saved my back but airbag would most likely allow me to walk away from that high side.
Props to Alpinestars for having the cable attachment for backwards compatibility in the older model suits and jackets. They could have been like a lot of Corporate entities and not bother, but it shows their commitment to the customers and safety.
They probably did it so that it didn't negatively impact their bottom line. At the end of the day, capitalism requires that they continuously increase their profits forever, so that's what drives business decisions. 😂
Your reviews are very detailed, and I can tell you put a lot of time and effort into them. Thank you for providing a great (open source) resource for the MC community, even those who are not in the same country.
Brian is a great guy and dad, and Max is a great kid. STG has the best prices on the internet and cash back on purchases just makes it even better. I won't shop anywhere else for gear. I choose to support great people!
Both of you do a nice job. This product is a game changer. At least one RUclipsr doesn't understand that the 'brain' is switchable between track and street.
Just wanted to stop by and thank you guys for your content. Watching your videos has taught me so much- moreover, bc of your videos and online store- I'm back to hitting track days on my 4RR. Looking forward to upgrading my airbag system thanks to this video.
Thanks for the great customer service and quick shipping for the parts that I’ve ordered over the past month or so. You guys rock. 2wdw has the bike right now getting me straightened out.
@Van: Do you plan on reviewing the 2 software patches for the TechAir 10 that A* published in March? My suit is running smoothly since then, battery drain has been completely fixed and the display dongle connection to the suit is stable. I also like the fact that closing the belt now doesn’t automatically switch on the suit anymore.
We no longer have a unit that we are using so I do not plan to review the update. I am happy to hear this fixed yours but will say I have seen others with mixed results. - Van
Great video! I really appreciate you all doing these videos and your outstanding customer service. I will be reaching out soon to purchase one of these. Thanks!
Great video, I was looking at this but as a bigger guy it sucks they stop at 2XL. Just tried on a tech air 5 at a local retailer and the 3XL was what I needed. Guess I’ll have to go that direction until A* shows us bigger guys some love(or until I lose some weight 😂)
Thanks for these videos always helpful. Been looking at airbags recently for 90% street use and 10% track. This one comes so close to being perfect. Pretty excited by this product just not sure that ducktail flap is going to work on the street unfortunately otherwise I'd buy it tomorrow. I really hope that Alpinestars build on this and bring out something similar that zips into a their jacket for the street and transfers to the suit for trackdays. Honestly if they did that, they would completely dominate airbag sales. I know the tech air 5 kind of sounds right but integrating into jackets and suits is key and I know a few people who hate the 5 in a suit because it rides up sometimes on track. Always something. But it's a step in the right direction. Hopefully there will be something soon and hope its from alpinestars too.
When re-installing the cover, just push down on the bottom while pulling the release tab. Its much easier than hammering away hahaha Just got mine today and love it.
@@ericteal Spot on. I have never had an airbag and was relatively worried about my suit size. I’m 5’11” 205lbs and where a 54 EURO Astars GP PRO V2. 36” waist 43” chest I was originally 225 but lost the weight in the thought of getting an airbag and I’m glad I did. I went with an XL for the bag sizing. Fits perfect, my only gripe is how the connector comes out of the top of the airbag and not the bottom like the Tech air Race.
We have had this on and off a few times now. Several times the unit we have did not sit flush without additional pressure. Important to make sure it is flush on both sides. - Van
For street riding I wear this under an Alpinestars leather jacket and the tailbone protector slightly sticks out - I dunno if it makes me look like an amateur but I think its okay
How come they left the path where the TechAir10 also protects the pelvis and upper legs? A lot of highsides end with a broken hip. I crashed in the TechAirRace, which was perfect, but got the 10 because of a friend badly hurting his hip in a lowside crash
Appreciate the kind words. Either the Tech Air 5 or the 7x. The 5 is a little cheaper, but only offers one deployment and you have to send it in for repacking. The 7x offers 2 deployments and you can repack yourself. It is also more flexible and can be used alone or zipped into a suit. - Van
One of the main differences is at what speed the airbag activates. For race mode, the airbag gps has to sense that you’re moving over a certain speed before it will activate in a wreck, versus in street mode the airbag will activate from a dead stop. Like if you got rear ended at a stoplight, it’ll pop and protect you.
Frikkin great review as always. Couple of questions. Firstly, would you say the circumstance of the torso is the the same or close to that of the race? Secondly, I see the two humps which accommodate the canisters protrude a fair bit. Will there be any modification of the pad in the hump necessary to accommodate these without looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame? Thanks. 👌🏽
I found the canister layout to fit perfectly in my hump for a GP Pro V2. I was using the higher end alpinestars back protector and the fit is roughly the same imo.
Amazing Review! Thank you for the video, excellent job!! ! Can you please provide a comparison between this airbag and the Tech Air 5? I noticed that the 7X supports street mode and I'm curious if it can fit in a jacket like the Tech Air 5. Will the canisters fit in a Alpinestars hump?
It supports street mode and can fit under any jacket that is airbag compatible. It is a little longer than the 5 so it may protrude from the bottom of the jacket if the jacket is short waisted (not a big deal). The canisters fit nicely inside a suit or a jacket. - Van
Dainese is too focused on making their gear look "cool" to do that. Their airbag system still relies on vibrations from the motorcycle and doesn't even have a CE level 1 protector AND doesn't have shoulder/neck protection.
Hi Van, thanks for the great review. I have a Tech Air 5 vest that I actually like. But the fabric is quite thick and it's a little tight under the armpits. Overall it's quite bulky. How would you compare the new 7x to the Tech air 5 for road use? I've use a two piece leather suit from Revit, the jacket is tech-air-ready. The 7x looks much more thinner and flexible than my tech air 5. Greetings from Germany ;)
The 5 is a good unit but this is an improvement for the track or the street. More coverage, two deployments, user can repack and it is easier to get the suit/jacket over it. - Van
Great review guys. My only question becomes: why would someone choose this over the tech air 10? Is it really just to save money but still have something that can integrate into a suit? Seems like the added hip protection from the tech air 10 system would be worth the upgrade. What are your thoughts on the 7x vs the 10?
The are a couple of reasons to select this over the 10. 1) The 10 has shown to have some issues and is less reliable than the Tech Air Race and Tech Air 10. This system uses components and tech from the previous reliable platforms with some upgrades. 2) The 10 only allows for 1 deployment before it needs to be sent out for repacking. With the 7x you get 2 deployments and you can repack it yourself.
I have a TechAir 10 because I don’t want to miss the hip protection. Bruised hips hurt a lot, trust me. Moreover, A* brought out 2 major patches for the TechAir 10 software in March, which seem to have fixed the complaints people had (battery life, display connectivity).
It’s a shame the LED panel isn’t detachable so it can be placed in the little pocket of the newer suits’ sleeves, as was the case with the Tech Air 10. I have the GP Tech V4 and GP Plus V4 which both have the little sleeve pouch. EDIT: does that also mean the Tech-Air 7x won't zip into these two suits?
This will not zip into suits that are built for the 10 to zip into. With those suits you would need to wear it as a stand alone vest. As for the LED panel, that thing was a problem from jump street. This is a much more reliable design. - Van
Hey Bryan I love the vids. Helped a lot with fixing up my bike. I was looking at some new gear and was wondering what your opinion is on the brand Shima. It is a polish company who make motorcycle gear. I just thought it had a decent look but can't really find any reviews. Would love to hear from you guys about the quality. Keep it up! Greets from Belgium!
Brian, Max, I'd like to pick one of these up for racing next year. The sizing guide suggests for my chest/waist measurements to use a medium, however, for my height it suggests an XS. Any recommendations on what size i should go with, or maybe even a different product that is good under my riding suit? Thank you! --Justin P.
@sportbiketrackgear could something like this be used in the new A* Atem v5 jacket (jacket is tech air 3/5 compatible) i like the idea of having a longer back piece to protect the lower spine and having a lower profile airbag would be great for an already tight jacket.
Hey Van, have you any suggestions about covering the bladder valve that resides in the lower portion of the airbag, to protect the bladder and liner? I'm surprised it doesn't already have at least some type of protective sheath. Thanks again for the vest!!
Great review, I like the style of your reviews including the comments regarding the little product details. Would love to purchase it immediately in your shop, but by living in Germany it might not be a business case with shippment, taxes and custom. Anyway, following questions from a tech air race user: What is the weight vs the race version? It looks thicker than race version, valid or not? Any news on your end when this will be on purchase in Europe? Thanks and a good race season for you and your son.
No idea when this would be available in Europe. The size and shape of this is very similar to the Tech Air Race. IMO it will not take up any more room under the suit. - Van
For this you can order it in the same size as the T Shirt size you would normally wear. For reference Max is in a medium 7x and wears a medium shirt. - Van
I just bought a 7x and have a naked (Ducati monster). The tailbone can touch the passenger seat in certain positions. Thinking of returning it and getting a 5, but this feels like a downgrade. What do you think? For street use
Thanks for the video. How would you install this into Racing Absolute which the airbag suppose to be sandwiched between the liner and leather? Can you buy the repack kit(2 x canisters) now or still waiting for its release?
We are still waiting for our canister order to be filled but understand Alpinestars has some in CA to service customer vest. This can be installed in the Racing Absolute that accepts the Tech Air Race Vest using the same install method and attachment points. - Van
@sportbiketrackgear in your opinion with the RST built in air system track tech Evo, is this necessary? Would you say it’s comparable to RST built in already?
Sorry, missed this one. Max is racing in the RST with the in&motion airbag for the last two seasons now. If I did not think it was at least "as good" he would still be in the Alpinestars. IMO either option is an excellent one. - Van
Hey @van do you keep your chest protectors in the suit over the airbag or are they going to do damage than good when airbag gets deployed? This is with an alpine tech air compatible suit.
If you have room for them no reason not to leave them in if you prefer. Max and I stopped wearing individual chest protection when we started using the airbags. - Van
Any sensible reasons to use this Tech-Air 7x plus quality suit over RST 4.1 EVO? I guess better shoulder coverage and no subscription service, but from cons more total weight, less airflow, more garment. Why anyone would pick Tech-Air over integrated RST airbag?
No reason to put that over the RST suit. The V4.1 has a fully integrated airbag already inside the suit. The cost of the subscription is like $20 a month which is pretty manageable IMO. - Van
Do you recommend this product for supermoto (only asphalt) use? Will I also receive 2 other refills together with the product or do I have to buy them separately?
I think you briefly touched on this but is the back of the vest more streamlined then the tech air 5? I have an airbag compatible suit and a tech air 5 and have an absolutely hard time getting in and out of the suit with the 5 in it.the sleeves or the 5 also ate puffy and seem to get caught up in the suits, this appears to be more thin/tighter? Would like to make a switch if the ease of use and comfort is there.
This one is much easier to get the suit or jacket over as compared to the 5. Between the shape of the electronics cover and the sleeves you will be able to get your gear over pretty easily. - Van
@sportbiketrackgear I was looking at the Tech-Air 5 and Off-road options, solely for street riding, as an imminent purchase and then Alpinestars dropped this, the Tech-Air 7x. Alpinestars doesn't mention on their site how much space is needed under a non "Tech-Air compatible" protective jacket, hoodie, etc for the 7x to deploy properly so I'm wondering if you have any insight to offer? I know on the 5 and Off-road Alpinestars recommends 4 cm (1.6 in).
How do they do they do in the rain? I have a d-air street jacket right now and the unfortunately thing is it’s not recommended to ride in the rain. We all know you can randomly get hit with rain and then risk damaging it.
You can use this in the rain, you just can not go swimming with it. We have used the Tech Air Race in several wet weather races and never had an issue. - Van
This is like the 5 or the Race where you can hand wash the fabric without submerging the whole unit. Once you do that let it line dry. Full disclosure we never washed Max's that were used for over 3 seasons. While I would not stick my face in them I will tell you they do not drive you out of the trailer. - Van
Hi Van, How does sizing run on this airbag, eg: I currently wear a 54 racing absolute suit for context, but I’m usually large around chest, small in the waist.
What would you recommend a guy wear under a Tech-Air 7x? Tshirt?, how about a thin wind blocker? or? Seems a little funky and probably uncomfortable when its hot to just wear it without anything under it when your wearing it multiple times and cant really wash it. Thanks
Under a race suit I would wear a one piece, moisture wicking undersuit. You could also use a shirt made of a similar material (brands like Under Armor etc...). This is what Max and I have done with our airbags over the years and it helps keep the airbag vest cleaner. To be honest we have never washed any of the vests and they are not super funky. - Van
Do you still put your arms through the little sleeves of the airbag vest when it is installed? If so, how would that be possible in the racing absolute V1? I’m racing in those suits
@@sportbiketrackgear Hey Brian, I still don't see how it is possible to put this airbag system behind the liner in de racing absolute V1 with those little sleeves,.... I don't think it is possible.
i have a Alpinestars GP Plus V4 suit, but dont have Alpinestars Tech Air LED display cord..do you need to buy this piece or it s included with the tech air 7x airbag system..if not where can i find the led display .than you for your answer
No you can use this as a stand alone vest that will be worn under the suit like the Tech Air 5. They made some changes to this one so it will go under the suit easier than the 5. - Van
I had custom leather suit from motospeeds(Pakistan store) which is compatible for tech air5. Comparison of price to inmotion vs tech air7 which you suggest
If it accepts the 5 the 7 will also work with the suit and so will the in&motion. We have used the Tech Air Race and moved to the RST suits with the integrated in&motion airbag (no vest). I like the fact the in&motion as well as the Tech Air 7x can be repacked by the user. - Van
Compared to the 5 it offers more coverage and redesigned fit that makes it easier to put the suit/jacket on over it. This is in addition to the benefits you noted. This is a step forward. - Van
I’ve read that they aren’t very good for street riding, although you mention a street mode. Is this a new thing? I really want an airbag to wear under my suit for street riding. Good to go?
It zips into Tech Air Race compatible garments where the 5 does not. It has a little more coverage than the 5 and offers two deployments as compared to one for the 5. With the 7x the user can also repack without sending it in for service. - Van
If you have already invested in the Tech Air 5 I would suggest continuing to use it as long as you are happy with it. The level of protection from the 5 is pretty much the same. - Van
There is allegedly an led harness available for this. IMO that is not needed as you can easily check the status before you zip up your suit or by using the app on your phone before you go out. - Van
Yes this airbag can be used as a universal vest under any jacket or suit that has enough stretch or 4cm in additional space to manage a deployment. Any of the airbag jackets from Alpinestars will work with this airbag. - Van
We do not have a full list, there are some brands we do not deal with that offer compatibility. The only other brand we offer that accepts the Tech Air Race and 7X would be the Taichi race suits. - Van
No this can not zip into that suit. It can zip into any race suit that is designed to accept the Alpinestars Tech Air Race Vest. There will be new suits from Alpinestars this fall that this will zip into. For any other suit like the GP Plus V4 you can use this underneath in the stand alone vest configuration. - Van
We used the suit he was practicing in to show the fit of the Tech Air. The one he is wearing has an airbag bladder in it which takes up minimal room. If you were to want to use one of the RST airbag suits with the Tech Air 7X I would suggest removing the in&motion system first. We do have some non Airbag RST suits that have plenty of stretch panels to manage a deployment here (more on the way) that would allow you to use the Tech Air 7X in the stand alone vest configuration under the suit. - Van
I scrolled for a few minutes and didn’t find this question, so I’ll probably be asking it again; No neck roll protection? Seems like half an airbag then
The airbag inflates over the shoulders and prevents the helmet from making contact with your collarbone. This is all the coverage you need to prevent the most common injury in motorcycle crashes on the track, the broken collarbone. Unlike offroad riding neck injuries in road racing are very uncommon. - Van
We have not used this one ourselves but have sold a lot. To date I am unaware of any reports of the 7 not deploying when it should. Important to remember it will only deploy if the algorithm determines it needs to deploy. If you feel it should have and it did not I would contact Alpinestars directly and perhaps send it in so they can take a look at it for you. - Van
Besides the self-repack feature, where do you think this unit offers more than the TA10? I've watched a couple of your reviews, including that of the TA10 where you mentioned that Max has had a few deployments of the Race unit. Let's put aside reliability issues (which I assume have now been figured out with the latest patches), do you assess that hip injuries are less likely and would therefore go with the 7x over the 10? More plainly, if both were built on the same platform, would you still go with the 7x? Do you discount hip-related injuries to that extent? Or just simply still don't trust the TA10 platform?
If you look at the images of the bag being deployed there is plenty of protection for the ribs. Here is a link: www.sportbiketrackgear.com/alpinestars-tech-air-7x-airbag-system/
No one does this ever. I have the tech 5. I wanna see if u can have the suit on. Take the top off with vest still on and how easy u can slide the suit back on over the airbag. The tech 5 u can not do it at all.
With the 7 it is much easier to wear the airbag and then pull the suit up. If you are using the 5 we suggest you place the airbag vest in the suit then put the suit on. We found that to be the best way to get the 5 in the suit. If you have a Tech Air Race compatible race suit the 7 will zip in which makes it very easy to use. - Van
This Tech Air 7 signals the end of the road for the Tech Air 10. The 10 must be replaced with a 20 that incorporates all these new features. Current Tech Air 10 will go down as one of the most head scratching releases of a product I have ever seen. Sorely disappointed that the 10 lacks all the awesome features of the 7.
what are you talking about i love my tech air 10. i've bought alpinestars especially for the hip protection. already had it detonate once and worked perfectly
@@tomeelbode4417 I wear my tech air 10 for every ride. The tech air 10 should be the hands down best unit, period, if only for the hip protection that it alone provides. However, compare how easy it is to activate the tech air 5 or the new tech air 7 to the tech air 10. Compare battery life of the the 5/7 to the 10. Compare how easy it is to get into Tech air race or tech air 7 that is already installed in the suit to a tech air 10. Need to replace an inflation cartridge on the 10? Mail it in. On the 7? Do it yourself. The next version of the tech air 10 (tech air 20?) will be the bomb incorporating all the best features of the 7, and all the best features of the 10.
We have used the Tech Air Race for several seasons (I still use mine) and never washed one of them man. IMO they do not smell any worse than the suit. Just wear and undersuit under the vest and wash that. If you want to wash it you can hand wash without submerging the vest and line dry. - Van
Film industry pro-tip: use vodka or vodka water mix in a spray bottle to kill odors & sanitize the airbag vest material as well as any other clothing garment. Google vodka water costume clean for more info.
GET AN AIRBAG. Me and another track rider crashed in the same corner in the same way. Both highsides. He went to the hospital with broken ribs and collar, i walked away with a bruised ego. It cost him several thousand at the hospital but it cost me only an airbag deployment
Will be upgrading from a techair 5 to this!
I second this me and my brother own a tech air 5, its saved my brothers ass multiple times, I didn't wear mine cause it was too hot, the one time I didn't wear it. I crashed t1 road atlanta and now have a metal plate in my collar bone along with hospital bills.
100% everyone riding on the track should be in an airbag man. - Van
Do I need additional back protection? Like insert the airbag inside the suit and use the alpinestars nucleon kr-r in between
@@Skippz01No, do NOT use a separate back protector. The airbag has a built in back protector. If you put another protector behind it, the forces of the airbag deployment will be directed into your body rather than into the expansion panels of the suit.
I had the same experience, 8 broken ribs, fractured scapula, punctured lung. At the time the accident happened, I was considering an airbag but just didn’t pull the trigger. Biggest mistake ever…I know the back protector saved my back but airbag would most likely allow me to walk away from that high side.
Props to Alpinestars for having the cable attachment for backwards compatibility in the older model suits and jackets. They could have been like a lot of Corporate entities and not bother, but it shows their commitment to the customers and safety.
This is exactly what they did with the 5 and 10, but more impressively, they learned from this mistake and brought the zip-in and arm led feature back
They should have continued with the Tech Air Race style platform the entire time IMO. - Van
They probably did it so that it didn't negatively impact their bottom line. At the end of the day, capitalism requires that they continuously increase their profits forever, so that's what drives business decisions. 😂
you do good videos bro, thanks for taking the time to do them 👍
You are welcome and thank you for watching! - Van
Your reviews are very detailed, and I can tell you put a lot of time and effort into them. Thank you for providing a great (open source) resource for the MC community, even those who are not in the same country.
You are welcome thank you for watching! - Van
Brian is a great guy and dad, and Max is a great kid. STG has the best prices on the internet and cash back on purchases just makes it even better. I won't shop anywhere else for gear. I choose to support great people!
Appreciate your support! - Van
Informative and great Father and Son presentation!
Max is a typical cheeky teenager. I have 3! 😂
Blessed to be doing what we do together for sure. Thanks for watching! - Van
Mine is on the way! I have a tech air 10 for the track. This will be dedicated to street riding.
This will be great protection for the street man!
Both of you do a nice job. This product is a game changer. At least one RUclipsr doesn't understand that the 'brain' is switchable between track and street.
Thank you for watching. Super easy to switch from street to track by using the app. - Van
Just wanted to stop by and thank you guys for your content.
Watching your videos has taught me so much- moreover, bc of your videos and online store- I'm back to hitting track days on my 4RR.
Looking forward to upgrading my airbag system thanks to this video.
You are welcome, happy to hear the videos have been helpful! - Van
Thanks for the great customer service and quick shipping for the parts that I’ve ordered over the past month or so. You guys rock. 2wdw has the bike right now getting me straightened out.
Thank you for your business! Happy to hear you are using 2 Wheel also. - Van
@Van: Do you plan on reviewing the 2 software patches for the TechAir 10 that A* published in March? My suit is running smoothly since then, battery drain has been completely fixed and the display dongle connection to the suit is stable. I also like the fact that closing the belt now doesn’t automatically switch on the suit anymore.
We no longer have a unit that we are using so I do not plan to review the update. I am happy to hear this fixed yours but will say I have seen others with mixed results. - Van
Great video! I really appreciate you all doing these videos and your outstanding customer service. I will be reaching out soon to purchase one of these. Thanks!
You are welcome and thank you for watching! - Van
What a phenomenal channel with very informative stuff. Learning thanks to you; you got yourself another subscriber. 👍
Thank you for watching and for the kind words. - Van
Great video, I was looking at this but as a bigger guy it sucks they stop at 2XL. Just tried on a tech air 5 at a local retailer and the 3XL was what I needed. Guess I’ll have to go that direction until A* shows us bigger guys some love(or until I lose some weight 😂)
Thanks for these videos always helpful.
Been looking at airbags recently for 90% street use and 10% track. This one comes so close to being perfect. Pretty excited by this product just not sure that ducktail flap is going to work on the street unfortunately otherwise I'd buy it tomorrow.
I really hope that Alpinestars build on this and bring out something similar that zips into a their jacket for the street and transfers to the suit for trackdays. Honestly if they did that, they would completely dominate airbag sales. I know the tech air 5 kind of sounds right but integrating into jackets and suits is key and I know a few people who hate the 5 in a suit because it rides up sometimes on track. Always something. But it's a step in the right direction. Hopefully there will be something soon and hope its from alpinestars too.
They will have new suits and jackets in the fall that will allow the Tech Air Race or Tech Air 7x to zip in. - Van
Thanks for the super informative video! You are the best at presenting motorcycle gear.
Appreciate you watching and the kind words. - Van
When re-installing the cover, just push down on the bottom while pulling the release tab. Its much easier than hammering away hahaha
Just got mine today and love it.
Thanks for the tip. How do you find sizing?
@@ericteal Spot on. I have never had an airbag and was relatively worried about my suit size. I’m 5’11” 205lbs and where a 54 EURO Astars GP PRO V2.
36” waist
43” chest
I was originally 225 but lost the weight in the thought of getting an airbag and I’m glad I did. I went with an XL for the bag sizing.
Fits perfect, my only gripe is how the connector comes out of the top of the airbag and not the bottom like the Tech air Race.
We have had this on and off a few times now. Several times the unit we have did not sit flush without additional pressure. Important to make sure it is flush on both sides. - Van
You're already on Stage with the Product..👍😉 .. and here in Europe Everyone is still asleep😴😴
We get shit done over here. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear I do not think so! Van
For street riding I wear this under an Alpinestars leather jacket and the tailbone protector slightly sticks out - I dunno if it makes me look like an amateur but I think its okay
I was wondering how much that tailbone protector sticks out. Not that I care looking like an amateur considering that value my back/talibone.
yeah ive had to get a smart charger for the winter where it will turn on for a few hours each week.
Lithium batteries need to be looked after for sure. - Van
How come they left the path where the TechAir10 also protects the pelvis and upper legs? A lot of highsides end with a broken hip. I crashed in the TechAirRace, which was perfect, but got the 10 because of a friend badly hurting his hip in a lowside crash
The fit of the 10 was not well received and many riders did not like the way it fit under the suit. - Van
what airbag would you recomend for all uses including canyon carving and track weekends? Glad to see your son growing up so good!
Appreciate the kind words. Either the Tech Air 5 or the 7x. The 5 is a little cheaper, but only offers one deployment and you have to send it in for repacking. The 7x offers 2 deployments and you can repack yourself. It is also more flexible and can be used alone or zipped into a suit. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear Thank you sir
Thanks but ill just stick with my RST V4.1 got it from you last winter awsome suit and airbag.
The RST Airbag suits are hard to beat. Thanks for the business and enjoy that suit! - Van
Can you guys do an additional video comparing the Tech Air 5 and the Tech Air 7X?
We will look into doing one. - Van
Great job with the review
Thank you for watching! - Van
It's able to be used with jackets that are airbag compatible but wont the bottom portrude from the bottom of the jacket?
That will depend on the length of the jacket. If you have a short waisted jacket it may protrude from the bottom. - Van
(A) what is different between the track vs street deployment? (B) SInce this can be used with a Tech Air Jacket, can it be used on the street? 30:40
Yes this can be used on the street. All you have to do is open the app and switch the mode to street. - Van
One of the main differences is at what speed the airbag activates.
For race mode, the airbag gps has to sense that you’re moving over a certain speed before it will activate in a wreck, versus in street mode the airbag will activate from a dead stop. Like if you got rear ended at a stoplight, it’ll pop and protect you.
Super helpful video. Thanks for posting.
You are welcome and thank you for watching! - Van
“What are you doing dude?”
“Having fun” 😂
We have a pretty cool job for sure. Thanks for watching. - Van
Hopefully alpinestar soon revises the 5 to have the user service and washable features
Frikkin great review as always.
Couple of questions.
Firstly, would you say the circumstance of the torso is the the same or close to that of the race?
Secondly, I see the two humps which accommodate the canisters protrude a fair bit. Will there be any modification of the pad in the hump necessary to accommodate these without looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame?
Thanks. 👌🏽
I found the canister layout to fit perfectly in my hump for a GP Pro V2. I was using the higher end alpinestars back protector and the fit is roughly the same imo.
There is a little more coverage with the 7x in the torso. As for the hump this will fit under the suit without issue. - Van
@@AnOrangeCat44 thanks very much 👌🏽🙂
@@sportbiketrackgear thanks a lot.
Amazing Review!
Thank you for the video, excellent job!!
! Can you please provide a comparison between this airbag and the Tech Air 5? I noticed that the 7X supports street mode and I'm curious if it can fit in a jacket like the Tech Air 5.
Will the canisters fit in a Alpinestars hump?
It supports street mode and can fit under any jacket that is airbag compatible. It is a little longer than the 5 so it may protrude from the bottom of the jacket if the jacket is short waisted (not a big deal). The canisters fit nicely inside a suit or a jacket. - Van
I hope Alpinestars pushes Dainese into doing multiple, self-servicable airbag deployments as well.
Dainese is too focused on making their gear look "cool" to do that. Their airbag system still relies on vibrations from the motorcycle and doesn't even have a CE level 1 protector AND doesn't have shoulder/neck protection.
Or you could just use an Alpinestars airbag and suit... - Van
Hi Van, thanks for the great review.
I have a Tech Air 5 vest that I actually like. But the fabric is quite thick and it's a little tight under the armpits. Overall it's quite bulky.
How would you compare the new 7x to the Tech air 5 for road use? I've use a two piece leather suit from Revit, the jacket is tech-air-ready. The 7x looks much more thinner and flexible than my tech air 5.
Greetings from Germany ;)
The 5 is a good unit but this is an improvement for the track or the street. More coverage, two deployments, user can repack and it is easier to get the suit/jacket over it. - Van
Great review guys. My only question becomes: why would someone choose this over the tech air 10? Is it really just to save money but still have something that can integrate into a suit? Seems like the added hip protection from the tech air 10 system would be worth the upgrade. What are your thoughts on the 7x vs the 10?
The are a couple of reasons to select this over the 10.
1) The 10 has shown to have some issues and is less reliable than the Tech Air Race and Tech Air 10. This system uses components and tech from the previous reliable platforms with some upgrades.
2) The 10 only allows for 1 deployment before it needs to be sent out for repacking. With the 7x you get 2 deployments and you can repack it yourself.
I have a TechAir 10 because I don’t want to miss the hip protection. Bruised hips hurt a lot, trust me.
Moreover, A* brought out 2 major patches for the TechAir 10 software in March, which seem to have fixed the complaints people had (battery life, display connectivity).
It’s a shame the LED panel isn’t detachable so it can be placed in the little pocket of the newer suits’ sleeves, as was the case with the Tech Air 10. I have the GP Tech V4 and GP Plus V4 which both have the little sleeve pouch. EDIT: does that also mean the Tech-Air 7x won't zip into these two suits?
This will not zip into suits that are built for the 10 to zip into. With those suits you would need to wear it as a stand alone vest. As for the LED panel, that thing was a problem from jump street. This is a much more reliable design. - Van
love the video! very accurate👍👏
Happy to hear you like it and thank you for watching! - Van
Hey Bryan
I love the vids. Helped a lot with fixing up my bike. I was looking at some new gear and was wondering what your opinion is on the brand Shima. It is a polish company who make motorcycle gear. I just thought it had a decent look but can't really find any reviews. Would love to hear from you guys about the quality.
Keep it up! Greets from Belgium!
I have never seen anything from that brand which makes it tough to comment. - Van
Brian, Max, I'd like to pick one of these up for racing next year. The sizing guide suggests for my chest/waist measurements to use a medium, however, for my height it suggests an XS. Any recommendations on what size i should go with, or maybe even a different product that is good under my riding suit? Thank you! --Justin P.
For focused sizing help please shoot Max an email on maxvan@sportbiketrackgear.com and he will get you all dialed in. - Van
@sportbiketrackgear could something like this be used in the new A* Atem v5 jacket (jacket is tech air 3/5 compatible) i like the idea of having a longer back piece to protect the lower spine and having a lower profile airbag would be great for an already tight jacket.
Yes, you could use this with that jacket as well. If offers the ability to switch between the street and track algorithm as needed. - Van
Great Review! I'm curious if the RST STG EVO 4 One Piece Leather Race Suit would handle the Tech-Air 7x underneath it?
100% you can use this with the RST STG EVO 4 suit. - Van
Hey Van, have you any suggestions about covering the bladder valve that resides in the lower portion of the airbag, to protect the bladder and liner? I'm surprised it doesn't already have at least some type of protective sheath. Thanks again for the vest!!
I don't think it really needs anything more than to be behind the mesh liner. You are welcome and thank you for your business! - Van
Great review, I like the style of your reviews including the comments regarding the little product details. Would love to purchase it immediately in your shop, but by living in Germany it might not be a business case with shippment, taxes and custom. Anyway, following questions from a tech air race user: What is the weight vs the race version? It looks thicker than race version, valid or not? Any news on your end when this will be on purchase in Europe? Thanks and a good race season for you and your son.
No idea when this would be available in Europe. The size and shape of this is very similar to the Tech Air Race. IMO it will not take up any more room under the suit. - Van
GREAT VIDEO AS ALWAYS..IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU MADE SOME COMMENTS AS TO FITIMENT AS COMPAIRED TO THE OTHERS (SIZE)...THANKS!
For this you can order it in the same size as the T Shirt size you would normally wear. For reference Max is in a medium 7x and wears a medium shirt. - Van
Thanks!
I just bought a 7x and have a naked (Ducati monster). The tailbone can touch the passenger seat in certain positions. Thinking of returning it and getting a 5, but this feels like a downgrade.
What do you think? For street use
The protection from the 5 is still excellent and will not interfere. IMO there is not a massive difference in protection. - Van
@sportbiketrackgear really helpful, thanks. Going with the 5. Hope it won't smell too bad in time as it's not washable as is the 7x. Will see.
Thanks for the video.
How would you install this into Racing Absolute which the airbag suppose to be sandwiched between the liner and leather?
Can you buy the repack kit(2 x canisters) now or still waiting for its release?
We are still waiting for our canister order to be filled but understand Alpinestars has some in CA to service customer vest. This can be installed in the Racing Absolute that accepts the Tech Air Race Vest using the same install method and attachment points. - Van
@sportbiketrackgear in your opinion with the RST built in air system track tech Evo, is this necessary? Would you say it’s comparable to RST built in already?
I would also be interested in the answer..! Van
Sorry, missed this one. Max is racing in the RST with the in&motion airbag for the last two seasons now. If I did not think it was at least "as good" he would still be in the Alpinestars. IMO either option is an excellent one. - Van
Hey @van do you keep your chest protectors in the suit over the airbag or are they going to do damage than good when airbag gets deployed? This is with an alpine tech air compatible suit.
If you have room for them no reason not to leave them in if you prefer. Max and I stopped wearing individual chest protection when we started using the airbags. - Van
Any sensible reasons to use this Tech-Air 7x plus quality suit over RST 4.1 EVO? I guess better shoulder coverage and no subscription service, but from cons more total weight, less airflow, more garment. Why anyone would pick Tech-Air over integrated RST airbag?
No reason to put that over the RST suit. The V4.1 has a fully integrated airbag already inside the suit. The cost of the subscription is like $20 a month which is pretty manageable IMO. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear I meant Tech-Air 7x with some tech-air compatible race suit vs RST 4.1 EVO
Do you recommend this product for supermoto (only asphalt) use?
Will I also receive 2 other refills together with the product or do I have to buy them separately?
The kit to recharge is sold separate. No reason not to use this for asphalt only supermoto. - Van
I have the GPTech V4 suit, its tech air 10 compatible, will this unit fully zip into that suit also?
This will not zip into that suit. You would need to use it in the universal vest configuration. - Van
I think you briefly touched on this but is the back of the vest more streamlined then the tech air 5? I have an airbag compatible suit and a tech air 5 and have an absolutely hard time getting in and out of the suit with the 5 in it.the sleeves or the 5 also ate puffy and seem to get caught up in the suits, this appears to be more thin/tighter? Would like to make a switch if the ease of use and comfort is there.
This one is much easier to get the suit or jacket over as compared to the 5. Between the shape of the electronics cover and the sleeves you will be able to get your gear over pretty easily. - Van
Ryan from Cypress is about to send you back one of the life jackets from an Alaska Airlines.
We received it last week...
@sportbiketrackgear I was looking at the Tech-Air 5 and Off-road options, solely for street riding, as an imminent purchase and then Alpinestars dropped this, the Tech-Air 7x. Alpinestars doesn't mention on their site how much space is needed under a non "Tech-Air compatible" protective jacket, hoodie, etc for the 7x to deploy properly so I'm wondering if you have any insight to offer? I know on the 5 and Off-road Alpinestars recommends 4 cm (1.6 in).
You will need the same 4cm for this one as you do the rest. Airbag coverage is pretty much the same. - Van
Is this worth upgrading to, for track use, if you already have the Tech-Air Race?
If you have the Race I would keep using it. This would be a lateral move IMO. - Van
How do they do they do in the rain? I have a d-air street jacket right now and the unfortunately thing is it’s not recommended to ride in the rain. We all know you can randomly get hit with rain and then risk damaging it.
You can use this in the rain, you just can not go swimming with it. We have used the Tech Air Race in several wet weather races and never had an issue. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear thanks van. I’ll be saving my pennies and calling you guys up when it’s time to get one.
Hey @Van -Is any part of the liner / vest washable at all ??
This is like the 5 or the Race where you can hand wash the fabric without submerging the whole unit. Once you do that let it line dry. Full disclosure we never washed Max's that were used for over 3 seasons. While I would not stick my face in them I will tell you they do not drive you out of the trailer. - Van
Hi Van,
How does sizing run on this airbag, eg: I currently wear a 54 racing absolute suit for context, but I’m usually large around chest, small in the waist.
What would you recommend a guy wear under a Tech-Air 7x? Tshirt?, how about a thin wind blocker?
or? Seems a little funky and probably uncomfortable when its hot to just wear it without anything under it when your wearing it multiple times and cant really wash it. Thanks
Under a race suit I would wear a one piece, moisture wicking undersuit. You could also use a shirt made of a similar material (brands like Under Armor etc...). This is what Max and I have done with our airbags over the years and it helps keep the airbag vest cleaner. To be honest we have never washed any of the vests and they are not super funky. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear Thanks..!!
Do you still put your arms through the little sleeves of the airbag vest when it is installed? If so, how would that be possible in the racing absolute V1? I’m racing in those suits
This will zip into the Racing Absolute V1 for sure. It will me amazing behind the liner like the Tech Air Race was. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear Hey Brian, I still don't see how it is possible to put this airbag system behind the liner in de racing absolute V1 with those little sleeves,.... I don't think it is possible.
i have a Alpinestars GP Plus V4 suit, but dont have Alpinestars Tech Air LED display cord..do you need to buy this piece or it s included with the tech air 7x airbag system..if not where can i find the led display .than you for your answer
No you can use this as a stand alone vest that will be worn under the suit like the Tech Air 5. They made some changes to this one so it will go under the suit easier than the 5. - Van
I had custom leather suit from motospeeds(Pakistan store) which is compatible for tech air5. Comparison of price to inmotion vs tech air7 which you suggest
If it accepts the 5 the 7 will also work with the suit and so will the in&motion. We have used the Tech Air Race and moved to the RST suits with the integrated in&motion airbag (no vest). I like the fact the in&motion as well as the Tech Air 7x can be repacked by the user. - Van
My concerns using Tech-Air 5 are not easy to clean and not weatherproof. Are these aspects got any updated with the Tech-Air 7?
How does it compare to the Techair5 for street use? The dual use, and ability to replace your own canister is a big deal. Any other advantages?
Compared to the 5 it offers more coverage and redesigned fit that makes it easier to put the suit/jacket on over it. This is in addition to the benefits you noted. This is a step forward. - Van
I’ve read that they aren’t very good for street riding, although you mention a street mode. Is this a new thing? I really want an airbag to wear under my suit for street riding. Good to go?
You can use the Tech Air 7x and the Tech Air 5 on the track or the street. The Tech Air 3 is street only. - Van
This seems to have some overlap with the 5. What’s the benefit, more coverage?
It zips into Tech Air Race compatible garments where the 5 does not. It has a little more coverage than the 5 and offers two deployments as compared to one for the 5. With the 7x the user can also repack without sending it in for service. - Van
I have an air tec 5 ,what are the main reasons to upgrade to the 7 vest?
If you have already invested in the Tech Air 5 I would suggest continuing to use it as long as you are happy with it. The level of protection from the 5 is pretty much the same. - Van
The led of arm how to take ? Is of suit of airbag?
There is allegedly an led harness available for this. IMO that is not needed as you can easily check the status before you zip up your suit or by using the app on your phone before you go out. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear thanks very mouch
How much side coverage is there compared to the tech air 5?
The 7x has a little more coverage than the 5. It is longer in the back and the torso. - Van
Can you use that Airbag on normal ap tech air ready jackets?
Yes this airbag can be used as a universal vest under any jacket or suit that has enough stretch or 4cm in additional space to manage a deployment. Any of the airbag jackets from Alpinestars will work with this airbag. - Van
hot take but i think airbags should become a requirement at the track in the same way proper suits and how there are stricter helmet requirements
I agree everyone should wear them at the track. - Van
Do you have a list of the tech air compatible race suits? Alpine Star suits don't fit and they don't do custom fitting.
We do not have a full list, there are some brands we do not deal with that offer compatibility. The only other brand we offer that accepts the Tech Air Race and 7X would be the Taichi race suits. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear Ok thanks. Finding a compatible suit is the hold up for me.
Is it lighter than the old tech air race? Looks less bulky .
The Tech Air Race weighs 4.5lbs in a medium and the 7x weighed 5.3lbs. There is more coverage with the 7x and the back protector is more robust. - Van
Can I wear a chest protector with this airbag?
If you have room in the suit you can also wear a chest protector if you prefer to do so. - Van
Can we zip it up with gp plus v4 one piece suit??
No this can not zip into that suit. It can zip into any race suit that is designed to accept the Alpinestars Tech Air Race Vest. There will be new suits from Alpinestars this fall that this will zip into. For any other suit like the GP Plus V4 you can use this underneath in the stand alone vest configuration. - Van
Contacted RST and they said they don't make a Tech Air compatable suit but Max is standing there wearing one, WTF.
We used the suit he was practicing in to show the fit of the Tech Air. The one he is wearing has an airbag bladder in it which takes up minimal room. If you were to want to use one of the RST airbag suits with the Tech Air 7X I would suggest removing the in&motion system first.
We do have some non Airbag RST suits that have plenty of stretch panels to manage a deployment here (more on the way) that would allow you to use the Tech Air 7X in the stand alone vest configuration under the suit. - Van
Sizing same as Tech-Air 5?
So Tech-air 10 or Tech-Air 7 for the track?
I would go with the 7x. - Van
Pull cover release cord while reinstalling cover and you wont need to wack it.
It's my vest and I will wack it if I want to. I tried it both ways and this one would not seat all the way without some additional pressure. - Van
How is the fit? I am between 88-92 cm chest.
For assistance with sizing please email orders@sportbiketrackgear.com
I scrolled for a few minutes and didn’t find this question, so I’ll probably be asking it again;
No neck roll protection? Seems like half an airbag then
The airbag inflates over the shoulders and prevents the helmet from making contact with your collarbone. This is all the coverage you need to prevent the most common injury in motorcycle crashes on the track, the broken collarbone. Unlike offroad riding neck injuries in road racing are very uncommon. - Van
Is it compatible with the missile v2?
You can use this in the vest configuration with the Missile V2 or any other suit/jacket that accepts a universal airbag system. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear I don’t have any airbag, do you you think this one is good for only road/touring use or it’s better the tech 5 as first purchase.
That is expensive, however sitting here with 5 broken ribs I think it is worth now
I will not let Max take a bike out on track without an airbag on, period. - Van
Hello,
Do anybody else having problem with Tech-air 7x not deployed in crash?
We have not used this one ourselves but have sold a lot. To date I am unaware of any reports of the 7 not deploying when it should. Important to remember it will only deploy if the algorithm determines it needs to deploy. If you feel it should have and it did not I would contact Alpinestars directly and perhaps send it in so they can take a look at it for you. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear Heard there is defective refills in use, with blue end part. Told some updated refills coming to fix problem.
Can you charge it while riding?
Doubtful, but there's not much need to, can't ride for more than 20 hours without a break. Charge it when you have a break.
@@IN_ZANE_ unfortunately I ride street only and I sometimes either get lazy or forget
@@jeffreymurillo3131 Cool bananas
I would not try to charge it while riding. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear thanks
Besides the self-repack feature, where do you think this unit offers more than the TA10? I've watched a couple of your reviews, including that of the TA10 where you mentioned that Max has had a few deployments of the Race unit. Let's put aside reliability issues (which I assume have now been figured out with the latest patches), do you assess that hip injuries are less likely and would therefore go with the 7x over the 10? More plainly, if both were built on the same platform, would you still go with the 7x? Do you discount hip-related injuries to that extent? Or just simply still don't trust the TA10 platform?
Great product but. I don't see RIB / SIDE PROTECTION!!!
If you look at the images of the bag being deployed there is plenty of protection for the ribs. Here is a link:
www.sportbiketrackgear.com/alpinestars-tech-air-7x-airbag-system/
No one does this ever. I have the tech 5. I wanna see if u can have the suit on. Take the top off with vest still on and how easy u can slide the suit back on over the airbag. The tech 5 u can not do it at all.
With the 7 it is much easier to wear the airbag and then pull the suit up. If you are using the 5 we suggest you place the airbag vest in the suit then put the suit on. We found that to be the best way to get the 5 in the suit. If you have a Tech Air Race compatible race suit the 7 will zip in which makes it very easy to use. - Van
🧿
Thank you for watching! - Van
2:46 😂💀
This Tech Air 7 signals the end of the road for the Tech Air 10. The 10 must be replaced with a 20 that incorporates all these new features. Current Tech Air 10 will go down as one of the most head scratching releases of a product I have ever seen. Sorely disappointed that the 10 lacks all the awesome features of the 7.
I am happy to see the 7x for sure. - Van
what are you talking about i love my tech air 10. i've bought alpinestars especially for the hip protection. already had it detonate once and worked perfectly
@@tomeelbode4417 I wear my tech air 10 for every ride.
The tech air 10 should be the hands down best unit, period, if only for the hip protection that it alone provides.
However, compare how easy it is to activate the tech air 5 or the new tech air 7 to the tech air 10.
Compare battery life of the the 5/7 to the 10.
Compare how easy it is to get into Tech air race or tech air 7 that is already installed in the suit to a tech air 10.
Need to replace an inflation cartridge on the 10? Mail it in. On the 7? Do it yourself.
The next version of the tech air 10 (tech air 20?) will be the bomb incorporating all the best features of the 7, and all the best features of the 10.
they need these suits to be able to lock the rider in the fetal position then surround him or her with a bubble . . :-)
That will be the final evolution for the motorcycle airbags. - Van
So not washable, very unfortunate...
We have used the Tech Air Race for several seasons (I still use mine) and never washed one of them man. IMO they do not smell any worse than the suit. Just wear and undersuit under the vest and wash that. If you want to wash it you can hand wash without submerging the vest and line dry. - Van
Film industry pro-tip: use vodka or vodka water mix in a spray bottle to kill odors & sanitize the airbag vest material as well as any other clothing garment.
Google vodka water costume clean for more info.