Motorcycle Racing, Track Day & Riding School Blog

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The Dainese D-air Racing Suit is finally here.  More then 10 years in the making this suit represents a major leap forward in rider protection.  According to Dainese, the D-air system adds just 650 grams (1.43 lbs) to a standard suit and the high-pressure, five-liter bladder reportedly reduces impact forces by close to 85% compared to traditional armor. For example, a 23-24 kN force would be reduced to under 3 kN.  The concept of a motorcycle airbag has been around for quite some time and other versions have already been brought to market.  There are few major differences that separate the D-air Racing Suit from it’s competition.

First and foremost is the triggering mechanism.  Dainese’s system relies on a “Brain” that resides in the hump that consists of a global positioning sensor, a two-gigabyte internal memory, three gyroscopes, and three accelerometers, that are powered by a lithium polymer battery.  Other systems use a mechanical means of actuating the airbag via a tether from the rider to the bike.  Dainese deemed the tether system to be unreliable and cumbersome.  Especially in the event that a rider crashes and does not become detached from the bike.  The Dainese system is initiated by a complex algorithm that measures a highly-defined set of motions and forces to inflate the suit.  The airbag is said to be able to trigger in less than 15 milliseconds, deploy in 30 milliseconds and reaches full protection level within 80 milliseconds, essentially the blink of an eye.

One of the other differentiators, is having the air bag inflate inside of the suit as opposed the outside as seen in some of the early test videos and on competitors products.  This yields two benefits, primarily protecting the air bag from abrasion and damage as well as lessening the airbags chance of interfering with the riders ability to control the motorcycle.  

The D-air Racing suit also features a data acquisition system that can provide riders with valuable information on their track performance.

This is great offering from a company who has been at the forefront of rider safety since their inception and demonstrates a dedication to increasing our chances of walking away unscathed from a crash.  AMA Superbike race Blake Blake Young will be the first US rider to use the suit in the 2012 Superbike Championship.   We look forward seeing this technology trickle down for use by us mere mortals.

Santini

The following is from the press release issued by Dainese:

Dainese introduces D-air Racing in the USA

(Costa Mesa, CA). A crowd of journalists gathered at the D-Store Orange County for the 2012 Dainese and AGV collections preview. After ten years of reserach and development, the Italian manufacturer presented the D-air Racing suit: the First of its kind to be sold in the US.

This highly-anticipated Dainese D-air Racing suit will be available for purchase in the USA. This hightech suit operates as a protection device as well as an impressive track day tool. Developed on race racetracks with the help of top Dainese racers including Valentino Rossi, Stefan Bradl, Leon Haslam and Max Biaggi, the D-air Racing works in synergy with existing armour in race suits and gives airbag protection to shoulders and improves protection in the neck and upper chest area.

The electronic system identifies a fall or slide and immediately sends a trigger signal to the gas generator in the hump of the suit. This activates the internal airbag, which then inflates within 30 millieseconds. D-air Racing has a patented 3D airbag structure providing the rider with a controlled airbag expansion. It is the only airbag suit on the market that works wirelessly without any connection to a motorcycle.

Aside from the unique safety features, the D-air Racing suit is a track day enthusiast’s ideal tool for improvement. The system features data acquisition software developed by German company 2D (2d-datarecording), which supplies some of the top teams in MotoGP and F1. The software gives D-air users an effective source to monitor riding performance and record telemetry data, that can be downloaded and displayed on a computer. Extensive functions of the system include lap time data, GPS telemetry of the bike and diagrams in relation to time: assessment of braking spaces and lines through bends. Acceleration data is also available and the system is compatible with Google Earth and enables plotting of racing lines on a mini map.

The D-air Racing system passed all motorcycle personal protective equipment tests, not only for the current European standards but also for pre-standards, which will come into effect in the future. The D-air system is so innovative that the current standards were only partially able to meet the certification needs of an advanced system. TÜV SÜD were required to develop a new and more appropriate testing producer before submitting the D-air Racing system, which went far beyond the existing standards. D-air Racing is proud to be TÜV SÜD system certified.

During the presentation, Dainese delivered the first D-air Racing suit to Blake Young, AMA Superbike racer. He will be the First US rider to use the suit in the AMA Superbike Championship.

The suit can be custom made by size, colors, names and logos. The suit will be available for ordering starting from June 2012, with a starting cost of $3,999.

For more information please contact your authorized Dainese dealer. For a complete list of dealers D-air Racing certificated please stay tuned on Dainese.com.

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The Alpinestars Spring 2012 Collection is on its way and there are definitely a few standouts for the track.  Starting with the updated Alpinestars Race Replica Suit.  The new Alpinestars suit can be fitted with the Tech Air Airbag system and features updated stretch panels in shoulders and a revised perforation scheme for unsurpassed cooling.  The new design is very clean and on trend for the resurgence of high visibility colors seen in the Moto GP Paddock.  This is about as close as you can get to the suits worn by Stoner, Pedrosa, and Spies.

For those that prefer a two piece set up, the Alpinestars GP Tech Air Leather Jacket is going to be a killer top half to a track suit.  Massive amounts of perforation highlight this technical jacket as well as nicely integrated reflective stripes and external TPU shoulder and extended elbow protection that comes straight from the Race Replica Suit.  There is also a removable windbreaker vest liner for when the temperature drops.  This is the new top of the line jacket from Alpinestars for those who will except nothing less.

The SMX Plus Boots changed the game for sport riding boots in its price range last year and the addition of the Gore-Tex membrane will only further the popularity of this standout.  It will be nice to hit a rainy track day or damp weekend ride knowing that your feet will be protected as well as dry and comfortable.  The standout features of these boots are the Multi Link Control system, which protects the ankle from hypertorsion, hyperflexion and hyperextension while adding impact protection and a contoured EVA footbed that lends arch support and control feel in the forefoot but is also completely removable if you so choose. 

I cant wait to see this kit in person.

Santini

I had the opportunity to try out a lot of motorcycle gear this past season and wanted to share some of my favorites.  I have always worn Shoei helmets and have been very happy them.  I picked up a the new Bell RS-1 in April to see how it compared.  What I found was a very comfortable (for my slightly narrow head shape) fit with a nice finish and solid build quality.  The ventilation and visibility were great.  It's first trial on the track was on a rainy spring day at NJMP.  I found that fogging was not an issue, although traction was, but that is another story.  The liner is nice, although the micro fiber can feel a little clammy after a few sessions if it does not get a chance to dry out.  The face shield mechanism is second to none and makes shield changes effortless.  Of note, adding the Bell Transitions SolFX Photochromic Face Shield provides a nice balance of glare protection in overcast days where the sun comes out intermittently.  It also works great for commuting.  I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Transitions shield actually worked.  Aerodynamically the RS-1 functioned just as well on my Monster as it did on the track.  Moving on to other features, the MagnaFusion strap keeper is a nice touch, as is the shield lock on the left side that lifts the shield up a fraction for venting or locks the shield in place.  The only real negatives that I found were the detents on the vents, which do not have the same positive feel of those found on a Shoei or Arai helmet.  The other issue is a lack of compelling graphics.  I know that Bell can do better, hence the custom pinstripe job on my gloss black lid.  Overall, this is a great helmet and would be a recommend alternative to a Shoei RF-1100 or an Arai Vector 2.

The next item I tested out (really tested out) was the Forcefield Back Protector Pro Sub 4.  I have used quite a few back protectors in the past, starting with a 7 plate Teknic back protector in 99.  The Sub 4 is quantum leap in technolgy from that back protector and I found it to be form fitting as well as non restrictive.  It is definitely thicker than most other back protectors, so make that you have room for it.  I particularly like the concept of the repeat performance technology and knowing that it Sub 4 shows a mean test result of 3.38kn transmitted energy during the standard CE test for an EN1621-2 rating.  Making it the first motorcycle back protector in the world to attain this level of performance.  Back to the lack of traction comment from the RS-1 review.  I completed a few sessions without incident and I was starting to feel pretty confident in the Super Corsa Pro's ability to deal with the cold damp conditions.  It was the second to last lap of the fourth session in the chicane at NJMP when I found my self sliding on my back after the quick right left transition.  I was probably going only 45 mph or so and ended up sliding safely to a stop next to my bike in the grass.  I did a quick body check and found that I was all in one piece and that bike only had cosmetic damage.  The moral of the story is that DOT race tires are not rain tires, don't get cocky.  Consequently I was more sore from riding that day than my impact on the ground.  The Sub 4 did exactly what is was supposed to do and I feel that it is a worthy addition to your protective set up. 

Moving on.  It was time to change out my REV'IT GT-Corse gloves (which also fared very well in the lowside), so I upgraded to the REV'IT Jerez gloves.  The Jerez gloves represent a substantial amount of protection and have been validated numerous times by GP racer/ part time crasher Randy De Puniet who always seems to make it to the next race on the schedule.  All kidding aside, these have proven to be very comfortable and broke in quickly.  They have great feedback on the controls and have shown minimal signs of wear after a season of track days and street riding.  There really are not too many things to complain about except for maybe price, which I feel is justified for this level of glove. 

My 4 year old Sidi Vertigos took a couple of hits during the April crash and it was time to replace them anyway.  I had looked at the Sidi ST as a potential replacement and found that didn't fit quite right.  An associate of mine suggested trying a pair of Dainese boots.  After trying on a few pairs I selected the Dainese Torque Pro Outs.  These were like wearing a pair of protective slippers.  They were immediately comfortable and the rear entry system makes them easy to put on and take off.  On the bike they have pretty good feel, although I still prefer the sole on the Sidis.  The D-Axial ankle protection is well thought out and while I hope to never need it, it looks like it will minimize unwanted ankle movement in an off.  I feel that Dainese could improve their boots with the addition of replaceable hard parts like the higher end Sidi boots offer.  This would help to extend the use of the boot after a minor get off and I feel would add value.  If you are looking for new boots, these should be on your short list.

There is a lot great new gear that was just released and more on the horizon.  2012 is going to be another great year.  Stay tuned.

Sanrtini