The various designs differ in the shape of the airbag itself and where it is mounted. In some versions, the “balloon” is located in the front of the seat, thus indicating that it will burst, with some concern, in the event of an accident between the pilot’s legs. The other solutions, on the other hand, equip the inflating system in the center of the saddle, with the aim of protecting the rider from behind the rider, “grabbing” him around the torso while also protecting the arms and then detaching from the bike when thrown away.
The advantage of this solution is that the airbag is incorporated in the saddle it has no limitations on size or inflation capacity, allowing the entry of a greater quantity of gas inside the “balloon” compared to a jacket airbag. Once inflated, patent documents describe how the airbag is sealed using heat to close and detach from the inflating system, allowing it to follow the rider if necessary. Finally, like airbags in a car, there’s a valve built into the bag itself to allow it to deflate at a pre-selected rate, absorbing impacts.
Observing the Honda range, it is conceivable that these systems, if carried forward, could equip touring bikes such as the NT 1100 as well as the aforementioned Goldwing, or on its range of scooters.
It is unlikely that they will be seen on a Hornet or a CBR, which offer much less space and on which weight greatly affects performance.
