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Alpinestars’ first Tech-Air Race airbag debuted in MotoGP in 2009. The Tech-Air Off Road started protecting Dakar riders in 2019. This week, Alpinestars finally brought airbag technology to the motocross circuit with the all-new Tech-Air MX.
The pre-production system was made available to Alpinestars-supported riders at the MXGP of Flanders (Belgium), but its development dates back to 2016. Over the past eight years, Astars collected ride data from AMA Supercross and Motocross and FIM MXGP racers to develop a crash-detection algorithm tailored to MX and SX conditions.
The Tech-Air MX is comprised of an autonomous airbag system embedded within a CE Level 1 chest protector and a Nucleon Plasma back protector. When deployed, the airbag provides CE Level 1 active protection to the chest, back, and shoulders. According to Alpinestars, the inflated unit yields “four times more protection than the passive protector alone.”
Crash monitoring is provided by three accelerometers and three gyroscopes feeding into an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that’s integrated into the back protector. To activate the vest, riders simply attach the chest protector’s left buckle to the internal magnetic switch. Severing that connection automatically deactivates the system.
When the Tech-Air MX detects an imminent crash, the airbag inflates in an average of 40 milliseconds. It’s certified for up to six deployments (provided the airbag isn’t damaged within the first five deployments) and users can quickly replace the single gas inflator between sessions.
The Tech-Air MX’s lithium-ion battery delivers 30 hours of ride time and recharges in four hours, so it will last longer than any race day at the track. Just one hour of charge time adds approximately eight hours of battery life, perfect for quick turnaround between motos. Users can even access the system’s operational status, battery level, and ride recording through the Tech-Air app (via Bluetooth connectivity).
The pre-production Tech-Air MX worn by MXGP racers comes with two pre-loaded ride modes (MX and SX). Though the production model is in the final development stages, Alpinestars reports that it will be available to consumers in 2025 and arrive with three different ride modes.
It’s been a long time coming, but Alpinestars’ Tech-Air series will soon cater to all motorcyclists, regardless of discipline.
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