Smart GO is the new Dainese D-air® airbag designed for road use. It covers everything from road touring to city riding and light unpaved roads. It was designed to be so simple that it also meets the needs of everyday commuting, as it is lightweight, quick to put on, and fits into the normal routine of anyone riding a motorcycle or scooter.
But how does a motorcycle airbag work, and when is it really useful? How do you wear it, what happens when it deploys, and what makes it different? We have gathered some of the most frequently asked questions about using motorcycle airbags, to clarify the main points around protection, operation, and practicality.
Is an airbag vest worth it for short, low-speed city scooter rides?
Yes. The data shows that a significant share of road accidents happens in urban settings. City riding generally takes place at modest speeds, but it still exposes you to the risk of falls and impacts with other vehicles or obstacles. Paradoxically, a city ride of just a few miles can expose you to more danger than a long run through the hills away from traffic.
That is why a motorcycle airbag is essential protection for riders who use a motorcycle or scooter mainly for daily commuting. Smart GO was created with exactly this in mind, bringing D-air® technology into everyday use through a lightweight system that is easy to put on and asks you to change nothing about your routine.
Does the airbag deploy when I am stopped or riding slowly, for example if someone hits me from behind at a traffic light?
Yes. The Dainese road airbags, Smart GO and Smart Air, are designed to deploy in a rear-end collision even when you are stopped. This is possible because vibration from the running motorcycle is enough to arm the D-air® system, with no need to be moving.
The other deployment dynamics for Smart GO are high-sides, low-sides with or without rolling, and impact with an obstacle while riding, at any angle.
What happens after a motorcycle airbag has deployed, and can you reset it yourself?
Dainese Smart GO is designed for up to three deployments. After each deployment, you must check the vest for breaks, tears, cuts, or abrasions, particularly in the areas where the airbag sits. If there is any damage, you must contact Dainese Customer Service.
After each deployment, the gas generator must also be replaced, using the replacement CO₂ cartridge kit specified for Smart GO. The system can then be used again once you have completed the required steps set out in the Smart GO Information Notice. After the third deployment, however, the device must be disposed of.
How does a motorcycle airbag know that I am crashing?
It works by continuously analyzing the rider’s movements through sensors that read data 1,000 times a second: GPS, which tracks speed, an accelerometer, which tracks acceleration and deceleration in every direction, and a gyroscope, which tracks rotation. Dainese D-air® technology uses an algorithm capable of recognizing the dynamics typical of an accident and of distinguishing a dangerous situation from normal movement while riding. When the specified activation conditions are recognized, the system deploys the airbag in thousandths of a second.
Can you wear an airbag vest over everyday clothes, a coat, or a work jacket?
Yes, and it is in everyday use that the practicality of Smart GO matters even more. The vest is designed to be worn over or under any garment you normally wear on everyday rides, whether that is a motorcycle jacket, a casual coat, or anything else. If it is worn underneath, the garment must allow enough room for the airbag to expand fully as it inflates (at least 8 cm in the chest and back areas).
How much does an airbag vest weigh, and can you feel it while riding?
Weight and bulk matter for an airbag meant for everyday use. Dainese Smart GO weighs just 780 grams, less than half the weight of the lightest systems available on the market so far. And it is designed to be comfortable, cool, and easy to wear, without the bulk of traditional rigid protection. Given its shape, every side of the body stays well ventilated, which keeps it comfortable to wear even on the hottest days. Smart GO does not restrict movement in any way, and it is lighter even than a traditional back protector.
The goal of smart protection is to let you use it on everyday rides without changing the riding experience.
Does an airbag vest work in the rain and in cold weather?
Smart GO is not waterproof and must not be exposed to rain. In bad weather you therefore need to protect it from water, so avoid using it in the rain unprotected and wear it under a suitable waterproof garment instead.
Cold is not a problem for the way the system works: Smart GO is designed to be used at low temperatures as well, with no special measures required for cold weather. Smart GO is designed to be used within a temperature range of 0°C to 40°C.
Where do you put the airbag vest when you park? Under the seat, in a backpack, or do you carry it with you?
How practical an urban airbag is also depends on how easy it is to handle once you reach your destination. Smart GO is therefore designed to make the rider’s life easier once the ride is over as well. The system can easily be folded and stowed in any backpack or bag with enough room. Alternatively, you can keep it on with the system switched off.
What do Level 1 and Level 2 mean in motorcycle protector certifications?
Levels 1 and 2 identify the different levels of protection set by European standards for impact absorption. In general, a Level 2 protector must provide a greater ability to absorb the force transmitted to the body during an impact.
The difference is established through specific laboratory tests that measure the residual force transmitted to the body: To reach Level 2, this force must stay within tighter limits than for Level 1. In practice, a Level 2 protector offers a greater ability to absorb impact energy and reduce the stresses transmitted to the rider.
Smart GO is certified Level 2 for back and chest protection, so it offers the highest level of protection, which matters not only on track or at high speeds but also in city use. Smart GO reaches this certification level with no hardshell protectors added, through airbag protection alone.
How much more protection does an airbag vest really give than a hardshell back protector?
The difference in the force transmitted to the body is significant. For a back protector rated Level 2, the standard requires that the residual force transmitted does not exceed 9 kN. For a Level 2 airbag, by contrast, that value cannot exceed 2.5 kN.
This means that the impact force absorbed by an airbag system, and therefore not transmitted to the rider’s body, is far greater than the force absorbed by a hardshell protector.
Smart GO is certified Level 2 for back and chest protection using airbag protection alone, with no hardshell protectors. It therefore offers the highest level of protection contemplated by current standards, with the freedom of movement and light weight of an airbag system.
Which parts of the body does an airbag vest protect?
An airbag vest does not replace all other motorcycle protection, as its job is to protect specific parts of the body in a crash. Smart GO protects mainly the chest and back, extending protection to the collarbone area as well.
