When I first got the call about my initial event as an Associate Editor at Ultimate Motorcycling, I was daydreaming about being in an exotic country, testing a 200-horsepower state-of-the-art race replica. Then, I got my mission brief: “Latest Airbag System”. Hold up. Wait a minute. My mind went blank for a second. I thought airbag systems were tested using mannequins and crash test dummies—no real humans involved. So when I read “airbag system,” I braced myself for an intense, “very” real crash test of the new Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma airbag system.
But, hey, if that was what it took to get into the exclusive Motorcycle Test Rider Club, I was ready to hit the ground once, twice, or maybe more, just so long as I didn’t have to pay for the bike. However, as I continued reading, I got the sweet relief I needed. As it turns out, the mission was just about riding while wearing the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma airbag system—no crashing involved. Phew.
I’ve been using airbag suits for quite a while, and a few deployments of them have saved me from some potentially serious injuries. While I don’t commute by motorcycle every day, I can’t overstate how valuable that extra layer of protection is.
So, I started looking for a sensible airbag solution for my street rides, too. After all, I’m not about to show up for a casual beach cruise in full race gear. The dilemma is finding something that handles different weather conditions without looking like I’m about to take off into space.
The Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma is basically the Swiss Army knife of airbag systems. It has three integrated riding modes: Off-Road, Street, and Race. Each algorithm takes the type of riding you are doing into account when deciding to deploy the airbag, recognizing that your body moves differently during each type of riding.
With just the push of a button, you can toggle between them—no need for multiple systems or a wardrobe full of airbags for each riding style. It’s a game-changer when you are trying to simplify things, especially if you ride various genres of motorcycles.
My first day of testing started with some dirt trails around Willow Springs International Raceway, about 60 miles due north of downtown Los Angeles. When I slipped on the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 for the first time, I couldn’t believe how well it fit. Alpinestars calls it “supremely comfortable,” and they weren’t kidding.
The adaptive stretch-fit garment molded to my body like it was custom-tailored. I paired it with the Alpinestars Mootant waterproof parka ($440). Despite my struggles with the dirt trails aboard a Honda Transalp—I’m more comfortable on a paved road—it was still a smoother experience than I had imagined. It’s certainly better than running off the track with a race bike on gravel while praying I won’t faceplant.
After that, the typical California high desert weather did not disappoint—by mid-afternoon, it went from cool to scorching hot. Fortunately, the Tech-Air 5 Plasma has large airflow areas built into it. I took full advantage of the cooling opportunities by unzipping the ventilation pockets of my Alpinestars touring jacket. It was like riding in the comfort of air-conditioned bliss.
Then came the fun part—riding different motorcycles on the technical Streets of Willow road course. For this, I swapped to the GP Force Lurv leather suit. Although it is Alpinestars’ entry level suit and was brand new, no breaking-in period was required. It felt like it had been molded to my body from day one.
The Streets of Willow is a tight 13-turn track with lots of side-to-side transitions and elevation changes. It is a course that demands quick, precise movements. With all these challenges, it was hard to tell that I was even wearing the airbag system. The Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma’s lightweight nature made the experience seamless. When Alpinestars claims this new airbag system is 25 percent lighter than the original Tech-Air 5, they aren’t exaggerating. I could feel the difference right away.
Of course, being the small-displacement motor fan I am, I hopped on the Aprilia RS 457—the perfect bike for that track. I took it for some hot laps in full tuck position and, even with the airbag system in place, I felt zero interference in my movement. That’s the beauty of the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma—it provides protection without making you feel like you’re wearing a marshmallow suit.
Weight savings come from an all-new single-canister design, which also enables faster airbag inflation. That design simplifies the servicing process for quick turnaround by allowing the user to replace the gas canister ($120), which is easily done in less than 30 seconds. While vastly improving the system, Alpinestars also kept the price unchanged from the previous version—$790.
As airbag systems continue to evolve, it is clear that airbag protection doesn’t have to be bulky, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. The Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma delivers all the safety benefits we want, without the sacrifices. Whether cruising down a dirt trail, hitting the streets, or taking on a racetrack, this airbag system adapts with you.
For the technically minded, the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma integrates a tri-axial accelerometer and a tri-axial gyroscope to monitor motion, feeding data to an onboard computer that uses sophisticated algorithms to trigger airbag deployment in a crash. The airbag protects the shoulders, back, ribs, and chest. Its canister holds enough argon gas to fill about 15 liters at standard pressure, is user-replaceable, and powers MotoGP airbag systems. The battery lasts up to 30 hours and is rechargeable, even while riding. The Tech-Air smartphone app pairs via Bluetooth for easy management of the unit. The system’s back protection is CE certified to EN 1621-4 Level 1, one tier below the more stringent Level 2 standard.
So, no, I didn’t crash-test anything during my first assignment as an Associate Editor. Let’s be real for a moment—motorcycling is a dangerous sport. Things happen in the blink of an eye, and I think most of us have crashed once or twice (or maybe more). That’s why the phrase ATGATT—All The Gear All The Time—isn’t just some catchy slogan. It is a mantra for the smart riders who understand longevity’s importance in this hobby. They know that the more protection you have, the better your chances of walking away from a mishap. Sometimes, less really is more, and that’s where products such as the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma come in. You get all the protection you need without being weighed down or overheated. It’s a tough balance to strike, yet Alpinestars nailed it with this new airbag system.
