It has been 14 years since the Alpinestars Tech-Air Race debuted, bringing airbag technology to the public after two years of fine-tuning in MotoGP. The original Tech-Air airbags required compatible gear, and it was a complex system. Since then, Alpinestars has worked on simplifying and perfecting the Tech-Air airbags while expanding the product range to include vests for cruiser riders. Introduced in early 2024 after seven years of testing in races such as the Dakar Rally, the Alpinestars Tech-Air Off-Road airbag took the technology off-pavement to include dirt bike and adventure riders. I have been wearing it since December 2023, and it has become must-wear protective gear for my dirt bike and dual-sport exploits.
I came to the Alpinestars Tech-Air Off-Road Airbag System after years of wearing various Alpinestars Bionic Pro protection jackets. Those jackets had integrated CE-rated chest, back, elbow, and shoulder protection built in.
While I was initially dubious about the comfort sacrifices—I was previously only wearing a jersey—I quickly adapted to the Bionic Pro jackets and wear them even when temperatures hit triple digits. Body armor is as indispensable as a helmet and boots for off-road riding.
When I first got wind of the Alpinestars Tech-Air Off-Road Airbag System, I had my doubts. There had been complaints about how hot the pavement-only airbags were, and I didn’t want to bring that over to dirt bike riding. However, it’s my job to test new products, so I got fitted for the Tech-Air Off-Road and have been riding ever since.
If you’re used to something like the Bionic Pro, the Tech-Air Off-Road doesn’t feel much different. You put it on like a jacket, zip it up, attach a few latches, and then go riding. “In terms of weight, the Bionic Pro v2 jacket I typically wore weighs 4.6 pounds, while the Tech-Air Off-Road weighs four pounds more.
However, because the weight is distributed in a jacket-like garment and is spread across your body, the extra four pounds are only noticeable when I pick it up and put it on. Once on, and especially when I’m riding, the Tech-Air Off-Road doesn’t feel any different from the Bionic Pro.
You do lose a couple of features when moving from the Bionic Pro v2 to the Off-Road airbag. The airbag jacket does not have an integrated lumbar support belt (aka kidney belt), which I miss. The airbag is not compatible with neck braces, including the Alpinestars Bionic Neck Support, as it is intended to replace the support the brace provides.
Keep in mind that the Tech-Air Off-Road System isn’t simply an airbag. Integrated into the jacket are CE Level 1 shoulder, elbow, and back protectors, along with a CE Level 2 chest protector. The elbow protection exists outside of the airbag coverage, while the shoulder, chest, and back passive protection is there for crashes not heavy enough to deploy the airbag. So, you’re not just getting an airbag—you’re also getting an entire passive protection system.
Turning the Tech-Air Off-Road Airbag System on is as easy as zipping it up. Near the top of the zipper, two magnets engage, arming the airbag and setting off a buzzer to confirm that it’s armed. Next, engage the four clips—two on the shoulder and two on the side chest. Finally, a simple control panel is at the lower left front of the airbag jacket. You select one of three algorithms—Street, Enduro, and Rally—with an identifying LED. A separate blinking LED tells you the battery status.
A full charge via a USB-C cable and Alpinestars’ charger typically lasts through a weekend of riding, based on my experience—Alpinestars claims 30 hours of riding per charge. Charging from zero takes four hours, with top-ups taking considerably less time.
Street mode is self-explanatory—it’s designed for riding on pavement. Enduro mode is for slower off-road riding, such as single-track and 4×4 roads. Rally handles high speeds off-road, such as desert riding or the 2024 Dakar Rally, where the majority of riders were wearing the system.
If the airbag is only under a shirt or jersey, you’ll need to untuck it to access the control panel. Getting it over a jersey requires a bit of upper body flexibility to clear the rear hump, but it’s doable. If you’re wearing an adventure jacket, use the Tech-Air app on your smartphone to change modes—an easy job, especially if the phone is handlebar-mounted.
My initial experience with the Off-Road Airbag System was mixed. While it never deployed unexpectedly or at all, it would shut off due to simple arm movements. Fortunately, the software was constantly being updated via the Tech-Air app on my iPhone—a wireless manual process—and eventually the problem disappeared.
During my testing, I never fell hard enough to deploy the airbag. I had one near-crash experience when I flew over an unexpected washout in the desert, hitting the uphill side of the opposite bank as I landed. Although I didn’t crash, my chest hit the handlebar with considerable force. The airbag did not deploy, and the integrated CE Level 2 chest protector prevented any injury, so non-deployment was the correct call. Regardless, I was glad I had the airbag on, even if it didn’t feel the need to inflate.
The Alpinestars Off-Road Airbag System is designed for two deployments before the two gas canisters need to be replaced. That runs $170, and you can install them yourself. The airbag bladder, made from durable, flexible materials, inflates rapidly and deflates in a controlled manner. The airbag bladder is housed in a compartment integrated into the jacket, ensuring that, after deflation, the bladder remains aligned within this compartment.
Unlike older Tech-Air systems that required manual folding or repacking after deployment, the Off-Road’s bladder is engineered to return to its original compact shape naturally after deflation. The automatic repacking is facilitated by the system’s compact and structured housing, which guides the bladder back into place naturally.
Basic cleaning is simple, but restricted to specific methods. Alpinestars recommends wiping the jacket with a damp cloth—no hot water or cleaner. Don’t dry it in the sun or with any heat source—just hang it up in your garage. For deeper cleaning, the airbag system must be separated from the base layer—an involved process detailed in the long and complex owner’s manual.
If you plan on checking the airbag in your luggage for a flight, the battery must be removed—another task that requires strict adherence to the owner’s manual. Even then, some countries do not permit the airbag system in check baggage, so confirm in advance. Yes, this is all much more complicated than a Bionic Pro jacket—that’s part of the cost of additional protection.
At $1100 MSRP, the Alpinestars Tech-Air Off-Road System is not inexpensive. However, when you check Emergency Room rates and consider the personal costs of injuries, it’s a deal. If you’re deterred by the weight and bulk, I understand, but I have over a year and a half of riding experience with it, and unless I have to fly to an off-road ride, I’m wearing it. It is essential off-road protection.
Location photography by Kelly Callan
