Airbag Goldwings arrive in June

As I said before, in a long lost thread, why have Honda NEVER Shown the filmed results of the angle impact tests? They only ever released the head-on impact tests, which represent only a small proportion of motorcycle accidents - even in the `car from side road` scenario the impact is rarely at 90 degrees. The principle behind the airbag is perfectly valid in cars - to prevent the occupants impacting on the interior furniture, exacerbating injury. I am not hoqwever, aware of an airbag ever being suggested as a primary safety aid, only a secondary safety aid in conjunction with seatbelts... Does the GW have seatbelts or a rider restraint system? No. Therefore airbags will only ever be of tertiary use until structure and rider seating is designed as an integrated package. An expensive white plastic elephant, you might say... And the motorcycle environment represents the harshest test of the impact system, so will be lauded as a technological triumph for Honda, no matter how many die or are seriously injured as a result of this bogus development. Honda, I have to say this again: Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

I make no apology for re-posting my original comments on hondas airbag system. Why Honda? This all smacks of public relations hype. Over the years I've spoken to many main dealer garage personnel about airbags in cars. There are quite a few instances of airbags going off inside vehicles without provocation, and also airbags that don't activate in a crash. The last thing I want is an big white bag going off by itself, putting me into a state of shock and causing me to lose control. I'd like to see a video of a rider on the same goldwing at speed with the bag activated without warning. If Honda put this into production, then it must be totally screened from radio and radar interference. All wiring will have to be properly decoupled at all RF frequencies and the control unit built to aerospace standards. Some cars with susceptible and complex electronic control systems are well known to malfunction when in proximity to high power radar transmissions, so don't think you are immune Honda marketing. Airbags are not the answer, rider training and high quality protective clothing are. More forwards please Honda...