Honda presented feasibility research on one concept of motorcycle mounted airbag at the 16th ESV conference in 1998. The results of nine impact test pairs showed reduced injuries in four cases, no changes in three, and increased injuries in two. In the tests, most of the changes in injury occurred at dummy/ground contact. A modified prototype airbag system was designed which mainly involved an enlarged airbag with a larger output inflator. This was tested in the latter two impact configurations to try to solve the injury increasing phenomena. The tests confirmed that the modified airbag system did not increase injuries. Important factors yet to be considered include various sizes and positions of rider, various opposing objects and vehicle types, reliability and environmental exposure of the airbag system on motorcycles, and other factors.
Abstract