While you're at it, can you share some info about how many uses before a recharge and the way to and cost of recharges? Thanks!
I have an Alpinestars "Tech Air 5," the precursor to the "7," I believe. It is a "race" only vest. It comes with two charge canisters installed. Unfortunately, I have experienced it's qualities in both an "inflation" event, and a non "inflation event. Both, at PittRace, one of my two favorite tracks(Barber)!
The first event was in the rain last year when I tagged the paint stripe in Turn Two by "Pitt out." I was doing 83 mph when my rear launched me. When asked if my vest had inflated, I was not even sure. A few days later I started investigating and was quite certain that it had deployed so I sent it to Alpinestars. They informed me that one of the charges had deployed the vest, so repacked the "air bag" and installed a new cartridge. The cost was $300.00.
The "RACE" version of that vest has two cartridges. If you go down and are lucky enough to do no damage and are racing, you can get up and still have another cartridge.
My last event was in Turn Three on a cold morning at PittRace..... I think I might skip Turn Four for a while........
I lost the front(I knew it was cold and was not pushing, but apparently too much for my tires......) and pirouetted across and off the track. My vest did NOT deploy during that event, as it has parameters it has to meet to deploy. Fortunately, my helmet didn't touch the ground, and I had another set of leathers that I had in the closet. After that event, my wife asked me what my "motorcycle budget" was. I laughed so hard I couldn't see straight! I was awarded "pic" of the year for that one! I have a great series of pics of the "event" from start to finish, and as I walked away unscathed on that one, they are "priceless!"
I have been hurt, quite severely in the past. I MOST HIGHLY recommend that everyone should invest in some type of "VEST." IMHO, they should be MANDATORY, based on my personal experiences, with, and without(longer story)......