The Tech-Air 3 V2 is Alpinestars’ lightest autonomous airbag vest, developed for road use. This airbag can be worn either over or under your regular motorcycle clothing, which is a notable feature in itself. The biggest innovation versus the first version is that you can now replace the argon canister yourself up to six times without needing an official service.
An airbag vest is a safe, practical option and an excellent choice for commuters, city riders and even cautious off-road riders.
The Tech-Air 3 V2 uses sensors and gyroscopes to decide when intervention is required, constantly measuring both movement and standstill. The system relies on data from millions of riding kilometres to feed its AI logic and determines by itself when deployment is necessary. It recognises low-siders, high-siders and dangerous situations, and once it judges a crash to be happening, the airbag inflates in 50 milliseconds.
In the event of a direct impact between the motorcycle and another vehicle or obstacle, the Tech-Air 3 V2 can already be fully effective before the actual impact occurs. This ‘first impact’ protocol and its related testing apply between 25 and 63 km/h. Every situation is different, but it does show just how far removed these systems are from the older airbag concepts.
The Tech-Air 3 V2 Airbag System is activated automatically via the magnetic front zip. Put it on, zip it up and you are ready. The design makes it easy to store in a top case or backpack. An LED display on the chest shows the operational status, and it vibrates briefly when the system is armed or when the battery is running low.
With a water-resistant chassis and waterproof electronics, this slim, stand-alone airbag can be worn both under and over a motorcycle jacket. Ideally pair it with an Alpinestars Tech-Air Ready motorcycle jacket, or at least allow a few extra centimetres of chest room so the airbag can expand properly when it deploys.
You are free to walk around as you like and the Tech-Air 3 V2 Airbag System is smart enough to tell the difference between a real crash and simply tripping over your own feet. Still, it is good practice to open the zip and magnetic closure once you are off the bike, switching the airbag off so a stumble over a doorstep does not trigger it.
Updates, algorithm tweaks and new configurations are handled via Bluetooth through the Tech-Air app. You can monitor status, change settings and receive update notifications. Charging is done via USB; the battery lasts up to 40 hours and a full charge takes about 4 hours.
Maintenance and reuse
After deployment, you can now assess the condition of the system yourself and replace the argon canister independently, up to six times. After that, a full service at an authorised Alpinestars Tech-Air Service Centre is required. This self-service approach is new in the V2, saves time and gets you back on the road sooner. For any follow-up you can always visit a RAD store.
The Tech-Air system is an active protection and safety device intended for adults aged 18 and above. It is essential to read and fully understand the user manual before putting the system into use.
