Several innovative climate control solutions exist separately from airbag systems:
Chill Ride Thermoregulated Vest (France): This is the most advanced integrated temperature control system currently available for motorcyclists. The system includes:
A reversible air conditioning module installed under the motorcycle's top case
A network of hydraulic tubes circulating temperature-controlled liquid
Wireless handlebar-mounted remote control
Three cooling levels (down to -15°C from ambient temperature)
Three heating levels (up to +35°C above ambient temperature)
Lightweight vest (approximately 500g) available in sizes S to 3XL
Crucially, it is explicitly compatible with airbag vests
Draws power directly from the motorcycle's electrical system
Uses active cooling via airflow from the motorcycle's movement
The Chill Ride system can be worn under an airbag vest while providing comprehensive heating and cooling.
RS Taichi LiquidWind System (Japan): An evaporative cooling system developed in collaboration with Mandom Corporation. The system features:
Electric pump-equipped insulated bottle attached to the waist
Water supply tube delivering cooling fluid to a special undershirt
Menthol-infused cooling water for prolonged cooling effect
Deodorant components for comfort
Evaporative cooling enhanced by airflow while riding
Heating/Cooling System for Motorcycle Riders (Patent US8397517B2): Describes a thermoelectric (Peltier) system mounted on the motorcycle that transfers heating or cooling to the rider's garment through thermally conductive elements.
Battery-powered heated clothing (jackets, vests, gloves) using carbon fibre or nickel-chromium heating elements
Evaporative cooling vests requiring water soaking
Phase Change Material (PCM) cooling vests
Thermoelectric cooling vests with TEC chips and fans
It is critically important to consider how airbag vests and cooling vests can be worn together, with important limitations:
Layering Challenges:
Users report that wearing cooling vests under airbag vests reduces airflow effectiveness, limiting the cooling vest's performance in temperatures exceeding 95°F (35°C).
The airbag blocks ventilation and prevents effective heat dissipation.
Some users successfully wear evaporative cooling products under airbag vests with moderate effectiveness.
Design Solutions:
The Chill Ride system explicitly addresses this by using a closed-loop liquid circulation system that doesn't rely on airflow, making it compatible with airbag vests worn over it.
The IXON IX-AIRBAG U05 incorporates ventilation channels within the airbag itself, representing a design approach that acknowledges thermal comfort needs.