Air Jacket - Bayonet or Screw? Re-con or New?

[DappleDown]

Bit of a poetical title but...

Am about to buy and was just doing a quick online search to see who sells Hit Air jackets, when a spanner got thrown into the works.

Soooo... I've now seen Point Two air jackets for sale that are advertised as re-conditioned, with '2nd hand outer shell with Velcro round neck (now discontinued) but fitted with a brand new airbag sysem (Bayonet trigger)'.

These are priced in the region of £250. The info for these says 'Sent directly from Point Two head office therefore comes with warranty like a brand new jacket'. ?? Your thoughts please ??

Can anyone please tell me about the velcro round neck? And why discontinued?

Also for extra cannisters, they can be bought either bayonet or screw fitting.
Do the jackets take both types or is it down to the make or age of the jacket as to which it takes?



I'm still inclined towards Hit Air, but a saving of £200 ish would sit well with my OH (who is paying).

 

[popsdosh]

Bit of a poetical title but...

Am about to buy and was just doing a quick online search to see who sells Hit Air jackets, when a spanner got thrown into the works.

Soooo... I've now seen Point Two air jackets for sale that are advertised as re-conditioned, with '2nd hand outer shell with Velcro round neck (now discontinued) but fitted with a brand new airbag sysem (Bayonet trigger)'.

These are priced in the region of £250. The info for these says 'Sent directly from Point Two head office therefore comes with warranty like a brand new jacket'. ?? Your thoughts please ??

Can anyone please tell me about the velcro round neck? And why discontinued?

Also for extra cannisters, they can be bought either bayonet or screw fitting.
Do the jackets take both types or is it down to the make or age of the jacket as to which it takes?



I'm still inclined towards Hit Air, but a saving of £200 ish would sit well with my OH (who is paying).

You need to know a little about the history they will be the old type made by Helite and supplied to point two until Helite would not supply them anymore , I could tell you the reason but I will get banned off here.Needless to say they wanted to take on marketing them themselves.
As they were patented P2 had to redisign theirs and ever since their sales have struggled.

 

[DappleDown]

You need to know a little about the history they will be the old type made by Helite and supplied to point two until Helite would not supply them anymore , I could tell you the reason but I will get banned off here.Needless to say they wanted to take on marketing them themselves.
As they were patented P2 had to redisign theirs and ever since their sales have struggled.

Oh crikey. Are these worth considering then?

Thanks so much for the reply, but still a bit confiused. Who wanted to market them, Helite or Point Two? Whose sales struggled - Helite or Point Two?

I think I need to do more research. I don't know much about Helite.

 

[popsdosh]

Oh crikey. Are these worth considering then?

Thanks so much for the reply, but still a bit confiused. Who wanted to market them, Helite or Point Two? Whose sales struggled - Helite or Point Two?

I think I need to do more research. I don't know much about Helite.

Helite made P2s from day one for P2 who didnt manufacture themselves. Helite and Hitair produce nearly all motorbike airbag systems.

 

[ycbm]

DD the history is that the MD of P2, Lee, started with some very aggressive marketing years ago that really put the backs up many people. There are also people who, in spite of never having fallen off in one, don't believe that they are very effective. Many of the comments you see about them on this forum are being made because of this history.

Helite used to make P2 for P2. They split and now make for themselves, so there are three main brands, Helite, P2 and Hit Air.

Canisters do not fit each other's brands. I have bayonets and they are great.

A recon from P2 direct with new air bags in a refurbished shell will be just as safe as a new one. I'd go for it.

Alternatively, if you can buy an old one off eBay, P2 offer a new for old for £200 or thereabouts, details on their servicing page.

I am not aware of P2 struggling for sales and they are sold in all my local tack shops, and worldwide, and more and more people can be seen wearing them.

 

[ycbm]

Latest turnover information I can find for Point Two Limited is about two million pounds in the year. Popsdosh, where did you get your information that they were 'struggling for sales' from?

 

[DappleDown]

Thanks all for your help. The mud is clearing but I still have few queries if you wouldn't mind helping me a bit more. I am unable to try out each of the three makes on, so before I spend my OH's money (!) I'm researching a little more into this so I can make my selection better.

The older re-con P2 shells have a collar with velcro (now Neoprene, I don't know though why they changed it?). Does any P2 owner with the velcro collar find it irritates the neck? Does the P2 give good neck protection when inflated? And does the back touch the cantle when riding?

And what is better - bayonet or screw canisters?

Thanks again.

 

[Batgirl]

My research led me to Hit Air - better coverage for the pelvis and neck.

 

[Rowreach]

Thanks all for your help. The mud is clearing but I still have few queries if you wouldn't mind helping me a bit more. I am unable to try out each of the three makes on, so before I spend my OH's money (!) I'm researching a little more into this so I can make my selection better.

The older re-con P2 shells have a collar with velcro (now Neoprene, I don't know though why they changed it?). Does any P2 owner with the velcro collar find it irritates the neck? Does the P2 give good neck protection when inflated? And does the back touch the cantle when riding?

And what is better - bayonet or screw canisters?

Thanks again.

The P2 older version with the screw canister is being discontinued, so don't buy a second hand one of those. This is why (I think) they are offering the trade-in on old jackets, although I don't think it excludes older jackets with the bayonet fitting.

I want to sell my 2 year old P2 with bayonet fitting, but not for the sort of money that would make someone buy it for the purpose of a trade in as it's in perfect condition.

Neck protection on the P2 is good, and it is definitely more comfortable to wear than a BP. Doesn't hook over the cantle as it's not that flappy at the back.

 

[DappleDown]

My research led me to Hit Air - better coverage for the pelvis and neck.

I'm thinking the same.

Hit Air still my number one choice (Hit Air, Helite, P2). I need good neck protection as I have a tendancy to slam the back of my head into the ground when I fall (pierced my hat on a large chunk of granite a couple of weeks ago - typical me - found the only sharp lump with my head. Three day headache followed...). So, expensive times as I now need a new hat as well, plus a new body protector.

I am doing my best to save my lovely OH a few pounds as they are getting me the air vest for a Christmas pressie, so I am looking around online to get the best price I can. Interestly I have noticed that there are no (certainly in the last several days) Hit Air or Helite's for sale pre-owned, but quite a few P2's.

Thanks all for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to reply.

 

[JustMe22]

I bought one of the recon ones you're talking about and have had no issues with it at all. The new bayonet system is fitted to it. The velcro collar is mostly covered by the seam and the only minor thing is that my hair very occasionally catches a little bit on the small exposed part of Velcro