FAQ - Bicycle

The number of cyclists and serious or fatal accidents increases each year and there is no protection for the upper body. B’Safe is the first airbag solution that protects the thorax, neck and spine.

The airbag B’Safe uses an algorithm and two sensors which are able to distinguish cyclists’ common movements from an accident. The CDU sensor (crash detection unit), located inside the vest, analyzes cyclists’ motion in real time and the SDU saddle sensor detects the shock. When an abnormal move or a shock is detected both sensors communicate with each other and analyze the situation. If an accident is detected, the airbag inflates in 80 ms and the cyclist is protected.
+ Learn more about Helite’s electronic airbag technology

B’Safe protects three vital parts of the upper body: the neck, the thorax and the back. The airbag volume of protection is 16 L.
+ Learn more about the Helite protection

The inflation time of our bicycle airbag is 80 ms, faster than the blink of an eye. This speed allows us to inflate a large volume with optimal pressure.

The B’Safe airbag is adapted for urban cyclists who use their bike every day. It is ideal for on-road cycling and bicycle paths. However, it is not adapted for mountain bike, bicycle acrobatics, BMX, scooter, motorcycle, running, segways, electric unicycle and self-balancing board.

The electronic system detects different accident situations:

During the ride (minimum speed of 11km/h)

– Bicycles that hit or are being hit by a significant obstacle (vehicle, wall, pole, etc.) from the front, side or rear.

– Loss of control of the bike (without shock on the bike): slipping on the side or falling off the bike.

Bicycle at a standstill

– Impact on the bicycle and the cyclist is ejected from the bike.

The airbag « B’Safe » includes an airbag vest (which contains the CDU sensor), a SDU saddle sensor, a USB cable for recharge use, a magnet and a e-cartridge.

Our distribution network is under development. The B’safe airbag is available:

• in Europe in our online shop: shop.helite.com.
• in cycling shops of our distributor network: Germany – Czech Republic – Norway – United Kingdom
• Outside Europe: The vest is not available yet.

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+ Order B’Safe

For optimal protection it is important to choose the right size.The vest is available in 4 sizes: S, M, L, XL. To choose the right size, you need to measure your chest and your waist line and choose the corresponding size by consulting our size chart.

+ See size chart for B’Safe

The vest is available in two colors:

• Yellow hi-vis, high visibility
• Black

Both models are provided with reflective stripes to ensure optimal visibility at night or in case of fog or rain.

It is important to always replace your e-cartridge with a Helite brand e-cartridge of the same capacity. You can buy spare e-cartridges in our online shop.

+ Buy e-cartridge

Yes, the airbag is ready to use when you receive it. You simply need to install the saddle sensor on your bike and pair it with the vest.

+ Watch video: First use

As any other security vest for cycling, B’Safe must always be worn over your clothes (jacket, t-shirt). However, it is possible to wear a rain cape or a back pack (if not too tight) over your B’Safe vest.

That’s easy. You will need your vest, the saddle sensor and the magnet.

1. Switch on the vest by pressing the ON/OFF button 3 times
2. Press the button for 3 seconds: the LED turns blue.
3. Place the magnet on the saddle sensor over the round sign (you have 30 seconds to effect this procedure).
4. You hear a LONG BEEP: the vest and the saddle sensor are paired.
   Watch the video: Pairing the vest with the saddle sensor.

+ Watch the video: Pairing the vest with the saddle sensor

The saddle sensor is mounted with the screw and the hex key on the bicycle frame on the seatpost or on the seat tube.

+ Watch the video: First use

The airbag vest is activated and deactivated simply by pressing the ON/OFF button 3 times. A beep and a flashing green LED indicate that the vest is on. For optimal protection, it is important to close the zipper of the jacket all the way to the top.

Good to know: the airbag vest automatically goes into sleep mode after 30 seconds of inactivity, so you don’t have to turn it on and off each time.

To switch on the airbag vest, you just need to press the ON/OFF button 3 times. A beep and a green flashing led will indicate that the vest is on. To switch off thevest, just press the ON/OFF button 3 times again, a beep (no LED) indicates that the vest is off.

+ How do I turn the airbag vest on/off?

It is not necessary to switch off the vest regularly. However there are situations in which you must switch off the vest:

• When you use different means of transport with your vest (car, metro, tram, train, bus, etc.)
• During a long storage time (in winter for example).

Reminder: to switch off the vest, you need to press the ON/OFF button 3 times.

The B’Safe vest has an autonomy of 25 hours or about 1 week depending on your cycling practice. The system is low energy consuming and switches to sleepmode automatically after 30 seconds of inactivity.

An orange LED indicates that the battery is low (3 hours remaining).

You must recharge B’Safe with the USB cable supplied with the airbag. You will then have to connect it to a standard USB charger (5 Volt) and connect it with the vest. Charging time is about 2 hours.

Warning: only the USB cable supplied is compatible.

The different LEDs indicate the state of your vest.
Please check on the table below to see what are the LED for.

The B’Safe vest is water-repellent: You can use it in case of light rain without damaging the system. in case of heavy rain, we advise you to use a rain cap in addition.

The vest exists in 2 colors: black and hivis (high visibility yellow). Reflective stripes have been added on the whole vest to make the cyclist visible at night or in case of bad weather. For optimal visibility we advise you to take the hivis version.

Of course! B’Safe does not protect the head and does not replace the use of a helmet. It must be worn in addition to the helmet or any other safety equipment.

Yes, you can wear a backpack over your B’Safe vest.
Caution: Make sure that the adjustment straps are not too tight so that they cannot prevent the airbag from inflating correctly.

The saddle sensor allows to detect shocks on the bicycle frame and thus to detect more accidents: at a standstill, at low speed, etc.

Before using B’Safe for the first time you need to install the saddle sensor on your bicycle frame (see video « first use »). The saddle sensor detects shocks on the bicycle.
When a shock on the bicycle frame is detected, the SDU sensor sends a message to the CDU sensor located inside the vest that will analyze the situation and determine if the airbag has to be inflated or not.

The saddle sensor is mounted with the screw and the hex key on the bicycle frame on the seatpost or on the seat tube.

+ See video: First use

No, the SDU saddle sensor does not work without the vest. It is indispensable to pair (associate) the two sensors for the first use of B’Safe. We also recommend to make regular checks with the included magnet to verify that both sensors are still paired.

Yes, it is possible to pair up to 5 saddle sensors with one vest (when you have several bikes for example).

+ How to check the pairing of the two sensors?

Yes, it is possible to pair as many vests as you want to with the same saddle sensor.

No, the sensor has an autonomy of around 5 years. Once installed, you don’t need to take care of it often. We recommend to check it once a month (by passing the magnet over your sensor).

+ How to check the battery of the saddle sensor?

The saddle sensor alone has no use since it needs the vest to work. However, if you want to remove it easily, do not put the screw that attaches the bracelet to the sensor so that you are able to remove the sensor easily.

You can travel with your Helite airbag in the bus, car or train without any restrictions. If you travel by plane, you may encounter some difficulties with the safety services regarding the e-cartridges used to inflate the airbag. According to the regulation (Iata regulation), you are allowed to fly with 2 e-cartridges (volume must be less than 200cc), in the cabin or in the hold. Even if the regulation allows it, it is possible that the security service or the airline company will refuse to let you board with it. We strongly recommend that you print out the “Iata Regulations” and show this document to the security service or the airline during the check if they ask for further explanations. In any case, it is the airport security service and the airline that will make the final decision on whether or not to accept the airbag on board.

+ Download the IATA regulations

Yes, our system is totally resuable after each inflation. It only takes 5 minutes to reactivate your airbag vest. To do so, you need to check that the vest is completely deflated and replace the used e-cartridge with a new Helite e-cartridge of the same capacity.

+ How to reuse B’Safe after an inflation?

B’Safe deflates automatically after a few minutes and returns to its normal shape. You can remove the e-cartridge so that the vest deflates faster.

Of course, our system is safe, simple and ready to use.
Here are the steps to follow:

• Open the vest
• Open the pocket of the e-cartridge
• Disconnect the e-cartridge from the system
• Unscrew the used e-cartridge
• Take a new Helite e-cartridge
• Screw the e-cartridge in the black cylinder
• Reconnect the e-cartridge with the system
• Close the e-cartridge pocket

+ Video: How to reuse B’Safe after an inflation?

No. The e-cartridge is single-use and not reusable. A used or damaged e-cartridge will have to be recycled or disposed in accordance with your country’s legislation. To reactivate your airbag system, you must replace the old e-cartridge with a new one of the same capacity from Helite.

There are three e-cartridge sizes available: GG 50 CC, GG 60 cc and GG100 cc to choose from depending on the size of the vest.
S: 50 cc
M, L, 60 cc
XL : 100 cc

A small marking in the pocket of the vest indicates the model to be used.

B’Safe is not washable: neither in the washing machine nor by hand washing. However, you can use a sponge with soap to clean the surface of the jacket.

The B’Safe vest has an autonomy of 25 hours or about 1 week depending on your cycling practice. The system is low energy consuming and switches to sleep mode automatically after 30 seconds of inactivity.

An orange LED indicates that the battery is low (3 hours remaining).

You must recharge B’Safe with the USB cable supplied with the airbag. You will then have to connect it to a standard USB charger (5 Volt) and connect it with the vest. Charging time is about 3 hours.

Warning: only the USB cable supplied is compatible.

It takes about 3 hours to fully charge the battery. When the LED turns green again, charging is complete.

No, the sensor has an autonomy of about 5 years without being recharged. Once installed on your bicycle you don’t have to worry about it anymore.

However, we advise you to make monthly checks to verify if the sensor is still active and if it is correctly associated with your vest: position the magnet over the round symbol of the sensor: a beep + green LED indicate that the sensor is working properly.

+ Video: Check the saddle sensor battery

Every month:

We advise you to regularly check the pairing and the battery of the saddle sensor. To do this, simply pass the magnet over the round symbol on the sensor.

• Beep sound at the vest + Green LED: the system works properly and the sensors are paired.
• Red LED: Low battery : you need to change the sensor.

+ Video: How to check the pairing of the saddle sensor with the vest?

+ Video : How to check the battery of the saddle sensor ? 

Every year:

We advise you to check the weight of the e-cartridge every year. The verification consists in weighing the e-cartridge and making sure that the weight of the e-cartridge does not differ by more than 3g from the weight indicated on the e-cartridge.

Examples:

• An e-cartridge of 50CC weighs 182g – The weight should be between 179g and 185g.
• An e-cartridge of 60CC weighs 212g – The weight should be between 209g and 215g.
• An e-cartridge of 100CC weighs 298g – The weight should be between 295g and 301g.

All our airbag systems come with a 2 year warranty. If you register your product on www.my.helite.com within 3 months of purchase, you can benefit from an additional 2-year warranty extension (excluding textiles and electronics). For registration, you will need your serial number (located on your product), the date of purchase and your invoice.

Yes you can extend your warranty for 2 more years (excluding textiles and electronics) by registering your airbag system on www.my.helite.com within 3 months of purchase. For registration, you will need your serial number (located on your product), the date of purchase and your invoice.

The location changes depending on the model. Click here to find out where to find the serial number of your product.

Helite cartridges come with a 10 year warranty.
However, we recommend checking them on an annual base. To do so, unscrew and weigh your CO2 cartridge on a scale.
The weight is written on the cartridge label.
For example, for 50 cc cartridges, the weight should be about +/- 3g and +/- 5g for 60 cc cartridges.

If rust or other corrosive marks appear on the outer surface of the cartridge, change it immediately and contact your dealer.

No. It is of crucial importance that you only use Helite branded cartridges. Otherwise your airbag system is no longer covered under warranty and we cannot be held responsible in case of any malfunctioning of your airbag system. Please make sure to use the right cartridge size (50cc, 60cc, 100cc). To get Helite branded cartridges we have an authorised dealer network worldwide. Check our store locator to find a dealer nearby.

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