The new Alpinestars Bionic Neck Support is the latest product to offer helmet-style protection for the neck. By helping to prevent severe neck compression, or extreme back and forth or sideways movement, it will also reduce the risk of whiplash or fracture. Like a helmet, the BNS is designed to deform in an accident, absorbing energy in the process.
>The BNS should offer significantly greater protection than soft neck
rolls. Those are only capable of deforming under impact offering very
little protection against compression. The BNS also works to channel
energy from a crash through its structure and away from the neck area.
KTM and BMW were the first to bring a neck protector like this to
market, although we expect greater commercial success for Alpinestars
due to their dominance in the rider equipment field. It’s not known if
the BNS will be usable with road racing leathers and helmets or just
motocross equipment. Although if it’s not, we hope a similar product
soon will be.
The Bionic Neck Support attaches using a rear-operated, front-opening
system that should not only make it simple to take on and off, but also
easy for paramedics to remove after a crash while the helmet remains on.
The carbon composite construction should prove both strong and light and works
to transmit loads away from the collar bone, another vulnerable area.
We don’t know the exact weights, but the BNS comes in three sizes, each
minutely adjustable for a perfect fit.
We welcome the development of this new generation of safety equipment.
In addition to the Bionic Neck Support, Dainese’s not-yet-released
airbag suit also is working to further reduce risk of injury to fully
kitted motorcyclists. We hope to see both systems available for use in
a wide range of two-wheeled disciplines.
Bionic Neck Support sales will begin in mid-August.