Furygan Fury Evolution+ review | Motorcycle airbag tested

Date reviewed: December 2024 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £399.90 + control unit | www.furygan.com

The Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ on review here is designed to be worn under or over your bike jacket, so it’s not to be confused with the Fury Airbag Evo that, like the previous Furygan models, is only meant to be worn under other kit.

Note that, just like all other airbags that incorporate In&Motion technology (such a RST, Klim, Held and Ixon), contrary to claims from some influencers it is NOT a subscription-only system…

Pros & Cons

Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ deployment

Watch the Evolution+ being fired

Features

Using the new In&Motion ‘Essential’ module, the airbag bladder covers the chest and back, with support for the neck to reduce hyperextension and a passive protector over the rear – in this case a D3O Level 2, whereas most other In&Motion-equipped airbags (including the Furygan Fury Airbag Evo) have a Level 1 protector.

This new bladder is basically the same shape as the one used in previous In&Motion-equipped airbags, but it’s made of a tougher, less stretchy material. This is not to be confused with the ‘Performance’ module, which is a very different shape and features in the Ixon IX-U05 reviewed here, and is intended more for track use.

Let’s clear this up right now: all airbags that use In&Motion technology require a control box that will be supplied with the garment, but that needs activating at an additional cost. You have three choices:

• pay for it outright at £400

• spread the cost by renting it annually at £120/year

• pay monthly at £12/month

The subscription (or rental) model is OPTIONAL. Also, In&Motion won’t just turn-off the airbag if you forget to pay… if there’s a problem with payment you will be contacted BEFORE the service is disabled. It also can’t suddenly disable itself while you’re on a ride.

Once you have a working box, you can use it in any other In&Motion gear from any brand. For instance you could have this Furygan vest for all your textile gear, and a set of RST Airbag leathers, then use the same control box in each. To fully understand this system, check out the In&Motion review here.

The unique selling point of this Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ is that it’s designed to be worn under OR over your existing riding kit. The control box can be checked and updated wirelessly using a very good Android / iOS app, with encrypted anonymous riding data collected every so often to help develop the algorithm. This is a key point of the In&Motion system in that the firing system isn’t based only on crash data – it’s also based on normal riding data, which should help it to become ever more accurate.

The bladder inside the Evolution+ is made of a different material to previous generation In&Motions

Can you wear the Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ Vest with a rucksack?

Like most airbags, the Fury Evolution+ can be worn with a rucksack, but you must make sure there’s space under the straps for the bladder to inflate, so don’t do it up tight. Also, chest fasteners should be left undone, which could limit use with Kriega packs, or the new Oxford Atlas. Furygan says that the backpack shouldn’t be heavier than 8kg, and that there needs to be 10cm of space under the strap when you pull it outwards.

Trigger method

The In&Motion controller that’s used in the Furygan Fury Evolution+ (and all other In&Motion-equipped airbags) will detect crashes while riding, when stationary and in tunnels. Three accelerometers and three gyroscopes operate at 1,000 times/second, with a claimed inflation time of just 60 milliseconds.

During the four years that I’ve used In&Motion airbags there have been several firmware updates that have improved the algorithm. It’s also possible to choose different modes – one can be set as your default, then you have the option of adding others at £8 for each month or £25 / year. You can choose from Street, Track, Adventure, MX and Adventure Sport. For most riders, street will be fine – I’ve used it on track and green-lanes no bother, but if you’re a fast track rider, it’ll be worth the extra for ‘Track’. Equally, if you ride harder on trails go for ‘Adventure’. You probably won’t need ‘Adventure Sport’ unless you’re doing the Dakar. There’s also a Horse Riding mode available.

Additional modes can’t be bought outright like the control box (which if purchased this way will then have your choice of mode locked in).

New vs old Furygan airbags

Comparing the new (left) and old bladder

Can you accidentally trigger the Fuygan Fury Evolution+?

The constant development of In&Motion’s algorithm – which is built using ‘normal’ riding data as well as that from crashes, means it’s VERY hard to get the airbag to fire by accident. I’ve reviewed various products with this system in over the years and never had it fire accidentally.

If it were to happen, the data could be checked and if it was shown to be a fault, I’ve been assured that In&Motion would supply a replacement canister free of charge.

A D3O Level 2 passive back protector is fitted over the bladder to spread impact energy

Protection & Certification

I urge you to read the guide to the best motorcycle airbags here to fully understand what the test standards mean, because there are two used: Alpinestars, Dainese, Hit Air and MotoAirbag for instance prove the protective performance of their systems using the impact requirements of EN1621-4, which sees a kerb-shaped striker hitting a hemispherical anvil.

Helite and In&Motion use the French CRITT standard, which has a flat striker hitting a flat anvil.

I can’t tell you which is the overall ‘best’ standard, so it’s important for you to understand what the implications are before buying.

In&Motion airbags are also included on the Sécurité & Réparation Automobiles (SRA) rankings website here, achieving an impressive full five stars based on scores from a combination of coverage, deployment time, abrasion resistance (if worn over other kit) and shock mitigation. For comparison, the Helite Turtle 2 reviewed here scores 3/5.

The Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ is also certified as C U/O under EN17902. This means it’s a Carrier for armour that can be worn Under or Over other gear. Including the ‘Over’ certification means the Evolution+ has been tested to Level A for abrasion resistance.

The most critical impacts are likely to happen before sliding down the road, though it is plausible that a rider could hit something after sliding, or indeed be hit by another vehicle. Any airbag system will be more protected if it’s under other riding gear, and Level A abrasion resistance is the minimum, but if you’re likely to wear this over other gear, the tougher material used in the Evolution+  should offer better protection to the bladder inside than the Evo that’s for under-garment use only.

Some previous versions of the Furygan airbag vests (or gilets) had the option to include passive protection over the chest area, but that’s no longer an option, which is disappointing as in my lab testing it did make a very significant difference to the protective performance.

From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the new laws, click here.

Decoding the certification

Above is the bag that the Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ comes in…

• 1&2: EN17092-6:2020 is the current PPE standard for garments. C U means it carries armour but has no abrasion resistance, while C O means it’s met the requirements of Level A for abrasion resistance.

• 3: UKCA is the marking that was required after Brexit at additional expense to manufacturers, but has now been abandoned. Many brands have wasted money on this, which had to be done in addition to the CE certification marking.

• 4: Level 2 is the level achieved by the passive back protector alone

• 5: EN1621-2 is the standard for testing passive back protectors, and not to be confused with EN1621-4, which is the standard for testing airbags and requires less force to be transmitted to pass

The bag shown above doesn’t mention the certification standard used to test the airbag itself, however the SRA five-star label, and logo on the website, indicates that it’s been certified using the French CRITT requirements.

Comfort on and off the bike

Comfort will of course depend on how you wear this airbag. I found it had a hugging fit when worn under my other jackets (make sure there’s enough space inside – see below), but it was a bit tight when worn over them.

I’m surprised Furygan didn’t design in a zipped expansion gusset on either side that would allow for the extra space required of your jacket when worn over the top; I had my usual size Large to review, but would perhaps need an XL in this case. It’s important you try it yourself with the kit you’ll be wearing it with – make sure there’s room for it to go over your other gear, and that it’s not too baggy or that it rucks up when under. Don’t go too tight under your gear either, as this has some punch when it fires and you’ll need it to be able to expand away from you.

I compared the Furygan Evo and Evolution+ in my local Sportsbike Shop as they were both in stock, and found that the Evo (which can only be worn under other gear) actually has more stretchy sides, but that both versions go out to the same maximum stretch. The Evolution+ does appear to be made of tougher material, which will likely be due to the need to achieve the abrasion-resistance certification required if it’s going to be worn over other gear.

Of course, the airbag bladder can’t be breathable, but all the fabric on the Furygan allows air to pass through easily, plus the 3D mesh inside the back helps it to move around too. If worn under your jackets, the vents will still work, but you’ll of course be a little warmer in very hot weather. If worn over, chest vents will likely get blocked, but if it’s really hot you could wear it over (or under) a mesh jacket, where you’ll still get a very good amount of airflow.

The Evolution+ can be worn under or over your jacket, but do check sizes

To find the correct size of jacket to go over the Furygan airbag you should stretch your jacket flat as far as it’ll go and measure the maximum width across the chest between the armpits to find measurement A. Then measure the circumference of your chest while wearing anything you’ll have on under your main jacket except the airbag to find B.

From there, do the following calculation: C1 = A + A – B. If C1 is less than 13cm, the jacket mustn’t be worn with the airbag. If C1 is more than 20cm it’s fine.

If C1 is between 13cm and 20cm, you also need to measure across the stretched waist of the jacket to get a number for D, and the circumference of your waist while wearing your other kit (E). Now, C2 = D + D – E. If it’s more than 18cm, then you’re still fine. Anything less, and the two aren’t compatible.

If your jacket and trousers zip together then the jacket must be designed for an airbag, or the pants need stretch in the crotch, or the connecting zip needs its own expansion section of at least 3cm in textile kit and 5cm in leather.

One-piece leather suits MUST be designed for an airbag to be worn under them.

Too confusing? Ask your dealer to help you check the sizing, but if you’re wearing the Evolution+ OVER your other kit, there’s no need to worry.

While the instruction manual for the Evo and Evolution+ states they’re only ‘suitable for users whose chest circumference does not exceed 95cm’, Furygan has told me that this is an error, and it should read 140cm (55”).

The app says the inflator’s not connected as I took this screen grab after deploying the airbag

Convenience

Being a standalone vest, it’s easy to turn on the control box that clips into the back of the Furygan vest before popping it on. I’d like a more detailed visual / audible method of checking the battery level as there’s only an LED to say that there’s less than 30% of charge left. If you open the app on your smartphone it should connect automatically, then you can see the level of charge.

Popping on one extra layer is no hardship, but it is disappointing to see that there are no pockets on the Furygan Evolution+. If worn over your existing kit, you won’t be able to get at anything in your jacket’s pockets, so you’ll have to use your trousers.

You should not wear a heated vest if it comes into contact with the airbag, so you’d be okay if this was worn outside your other gear, BUT the Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ should not be worn on the outside of your other kit if it’s raining, as the control box is designed to be worn UNDER waterproof kit; it’s not sealed or IP rated.

As this is the new generation of In&Motion airbags, the back is slightly redesigned, with an easier to use thumb-tab releasing the control box. A minor point, but it does address a slight frustration with the previous models.

Build quality

Finish and construction is excellent, with very neat stitching and the overall quality feel you’d expect.

Washing

The Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ must not be submerged, and you shouldn’t use any detergents, so cleaning it is limited to a wipe down with a damp cloth. Worth noting if you wear it outside other kit, but remember that it shouldn’t be worn in the rain this way, so it’ll likely be bugs that you need to remove most.

Costs

The In&Motion ‘Essential’ airbag bladder built into the Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ is rated for up to five inflations before it needs replacing, and there’s no servicing required.

A new inflator costs £89.99 and can be replaced easily by the owner. It comes with a screw-in adaptor that allows you to check the bladder is holding air before using it again, but do make sure you choose the correct one; the new Essential and Performance bladders use the IMI 7112 inflator, while the older ones use the IMI 2368. They’re both the same pressure and fitting, but the connectors are slightly different. In&Motion has a guide to the two inflators here.

Here’s how much the Furygan Evolution+ In&Motion airbag system will cost over five years

Four alternatives to the Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+

There are now many options for wearable motorcycle airbags, and I’d urge you to check out the complete guide to the best airbags here. These are some others worth considering…

• Furygan Fury Airbag Evo, £369.90 | Unlike the Evolution+, the Evo has some slightly lighter-weight material and is not designed to be worn over other riding kit as it’s not rated to have any abrasion resistance to help protect the bladder in a slide. It also comes with a Level 1 passive back protector, instead of Level 2.
  Cost over 5 years: £769.90 | Certification: CRITT

• Alpinestars Tech-Air 3, £519.99 | Meeting the impact requirements of EN1621-4's Airbag Level 2, the electronically-triggered Tech-Air 3 is easy to store and comfortable to wear over or under your existing kit. Replacing the inflator can't be done by the user, but it's carried out in the UK by BKS Made-to-Measure in a matter of days.
  Alpinestars Tech-Air 3 review | Cost over 5 years: £639.97 | Certification: EN1621-4 Airbag Level 2 chest & back

• Dainese Smart Air, £599 | An evolution of the Dainese Smart Jacket (still available at a hefty discount if you’re quick), it’s certified to EN1621-4 Level 2 at the chest and back, and has over-the-air updates and a user-replaceable inflator. Charging is a little fiddlier than it needs to be, and the battery life is slightly disappointing compared to the previous model. Free servicing every three years makes it currently the cheapest electronic airbag over five years at £599.
  Dainese Smart Air review | Cost over 5 years: £599 | Certification: EN1621-4 Airbag Level 2 chest & back

• MotoAirBag M1, £448 | This is fully certified to EN1621-4 Airbag Level 2 at the chest and back, and provides outstanding protection based on this test method. While mechanically tethered, it has a unique, fast trigger mechanism, and can be folded up surprisingly small when not in use.
  MotoAirBag M1 review | Cost over 5 years: £540 | Certification: EN1621-4 Airbag Level 2 chest & back

These are just four of many alternatives – you can find all the airbags we’ve tested here, and be sure to check out our complete guide to motorcycle airbags here.

Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ review: Verdict

In&Motion airbag systems like the Furygan Evolution+ do have the OPTION of paying for the In&Box controller by subscription, but you can just pay for it outright if you prefer. The total cost is still £799.90, so do take that into consideration when comparing it with other products, though if you have more than one garment that uses In&Motion, it becomes better value.

Costing £40 more than the Fury Airbag Evo, you get a Level 2 passive back protector and the ability to wear it outside other gear if you want, just make sure that you’re aware of the limitations of this, and that you check your sizing with the kit you’ll be wearing.

As a French CRITT-certified airbag system, it’s great to see the five-star SRA rating, and the constant evolution of the In&Motion algorithm means it’s got a very good chance of firing when you need it.

To fully understand the coverage and performance of motorcycle airbag systems, please check out the video below and the written guide that supports it here.

Do you own this airbag? Tell us what it’s like, or ask us questions about it at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.

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