Airbags Cost Less Than Collarbones
September 22, 2025
Introduction: Beyond the Ride, The Calculation
Motorcycling is a pursuit defined by freedom, speed, and precision—but also by risk. While helmets, boots, and armored suits are staples of protective gear, one injury remains both common and underestimated: the fractured clavicle. A broken collarbone may sound simple, but the financial, physical, and long-term costs are anything but.
The question every rider should ask: is it cheaper to prevent the injury or to pay for it after the fact?
This article dives into the numbers, contrasting the real cost of a broken collarbone with the investment in modern airbag technology—specifically, the HyperNaked H-One Piece Motorcycle Suit, which integrates the Helite E02 electronic airbag system.
Part I: The True Cost of a Broken Collarbone
Chapter 1: The Anatomy of an Unplanned Expense
Medical treatment for a clavicle fracture ranges widely:
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Non-surgical treatment: $500 – $20,000 (doctor visits, X-rays, immobilization).
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Surgical repair with plates and screws: $5,300 – $18,500 quoted, but real-world bills often reach $30,000 – $60,000 once hospital, anesthesia, and emergency room fees are factored in.
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Physical therapy: $640 – $2,160 (out of pocket, multi-week recovery).
Even with insurance, high deductibles and copays leave many riders paying $1,000 – $5,000+ out of pocket. For the uninsured, the bill can be financially devastating.
Chapter 2: The Invisible Burden: Indirect and Long-Term Costs
A clavicle fracture typically requires 6–12 weeks off the bike and, for many, time off work. Lost wages can easily outweigh the medical bills.
Settlements for clavicle injuries reflect this reality:
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Uncomplicated fracture settlements: $30,000 – $75,000.
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Complex fracture settlements (surgical): $75,000 – $200,000+.
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In catastrophic cases: $500,000+.
Even beyond settlements, the long-term impact can mean reduced strength, mobility limitations, and lingering pain. In short: a collarbone is far more expensive than most riders assume.
Part II: The Helite E02 Airbag System Inside the HyperNaked H-One
Chapter 3: The Investment
Now consider the cost of prevention.
The HyperNaked H-One Piece Motorcycle Suit, available through TrackDayTailor, integrates the Helite E02 race airbag system. This system is not an add-on—it’s a fully integrated electronic safety device designed for serious riders.
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HyperNaked H-One Suit Price: $2,199 USD (with Helite E02 integration).
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Replacement CO₂ canister: $85 USD after a deployment.
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Battery life: ~25 hours, rechargeable by USB.
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Reusable: No costly rebuilds—just swap the cartridge and keep riding.
Compare this with even the lowest cost of a broken collarbone, and the financial case becomes obvious: the suit pays for itself the very first time it prevents a fracture.
Chapter 4: Technology of Protection
The Helite E02 is the fastest electronic airbag system available for track riders:
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Deployment time:
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< 60 ms with internal CDU sensor.
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As fast as 31 ms with optional fork sensor.
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Coverage: Cervical spine, thorax, clavicle, back, pelvis, sacrum.
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Activation threshold: Detects falls as low as 18 km/h (not just high-speed track crashes).
This means the suit is designed to inflate before your body hits the ground, absorbing and distributing impact forces that would otherwise shatter bones.
Part III: Why Prevention Pays
Chapter 5: Real-World Validation
Testimonials from Helite users consistently describe walking away from crashes that should have resulted in severe injuries:
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A rider struck from behind at highway speeds walked away.
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A 60 mph lowside felt like “skipping a stone across water”—he walked away with only a knee injury.
The pattern is clear: airbags prevent broken bones, and the clavicle is one of the first areas spared.
Chapter 6: The Cost-Benefit Equation
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Broken collarbone treatment: $30,000 – $200,000+.
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HyperNaked H-One Suit with Helite E02: $2,199.
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CO₂ replacement cartridge: $85.
The cost-benefit ratio isn’t close—it’s exponential. One crash prevented makes the suit effectively free.
Chapter 7: The Intangible Dividend
Beyond the math, there’s peace of mind. Riding with an integrated airbag system means less anxiety, more confidence, and more focus on the ride. Avoiding months of pain, therapy, and lost wages is invaluable.
Conclusion: The Smartest Gear Investment a Rider Can Make
A broken collarbone is a financial and personal catastrophe. The HyperNaked H-One Piece Suit with Helite E02 integration is a forward-looking solution that delivers exponential value.
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For the price of $2,199, riders gain protection that can prevent tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.
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With replacement canisters at just $85, the suit remains a multi-year insurance policy against catastrophic injuries.
In motorcycling, safety isn’t an accessory—it’s an investment. And when you compare airbags to collarbones, the choice is simple: prevention costs less every single time.