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When a motorcycle is involved in a head-on collision, the rider continues to move forward with near to his original velocity until ejected over the front of the motorcycle. Ensuing contact with the opposing vehicle often results in serious injury, most commonly to the head and upper body. This paper examines the use of air bags as a method of forward restraint which will reduce the exit velocity of the rider. Air bag systems on two large and one small machine were tested in impacts with a stationary car and the results are compared with those from tests using an equivalent standard machine. The maximum benefit to the rider was achieved with a 120 litre air bag fitted to a large machine. This reduced the rider's kinetic energy by 82%. A similar system on a small machine reduced the rider's kinetic energy by 62%. Both the results show notable benefits to the rider. However the system on the small motorcycle is less efficient.