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So... this thing phones home to activate every time you jump on your motorcycle? I would absolutely love to be the lawyer who's client sustained life threatening injuries because your server was temporarily down precisely when it needed to verify DRM on a motorcycle airbag.

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Hah... what if I go on a multi-day ride in an area with no cell coverage? Or in a foreign country where I don't want to activate maybe-expensive data roaming on my phone?

Maybe their "Click here to accept" EULA has a clause that you need Internet connectivity at least once a day as well?

If the schmairbag has a fail-active functionality, then the hack would be to install their app on a disconnected phone. "I can't contact my stupid-ass rent-seeking makers right now, so I guess I'll keep the airbag functioning".

TFA isn't specific but it looks like you have to use an app to turn it on before you ride and the app is the mechanism by which the phone home happens.

Sounds like that's a nice route to forcibly obsolete this well before the end of its usable life by turning off the API servers and saying "it's for your own safety... We have a better newer device now available for only $800 (plus subscription)".

Also a nice single point of failure if you can hijack their DNS and deny every activation request (!)

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