Alpinestars Fall 2010 Collection

During the presentation Alpinestars staff seemed especially proud of the new textile Durban Gore-Tex Jacket and Durban Gore-Tex Pants, despite this jacket and pant appearing after the unveiling of new leather suits.

"...Alpinestars staff seemed especially proud of the new textile Durban Gore-Tex Jacket and Durban Gore-Tex Pants"

The jacket and pants are constructed from a variety of technical fabrics to ensure 100% waterproofing while allowing good “breathability,” as well as materials like SuperFabric designed for high levels of abrasion resistance. Both the jacket and pants also provide for impact protection via CE certified shoulder, elbow and knee pads. Accessory CE-approved Alpinestars chest guards and back protector insert can substitute the existing chest and back pads in the Durban.

The Durban jacket also features numerous pockets, all of which are said to have weather tight closures and are designed for ease-of-use while on the bike. The pants also have two large, external waterproof pockets.

Additionally, the pants feature an “accordion” panel that allows the pant to move – especially when connected to the jacket – without riding up when the rider bends forward to reach for clip-ons or the handlebar. Leather panels along the inner thigh area improve grip, say when standing on the pegs and squeezing the fuel tank with your legs, as well as help reduce wear from abrasion.

The Durban jacket has a rear external space for a water bladder (think Camelbak style), as well as a removable storage pouch just above the rear, lower hem.

Just as notable, the jacket is designed to integrate with Alpinestars Bionic Neck Support neck protector – a leading product in Alpinestars protective line originally developed for off-road/MX use.

Targeted for the adventure and serious sport-touring riders not afraid of going wheels up during inclement weather, the Durban jacket and pants look ready for the long haul, whether over pavement or when the pavement ends.

A worthwhile complement to the jacket and pants is either the Artcic Dry Star glove or Tech Road Gore-Tex glove.

The Arctic uses Alpinestars own Drystar material for keeping your digits as dry as possible, while a Thinsulate liner retains warmth. The Tech Road glove is constructed from full-grain leather with a Gore-Tex membrane for waterproof protection. Both gloves have pre-curved fingers that greatly reduce break-in time, and allow a more natural fit around clutch or brake levers.

The Artic glove lists for $109.95 and is available in sizes S to 3XL. The Tech Road glove rings in with a $189.95 tag and is available in the same size range as the Arctic.

Features and highlights of the Durban jacket and pants

A perfect mate to zip into the T-Gasoline’s internal waist connection zipper are the Frontier Gore-Tex Pants.

The Frontier’s 4‐in‐1 liner system allows a rider to configure the combination of removable Gore‐Tex and thermal liners to suit their own particular riding needs. In addition to water-hating Gore-Tex, the pants feature a hydrophobic micro‐twill fabric with a Teflon coating to prevent moisture from clinging to the garment, enhancing its waterproofing ability.

Removable CE certified GP‐R knee and shin protectors provide impact protection, while hip pads may work to soften the blow in the event of get off. A pair of large external pockets – one on the side of each pant leg – offer storage area in addition to the pair of traditional hand pockets. Large vents improve airflow (when it’s not raining, or course).

The T-Gasoline Waterproof Jacket retails for $209.95 and is available in sizes S to 4XL. The Frontier Gore-Tex Pants list for $599.95 and come in sizes S to 3XL.

Ever find yourself caught in a steady rain while on a long ride and not have the benefit of waterproof boots? I have, and I often characterize the sensation of soaking-wet soaks and boots as, well, feeling as though I’m standing in s#$&!

From my nearly 20 years and countless hundreds of thousands of miles riding, I can tell you nothing is more joy-sapping or energy-depleting to a rider than cold, wet tootsies. Alpinestars has a good defense system against such miserable conditions in the form of the Hydro Sport Drystar Boot.

"...nothing is more joy-sapping or energy-depleting to a rider than cold, wet tootsies."

Employing Alpinestars’ own Drystar fabric – only a tick or so below Gore-Tex in terms of ultimate dryness, according to Alpinestars – as part of the liner for waterproof and breathability comfort, the Hydro’s aim to keep you dry. Comfort comes partly by way of flexible material in the instep and Achilles area to allow.

A tough shin plate, as well as dual-density lateral and medial ankle cups, offer impact protection. In fact, Alpinestars says the $249.95 Hydro Sport Drystar boot, available in Euro sizes 38 – 48, offer enough protection overall that they’re CE certified.

Looks like the Hydro’s would perfectly complete a T-Gasoline and Frontier jacket/pant combo. Oh, and for whatever reason, the Hydro boots come in yellow, too.

A less pricey and less dry, yet possibly cooler (as in temperature), alternative to the Hydryo boot is the ST Vented Boot.

This boot looks a lot like the Hydro, but is vented via its perforated front, which definitely means your paddles will eventually get wet if exposed to rain or water. But if you’re blessed with SoCal-type dry winters, this $179.95 boot, available in Euro sizes 38-48, might be all you’ll need.

From the track to your back

Although Alpinestars products just about cover the gamut of types of riding, the Italian company is perhaps most recognizable as a purveyor of leather riding gear, most specifically, one-piece suits.

The brand’s renown for leathers comes not only from the recognizable quality with which its products are made, but also for the sheer number of top-level pro riders choosing to don (or are at least compensated handsomely to wear it!) Alpinestars leathers.

But even if riders are well looked after for wearing the wares, it’s a safe bet that roadracers like Nicky Hayden, Ben Spies, Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso and Mika Kallio, to name a few from MotoGP, are only willing to work with one of the best makers of moto hides when it comes to protecting their own hides as they scream along at 200 mph.

WSBK racers Troy Corser, Carlos Checca and Noriyuki Haga, and AMA roadracer Tommy Hayden – again, just to a new few pros – also race Alpinestars leathers.

And like the ol’ adage, Race it on Sunday, sell it on Monday, implies that what’s raced gets sold, (in one form or another) so, too, does AStars employ the trickledown philosophy to its leathers.

Primary areas of development emphasized by pro racers for the suits are anatomic fit, aerodynamics, lightweight, freedom of movement and “feel of the bike,” according to Alpinestars’ Jeremy Appleton.

The existing $2499.95 Racing Replica suit was developed largely for and from racing. Alpinestars performs extensive research, both in the lab as well as trackside, gleaning data and feedback from racers for ways the suits are working well, or may need improvement. AStars launched its first repli suit in 2000, and the suit’s evolution has been ongoing.

This flagship product is the springboard for Alpinestars leather riding gear that puts a premium on protection.

Incidentally, we learned during this product briefing that Alpinestars wearer, Mika Kallio, had the first in-race airbag deployment of Alpinestars’ airbag suit during a crash at this year’s Laguna Seca MotoGP event.

According to Alpinestars’ Colin Ballantyne this was the suit’s first recorded airbag activation during MotoGP competition. By all accounts, it went well.

Newly developed for the 2010 fall collection is the Tech 1R one-piece leather suit. At $1399.95 this suit isn’t much more than about half the price of the Racing Replica outfit, but don’t think with the 1R you’re also getting half the quality and features of the repli suit.

According to Appleton, the Tech 1R closely mirrors the replica suit in terms of safety features, noting that a key difference is the Racing Replica suit’s additional knee and shin protection, as well as different stretch panel material. Otherwise, says Appleton, the Tech 1R is a close second to the company’s top-level leather suit, but at a whopper of a cost savings.

Of special note from Appleton was that Alpinestars uses seam-specific stitching. That is, the type and manner of stitching for each seam is tailored for the precise needs of each seam to ensure the seam stays in one piece in the event of a two-wheeled wipeout. He also informed us that the Tech 1R uses 1.3mm leather hide, as well as reliable YKK zippers.

The Tech 1R is a leathery gauntlet for your skin when strafing canyons, or while pinning the throttle at the track in search of championship clinching points.

The GP Pro Leather Suit steps further down the price range, ringing in at $999.95, but still manages to provide much of what’s found in the Tech 1R one-piece, like 1.3mm full-grain leather with strategically located frontal perforation for airflow, auto-locking YKK zippers and race-derived protection features.

The GP Pro is also available as a two-piece suit and comes in Euro sizes 48 – 60 (up to 64 in black only).

The $499.95 GP Pro leather jacket is also available, and would pair well with the Track Leather Pants ($399.95). The benefit of choosing this combination is the option of wearing the jacket without the leather pants, say, during a casual ride aboard a mild-mannered cruiser. Time to saddle up to the ol’ sportbike? Simply zip in the Track pants for added protection.

For the ladies!

Like a lot of moto gear makers these days, Alpinestars has come to realize the prettier riders among us can’t wear the same gear on offer for the guys.

In order to accommodate for feminine shapes and fitment needs, Alpinestars brings in additional ladies gear for late 2010 in the form of the Stella Seville WP (stands for waterproof) Jacket. The jacket has understated styling yet is stylish, and offers adjustable fit at the wrist cuffs, as well as the waist area.

This all-textile unit has a waterproof, breathable membrane, and is constructed from 450 Denier material for abrasion resistance. The Stella Seville WP retails for $199.95 and is available in sizes XS – 2XL.

Above we noted how the new Durban jacket is designed to integrate with Alpinestars Bionic Neck Support unit. Off-roaders will appreciate how the A-10 ($169.95) and A-6 ($159.95) chest protectors do the same.

While the A-10 offers additional protection over the rear of the shoulder area when compared to the A-6, both will connect to the BNS after simply removing a piece from the front and rear of the chest protectors. Adding the BNS increases the protective aspects of both the chest and neck protector according to Alpinestars.

The Road Warrior-looking Bionic Protection Jacket currently in Alpinestars’ lineup is also now designed to integrate with the BNS.

Finally, now you, too, can dream of having that perfect Steve Austin knee while riding when you wear the trick B2 Carbon Knee Brace.

The B2’s main purpose is to lend support to the knee when off-road riding, but it also helps prevent hyperextension, and features a removable knee cap protector, making the brace adaptable for sports that don’t bring the threat impacts to the knee.

The brace’s main frame is constructed from carbon fiber, the inner comfort pad is removable, and four straps at the rear help fine tune fit for either the left or right brace.

This thing is so cool looking you may choose to wear them simply for going to the mailbox. And with a retail figure of $349.95 per side, the neighbors’ll think you’re a wealthy geezer with bad knees. The B2 Carbon Knee Brace comes in sizes S – XL.

The new products from Alpinestars for this fall covered here are but a smattering of the full lineup of new gear. Additional footwear, leather jackets for street riding, gloves with MotoGP-licensed branding, and even an undershirt that helps keep you cool by first soaking it in water, are slated to hit Alpinestars dealers this August.

If you can’t wait that long, click over to Alpinestars.com for extra info.

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