The most technical pieces of racing apparel in the Alpinestars lineup, the brand new Alpinestars Tech 1-R Racing Suit and Alpinestars Tech 1-R Leather Jacket are below only the Race Replica in the AStars lineup. Offering the highest level of quality in materials, technologies and technical innovations, the Tech 1-R succeeds the Alpinestars MX-1 Suit and Leather Jacket and features some major upgrades over previous versions. Along with the brand new Alpinestars GP Pro Leather Jacket and Alpinestars GP Pro Racing Suit, Alpinestars has again raised the bar and made it that much more difficult for the competition to compete with their racing gear.
Let me discuss the features that both the jacket and the pants have. The first significant upgrade over the MX-1 is the 3D bubble mesh liner. For those that don't know, 3D mesh creates a microclimate by fixing a space between your body and the outer materials of the gear. This creates an air pocket within the jacket (or suit) which enhances airflow and keeps your body temperature regulated, whether it is hot or cold out. Another major step forward is the multiple-snap connection system for the Bionic Race Back Protector. In the MX-1, there was only a single snap which clearly is not going to fit everyone. The three-position snap system in the Tech 1R ensures versatility based on your height and where you like to position the protector for comfort and safety.
The ergonomics and comfort of the Alpinestars Tech 1-R Race Suit have also been upgraded over the MX-1 Suit. They've added an enormous U-shaped accordion stretch panel on the back that significantly improves flexibility for racing and is extremely innovative in that we've not seen this on any suit from any other manufacturer. In addition to the possibility of a back protector upgrade, the chest pad compartments (which come stock with PE padding) are sized to fit the Alpinestars Bionic Chest Pads for upgraded protection. This is true for both the jacket and race suit.
Now let's take a look at the rest of the features:
1.3mm top grade cowhide leather with perforation throughout for ventilation and comfort
External PU shoulder and knee sliders meet MotoGP spec
CE rated GP-Series elbow and knee armor, CE rated shoulder armor
Aramidic stretch paneling on sleeves and crotch for flexibility and airflow
Liner is antimicrobial, removable and washable
Foam padding inserts for added protection
YKK zips throughout with semi-locking cuff zippers
Accordion stretch paneling for fit and flex
Another stellar offering in the Alpinestars lineup, the Tech 1-R suit and leather jacket are sure to please all the Alpinestars loyalists out there. Check out the full Alpinestars Fall 2010 Gear lineup and don't miss our full selection of Motorcycle Racing Suits. Also, see the competitors of the Tech 1-R jacket by visiting our Leather Motorcycle Jacket section.
If you're gonna use a red so bold it looks like fire, your product better deliver. The brand new for 2010 Dainese Red Line Racing Suit absolutely does. This suit is across-the-board quality and, in our opinion, primo at its $1499 price. Hit the track!
Bursting out like a hot ball of lead, the 2010 Dainese Red Line is packed with features. The video above digs really deep into what's got us going about the suit, so I'll just scratch the surface here.
This is in Dainese's upper echelon of motorcycle racing suits, which means no expense was spared. First off, D-Skin leather, Dainese's proprietary leather, is a massive safety upgrade over traditional cowhide. Using special silicone and wax treatments, the leather has a much softer and more supple feel. More important is the protection: 60% greater tensile strength (lateral tear) and 80% greater abrasion-resistance (road-sliding) than regular cowhide.
That's a pretty serious upgrade.
The next major feature is the 3D Bubble Liner, which creates air pockets between the three dimensional extrusions in the liner. This in turn creates air pockets resulting in microclimate at your core. The body's desired temperature will then be maintained, insulating you from outside hot or cold variables.
For ease of getting in and out, Dainese utilized a W-frame construction, with double zips at the chest, offering added comfort and flexibility. On the same note, S1 Stretch Panels can be found throughout the suit for on-bike mobility. Also, you'll have co-injected titanium sliders on the shoulders with Dainese's knee sliders atop the standard CE rated internal armor. I almost forgot, it also has a water bag built into the speed hump. Like I said, across-the-board quality.
We're super-high on this suit based on all the features and functionality we see at this price point.
If you want to compare their line-up, check out all the Dainese Racing Suits at RevZilla. We'll be rolling out reviews of them shortly.
Or to see all the race suits that we carry, head over to our Racing Suits section at RevZilla.com
Now let's take a look at the rest of the features:
