Why you should reconsider the Alpinestars Messenger Jacket The Alpinestars Messenger Jacket is supposed to offer affordable, stylish, all-weather protection for commuters and city riders. Until now, it didn't, but now it does. Here's why. In 2009 Alpinestars announced the city collection. The concept was simple: stylish motorcycle gear with minimal branding that doesn't look like motorcycle gear when you're off the bike. Back in 2009, I was working as ... By Sean Smith Gear - Jul 28 2011 -
Alpinestars CR-4 Gore-Tex XCR: hiking boots you can ride in Alpinestars CR-4 Gore-Tex XCR. Try saying that three times fast. The name may be overly complex and needlessly long, but the boots are simple and to the point. They combine motorcycle specific ankle protection, a steel and TPU (plastic) shank and ridged toe-box with traditional hiking boot features like a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane, chunky sole and durable leather construction. There is some ... By Sean Smith News - Jul 27 2011 -
Jamie Robinson does the Erzberg Rodeo The Erzberg Rodeo was something I'd only ever seen online, usually when searching for crazy crash videos or motorcycle madness so when I found out that the 2011 Red Bull Hare Scramble was on while I was in Europe on my 5 week Lucky Bastard's Motorcycle Tour, I just had to go and see what all the craziness was really about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jupw3jVk42Q&feature=feedu It was a tough r... By Jamie Robinson News - Jul 26 2011 -
This is the dirt gear that saved my life Making bad decisions on motorcycles (or Russian sidecars) has consequences. I’m able to ameliorate the consequences of frequently awful decisions by wearing the best safety gear available. This is what I was wearing when I crashed last weekend, it, in addition to Sean, is the reason I’m able to type this (slowly) today. Alpinestars Tech 10 Boots These are bulky, heavy, look ridiculous and... By HFL Staff News - Jul 19 2011 -
Thank you Alpinestars So I had a little crash on Sunday. Lowsided at about 40mph and slid down the road, chasing a tumbling bike. You know what? It was actually kind of fun. That’s because it didn’t hurt. Not a bit. That’s because I was wearing head to toe Alpinestars safety gear. I don’t want to say which bike as the we haven’t sorted out the details with the manufacturer but, suffice it to say, that a sli... By HFL Staff News - Jun 23 2011 -
Crash Tested: Vanson AR2 with Alpinestars Bio Armor No, no, I didn’t crash again. On Saturday, Sherman Thomas borrowed that Vanson AR2 that I installed Alpinestars Bio Armor in for a ride up Azusa Canyon. Exiting a tight hairpin, he hit some gravel, sending him wide and onto the shoulder, where he collided with a rock. I was right behind him and watched him hit that rock at a good 35mph, then bounce into the road. With the exception of a little b... By HFL Staff News - May 23 2011 -
Gear: Alpinestars Scout Waterproof Boots Alpinestars claims that these Scout Waterproof Boots are good for wearing on both dual sports and sport tourers. Looking at their tall uppers, huge buckles and thick soles, I was skeptical of that. But, after wearing them on a WR250R, Moto Guzzi Norge and Shamu, they totally do work across a range of riding positions. They’re way more flexible than they look, honestly waterproof, rugged and low ... By HFL Staff News - May 5 2011 -
Damn, I look good in this jacket Here’s the first of the jackets we’re modifying to create something that’s actually safe, yet doesn’t make us look like Power Rangers. This is a Vanson AR2 fitted with Alpinestars Bio Armor. The ultra-thick, sturdy leather and strong construction will protect me against abrasion better than just about anything else out there and the high-tech Bio Armor exceeds CE standards by more than dou... By HFL Staff Gear - May 3 2011 -
Alpinestars Bio Armor explained We’ve been making a big fuss over thin, flexible D3O, but it’s not the only choice if you’re looking for slimmer motorcycle armor. This Alpinestars Bio Armor may not be bright orange or come with science we hardly understand, but it is safe. 100 percent safer than traditional Alpinestars foam armor, for example, while only measuring about 1cm in thickness. It’s this that we’re installing... By HFL Staff News - Apr 13 2011 -
Why can’t we look good when we ride bikes? Conventional motorcycling wisdom states, “Dress for the crash, not the ride.” But why does being safe have to involve dressing up like a DayGlo sausage, a European hairdresser or a large nylon pillow? Why can Dainese make an airbag racing suit that can tell the difference between a high and low-side crash using a GPS sensor, three gyroscopes and three accelerometers, but not offer a jacket I By HFL Staff News - Apr 12 2011 -
...and sometimes you crash I didn't even take photos before sending the GSX-R off to the frame shop to have the right side motor mount re-made. The frame slider caught on something and snapped everything below the bolt clean off. Most people and all insurance adjusters would call that a total loss. Whatever. There's an old man in Pasadena that knows how to work magic with a heli-arc. For a little more than $300, I should h... By Sean Smith News - Apr 10 2011 -
Gear: Alpinestars Protection Backpack After two years of 80 mile commutes, my old Tech Aero backpack was toast. I picked up the Alpinestars Protection Backpack as a replacement. The main selling points of the old bag were a back protector sleeve, large capacity, and waist and chest straps. It was a bag built specifically for motorcycling rather than a school bag with a fancy logo. The Protection bag builds on this idea and has many of... By Sean Smith News - Mar 4 2011 -
Alpinestars Verona Air jacket and Logic Kevlar jeans: almost normal Alpinestars seems pretty serious about tackling the demand for honestly protective motorcycle gear that doesn’t look like something the Rainbow Ranger would would rock. This new Verona Air mesh jacket ($160) is as plain as plain can be, just with CE armor in the shoulders and elbows and pockets for real chest and back protectors. The almost not-boot cut Logic jeans ($100), with Kevlar linings in... By HFL Staff Gear - Jan 5 2011 -
Labrador: Grant's gear Believe it or not, Wes and I don't dress like twinkies on motorcycle trips. I decided against go-go boots and David Lee Roth high kicks and wore an unfathomably expensive Rukka suit and Alpinestars touring boots instead. I also ditched the fancy MX helmet for a cheapo full-face. After 3,500 + miles, which approach worked better? Scorpion EXO-400 Helmet I made it roughly an hour and a half befo... By Grant Ray News - Nov 10 2010 -
Labrador: Wes’s gear Everyone told me that wearing this level of safety gear on an adventure touring trip was overkill and it was kind of a pain in the ass. But when it was 45 degrees and raining, I was warm and dry; when it was 95 degrees and we were stuck in a traffic jam, I didn’t sweat to death; when I head butted the road at 50 or 60mph, I walked a way a bit woozy and unable to remember what happened, but not e... By HFL Staff News - Oct 27 2010 -
Alpinestars boosts dirt safety Alpinestars is seriously upgrading its off-road protection equipment for Fall 2010, finally offering real knee braces and integrating its Bionic Neck Support into its armor jackets and chest protection to make it more effective. The safety offered by that chest protector alone has been increased also, with it now incorporating a real back protector for the first time. Details of the new pr... By HFL Staff News - Aug 27 2010 -
Alpinestars nails the bargain waterproof jacket Fully waterproof thanks to a Drystar lining and equipped with the same Bioarmor elbow and shoulder armor as the $1,2995 Alpinestars 365 Gore-Tex Leather Jacket, it might come to you as a surprise that these two jackets carry a very low price tag. The short Alpinestars Kinetic Jacket is priced at $300 and the 3/4 length Alpinestars Messenger Jacket is $200. Both also come with pockets for back and ... By HFL Staff Gear - Dec 16 2009 -
