leather Articles
Gear: Alpinestars Vika leather suit
By now, you know the standard formula for making a women’s leather suit: take an outdated guy’s item, widen the hips and sew on some tribal roses. Make sure it’s only offered in a condescending color palette and, voila, job done, yet more women put off riding. But not this new Alpinestars Vika range. Specifically created to flatter the female figure while offering significant protection it s...
05 November 2012
In which my boyfriend Sean MacDonald outs me as a Gosling-impersonating, couch surfing, safety nagging douchebag
I first met Wes when he moved into my house to live on my couch. He was a friend of my roommate’s and just needed a place to land while he looked for an apartment. Two things are obvious when you first meet Wes. One, Wes thinks he’s the best thing that has ever happened to the human race. So much so that he loves to share with anyone close to him just how awesome he is every time he’s give...
11 September 2012
Gear: Kushitani EX413 Country Jeans
We’ve found good-looking, practical, safe motorcycle jackets. There’s plenty of gloves that can provide real protection in a stealthy package. There’s even boots capable of keeping your feet safe, yet won’t make you look like you’re embarking for the moon. The last area of stylish, practical, protection left, one that’s bizarrely undeserved, is the humble pair of trousers. We’re not ...
07 March 2012
Why leather makes a superior knee slider
Of all the things you wear to ride fast on the street or track, the humble knee slider is probably the last item you’d think deserves an upgrade. A more expensive helmet will be lighter and vent better. A more expensive suit will fit better and survive more crashes. The right long underwear for the season will keep you cool or warm. But knee sliders? They’re all alike, right? I thought so too ...
20 December 2011
News
How Dainese modified its equipment to work with Rossi's injury
When Valentino Rossi takes to the starting grid of Sunday's German Grand Prix, he'll be doing so with partially healed fractures to both the tibia and fibula in his right leg. Here's how Dainese modified his boots and leathers to accommodate the bandages and protect the leg from further injury >As you can see by the riding shots in the gallery above, the injury and the modified safety gear...
16 July 2010
News
Perforations and Gore-Tex Pro Shell Leather
I just went on my first long ride in the new Alpinestars 365 Gore-Tex Leather Suit. It was dry and sunny, so I can't tell you how well it keeps out water, but I can tell you the perforations aren't there to vent air. So what do they do? Allow the Gore-Tex membrane laminated to the underside of the leather to vent water vapor. >Expecting all the tiny holes to flow air like a wind tunnel, I put on a...
04 April 2010
News
Alpinestars 365 Gore Tex suit made from leather, yet 100% waterproof
This It's not just the laminate that makes this material special. The leather itself is treated to improve its performance in a wide range of weather conditions. To make it more suitable for hot weather, a special dye is added to the leather to make it capable of reflecting up to 30 percent of the sun's energy. The suit is also breathable, allowing a rider's body ...
05 August 2009
News
2010 Pure Motorcycle collection brings Belstaff back to bikes
Thanks to the guys at Urban Rider in London, we're able to exclusively reveal these jackets from the 2010 Belstaff Pure Motorcycle collection. Since its purchase by an Italian conglomerate in 2004, Belstaff's functional safety gear has been hard to find, suffering under a company placing influence on its fashion line. That's changing. Starting with these jackets Belstaff hopes to return to offer...
28 July 2009