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1. Dainese W-Frame, £1,249.99
When released a couple of years ago, this was Dainese’s top specification race suit. The biggest feature difference to more traditional suits is the stretchy nylon chest panel that’s designed to keep a close fit to the rider without making it uncomfortable. It has CE armour throughout, a cowhide main construction, interchangeable sliders and a back hump.
OWNER RATING
Comfort 87%
Fit 87%
Looks 100%
Quality 100%
Overall 93%
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2. Spidi GP Kangaroo,
This is the suit of choice for Spidi’s sponsored racers including Colin Edwards, Marco Melandri, Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow. The kangaroo hide is 0.9 – 1mm thick and it’s heavily vented so weighs very little for a race suit. There are fabric stretch panels under the arms, crotch and behind the knees and stretch leather panels around the knees and lower back. There’s CE armour throughout that’s even adjustable in the knees and a race hump that can accommodate a water pack if required.
OWNER RATING
Comfort 87%
Fit 87%
Looks 87%
Quality 87%
Overall 93%
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3. Dainese Steel, £859.99
The Steel is a track-focussed one-piece race suit. Made from Dainese’s own D-skin cowhide, it has leather and fabric elastic inserts for optimum comfort and the knee sliders are Dainese’s replaceable race sliders. The inner liner is removable, there are titanium inserts on the shoulders just like Valentino Rossi’s race suit and reflective inserts if you’re going to use it on the road,
OWNER RATING
Comfort 89%
Fit 84%
Looks 91%
Quality 90%
Overall 91%
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4. Berik LS1-7913, £699.99
Released late last year, this is the closest you can get to wearing the same suit as MotoGP legend, Loris Capirossi. Big news with this suit is the magnesium inserts on the shoulders and elbows that’ll stop the leather digging in and flipping you if you’re skating along the tarmac on your side. The suit has a main construction of cowhide leather, has race compound replaceable sliders and a removable inner liner.
OWNER RATING
Comfort 85%
Fit 85%
Looks 95%
Quality 85%
Overall 90%
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5. Alpinestars RC-1, £799.95
The RC-1 is made from a 1.2 – 1.4mm cowhide construction with plastic external shoulder armour and CE approved internal armour at the shoulders, elbows and knees. Designed to be one of the most comfortable one-piece suits, it has leather stretch panels at the upper back, rear waist and knees for better movement. The knee sliders are replaceable and the suit has a MotoGP-style back hump.
OWNER RATING
Comfort 86%
Fit 84%
Looks 91%
Quality 91%
Overall 89%
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6. Alpinestars MX-1. £899.95
The MX-1 has a multiple-stitched main seam construction to prevent the 1.2 – 1.4mm cowhide tearing at the joins in a crash. Alpinestars’ patented thermoplastic external shoulder protectors have been added to this suit to work along with the internal CE armour that’s at the shoulders also, as well as the knees and the elbows too, The back hump is a MotoGP style ventilated version, there are strategically placed stretch panels and you get a Bionic Race back protector as standard.
OWNER RATING
Comfort 83%
Fit 85%
Looks 89%
Quality 89%
Overall 85%
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7. Hideout Xtreme, £950 (£1,140 made to measure)
The Xtreme is one of Hideout’s best selling suits. It has very minimal branding and you can custom choose the colourways to your own specific design. They’re heavyweight leathers made from top grade cowhide, and they also come in ladies sizes off the peg. Custom-fitted service is available, but at an extra £190.
OWNER RATING
Comfort 78%
Fit 84%
Looks 75%
Quality 93%
Overall 85%
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8. Alpinestars Replica Racing, £1,799
This is Alpinestars flagship, it’s MotoGP derived, top of the range racing suit. It’s like buying Casey Stoner’s very suit! It’s not the cheapest but it does have unique features like seamless elbows and arms to reduce tears in crashes, patented 45 degree leather flex zone across the back, exclusive plastic forearm and shoulder external protectors and a hard plastic knee and tibia protector. CE internal armour is included as well as a level two CE certified back protector.
OWNER RATING
Comfort 82%
Fit 82%
Looks 84%
Quality 86%
Overall 85%
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9. Hideout Classic, £700 (£840 made to measure)
This suit is designed solely for those who don’t want loads of branding, larey colours and lots of flashy bits. The Classic is an old-school designed suit – simple yet premium grade cowhide construction with up to 1.6mm thick leather. They come with knee sliders and you can get them custom made to fit you perfectly.
OWNER RATING
Comfort 80%
Fit 80%
Looks 67%
Quality 93%
Overall 80%
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10. Arlen Ness LS1-8071, £799.99
This was only new this year but already it’s made it into our top ten suits. The main construction is cowhide but with perforate front panels. There are titanium inserts on the elbow and shoulder and also on the knees. There’s an aerodynamic race hump, Kevlar stretch panels, CE internal armour and a removable inner lining. Sliders come as standard.
OWNER RATING
Comfort 70%
Fit 80%
Looks 90%
Quality 85%
Overall 75%
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