Arlen Ness suit developed by Troy Bayliss!

Published: 02 March 2009 Updated: 21 November 2014

The Arlen Ness LS1-7864 race suit will cost £799

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Arlen Ness’ LS1-7864 race suit could be the most advanced cowhide one-piece to emerge in 2009 – and it’s all thanks to intelligence gained through Troy Bayliss’ final championship-winning year in World Superbikes.

Advances in safety, comfort and durability have all been addressed with this suit and all for under £800.

A kangaroo skin version isn’t likely to be launched until the start of 2010 because the range-topping £899 LS1-5910 £900 kangaroo suit is only in its second sales year in 2009.

But with a leather thickness mixture of 1.1mm and 1.3mm, this is one of the lightest cowhide race suits on the market.

The suit is hitting Arlen Ness dealer showrooms this week and retails at £799.

The firm has even tailored the colours as well as the suit design like this black and Aprilia red suit that’s been specifically designed to match the new Aprilia RSV4 superbike.

Other colours include white/black, white/blue/black or white/red/black. For more information contact www.moto-direct.co.uk.

	Magnesium external protectors A first is the magnesium external inserts found at the shoulders, elbows and knees. These are the same grade protectors that Bayliss had on his 2008 suit. The aim is to spread the impact force and because magnesium is very low friction it reduces the likelihood of the armour digging in and sending the rider tumbling.
	Two-stage armour The armour protection fitted at the knees, elbows and shoulders is totally new for 2009. The CE-approved soft flexi-form Maurex protectors are found in many riding garments, but there’s also now a hardened outer-shell that helps the armour keep its shape. In a crash it will stay wrapped around the impact area rather than shift or fold when pressured.
	Fire-retardant coating Leather isn’t the most flammable of materials – it will burn but the dyes and treatments are what can cause them to catch fire. Arlen Ness has addressed this with what it is calling a Super Airtech fire-retardant finish (which performs to the same fire-proofing standards as sofas in the US).
	Quick-release kneesliders Getting kneesliders off can be a bit of an ordeal. Arlen Ness has made it simpler by putting a ring pull on the bottom of the slider. They’ve also come up with the ingenious idea of double-layer Velcro patches for the sliders. If you melt through one giving it too much on track, just rip the top patch off and you’ve a new one.
	360° stretch panel Something else new being carried over from Bayliss race suit is the stretch panel on the back of the suit. Instead of there being a normal single panel reaching across the bottom of your back, the LS1-7864 has a 360° panel that loops from your back up to your shoulders. It’s designed to give you more movement without the leather bunching.
	Superflow lining The honeycomb effect is designed to keep the body cool. It’s just one ventilation improvement on this suit alongside the vents within the external magnesium slider inserts, a new vented speed hump on the rear and perforated individual foam inserts. No undersuit is needed as the material wicks sweat away from the body. It’s removable and washable.

By Rob Hull

The Arlen Ness LS1-7864 race suit will cost £799