Continuing our coverage of Alpinestars 2016 collection, it’s time to look at the new sport and race equipment for the season, including a new one-piece suit, two-piece option, high-performance street jacket, and updated race-spec boots.
The Atem “race/performance riding” suit lies atop Alpinestars’ non-race range this year, featuring a ton of technologies leveraged from the company’s association with Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo, among others. The Atem starts with a 1.3mm leather chassis fitted with GP-R internal protection at the shoulders, elbows, knees, tibia, and shins. (All CE certified.) A snap-in system to use an Alpinestars Bionic Back protector (sold separately) is part of the suit, meaning you can snap the protector into the suit rather than have to don it separately, if that’s how you roll. There are also chest-pad compartments with poly-foam padding; A-Stars’ Bionic chest pads are extra.)
But a big deal is the suit’s comfort, improved by accordion leather stretch inserts on the back and legs and strategic perforation for good ventilation. Even the back hump is ventilated!
Sizes run Euro 48-60 with three colorways: red/white/black, black/white, and black/white/with hint of high-viz. MSRP is $1499.95. Alpinestars describes the Atem has having a “slim” or performance fit.
If you like your suits two-piece, you’ll want to consider the Atem Two-Piece, which is, as the name implies, a zip-apart version of the Atem suit. It shares the core technologies of the Atem with the sections joined by a full-circumference waist zipper.
The Atem Two-Piece is also available in Euro 48-60 sizes. Two colorways, all black and black/red/white, sell for $1,299.95.
A third member of the Atem line is the Atem Leather Jacket. Again, it borrows key features from the Atem suits, but adds waist cinches, a longer hem in the rear. The chassis is 1.3mm cowhide with flexible “aramedic” stretch panels on the check and back. GP-R internal protectors are standard, with chest-pad compartments ready for optional Bionic pads.
Sizes are 48-60 Euro with an MSRP of $799.95. Four colorways are available: black/white/red, black/white, all black, and black/white/high-viz.
New to Alpinestars’ “performance riding” segment is the Celer Leather Jacket. (Pronounce it like “seller.”) This 1.3mm leather jacket features dual-density protectors on the shoulder and elbows, standard CE-certified shoulder and elbow protection, and provisions for chest and back armor.
To keep the Celer cool in summer, there are perforated sections in the chest as well as zippered air intakes and exhausts designed to work with the rider in a semi-crouch position. Adjustable cuffs have zippers for easy ingress and egress, while the collars and cuffs have a “padded 3D mesh” for comfort and neoprene comfort edges.
Sizes are 46-60 in three of the four colorways, plus a large as Euro 64 in all black. The other three designs are back/white/high-viz, black/white/red, and black/white. MSRP is $649.95.
Big news down below is the new Supertech R boot. This race-developed boot features a host of upgrades to the popular bootie-in-a-boot Supertech R we know and love. Improved flexibility comes from a new “technical microfiber” upper that provides some weather resistance and increases durability of the boot. A new front flex area continues the march to make a less-stiff boot, while changes to the internal bootie increase protection.
Two features you’ll notice right away are reinforcements for the bottom of the external zipper plus toe sliders made from aluminum with a hidden retention system. A simple set screw secures the sliders against an insulating layer; supposedly the sliders are even more secure and simpler to replace.
Sizes run 39-48 Euro at $499.95. Four colors include white/black, black/white/high-viz, white/black (with a cool racing pattern), and all black.