GEARBOX
Alpinestars Octane 1-piece Leather Suit
Author: K3 Chris Onwiler
First-rate protection at an affordable price
Asphalt and skin don’t mix. Sooner or later, every track rider will separate from his motorcycle and go bodysurfing. At that point, the rider’s leathers will be the only thing standing between him and a team of skin graft surgeons. Clearly, your leathers are one of the most important pieces of safety gear you will ever buy.
Alpinestars makes premium riding equipment. Their boots, gloves and leathers are among the best that money can buy. Of course, premium gear comes at a premium price. Realizing that not every rider can afford their top of the line equipment, Alpinestars also offers entry level kit that goes easy on the bling factor without compromising quality or safety. Their Octane 1-piece suit is an excellent example of this philosophy.
The Octane suit is cut from the same 1.2 – 1.4mm full-grain leather that Alpinestars uses for all its cowhide suits and is sewn with the same multiple stitch main seam construction. It is cut to fit best when its wearer is tucked into a racing crouch, making it very comfortable on-track but somewhat less so when walking around in the pits. The removable, CE certified GP armor supplied with this suit is also as good as any that Alpinestars offers. While the Octane doesn’t come with a back protector, there are snaps sewn into the suit that will securely fasten an optional Alpinestars protector in place. We tried this suit with an enormous Knox back protector (see http://www.trackdaymag.com/i?a=111 for details) and had no issues with the garment’s fit. Stretch panels in the suit’s arms and legs make it very comfortable and easy to get into or remove. The rolled, padded collar is soft on a rider’s neck, a welcome feature if you’ve ever owned a suit without one. Perforated panels allow the user to enjoy a bit of high-speed air conditioning while in motion. The stretch panels breathe as well, making the Octane a reasonably comfortable suit in hot weather. A removable, washable mesh liner is included, as are a pair of sexy, Alpinestars logo knee sliders.
All this is good stuff. TrackdayMag.com’s opinion is that the Octane is a safe, well-made, comfortable piece of equipment that you can trust with your hide. So what is a rider actually giving away by buying this suit over one of Alpinestars’ more expensive offerings? Up-line Alpinestars suits feature more perforations, exotic materials, fancier graphics, wilder color schemes, speed humps and more. While these extras may add value to a racing suit in the areas of comfort and owner pride, they won’t make a difference when that owner is tumbling down the pavement. For the track rider on a budget or those with minimalist taste, the Octane is as trustworthy a bone sack as anything on the market.
|