Advice on buying a one-piece race suit?

[ShAdOwDrAgOnS]

Hey guys, I did a search but coudn't see any threads regarding this topic, sorry if there is one and i missed it but I just wanted to get some advice one piece race suits.

What brands do you guys wear/reccomend?

I'm looking for something really good to protect me should the worst happen, i need something for road riding but mainly for the Track as i plan to start doing Track days. I want to buy something decent that will stand the test of time and prefereably remain intact for more than one crash. I hear the Alpine Stars race replica is the best of the best and can withstand up to10 crashes easily, but they cost and absolute fortune, something like $3300 from revzilla and is a bit out of my price range.
I'm looking for the next best thing that i can afford to keep me in "once piece" should i come off ;p Knock on wood as i haven't come off yet and have no plans to, but you never know.


I'm currently looking at Alpine Stars Atem, but i hear Denaise and RS Taichi are the other two leading brands to look at.

Is there anywhere in Auckland that you guys know of that has Alpine Stars race suits that i can physically try on? It seems like almost no one keeps alpine stars in stock? Is my best bet to get it from overseas since Motomart in wellington sells the alpine stars atem for $2400 NZD but from Revzilla its only $1738 NZD with free shipping?

[Kickaha]

You can get one taylor made in NZ for around or less than the price of those suits, either Celtic or Leda leathers

Last time I looked Celtic were about $1900 depending on design and Leda were a bit less

[ShAdOwDrAgOnS]

You can get one taylor made in NZ for around or less than the price of those suits, either Celtic or Leda leathers

Last time I looked Celtic were about $1900 depending on design and Leda were a bit less

Thanks, i'll have a look.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Is there anywhere in Auckland that you guys know of that has Alpine Stars race suits that i can physically try on? It seems like almost no one keeps alpine stars in stock? Is my best bet to get it from overseas since Motomart in wellington sells the alpine stars atem for $2400 NZD but from Revzilla its only $1738 NZD with free shipping?

Just remember you will get dinged for GST on that almost certainly plus the bullshit biosecurity levies and stuff. And return shipping if that suit does not fit will be expensive. The GST is $260, and the other levies are from memory between fiddy and a hunge. So you are at $2000 to $2100 vs $2400 here.

If you are in Auckland talk to Kerrie at MSW: not sure if she still does race suits.

If it was my money I would get Celtic leathers to do it - IF he is still going. There is also an option of getting measured and sending your measurements overseas and having something made. That would suck if it came back wrong, eh?

If you fit a standard size then all good.

[pritch]

You can get one taylor made in NZ for around or less than the price of those suits, either Celtic or Leda leathers

Last time I looked Celtic were about $1900 depending on design and Leda were a bit less

I was going to suggest Celtic. A long way from Auckland perhaps, but a good excuse for a ride. Talking to Sam about the IoM is a bonus :-)

[Grubber]

Head into Motomail.
I was in there on Sunday and they have a sale on one piece at the moment.
Dianese for under $2000 and Revit for around $1500 or less.
Worth a look.

[Edbear]

Hey guys, I did a search but coudn't see any threads regarding this topic, sorry if there is one and i missed it but I just wanted to get some advice one piece race suits.

What brands do you guys wear/reccomend?

I'm looking for something really good to protect me should the worst happen, i need something for road riding but mainly for the Track as i plan to start doing Track days. I want to buy something decent that will stand the test of time and prefereably remain intact for more than one crash. I hear the Alpine Stars race replica is the best of the best and can withstand up to10 crashes easily, but they cost and absolute fortune, something like $3300 from revzilla and is a bit out of my price range.
I'm looking for the next best thing that i can afford to keep me in "once piece" should i come off ;p Knock on wood as i haven't come off yet and have no plans to, but you never know.


I'm currently looking at Alpine Stars Atem, but i hear Denaise and RS Taichi are the other two leading brands to look at.

Is there anywhere in Auckland that you guys know of that has Alpine Stars race suits that i can physically try on? It seems like almost no one keeps alpine stars in stock? Is my best bet to get it from overseas since Motomart in wellington sells the alpine stars atem for $2400 NZD but from Revzilla its only $1738 NZD with free shipping?

I've got a sample coming in, I'll let you know when it gets here and if it's any good. Should be somewhat under that price.

[HenryDorsetCase]

What brands do you guys wear/reccomend?



You are going to wear this on track, right? because if you are going to be road riding, a onesie is diabolical. Get two piece zip together.

Which is OK for trackdays too. Only wear a race suit if you're racing.....

[swarfie]

Nodrog on KB has a brand new set of Alpinestars which he got in from overseas which ended up being too small for him. I tried them on @ the weekend but they were too tight on me too:no::violin:. They're size 50 so PM him if that's where you're at. He only wants what they owe him and bloody cheap :wings:

[aderino4]

Cyclespot @ Barry's point has a bunch of Alpinestars Atem and Rev It suits
Cycletreads has some Spidi and Berik I think
Motomail has Rev It and Dainese.

They all have the "normal" size in stock ready to try.

[Asher]

http://www.motomail.co.nz/estore/style/rerscr1pc.aspx

I have the black suit, very comfy and a bargain at $700

[MVnut]

There is no guarantee a top of the line suit will withstand 'ten crashes' ...every crash is different. Just get the best track gear you can. If you buy a 2-piece (which I would not recommend) make sure it zips together with both zips sewn to leather. A friend raced in a 2-piece that had the pants zip sewn to leather and the jacket zip sewn to the liner (thin material) ....useless and he paid the price....they were Alpinestars which is a good brand...check before you buy

[nodrog]

Nodrog on KB has a brand new set of Alpinestars which he got in from overseas which ended up being too small for him. I tried them on @ the weekend but they were too tight on me too:no::violin:. They're size 50 so PM him if that's where you're at. He only wants what they owe him and bloody cheap :wings:

they got sold 3.5mins after you tried them on bro.

[pete376403]

The set of Leda leathers I have hanging up did about 16 seasons of speedway (dirt track) and I spent quite a bit of that time sliding on the ground.
Speedway tracks can get pretty damned hard toward the end of the night after the cars have swept off the cushion and polished what's left - it's not like crashing there is easy.
Those leathers have been back to Dusty maybe twice for repairs (new zip and patches on the knee.

I'd say they are on a par, if not better, with anything you can import.

[rapid van cleef]

I did a lot of research when buying my 1 piece. I tried on lots, went to a few different stores, got prices from leda etc. A shop in the Mount was very very helpful and despite no one in NZ could source the suit I actually wanted ( all nz suppliers could only get the old version of the particular suit i wanted)I ended up buying from the shop that was really helpful. I could have bought from revzilla etc and saved a lot of cash but then if customs got hold of it and added their robbing bastard fees on I would have been no better off really. Try lots on, do lots of reading, and even the best quality suit is no good if it doesnt fit properly.

On saying that, Id take a punt on a spyke suit from the UK, great prices on ebay.

[ShAdOwDrAgOnS]

Just remember you will get dinged for GST on that almost certainly plus the bullshit biosecurity levies and stuff. And return shipping if that suit does not fit will be expensive. The GST is $260, and the other levies are from memory between fiddy and a hunge. So you are at $2000 to $2100 vs $2400 here.

If you are in Auckland talk to Kerrie at MSW: not sure if she still does race suits.

If it was my money I would get Celtic leathers to do it - IF he is still going. There is also an option of getting measured and sending your measurements overseas and having something made. That would suck if it came back wrong, eh?

If you fit a standard size then all good.

Good point, i haven't bought leathers from overseas and did not factor in the GST and other levies and charges. Yes it would suck if i had something made from overseas and it didn't fit which is why i don't want to take that risk. Also i don't know if a standard size will fit as I haven't tried on any one piece suits yet.



I was going to suggest Celtic. A long way from Auckland perhaps, but a good excuse for a ride. Talking to Sam about the IoM is a bonus :-)

The reviews on Cletic is really awesome, definitely will take this under consideration. Might squeeze this in as part of a road trip to Hastings.



Head into Motomail.
I was in there on Sunday and they have a sale on one piece at the moment.
Dianese for under $2000 and Revit for around $1500 or less.
Worth a look.

Thanks, I’ll have to drop in and have a look to see what’s available and try a few on.



You are going to wear this on track, right? because if you are going to be road riding, a onesie is diabolical. Get two piece zip together.

Which is OK for trackdays too. Only wear a race suit if you're racing.....

Yeah, it will be mainly for the track, i have Alpine stars leather Jacket and textile pants. which I use for road riding. From what i hear the two piece isn't as safe and I really want something decent to protect me on the track and possibly off the track if I go for a nice 600km ride on the weekend. If the one piece is comfortable then I’d probably wear it all the time when going for rides


Cyclespot @ Barry's point has a bunch of Alpinestars Atem and Rev It suits
Cycletreads has some Spidi and Berik I think
Motomail has Rev It and Dainese.

They all have the "normal" size in stock ready to try.

I bought my motorbike from Cyclespot, I didn't realise they have Alpine stars one piece suits and it doesn't show up on their website.
Probably the easiest place for me to drop in and have a quick look and try some on to see if a standard size will fit me.


http://www.motomail.co.nz/estore/style/rerscr1pc.aspx

I have the black suit, very comfy and a bargain at $700

Doesn't look like it has a lot of perforations, seems like the airflow through the suit might not be as good as some other suits. Also I'm not really familiar with the Rev IT brand. Kind of going by the guidelines of when it comes to motorcycle gear to buy the best i can afford because it might just save my life. Thanks, but I think I’ll pass on this one.



There is no guarantee a top of the line suit will withstand 'ten crashes' ...every crash is different. Just get the best track gear you can. If you buy a 2-piece (which I would not recommend) make sure it zips together with both zips sewn to leather. A friend raced in a 2-piece that had the pants zip sewn to leather and the jacket zip sewn to the liner (thin material) ....useless and he paid the price....they were Alpinestars which is a good brand...check before you buy

I know there is no Guarantee, but it seems like some better brands/good quality suits hold together for more than one crash. Yes I totally agree to get the best that I can reasonably afford. Which is why i wanted some advice on what the leading brands are and what other people currently own/have come off on. Yes I’ve heard that the 2 piece might not hold together and that a one piece is the way to go which is why I’m not in the market for leather pants that zip to my alpine stars jacket. Thus looking for a really decent 1 piece that will stand the test of time. I'm aware that better quality suits use kangaroo or very special leather that they source from Brazil in some cases and that the more labour involved generally the cost goes up. Clearly i don't want to part with allot of cash without getting the most bang for my buck, but I also don't want to jump into the first $700 suit that i find thinking this will do, maybe have one off and have it completely ruined and having to fork out another $700 or more to get a better one if you know what I mean.


The set of Leda leathers I have hanging up did about 16 seasons of speedway (dirt track) and I spent quite a bit of that time sliding on the ground.
Speedway tracks can get pretty damned hard toward the end of the night after the cars have swept off the cushion and polished what's left - it's not like crashing there is easy.
Those leathers have been back to Dusty maybe twice for repairs (new zip and patches on the knee.

I'd say they are on a par, if not better, with anything you can import.

Thanks for your feedback, I'll definitely keep it in mind. As you can tell I’m doing a bit of research here and not just rushing into it.



I did a lot of research when buying my 1 piece. I tried on lots, went to a few different stores, got prices from leda etc. A shop in the Mount was very very helpful and despite no one in NZ could source the suit I actually wanted ( all nz suppliers could only get the old version of the particular suit i wanted)I ended up buying from the shop that was really helpful. I could have bought from revzilla etc and saved a lot of cash but then if customs got hold of it and added their robbing bastard fees on I would have been no better off really. Try lots on, do lots of reading, and even the best quality suit is no good if it doesnt fit properly.

On saying that, Id take a punt on a spyke suit from the UK, great prices on ebay.

Yes, i totally agree that a proper fit is key. Suits where the leather bunches up is not safe. I watched a few videos on youtube from STG showing what a race fit, comfort fit and too big looks like. If possible i like to support the local economy and our local guys here in NZ. But if they didn't stock what i was after then surely the next step would have been to import from overseas. Just keeping options my options open.

[Fern]

. Also I'm not really familiar with the Rev IT brand. Kind of going by the guidelines of when it comes to motorcycle gear to buy the best i can afford because it might just save my life. Thanks, but I think I’ll pass on this one.




good enough for Bautista and Cal Cruchlow..
http://news.revit.eu/2013/11/29/revit-prolongs-motogp-partnership-with-alvaro-bautista/

[Erelyes]

good enough for Bautista and Cal Cruchlow..
http://news.revit.eu/2013/11/29/revit-prolongs-motogp-partnership-with-alvaro-bautista/

Was going to say, if you're not familiar with the Rev'It brand you need to research gear more. They do some good stuff :)

[haydes55]

Boyds in Hamilton have a rack full of leathers. I got my one peice Berik, kangaroo leathers with magnesium sliders for $999. They still have heaps of them in the shop last I saw at $999. I know they were originally priced at $2000.

Haven't crash tested them, but they fit good, look good and have loads of padding where you expect it. So Berik is another brand to look at.

[pritch]

good enough for Bautista and Cal Cruchlow..
http://news.revit.eu/2013/11/29/revit-prolongs-motogp-partnership-with-alvaro-bautista/

Ahh but what they wear is not what you will get. The GP riders' suits are made of kangaroo skin, not cow hide. Dainese, for one, offer a special Gore-Tex waterproof leather, Rossi has those. Unless you can afford to buy a Ferrari you probably shouldn't even inquire about these latter options.

Sam from Celtic used to attend race mettings to offer a repair service, some of the racers may know if he still does this?

[aderino4]

If you're skinny with long limbs (legs and arms) RevIt first really well.

[Kickaha]

Sam from Celtic used to attend race mettings to offer a repair service, some of the racers may know if he still does this?

He didn't this season, I dont really understand why people would be prepared to pay $1500-2000+ for stuff like Alpinestar etc and wouldn't get them custom made by someone like Celtic

[HenryDorsetCase]

He is/was a Manxman too and used to travel back for the TT and Manx GP every year

[Marmoot]

Highly recommend Alpinestars Atem. Perfectly comfortable to be in, good ventilation, and protection.
I crashed in one, and ended up without a scratch at all. Would've been able to keep the leather had the paramedics didn't cut it to pieces to get me out of it with broken femur (caused by the leg taking the brunt of the fall, not exactly a reflection of the suit itself).
The leather itself is relatively unscratched.

I am currently in my second Atem.

If you can sew it together, you can have my cut up one :D

[BMWST?]

get a custom one.
It may be a little more,or it may not,but you can get exactly what you want,And if done properly a two peice wont be inferior to a one peice except in an extreme event.And two peice so much more user frieindly on the road trip(s).
My Leda jacket for example has TWO zips,one so the jacket is snug with just a t shirt under,another for winter clothing underneath,inside pockets,outsde pockets domes there velcro there etc etc etc

[sharp2183]

A super expensive suit isn't always totally necessary, nor is a custom one. If you are a normal body shape you should be ok, as long as you buy tight and let it stretch and fit you.

My Revit suit was $1000 from Motomail. 4 years on it has handled 4 crashes and a shit load of use. It's still fantastic.

[Hoon]

Yep I bought a Technics set of leathers for about $1200 new. Had about 10 crashes in it and had to get it repaired a couple times where it had ground through from some long slides. As long as it has armour in the right places and is thick enough it will protect you.

[Edbear]

Good point, i haven't bought leathers from overseas and did not factor in the GST and other levies and charges. Yes it would suck if i had something made from overseas and it didn't fit which is why i don't want to take that risk. Also i don't know if a standard size will fit as I haven't tried on any one piece suits yet.

The reviews on Cletic is really awesome, definitely will take this under consideration. Might squeeze this in as part of a road trip to Hastings.




Thanks, I’ll have to drop in and have a look to see what’s available and try a few on.


Yeah, it will be mainly for the track, i have Alpine stars leather Jacket and textile pants. which I use for road riding. From what i hear the two piece isn't as safe and I really want something decent to protect me on the track and possibly off the track if I go for a nice 600km ride on the weekend. If the one piece is comfortable then I’d probably wear it all the time when going for rides



I bought my motorbike from Cyclespot, I didn't realise they have Alpine stars one piece suits and it doesn't show up on their website.
Probably the easiest place for me to drop in and have a quick look and try some on to see if a standard size will fit me.



Doesn't look like it has a lot of perforations, seems like the airflow through the suit might not be as good as some other suits. Also I'm not really familiar with the Rev IT brand. Kind of going by the guidelines of when it comes to motorcycle gear to buy the best i can afford because it might just save my life. Thanks, but I think I’ll pass on this one.




I know there is no Guarantee, but it seems like some better brands/good quality suits hold together for more than one crash. Yes I totally agree to get the best that I can reasonably afford. Which is why i wanted some advice on what the leading brands are and what other people currently own/have come off on. Yes I’ve heard that the 2 piece might not hold together and that a one piece is the way to go which is why I’m not in the market for leather pants that zip to my alpine stars jacket. Thus looking for a really decent 1 piece that will stand the test of time. I'm aware that better quality suits use kangaroo or very special leather that they source from Brazil in some cases and that the more labour involved generally the cost goes up. Clearly i don't want to part with allot of cash without getting the most bang for my buck, but I also don't want to jump into the first $700 suit that i find thinking this will do, maybe have one off and have it completely ruined and having to fork out another $700 or more to get a better one if you know what I mean.



Thanks for your feedback, I'll definitely keep it in mind. As you can tell I’m doing a bit of research here and not just rushing into it.




Yes, i totally agree that a proper fit is key. Suits where the leather bunches up is not safe. I watched a few videos on youtube from STG showing what a race fit, comfort fit and too big looks like. If possible i like to support the local economy and our local guys here in NZ. But if they didn't stock what i was after then surely the next step would have been to import from overseas. Just keeping options my options open.

I have received my samples. The race suit is size 46 if you want to try it on. PM me. It looks very good.

[BuzzardNZ]

I have received my samples. The race suit is size 46 if you want to try it on. PM me. It looks very good.

He wants a race suit not a Gimp suit.

[Edbear]

He wants a race suit not a Gimp suit.

It looks like it would fit me...

[HenryDorsetCase]

It looks like it would fit me...

Are you the new Quasimoto?

Did I miss something?

[Dodgy]

Value for money (if it is the right size for you) would be the second hand (but looks new) Alpinestar team leathers for sale in the online trading. They are the top of the line Astars. I would have purchased them if they were a 52, but I went and purchase a set of Astar Atems new for $1400 instead.

[G4L4XY]

There is no guarantee a top of the line suit will withstand 'ten crashes' ...every crash is different. Just get the best track gear you can. If you buy a 2-piece (which I would not recommend) make sure it zips together with both zips sewn to leather. A friend raced in a 2-piece that had the pants zip sewn to leather and the jacket zip sewn to the liner (thin material) ....useless and he paid the price....they were Alpinestars which is a good brand...check before you buy

I've just bought a 2-piece Rev-IT suit with this exact setup. Though I wont be racing on the track.

[DamianW]

Bought an unworn RST two piece Razor suit for $380 delivered off TradeMe. Fits perfectly. Done CSS, a few track days and ride daily in it - perfect.

[Grubber]

A super expensive suit isn't always totally necessary, nor is a custom one. If you are a normal body shape you should be ok, as long as you buy tight and let it stretch and fit you.

My Revit suit was $1000 from Motomail. 4 years on it has handled 4 crashes and a shit load of use. It's still fantastic.

Revit has been good to me also. Paid a bit more but fits perfectly and shows no signs of wear after 3 seasons with 1 crash involved. Thats my pick.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk

[R650R]

Make sure you take a back protecter when you try it on if it doesn't have an approved internal one. Really a separate proper back protector is best to.
Had a set of LEDAs altered once, didn't cost much to get stretch panels put up the side, think it was guy from jet leathers that did it.
Need to get some Pie (lol) panels put in the sides of my current suit. Seems to have shrunk with my old age lol