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. They're size 50 so PM him if that's where you're at. He only wants what they owe him and bloody cheap

[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:Me]

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. They're size 50 so PM him if that's where you're at. He only wants what they owe him and bloody cheap

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.