Clothing and Accessories

On test: Alpinestars MTB Bionic Jacket, Shorts, Moab Knee Guard and Moab Glove

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Parent Category: Clothing and Accessories

Category: Alpinestars

Published on Saturday, 15 May 2010 08:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Maximum protection and security for a top complete for downhill

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Alpinestars, leveraging its long experience in the automotive and motorcycle first then decided to get into mountain biking with a range of high quality products. Long been attentive to the protection of its athletes took advantage of the knowledge, mostly derived from motocross, to debut a collection entirely devoted to Mtb, with particular reference to at Downhill and Freeride. Several of the suits, sweaters, pants, but above all a full range of protections of high technical content. Among back protector, protectors for elbows, knees, be rigid or soft, we had the opportunity to test an entire track dedicated to downhill, but especially those who like to have fun in total safety.

Bionic Jacket:

The Bionic Jacket is a jacket made of a perforated elastic base network, with zip front, which joined the back protector, with a Velcro strip  to two adjustments bib front, rigid protection for the shoulders, elbows for rigid protection and arms. The rigid protection, all certified, consist of three different layers, the first outer plastic used to first bump absorption and protect the body from blunt objects, the second that distributes the force of a surface is wider and absorbs the energy transmitted from the outside, the last in contact with the body is soft material to ensure the comfort of travel and a further protection to the body. The Bionic Jacket, has several settings that allow you to adhere well to all the protections to the body. Several openings to ensure good ventilation and evaporation of sweat, even under the rigid protection. Furthermore, the Jacket has been specifically developed and designed to work in tandem with Neck Support System, the system of protection that prevents problem at neck and protect against cervical lesions. The back protector is designed to allow wide mobility back. Available in sizes from A to XXL in colour only black and white you see in the picture. In size L has a weight of 1,500 grams.

Bionic Shorts:

Bionic Shorts are made for the maximum protection to the lower back (sacrum and coccyx) and the side of the thigh. The base is always a Lycra stretch fabric to which they are applied rigid protection, certified and always with the same concept design as used for the Jacket, with holes for ventilation. The shorts are available in white/black or black/red, with protections also soft, replacing the rigid inserts. The sizes available are from S to XXL and in size L, have a weight of about 530 grams.

Moab Knee Guard:

Moab Knee Guard are the protection for knee and leg. Building on the experience in Alpinestars Moto GP, have been expressly designed for use in the DH/Freeride and BMX. Made with the same technique of other protections rigid Alpinestars, have a conformation that does not interfere during pedalling, especially against the crank or tubes of the frame. Are equipped with Velcro closure as well as fast opening quick snap. Provided in all black/white with two sizes S/M and L/XL, in size L/XL has a weight of 430 each. It's also a version with only soft protectors.

Moab Glove:

Moab Glove, are proportionately less innovative in the rest of the production Alpinestars, but no less interesting. In three combinations of colours and in sizes S to 3XL, are made of Lycra with Clarino palm. They strengthened in the areas most subject to shocks and closing with Velcro. In size L has a weight of 82 grams per pair.

Road test

All the Alpinestars track is well made and well looked after, it weighs little, is true, but this is something no effect on the Downhill. Those who engages in the Freeride can more easily opt for soft protectors, lighter. The dressing of Bioncc Jacket is very good and is easy to adjust it so it fits snugly to the body; same thing for Shorts and Moab Knee Guard. On the latter we have much appreciated the possibility of immediate opening, which facilitates the undressing, but also a possible rescue after a fall. Excellent also the glove very comfortable. Moving is very much appreciates the sense of security that infuse the protections: it feels safe and secure. The gloves offer, besides a good resistance and protection, a secure grip on the handlebars and a good airing. The rest of the track, however, despite the network and the perforated holes on the protection has a barely adequate ventilation. The only defect of a complete, otherwise perfect, and largely offset by the undoubted positive aspects. The knee does not bother in pedalling, while offering full protection to the knee and the leg, not only in case of falls, but by stones "fired" from the wheel or from branches bumped along the route. Well regulated not move at all during the most frenetic action, resulting in excellent sense of security. Obviously not allow long rides are good for Downhill and in all conditions where you should not ride for long; for freeriding, so we opt for the version with soft protectors. Excellent also the shorts, you sweat a bit, is true, but provide a lot of protection and not bother in the saddle, or during the ride that is always profitable. Also excellent for freeriding, even if they are provided in the version with soft protectors, required for this discipline. Finally, the Jacket, weighs and feels, is snug and you hear, is sweating in the summer, but provides protection and gives a sense of security without equal. Do not bother, after a minimum of adaptation, when driving permits, especially to the fearful, to dare more because you feel more protected. Needless to say that the guards do their duty also to protect the body from rocks or branches that may be encountered along the route. But more than anything is the total protection of the chest and back which is perfect, although nothing can replace common sense. But it's also true that a fall, which usually resolves with bruises and scratches, more or less deep, with this track is close with a fright and a little more (torn shirt and pants and throw), as we ourselves have, unintentionally tried .... Even more than the ability to absorb shocks by the rigid protection, if does not protect from injury, can better absorb the blows, distribute impact force over a greater area and reduce, in conclusion, the physical damage. You are not invincible, and then, but it has a higher body protection and security; this becomes important when you consider that a trivial fall, with a simple excoriation (nothing serious) but placed in a delicate point, may not only jeopardize a race, but so does a racing period. The same can be applied to all those who play for fun Downhill, a fall can be solved in a nothing, why risk it when there are tools to minimize the possibility of accidents? This is why the Alpinestars track seems excellent, the quality of the product and its features, designed for the agonist but suitable for all those who are looking for fun in safety. We’ll sweat in summer (not so in the end), but better to sweat and have great protection, rather than ending up with a broken leg. These are the prices: 89.95 Euro Short Bionic, 229.95 Euro Bionic Jacket, 59.95 Euro Moa Knee Guard, in all cases proportional to the product quality.

Positive aspects

Build quality
Effective protection
Ergonomics complete

Negative aspects

None

To learn more:

Alpinestars
Website: www.alpinestars.com