TOP 5 PRODUCTS FROM ALPINESTARS 2016 MOTORCYCLE COLLECTION
Whether you're headed to the track or local canyon road, Astars' new lineup has something for you
By SR Staff Posted August 27, 2015
Alpinestars pulled the wraps off its 2016 Motorcycle Collection this past week, ultimately unveiling a total of 50 new products for both street and dirt. The lineup includes everything from updated one-piece leathers to new dual-sport boots and even backpacks.
The long story is that within the lineup there’s something for everyone—the trackday enthusiast, canyon rider, ADV buff, and dirtbike devotee. The shorter story is that there are a handful of new-or-improved products specific to sportbike riders that we think will probably find a way onto your must-have list.
Below are five products from the lineup that would end up on ours, plus a list of other street-oriented products that Alpinestars has launched as part of its 2016 collection.
1) Supertech R Boot
Alpinestars says that the new Supertech R boots are the byproduct of its relationship with some of the top riders in MotoGP. Guys like Marquez and Lorenzo wanted more flexibility, a better feel at the contact point between the boot and the frame, plus more abrasion resistance. With the new Supertech R boot, that’s what those riders (and now you) get.
The key to the Supertech R’s new-found mobility is a redesigned front flex area constructed from over-injected TPU on breathable mesh. It’s unlikely that you’ll be running around the pits in your Supertech Rs, but Alpinestars is still quick to remind you that Marquez did do just that during the MotoGP Q2 session earlier this year at Circuit of The Americas. The point: it’s good to have boots that are protective when they need to be, and flexible where they need to be as well.
A new microfiber panel on the medial side of the boot is claimed to provide additional grip and feel when pressed up against the bike (think about how the inside of your boot rests up against the outside of your bike’s frame as you lean off in a corner), plus be less susceptible to abrasion and heat. Similarly, Alpinestars has redesigned the boot’s rubber compound sole for better grip on the footrests.
Other updates for the Supertech R include a new toe slider with TPU protector that goes on the outside of the slider’s attachment screw, this so that you don’t wear through the screw and end up being unable to remove and replace the sliders—an issue with the previous Supertech R boots. Representatives say the surface area of the slider is wider, too, for better coverage. Further up, you’ll find a new micro-adjustment ratchet that ensure a more precise fit as well as a new TPU shin protector that wraps around the outer calf and is engineered to spread and dissipate impact energy across the protector’s surface.
The new Supertech R boots, which are also claimed to be lighter than its predecessor, are available in sizes 39-48 and will retail for $499.95.