| November 15, 2023
The Absolute V2 race suit by Alpinestars is designed for the everyday racer to experience the comfort, fit and latest safety-related features the pros wear. The Absolute V2 features the most advanced construction and materials on the market.
By Tom Montano
The suit is made from 100 percent Kangaroo leather with additional dual-layer leather construction in the most impact-prone areas such as elbows, forearms, seat, hips and back.
Why kangaroo leather? The Aussie ’roo leather is more rigid, lighter and longer lasting than conventional cowhide leather.
A new bonded Kevlar grid provides increased cut, tear and abrasion protection at the crotch, inner arms and armpit areas. The Kevlar is also employed to reduce heat generated from friction when sliding down the track at speed. I have been burned on a few occasions during crashes, so that is a welcome bonus.
Another new design component that stood out was the introduction of Alpinestars Composite Stretch technology (A-CS). This new Stretch Composite replaces the existing leather accordion panels in the suit’s side torso, shoulder blades and upper knee areas. A-CS Tech material also helps increase the suit’s ventilation while providing a greater range of movement.
The new Stretch Composite material has a lower profile and a weight reduction of nine percent over standard accordion-style leather material. The suit’s lower back and hip section also features A-CS Tech with about 30 percent more coverage in these areas which helps increase mobility while on the bike.
The new A-CS Tech material offers a 248 percent increase in tear resistance over standard stretch material and a whopping 570 percent increase over bovine leather. A new Matryx material at the lower leg offers even more weight loss and breathability.
At the inner arms, crotch, back of the leg, collar and pectoral areas, Kevlar-reinforced stretch panels provide high elasticity for freedom of movement and increased protection. Other features include Schoeller-Keprotec seam reinforcement construction at the knees and elbows.
The new race-grade GP-R PRO CE Level 2 shoulder, elbow, forearm and knee armor is complimented with GP-DFS sliders present at the shoulders, knees and elbows. Plus, the CE Level 1 Bioflex racing hip protection is taken straight off the MotoGP and WSBK suit designs, which is another welcome bonus. There is a slot on the left arm for the Tech-Air 10 LED display to provide information about the status of the airbag system.
Alpinestars Racing Absolute V2 Race Suit | Lowdown
Standout Feature: Excellent stretch paneling that offers a greater range of movement
List price: $3799.95
Great flexibility for increased range of motion
Much improved venting
Fit and comfort for what is an off-the-rack suit is excellent
Quite a high cost of entry
Can’t buy a Kangaroo suit in California
It would have been nice if the Tech Air 10 was built into the suit
Alpinestars Racing Absolute V2 Race Suit | Rider Analysis
I suited up with my Tech 5 airbag vest, gloves and boots at Sonoma Raceway. The suit is not the easiest thing to put on with a Tech 5 vest, but I managed to do it without help.
The new Matryx material at the lower leg is stiffer than on previous designs, making it a little bit harder to get the foot through, passing the knee section with its new external knee armor. Other than that, you’ll be able to slide right into the suit. I started out on a Yamaha YZF-R7, and right away, I found it easy enough to move around on the bike.
Sonoma has a nice selection of fast and slow corners with plenty of elevation change, a few chicanes and some hard braking entries, perfect for testing out a race suit’s mobility, fit and comfort.
You will first notice the extra venting the Absolute V2 offers. You can feel the added airflow though the suit, and as the day heated up it made a measurable difference. When it came to moving around on the bike, there was no problem whatsoever. Initiating direction changes, tucking in or transitioning back and forth through corners was easy.
Sometimes, leathers can be restrictive in these instances. However, not once did I feel the need to reposition my body to facilitate a lack of desirable movement when negotiating certain parts of the track. Whatever body position, the Absolute V2 suit is plenty accommodating, allowing the freedom to move around at will.
As the day progressed, so did my understanding of the Absolute V2. The subtleties of racing a bike at speed are quite physical and require a lot of movement. If the leathers don’t afford a good range of motion, it will eventually hinder racing performance. The proper fit and flexibility the leathers provide are key to facilitating a good result. Alpinestars claims the suit is roughly nine percent lighter than any other of their other suits currently on the market.
I felt confident about what Alpinestars has achieved with the new V2 suit. Being able to flog it all day long on three different Yamaha models, there was never a point of resistance from the V2 suit. Even though all three bikes were substantially different, I felt right at home on each one.
The Absolute V2 comes in sizes ranging from 46 to 58 in three different color schemes—Metallic Blue/Black/White/Red Fluro, Cardinal/White, and Black/White/Red Fluro.
The $3799.95 price tag is a lot of money for the new Alpinestars Racing Absolute V2 suit. I was watching MotoGP from the Red Bull Ring five days later, and I realized I was pretty much wearing the exact same suit as the ones on TV, minus the big money sponsorship logos—and the big money. But in my book, the suit is more than worth the price.
For more information, visit www.alpinestars.com