Alpinestars Carver Two Piece Leather Suit

Our normal fit check procedures would involve trying these suits on our fit check mannequins, but the pre-curved construction of the suits makes that very difficult (rigid mannequins don’t wiggle into suits very well!). But we tried these suits on in our shop and found the sizing to be very typical for Alpinestars, so if you have any experience with their suits, you’ll have a pretty good idea of fit. If you have no experience then below is some sizing advice.

About height: One thing about fitting suits is that not only does the jacket and pant fitment come into play, but also height comes into play. Of course the suits are built for an “average” height rider, but generally speaking, two piece suits will fit a taller person than the equivalent one piece suit. So if you are shorter in stature you’ll get a better fit out of a one piece suit, but if you are tall for your size/weight then consider a two piece suit. I’m not exactly sure how this generalization came to be, but I’d guess it has a lot to do with intended use. Professional racers are generally smaller in stature and the one piece suit designs are derivatives of custom suits made for racers. Two piece suits can be used on the track of course, but many are used for sport touring riders and they have to be able to accommodate a larger cross section of body types.

The suits are offered in European sizes, so you can select the size using Alpinestars sizing chart using your chest and waist measurements. If you have a bit of a belly, please also measure and compare to the following table. Make sure you are selecting a suit size that will accommodate your chest, belly and waist (from the Alpinestars chart).

Need help measuring? Get it here.

The Carver two piece suit from Alpinestars offers both high quality and value pricing. You can spend a whole lot on a race suit, but many people don’t find enough practical value in a suit to go with the big buck choices. Speaking of value, consider the advantages of the two piece suit. You’ll have the ability to separate the pants from the jacket by way of the full around zipper. With a separate jacket you’ll have the option of wearing it alone when wearing leather sport pants isn’t appropriate. This dual purpose ability will allow you to get a lot more hours use out of your investment. Alpinestars offers this suit with the essential safety features for a great price and you get the same quality materials and craftsmanship you get with the more expensive choices. The basics: quality race grade leather; GP type, CE approved armor pieces for shoulders, elbows and knees; back hump, and built in armor for the hips, tailbone and rib areas. As you can see in the pictures, the suit is a combination of leather, mesh materials and stretch fabrics. The combination of all these materials is what makes this suit flexible and comfortable in the riding position. Designs that don’t embrace the combination of materials like this are just not as comfortable and practical to wear. One feature I see in this two piece suit is the removable/washable nylon liner. Wearing a leather suit can sometimes be a sweaty business, and being able to remove the liner and wash it will be welcome. Knee sliders are also included. :: Paul, 09-27-11