A missile is a rocket. Voilà. Our point has been made. Everything else that follows, we write just because it's fun to discuss a racing suit like the Missile Tech-Air.
As a one-piece motorcycle suit, it's not something you wear to the bakery for a short ride. Or it must be that you have other plans afterwards. A one-piece racing suit is something that will especially appeal to those who like a bit of speed. Although the recreational motorcyclist will also find a very strong - and tight - companion here. At a competitive price.
The Missile Tech-Air racing suit is made of a durable 1.3mm thick cowhide, which is no surprise. Leather remains the best, most appropriate choice. Only, you usually do not move very freely in it. Luckily Alpinestars has been making excellent to phenomenal motorcycle (racing) clothing for quite some time now, so no worries. The Italians provide a preformed leather cocoon and hang it together - on the inside - by means of stretching Kevlar®. This says a lot in one sentence: wearing comfort, sportiness, flexibility, an excellent fit and a lot of protection, all in one package.
We haven't finished talking about protection yet, but first a word about comfort: almost the entire front of the Missile Tech-Air motorcycle suit is perforated. It's no superfluous luxury when you're racing at full speed. The upper legs and back are also provided with a number of perforated parts, and in combination with the removable mesh lining, this results in a pleasant climate inside the suit. The mesh lining is of course easy to clean.
Back to the impact protection. It comes almost completely from the MotoGP, with external sliders on the shoulders, elbows and knees. Alpinestars calls it 'DFS' and the abbreviation stands for Dynamic Friction Shield. Usually this is limited to the shoulder area, so a new addition is the interchangeable elbow slider. The external knee sliders are of course interchangeable, exchangeable, removable ... the intention is to use them, that should be clear. Internally, the Missile also has a lot of protectors on board. Alpinestars chooses standard for level 1 GP-R protectors on shoulders, elbows and knee. Additional possibilities are the optional Nucleon KR-R CELL back protector and/or level 2 CE approved hip protectors and/or the Nucleon Flex Pro Ci chest protectors.
But top of the bill in this case is the preparation for the Tech-Air® airbag system that fits the Missile. That 'Tech-Air® Airbag System' exists in both a race version and a 5 version for street use and is the result of years of discovery and untold Alpinestars knowledge and know-how. And it is also the first real high-performance airbag jacket without any real connection to the motorcycle.
We recommend regular treatment with a water-repellent maintenance product. This treatment will prevent the jacket from getting soaked and will also prevent dirt from sticking to the jacket. For longer-term maintenance, we recommend using a spray for matte leather, so that the leather remains supple.