VOLUME 58 ISSUE 13 MARCH 30, 2021 P107
List price: $1095.95 (+$1149.95 for Tech-Air Race Airbag system)
Website: www.alpinestars.com
S TANDOUT FEATURE
Great quality for just over $1000
RIDER AN ALYSIS
The last couple of years, I've been
extremely lucky to wear custom kan-
garoo leather suits while testing and
racing, which is like driving a Ferrari.
The last time I wore a cowhide suit
was three years ago, so it was a nice
chance to see how the suit had im-
proved in that time.
The Missile Ignition is aimed at
canyon/track day riders, but I figured
I'd race in it for a few rounds of CVMA
to put it under the acid test.
Given that it costs less than half of
what the Racing Absolute costs, you'd
think the Missile Ignition would be the
poor relation, but not so. At a size 54,
the fit was near perfect aside from it be-
ing slightly long in the arms. The stretch
paneling was a big improvement over
my last cow suit, which allowed me
to tuck in tighter down the straight
without it pinching the backs of my
shoulders/pulling my shoulder down.
The stretch paneling at the crotch is
another big improvement and it allows
for the rider to hang off in a more
controlled fashion without the suit feel-
ing like it's trying to pull you back onto
the bike.
Overall, the fit with the airbag was
far better than I remember with my
previous cow suit from a few years
back. Alpinestars has done a great job
of molding the overall shape of the suit
to fit not just the rider but the airbag
itself, so much so that the only time
you think of the airbag is when you're
velcroing it up.
Although it's perforated at the torso,
the airflow on the Missile isn't as nice
as I'd hoped. As I was racing in winter,
this wasn't an issue, but summer racing
may prove a little hot in the Ignition.
Another gripe I had is the knee
sliders were good for a day at best on
the track. I try my best not to grind
my knee into the tarmac—it's merely
a guide to let me know where I am in
terms of lean, not a stabilizer—but the
knee pucks went through real quick. A
simple fix is just go for the harder pucks
at purchase and ditch the Missile's
standard units.
For just over a grand for the base
suit, the Missile is an extremely well
designed and appointed suit. Yes, the
airbag costs a lot more, but if you
include it, you're still paying less than
the base Racing Absolute that doesn't
come fitted with the bag.
And although the Missile Ignition is
aimed at riders, racers are more than
an applicable demographic for this suit.
Rennie Scaysbrook
LOWDOWN
•DOESN'T FLOW AS MUCH AIR
AS I'D HAVE LIKED
•KNEE SLIDERS GO TOO
QUICKLY
•GREAT VALUE
•SOLID ARM, SHOULDER AND
HIP PROTECTION
•AIRBAG COMPATIBLE
IGNITION
And although the Missile Ignition is
aimed at riders, racers are more than an
applicable demographic for this suit.
