P88
CN
III PRODUCT REVIEW
ALPINESTARS ATEM
LEATHER JACKET
LIST PRICE:
$649.95
Website: www.alpinestars.com/atem-leather-jacket-2016#.Ve9mmBx8WcM
Standout Feature
Snug fit, great styling and ventilation
Rider Analysis
I'm not normally one for leather jackets on the road
as I find they're too one-sided towards the sports
riding segment. The Atem is definitely aimed that
way too, but it's one of the more comfortable ones
I've had in recent times.
All leather jackets of this caliber have a bit of
weight behind them and the Atem is no different.
You certainly feel the weight when you first put it
on but the weight is distributed evenly across the
jacket, which is impressive for something with so
much armor in the shoulders and elbows.
On the bike the ventilation proved to be one
of the standout features. Opening those small
vents near the collarbones flowed more air than I
thought and I've left them open ever since.
The positioning of the armor means, like a full
leather suit, you're automatically put into a semi-
aggressive riding stance, which is perfect for the
naked bikes I've been blasting around on lately. I'm
not sure this jacket would work well for a tourer,
but then it's not really aimed at that kind of rider.
Another standout feature is the soft 3D mesh
that's fitted around the cuffs and neck lining.
Long, hot days in the saddle can be really horrid in
a leather jacket if it starts chaffing and the Alpin-
estars unit felt great here. The central zip is good
quality, but for the money I'd have liked it a little
more heavy duty.
One thing I'm not a fan of is because the Atem
is such a tight fit, you can't really have your wal-
let and phone (especially if you have a massive
iPhone 6 Plus like me) stowed away comfortably
without it digging into you in a tuck. Oh well, it's
the price you pay for such a snug fit.
Overall the Atem is a very good jacket, although
I'd have liked even a thin back protector and a
thicker front zip.
T
his is the new-for-2016 Alpinestars Atem leather jacket. This-top-of-the-line sportbike garment
is constructed using 1.3mm cowhide leather and utilizes flexible aramidic leather stretch panels
on the back to ensure a comfortable but tight fit.
As you'd expect for a jacket of this price you get CE-certified armor in the elbows and shoulder, but the Atem
does not come with a back protector built in—that Bionic Back Protector is part of the Alpinestars accessory
range and clips in at the top of the neck line, and you can also retro-fit a chest protector if you wish.
The Atem has a perforated profile on the chest designed to ensure maximum airflow at speed. To this end
the MotoGP-style hump on the back helps direct air into the rear of the jacket. There are also vents on the col-
larbone area (part of Alpinestars' Dynamic Flow Control system), and the stretch panels on the forearms and
shoulder blades help further with rider ventilation.
You can also zip the jacket to the Missile leather pants that are part of the 2016 Alpinestars range.
For the colder months you can use the full mesh lining that comes with Velcro-secured pockets, but during
summer you'll be taking this out.
