Alpinestars Bionic SP Vest
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Great vest
This thing is great. Let's u wear all your jackets without a back protector and ads the chest and side protection too. The mesh is a great touch. U forget u have it on and the airflow is excellent. No cons for me, just a big thumbs up. I'm 6'6" 245lbs muscular build, bought an XL and it fits perfect, not too tight, not too loose. I like the protection and feel without the bulk. Perfect.
And obviously, Zilla is by far the best on the market so no doubt i'll be back for more stuff
March 26, 2013
The best protector out of three I have used so far
Great quality and service. It is the third time that I buy from them either directly or through someone. Thanks for everything.
June 22, 2012
Great Hard Back Protection
The fit and finnish is great. As well as adjustability. I purchased XL and I'm 6' 210lbs, with a relativly flat mid section and bigger chest. It's mesh so the air flow is ample. The back protector is similar if not identical to the other "bionic" back protectors offered by AS. The back piece un-zips but can not be worn seperatly. The chest pieces are a thin plastic with foam behind them and do not come off. The so called kidney pads are nothing more than thin foam.
So, what's my opinion? It's a really good product to wear under a leather race suit. Very comfortable and easy to get on and off. In between track sessions I can easily unzip my suit front to cool off. If it's really hot I can remove my one piece leather suit top (let the top hang) and I don't have to mess with my back protecter since it is not connected. I've worn it all day at the track without taking it off and had no issues and stayed cool.
I didn't want to hassle with the other AS offering with bottom strap and odd top "button" that connects into my leathers. Mainly since it seamed complicated to get on and off. Also I didn't go with the suspenders option since the price is so close to this model and I wanted the extra (if any) chest protection the vest offers as well as easy on/off capability.
October 21, 2011
Excellent!
Because a backbone protector is not long, this is usable under most jackets.
I OK it even if I wear it on a T-shirt in hot and humid summer in Japan!
Is told to resemble "Madmax" by everybody,; but ...
June 13, 2011
Great vest!
Cons: The back protector unzips, BUT it does not unzip to the point where I can insert it into a jacket (the side velcro panels stay attached), which is a big downside. In fact, unzipped, I don't see any use at all for the back protector. This is inconvenient mainly because I want to be able to zip my pants and jacket together, but can't do so if wearing the vest.
Pros: Protection. The chest and back protector are top notch. The mesh fabric seems very durable. The foam inserts for added hip protection are a nice touch. The quality is what you would expect from A-Stars - always first rate. And the customer service at RevZilla is unmatched!
May 9, 2011
Review of Bionic SP Vest
I had originally attempted to purchase the alpinestars track vest due to the padding on the shoulders and kidneys, but there was a mix up and i got this instead. This vest worked out a little better due to its lack of bulk and let me move in my suit; additionally, I think it is really well ventilated. I love how the back protector stays in one place - i have had the shoulder straps and button-in protector for my suit and both were frustrating.My only recommendation would be to provide more Velcro along the waist in order to make it more snug. Thankfully I have not been down while wearing it so I can't report how it crashes!
May 3, 2010
Great protection filler under jackets and suits
i could've gotten away with one size smaller, but this is a nice piece of armor to fill a slightly loose jacket or wear under your suit for racing. The profile isn't too think (atleast not as thick as my last A* back protector) and the hard-shelled lung shields are a nice touch. I was hoping for more kidney protection, but there isn't much there. This fits fairly tight, but it's flexible and stretches easy to fit various body types.
March 9, 2009