Alpinestars Stella Vika Women’s Apparel Test
My first look at Alpinestars’ Stella Vika motorcycle apparel collection conjured images of high fashion runway models; so sleek, spare and stylish were the prototypes, that it left me wondering how this would fit into my actual riding lifestyle.
However, once the collection went into production, it acquired the protection necessary to qualify as technical wear, and in the process lost just a shade of the second-skin fit.
The Vika apparel, part of Alpinestars’ Stella collection, is designed exclusively for the female body. The form-fitting cut, coupled with supple leather and strategically placed Kevlar stretch panels, create unusually comfortable and   flattering riding apparel.
Sliding into the Vika jacket, the soft leather caresses my arms, its pre-contoured sleeves fitting close in a pleasingly spare manner. The princess seams continue the tailored look, while wide stretch panels run up the sides of the jacket. Just skimming the collarbone in front and shoulders in back, the panels keep the trim cut from being constricting.
Contributing to the jacket’s clean design, zippered hand pockets are hid- den in the side seams, and discreet Alpinestars logos are screened on the shoulders and the exceedingly pliant tab collar. There are two interior pockets, one zippered, one Velcro closing. A removable quilted sleeveless vest keeps the jacket in rotation during chilly weather.
Similarly, the Vika riding pants are exceptionally comfortable and ego enhancing. The waist is cut low, without being low-rise, and has a secure metal-clip closure. The generous use of Kevlar panels along the backs of the legs keep the pre-curved pants body-hugging close without inhibiting movement. More stretch panels run across the knees and up the inner thighs for atypical comfort in the riding position; the wide panel across the higher-cut back waist keeps the pants from gapping.
Beyond just profiling, the jacket and pants include slim, removable CE-certified perforated protection at the knees, elbows, and shoulders. This memory foam increasingly resists pressure when subjected to a fast, heavy impact, but magically remains soft and supple when unchallenged. The pants can be zipped to the jacket for a seamless look.
Completing the ensemble is a pair of sharp looking feminine gloves with a cool top zip closure to snug them down.
The Alpinestars Vika collection has conquered a huge challenge – designing functional women’s riding apparel that fits like a dream, flatters like a fantasy, and allows you to do more than just stand by your bike looking good.
For additional information, log onto Alpinestars.com.
This story is featured in the July/August 2013 issue of Ultimate MotorCycling magazine — available on newsstands and good bookstores everywhere. The issue is also available free to readers on Apple Newsstand (for iOS devices) and Google Play (Android). To subscribe to the print edition, please visit our Subscriber Services page.
