The urban-focused, ultra-stylish Grace is another winner from Alpinestars, and this Alpinestars Stella Grace jacket review will tell you why. This mid-season jacket pairs effortlessly with a wide range of motorcycles. Its versatile styling made it my first choice when I headed to Spain to test two of Triumph’s latest modern classics: the Thruxton 400 café racer and the dirt-track-influenced Tracker 400. It’s been my go-to jacket for around-town riding when I’m not trying to fly under the radar.

Pink Zippers and the Oscar Spiral

Let’s start with how cool this jacket looks, shall we? That’s the first thing you think when you see four (!) chunky bubblegum-pink pocket zippers flagging the Grace’s main zipper, and the Oscar spiral patch on the left chest. That logo was born from Alpinestars’ design win for their motocross boots in 1972 and ’73. The Italian “Oscar” handed out by the Fashion Academy in Turin was unusual for motorcycle gear, but we’re talking about Alpinestars, so is anyone surprised?

The spiral logo was originally a single color, but I love the neo-retro colors in this treatment. They repeat as a sunset stack in the current Alpinestars wordmark that runs as a patch down both sleeves. What a great mix of old and new on the Grace jacket.

There are other details to talk about, but this is a motorcycle jacket, so let me get on with why you’ll want to wear it when you ride.

Alpinestars Stella Grace Jacket Fit and Feel

The Stella Grace is comfortable! The outer shell is a cotton/polyester twill with a dash of elastane, giving it just enough ease of movement without detracting from the tidy, crisp fit. Also, a discreet, inch-wide mobility panel on each shoulder lets me reach the grips without pulling across my back.

It’s a trim length. Not quite cropped, it lands about three inches below my belly button. If you are wearing low-rise riding jeans, the Grace jacket just grazes the top of them. The overall cut is boxy-trim rather than figure-hugging. It’s a nice compromise that doesn’t restrict your movement and isn’t overly relaxed.

I love the look and tactile feel of the twill, as well as the smooth polyester lining. It is slick, well finished, and nicer than the casual cut would suggest. The wide-gauge YKK zippers glide with satisfying ease on both the main zipper and four exterior pockets.

Six Pockets, Two of Them Spoken For

The diagonal hand pockets are slanted the wrong way for hands. However, they are surprisingly spacious and can easily carry your house keys or wallet. My iPhone 16 fits in these pockets, too. The two chest pockets are roomy, though putting much in them will compromise the sleek look. That said, I carry my phone in one of the outer zipper chest pockets. It’s a snug fit to close the zipper, but it works.

Alpinestars skipped the Napoleon pocket on the Grace. Instead, you get two roomy interior waist pockets. On the right, a 5-by-6-inch mesh pocket stretches to take a bulkier item; on the left is a generous 4.5-by-6-inch waterproof zippered pocket. Two other interior pockets have hook-and-loop closures, but they are for optional chest armor rather than cargo.

The Collar Trick and Belt Tabs

The Grace has a few extra details worth mentioning. If you don’t want to snap that stylized Mandarin collar shut, you can flip the tab over and reverse-snap it so the tab doesn’t flap as you rip down the boulevard. A tiny pink embroidered A-stars logo sits at the nape, just under the Mandarin collar. It is like a discreet tattoo, giving the otherwise plain back of the Grace a little bit of color.

While I didn’t find the jacket’s somewhat cropped length an issue riding around town, it has elasticized loop tabs you can snap over your belt. Although freeway speeds don’t cause any flapping in the lower back panel, the extra security is there if you want it.

Three Seasons, No Vents

The Stella Grace doesn’t have ventilation panels, so it’s not your deep summer riding jacket. However, the lightweight jacket covers autumn, spring, and their shoulder months. I wore the jacket comfortably in sub-60-degree weather in Spain, with room for a base layer beneath my long-sleeve T-shirt. On 90-degree summer rides, I wore it with a mesh workout shirt and didn’t overheat, even on slower-speed urban rides.

Class A Protection and What You Can Add

Although the Alpinestars Stella Grace jacket looks sporty, its construction is Class A, the entry-level Euro rating for armored motorcycle jackets. It’s designed for urban wear, so it has less abrasion resistance. Alpinestars Nucleon Flex Plus CE Level 1 soft, flexible shoulder and elbow armor is standard. While it doesn’t offer the highest level of impact protection, it is appropriate for urban riding speeds.

Alpinestars offers two upgrade paths for impact protection.

The less expensive route is an Alpinestars Nucleon Plasma back protector insert ($80) and the Nucleon Plasma divided chest protectors ($50/pair). That’s what we did, and with all armor installed, the Grace jacket still hangs comfortably, looks great, and feels satisfyingly secure.

For the highest level of protection, you can wear the jacket with select Alpinestars Tech-Air airbags. The Stella Tech-Air 3 V2 vest airbag system ($690) works with the standard shoulder and elbow armor. While it’s expensive, it can pay for itself in one mishap, and you can use it with compatible jackets. Moving up to the Tech-Air 5 Plasma ($870), you get an airbag that also protects your shoulders. Keep in mind that the airbag length may not look right with the Grace. I didn’t have one handy to try it.

The Alpinestars Stella Grace is that perfect urban jacket that’s both comfortable and confidently stylish. At $285, it’s priced like a proper riding jacket, which it is. I’d spend my money on the pink-zippered version. The black option with beige accents and the Oscar patch moved to the sleeve is nice enough, but seemingly misses the point. I can’t imagine choosing that one after living with this one.

Alpinestars Stella Grace Jacket Fast Facts

• Sizes: XS-2XL
• Colors: Aluminum-Black; Black
• Armor: Shoulders and elbows, CE Level 1 (CE Level 2 back protection and CE Level 1 chest protection optional; Tech-Air 3, 5, and 5 Plasma ready)
• Certification: EN 17092-4:2020 Class A

Alpinestars Stella Grace Jacket Price: $285 MSRP ($415, as tested)

Alpinestars Stella Grace Jacket Review Photo Gallery