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It seems like buying a race suit can be as difficult as buying a new bike, especially with the wide range of options available on the market and retail pricing ranging from $899.95 to $1999.95. That's we created this Alpinestars Suit Guide! Here's a brief summary of each suit to help you decide which suit is best for you. ...but first, let's talk about fit. One of the most common calls we get from customers who just tried on their new suit is that it doesn't fit right and/or it doesn't feel comfortable. More often than not, they are basing this on standing up in their living room and walking around the house. A race suit is not meant for either of these scenarios: they're meant for the rider to be on the bike and carving up the track. The first thing we're going to ask you when you call with concerns about the fitment is: how does it feel on the bike? When you first put on your new suit, it's going to take a lot of work and you're probably going to look ridiculous putting it on. We've all been there! After you get your suit zipped up, go out to your bike and sit on it. Get into a tuck, then position yourself like you're going to drag knee (be careful and make sure it's on a rear stand or have a buddy help hold the bike). Does it feel comfortable now? Is it hindering your movement at all? These are questions to ask yourself before determining if the fit is good or not. If you think it's still not fitting right, give us a call and we'll be more than happy to answer any questions you have or exchange for a different size. Ladies, we have suit options for you too! Check out all of the Alpinestars women's race suits here. Give us a call if you have questions about sizing or if you'd like to purchase a suit. Alpinestars Suit Guide Alpinestars Challenger V2 Suit MSRP $899.95 Entry Level 1-Piece & 2-Piece Options Available The Challenger V2 is the latest entry-level suit from Alpinestars. Designed with extensive stretch paneling, this suit is suitable for both track and street riding. Newly developed over-molded shoulder TPU guards and removable PU sport knee sliders offer great protection. The Challenger V2 has an aerodynamic back hump that is positioned with a 3D mesh panel for excellent ventilation. Alpinestars Motegi V2 Suit MSRP $999.95 1-Piece & 2-Piece Options Available Redesigned for 2017, the Motegi V2 is the upgraded version of the original Motegi race suit. The Motegi V2 is able to allow tons of airflow thanks to perforated leather panels on the torso and arms and high-density perforation areas throughout. Leather accordion stretch panels at the shoulders, lumbar, knees, and elbows now replace the previous stretch panels for more protection. Alpinestars Missile Suit MSRP $999.95 Tech-Air Race Airbag System Compatible Brand new for 2017, the Alpinestars Missile Suit is one of three suits designed to integrate the new Alpinestars Tech-Air Race airbag system (sold separately). The Missile can also be worn without the airbag system, making it versatile choice for both the track and street. Constructed from full-grain bovine leather, this suit is extremely abrasion resistant. Alpinestars GP Plus V2 Suit MSRP $1,199.95 The GP Plus V2 is an upgraded version of the original GP Plus. This suit features Alpinestars’ new, exclusively developed GP Dynamic Fiction Shield (GP DFS) shoulder protectors. The new version now has a race-profiled, aerodynamic back hump that is perforated for increased airflow. Alpinestars GP Pro Suit MSRP $1,349.95 Tech-Air Race Airbag System Compatible (1-Piece Only) 1-Piece & 2-Piece Options Available Redesigned for 2017, the new GP Pro 1-Piece Suit is a complete overhaul of the original version. It features a new "performance engineered fit" designed to accommodate the Tech-Air Race Airbag System. This suit is constructed from 1.3mm full-grain leather and features Kevlar-reinforced inserts for additional protection. *Note: the Alpinestars GP Pro 2-Piece Suit is not compactable with the Tech-Air Race Airbag System. Alpinestars Atem V3 Suit MSRP $1,349.95 1-Piece & 2-Piece Options Available The Alpinestars Atem V3 Suit is CE-certified; not just the armor or specific areas, but the entire garment. This suit has Alpinestars' Hyper-Res Stretch Fiber (HRSF) stretch inserts on the crotch, back, and underarms for comfort and movement. New replaceable, anatomically contoured elbow sliders and removable CE Nucleon hip protectors are also included. Alpinestars GP Tech V2 Suit MSRP $1,999.95 Tech-Air Race Airbag System Compatible MotoGP designed and tested, the Alpinestars GP Tech V2 Suit is Alpinestars' top-of-the-line leather race suit. Constructed from a combination of kangaroo and full-grain cow leather, the GP Tech V2 offers the ultimate in protection on the race track. The benefit of kangaroo is that it’s lightweight but still offers excellent abrasion resistance and stretches better to fit multiple body types. This suit includes a newly designed aerodynamic back hump that is perforated for increased airflow. This new design allows you to incorporate an optional hydration pack (sold separately) and is Tech-Air Race Airbag System (sold separately) compatible. If you have any questions about this product or would like to place an order, feel free to give MIKE a call at 866.931.6644 ext. 804. Is email more convenient? Send us a private message through this forum or write to us at FORUM at RIDERSDISCOUNT dot COM and we'll get back to you right away!

Shoei recently launched their brand new version of the X-Twelve helmet: the X-Fourteen. What's different about the new version? What graphics will it come in? These are just a few of the questions we cover in our Ultimate Guide to the Shoei X-Series. Pictured above is the Shoei X-Fourteen in White - MSRP $731.99 In our Shoei X-Series Guide we cover the history of the entire line, specifications of each helmet, and all of the graphic variations of the X-Twelve / X-Fourteen. If you like what you see and are interesting in ordering a Shoei X-Twelve or the new X-Fourteen, feel free to give MIKE a call at 866.931.6644 ext. 804. Is email more convenient? Send us a private message through this forum or write to us at FORUM at RIDERSDISCOUNT dot COM, and we'll get back to you right away!

http://rideapart.com/2013/06/a-beginners-guide-to-motorcycle-gear/

Chain and sprockets are some of the most commonly upgraded accessories purchased for motorcycles, but also some of the most confusing with nearly infinite options available such as brand, size, metal, tooth count, color, master link, chain length, chain type, tensile strength, and more! We’re going to break it down for you to help you better understand what some of these terms mean and try to make this decision a little easier for you. D.I.D. ERV3 chain and Renthal sprocket kit shown here - Let’s start with the basic options to choose from: chain size, sprocket metal, sprocket ratio, and chain type. There are three main sizes available: 520, 525, and 530. But what do these numbers mean? The chain size is based on the chain width and chain pitch. You’ll hear some riders mistake the chain size as chain pitch and while this is unfortunately incorrect, it’s becoming commonly accepted as fact. We're here to correct that and let you know that the chain width is the overall width of the chain link. The chain pitch is the distance between the pins in the chain link itself. That being said, how do you know which chain size is right for your bike? Generally this is based on engine size and riding style. We recommend that 600cc-1000cc sportbikes use a 520 chain. If you’re concerned a 520 chain won’t be able to handle your 1000cc motorcycle, know that our 200+ HP BMW S1000RR Superbike uses a 520 chain without failure. Bigger bikes or modified engines with high horsepower output should consider a 525 or 530 chain to handle the additional load. EK MVXZ chains shown here with various color options available - Sprockets really only have two types of metal choices available: aluminum, and steel. From the factory, your bike will come with steel sprockets. Steel sprockets will last a long time but are considerably heavier than the aluminum sprockets sapping your motorcycle's performance. The downside to aluminum sprockets is that they have a higher wear rate than steel. To counteract the high wear rate, some manufacturers have started to “hard anodize” their aluminum sprockets to make them stronger, decreasing the wear rate and creating a lightweight sprocket that lasts much longer than a normal aluminum sprocket. If you prefer a longer last sprocket, we would recommend the steel sprocket. However, if you are someone more focused on performance, an aluminum sprocket would be ideal for you. The happy medium would be the hard anodized option. After you determine what kind of sprocket you want, the next decision would be to figure out your sprocket ratio. The sprocket ratio is the number of rear teeth compared to the front. A lot of riders will either stick with the stock ratio, or increase the ratio. Increasing the ratio results in greater acceleration but the trade-off is a lower top speed. But let’s be honest, how often are you really going to get 160+mph on the streets? Not that often. The common sprocket choice is to go down one tooth from stock in the front, and either up one or two teeth in the rear, also commonly referred to as “-1/+2.” If you really want that top speed, stick with the factory ratio. If you want your bike to out drag your buddy off the line, try a higher ratio like the -1/+2. You should know that changing the sprocket ratio will affect the accuracy of your speedometer. Luckily, we offer accessories to correct your speedometer so you’ll never wonder just how fast you are actually going. Like sprockets, there are really only two chain types that street riders need to be concerned with: X-ring, and O-ring. The X and the O just describe the cross-section of the ring itself. If you were to cut these rings in half, one would look like an “O” and the other, an “X.” The purpose of the X or O-ring is to keep internal lubrication in, and keep the dirt out increasing the durability of the chain. The X-ring technology is fairly new and has less surface area rubbing against the chain link resulting in less drag and better chain performance. An O-ring chain is generally cheaper, but most sportbike chains are using X-ring technology now. Installing a chain and sprocket kit can be relatively easy with the right tools. You’ll need a Dremel, chain tool, torque wrench, and a basic set of wrenches and sockets to get the job done. The hardest part will be removing the front sprocket. For this we would recommend an impact gun. To connect the chain you’ll have the choice of a clip style, or rivet style master link. We strongly recommend using a rivet style master link, as this is considerably safer than the clip style master link. This will require a chain tool to install. There are a few types of chain tools available, all of which will get the job done. The D.I.D. chain tool, for example, is shown here - Or the RK chain tool shown here – The options we’ve highlighted here are the main points to consider when ordering your chain kit. There are a variety of quality brands that produce chains or sprockets and our expert sales team can help you determine which one would be appropriate for you and your riding style. The most important note to take away from this entire post is the chain and sprocket must be the same size. A 520 sprocket will not work with a 525 chain and vice versa. Riders Discount carries all of the industry's leading brands of sprockets and chains as well as the specialty tools required to install your new chain kit. No matter what you're looking for, you can count on Riders Discount to have it in stock. If you have any additional questions or would like to place an order, give MIKE a call at 866.931.6644 ext. 804. Email more convenient? No problem, send us a message through this forum or write to us at FORUM at RIDERSDISCOUNT dot COM, and we’ll get back to you right away!

At Riders Discount, spring is the greatest time of the year! Why? Because spring means the ice has melted, the sun has come back to us, and it’s finally time to ride. It also happens to be May, which has been designated Motorcycle Safety Awareness month. As motorcycle enthusiasts, we care about our customers new and old, so we want you to be safe on every ride. For all our new riders out there, and maybe some veterans who would like to brush up on their safety skills, check out our blog for our Beginner’s Guide to Ride: Part 1.