Dainese Safety Pro
DAINESE SAFETY PRO
CW EVALUATION
Innovation in leather
WHILE IT’S TRUE THAT THE LATEST HIGHtech nylon-and-Kevlar riding suits offer an impressive combination of comfort, protection and water resistance, most experts still agree that cowhide tailored into a high-quality, form-fitting leather suit is still the motorcyclist’s best defense against crash-related abrasion.
Dainese has manufactured motorcycle-specific protective apparel since 1972, outfitting world champion roadracers like Giacomo Agostini, Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Kevin Schwantz, among others. Its latest production suit, the $1299 Safety Pro, is the result of extensive testing, both in-house and at the racetrack.
As with the rest of Dainese’s leather riding suits, the one-piece Safety Pro is made from premium-quality, topgrain cowhide. Although the supple, specially treated, 1.2-1.3mm-thick leather is marginally thinner than that of other suit makers, the company says its tanning process gives the hide very high abrasion and tear resistance, and reduces problems associated with thicker hides, such as excess weight, heat retention and rider fatigue.
Ventilated with thousands of machine-punched holes, the suit boasts several novel features, including multiple-layer “composite” protection. Shoulders, elbows and knees receive sculptured, area-specific padding capped with highdensity foam and plastic cups. There’s flexible, foam-backed plastic at the forearms and shins, too.
Shock-absorbing foam is also used in the collarbone, rib and tailbone areas. A humped insert designed to restrict backward movement of the head and guard against whiplash and upper spinal injuries covers the base of the neck. For added flexibility and freedom of movement, there are Kevlar inserts at the elbows and underarm, behind the knees and in the crotch, with leather accordion panels behind the shoulders, at the waist and above the knees.
Other noteworthy features include a mandarinstyle collar that is cut low to minimize chafing, velcroed leather closure tabs at the neck, wrists and ankles, and a main zipper pull that can be operated with gloved hands. Heavyduty nylon thread is used throughout, and all exposed seams are doublestitched. Inside, a removable mesh nylon liner fitted with foam at the biceps and hips provides additional protection and ease of entry. Zips at the chest and velcro swatches at the neck, wrists and ankles secure it in place.
Aside from a bit of looseness in the midsection, our off-the-rack size 56 (even-numbered European sizes 48-56 are available in black, red or white from Lockhart Phillips USA, 151 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, CA 92673; 800/2217291) fit our 6-foot, 2-inch, 205-pound Managing Editor perfectly. By design, the suit places the wearer in a shoulders-in, slightly hunched-over position; great for negotiating racetracks at speed, not as comfortable for commuting or touring. During track testing, we experienced no discomfort whatsoever; no bunching, chafing or pinching.
Of course, the bottom line with any leather riding suit is its ability to protect the wearer against slideand impact-related abrasions and/or broken bones. Admittedly, we didn’t sample the Safety Pro’s crash-worthiness so we can’t comment on its effectiveness in those areas. Nonetheless, we were impressed with its overall fit, durability and high level of finish. For roadracers and performance-oriented streetriders, we recommend it highly.
