Have you ever seen this guy named Rossi race? Well, how would you love to get the chance to test some of his equipment? No, I am not lucky enough to have a go at his Yamaha M1, but I did get to sample some of the top-shelf Dainese equipment he wears while riding that M1.

The D-Store in Orange County, California provided me with the W-Frame Racing Suit, Axial Race Boots and Full Metal Racer Gloves.

Let’s start with the new W-Frame suit. It boasts technical innovations like a new ventilation system in the aero hump which has air inlets for greater air passage. There is also a localized leather perforation system that uses air inlets where aeration is crucial but far away from stitching to ensure safety.

Another cool feature is the 3D bubble liner that creates an air cushion between the leather and body. It helps the suit keep fresh and comfortable with none of that wet sweaty feeling each time you suit up for that track day session or during a full day of racing.

The new W-Frame Racing Suit has co-extruded titanium shoulders, protections in composite material, and a front pocket to hold their new Chest Protector. There is also removable padding in the hip area which partially fits into a pocket. This would be my only complaint of the suit, the padding seems to work it’s way out of the pocket when you are getting in and out of the suit and you have to be careful not to lose it.

I am lucky enough to be able to wear off-the-rack suits quite easily and the standard size 50 Dainese suit fit me as good as I would expect any custom suit to fit. In the past I have been guilty of wearing suits a little to large for me, I never like to feel restricted in movement so instead of riding through the odd stage during leather break-in I used to opt for a little bigger size. Everybody loves a new racing suit, but nobody likes breaking them in. Break-in was not a problem with the Dainese W-Frame. The suit features the new D-Skin cowhide leather with a special wax and silicone treatment for extraordinary softness. There is no stiffness in the new suit and I was able to move around unrestricted immediately. The leather has a very stretchy feel to it and I was able to wear a size 50 that gave me the correct snug fit while allowing me the movement to hang off the bike. I get arm pump quite easily so a good cut in the forearm area is vital and the new Dainese suit gives ample room for the Popeye syndrome and doesn’t add to the discomfort of forearm pump.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but Dainese suits rarely disappoint in this area. The W-Frame has an attractive cut and design. The colors are classy and won’t have you growing a mullet to match the 1980’s neon colored leathers sold by some other companies out there.

In the past I have questioned the comfort of the Dainese Axial Race Boots but having worn the new Axial Race Boots I realize the comfort is fine if you have the sizing right, my old boots were simply too tight. I have a left ankle that has been broken twice (no, I was not wearing the Axial boots at the time, but another brand) so comfort is important. My ankle swells up while riding and can get pretty uncomfortable if the boot does not give enough room. The boots are extremely light and not bulky like some other boots that feel more like a ski boot than a racing boot. Axial is an internal structure inside the boots with a special articulation system that limits the twisting of the ankle decreasing the risk of a  sprain and trauma. Dainese also uses a unique design that allows for the bottom of your leathers to fit over the top of your boot. I really like this design, the leathers help keep the boot intact during a crash. I have had other boots come apart when Velcro and zippers were exposed resulting in the boot ripping open when tumbling. Not a good feeling to come to stop and see your sock because your boot has been ripped to shreds. The boots are quick and easy to get in and out of with just one zipper at the rear. They come with Titanium sliders so I will definitely be hiding from the AMA officials on race day since titanium sliders are not allowed in AMA competition.

The Full Metal Racer Gloves are also very light and look great. The leather is very soft with good flexability in the finger and wrist area allowing you to get a really good feel for the throttle. Titanium is used in the knuckle area should anything fly off the track and hit you or in the case that a large object such as a motorcycle should fall on your hand. The Titanium also gives the glove a different look than most gloves on the market which use plastic or carbon on the knuckles. There are also small carbon inserts on the joint area of the fingers for added protection. I really like the light fit and feel of the Dainese gloves, they seem to make any other glove feel odd and bulky.

I was able to do a crash test while wearing the boots and gloves (the things I do for you, the reader). While the crash was relatively minor the gloves and boots held up well with no tearing and no stitching coming undone. I had a sneaking suspicion that I might go down and hadn’t taken any pictures of the W-Frame suit, so to be on the safe side I wore an older Dainese suit I had. Well my suspicion was right and I was able to spare any damage to the new W-Frame suit. I will have to crash test that for you at a later time.

The W-frame Racing Suit retails for $2,199.00, the Axial Race Boots retail for $399.00 and the Full Metal Racer Gloves will set you back $329.00.

You can go to www.dainese.com for the full Dainese collection or contact the D-Store Orange County at D-STORE ORANGE COUNTY, 1645 Superior Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA. 92663 Phone: 949-650-2300.

Have an experience (good or bad) with Dainese's products? Roll over to our Dainese Racing Gear Forum and tell us about them or ask Brad a question (or 2 or 3) about his review.