Date reviewed: September 2019 | Tested by: BikeSocial Test Team | Price: £949.99 | spidiuk.com
The Spidi Track Wind Pro motorcycle leathers on review here have been used by Triumph Street Triple owner and BikeSocial Test Team member Richie Brown for the past seven months on road and track, including the Bennetts Cornering Confidence track session, run with California Superbike School.
Based on the developments seen by the Italian brand with its sponsored riders (including Scott Redding and Hector Barbera), they’re at the top-end of the market with a cut and fit intended for serious sports riding…
Fit
The first set of these leathers I tried were my typical size but simply too tight – I could get them on, but not zip them up over my calves. While I play football, I’m not known for having disproportionately large muscles here; the second set went on, but they took some work.
This is my first set of race leathers, and while I expected them to be tight, I was surprised at just how snug they were. Of course, a good fit is crucial to safety – too tight and you can’t move around properly, but too loose and any baggy areas can snag in a crash, with a much higher risk of the leather tearing.
It took about a dozen uses before these had broken-in to the point that I found they could be easily put on and taken off without assistance.
They’re extremely comfortable now and fit snugly; the only place there is a little bagginess is at the bum but it’s not excessive, and they still look great. The only real way to really beat this would be to go for more expensive made-to-measure kit. Having said that, compared to some two-piece leathers I used to have, the fit on the Spidis is fantastic.
Fit is of course very subjective, so always try your leathers on before buying, and do ask for advice from the dealer if you’re not sure how much they’ll break in over time. It’s also going to be something of a compromise – if you want to be able to walk around easily in your leathers while off the bike (as I do), you’ll have to expect some give in areas like the rear. If you were having a set made, the tailor would need to know whether you wanted them cut for a full racing crouch, or more towards standing up; for my build, Spidi has got this just right.
Protection and certification
The Spidi Track Wind Pro Racing Suit is made of cowhide (tanned in Vicenza) between 1.1 and 1.3mm thick.
There’s CE-approved Level 1 armour at the elbows, shoulders and knees – at the knees it’s particularly thick, dense foam but I haven’t found it intrusive or uncomfortable at all.
The shoulders and elbows use a proprietary armour that’s a mixture of slightly articulated hard plastic shell with a soft inner section against your body; again, I’ve found it falls into the right place and never feels awkward. Given the size of the armour, it seems that more protective Level 2 from the likes of D3O could have fitted, though I’m happy with what’s installed.
There’s space in front for an optional chest protector, and also a pocket in the rear for a back protector. While many riders use a separate back protector on track, I’d have liked to have seen a CE-approved insert here – for anyone like me investing in their first set of leathers, it would have made for a more complete package, especially at this price.
This suit has not been tested to the PPE regulation that came into force in 2018, though we’d expect new stock to carry the required certification. Even with the test data, it’d be impossible to say how well these leathers would survive any given crash, but while they’re not the heavy construction of a club-racer’s suit that’s expected to last many offs through a few seasons, the Spidis do give me confidence when I’m making the most of my Triumph.
From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the law, click here.
Pockets
While you have to be careful carrying anything in riding kit, there are two pockets inside the leathers – one is secured with poppers and is handy for sliding my phone into while the other larger one is wide and open with a vertical entry, designed for stuffing your gloves into.
The rear hump is set up to take an optional Spidi hydration pack, with a retainer on the collar to guide the tube into your helmet – I’ve not used it, but if you’re are spending a lot of time on track, particularly in hot climates, it’s a useful feature.
Fastening
There’s a large, solid zip on the main opening – it goes up high to seal well around the neck, though due to the leather behind it and the rubbery cover, I can sometimes feel it on my throat at high speed; it’s not uncomfortable, but it is something I’m aware of on the bike.
Adjustment
Being a race suit, there’s no adjustment on the Spidi Track Winds, but on me at least, they haven’t needed it. Accordion panels and stretch fabric sections mean these are generally snug while still allowing plenty of movement.
The cuffs – which have a comfortable neoprene end –pull back a little on the bike, but my fairly short gloves still cover them fine. Gauntlet-style race gloves have no problems mating with the arms.
Ventilation
The ventilation works very well – there are mesh vents at the shoulders, but the waist, tops of the arms and thighs all have perforated leather panels; I can really feel it when moving.
I usually just wear a tee-shirt underneath, or a sports base layer to help wick away sweat.
Warmth
In the cold, you’ll want something warmer underneath, but I can get a thin jumper under here. Ultimately, these aren’t designed for cold climates, though if you are riding in early spring or late autumn (or into winter), a windproof top is worth investing in. Or just pop a waterproof oversuit on top.
Liner
The Spidi Track Wind has a full mesh liner with a 3D mesh on the back for added ventilation. This is held in place with little Velcro patches and fine zips, so can be easily removed for cleaning. While not everyone wants the small amount of added bulk and expense that this brings, I really appreciate it.
When putting the suit on, I do find that the lining gets a little tangled in my feet but it’s really not a problem – for me, that extra few seconds when putting the leathers on are worth it if it means I can more easily wash the interior.
Conclusion
While these leathers are a relatively complex design, there are no extras like shoulder sliders that could help reduce the chance of the area grabbing in a crash. Extras like elbow sliders are available, though I doubt I’ll be (intentionally) getting my elbow down any time soon.
I usually wear a leather jacket and motorcycle jeans – the Spidis haven’t replaced them, as they do take time to get on, but they really do inspire confidence.
Once on, they feel so unrestrictive that they’re a pleasure to ride in; I actually find them more comfortable than my jeans and am honestly delighted with them – the fit means they feel almost like wearing nothing… I’m impressed.
