When it comes to finding leather riding attire for women -- gear that is both great for everyday use and acceptable on the track -- it can be a fairly arduous task. Yes, there are brands out there that accommodate this desire, but finding an ideal fit is another story. Furthermore, a lot of the motorcycle stores don't stock higher-end items because of their price and a lack of demand.

On a quest to get new riding gear -- especially since I'd be on the track this year -- I did my homework. I found out which brands offered one- and two-piece leather riding suits and went from there.

After months of research, I decided to invest in an Alpinestars two-piece Stella GP Plus leather set. The Italian motorsports brand has quite a decent selection of professional women's items. That said: expect to pay a premium for it.

Photo: Alexandra Straub

A local dealership stocked the Stella GP Plus jacket, which fits me perfectly. It's made of 1.3 mm race-grade cowhide, has aramidic-fibre stretch panels (perfect for sport bike and track riding), thermal plastic rubber injectors for additional abrasion resistance, 3D foam panels on the back and more. The jacket hugs my upper body in all the right places, gives me enough movement, and looks great. I love it.

The matching Stella GP Plus pants, which the jacket zips into, are a completely different story. Needless to say, I was and still am thoroughly disappointed with them. I ordered the pants to fit my measurements (according to their size chart), but they ended up fitting a little snugly. That was fine, or so I thought, since the leather will stretch out and form to the body. Note: The measurements on Alpinestars women's gear are very true to size.

The next time I put them on, the plastic zipper broke. I was merely walking around my house, working them in a little before my track day when I heard a snap and the zipper wouldn't stay up. Thinking it was a user error, I went back to the dealership where they confirmed it wasn't me. I didn't know the pants couldn't handle a little tension. It made me think: What would happen if I took a spill on the track?

After that, the clasp which houses the hook also broke off. It's not reinforced from the back of the leather band and seems lazily tacked on. Needless to say, this was extremely frustrating. Bottom line: I think they were poorly made at the factory.

The pants were under warranty, so I ended up getting a new pair to replace the broken ones, but that shouldn't have happened. Not for the price I paid.

Photo: Alexandra Straub

As for the new pair? I have had to be extremely careful with them. The zipper is still in one piece, and so is the clasp, but I really have to watch my movements. Perhaps this problem could be rectified if the zipper was longer and made of metal, and if the clasp was of a more durable weight and reinforced from the back.

If you're wondering why I didn't just return the set altogether it's because the jacket is the best fit I've come across, it hasn't fallen apart and it seems to be well made. I can live with the headache of high-maintenance pants because when the two are in working order, I feel safer when I'm riding.

I'm hoping my case is an isolated one since the reason I bought the set is because of rave reviews from other women. I've also heard from other riders how great their Alpinestars gear is. I wish I could say the same -- for the pants at least.

Highlights:

• Jacket offers a great fit;
• Quality feel to it;
• Great colour combination.

Lowlights:

• Plastic zipper is susceptible to break easily on the pants;
• Hook and clasp aren't strongly reinforced on the pants;
• Thoroughly disappointed with the pants;
• Expected better quality.