Goodbye Cat Pants, It's Been Fun

Meow

It's an inevatibility with all products. Eventually, all things go away; some times unexpededly, some times with great fanfare and a kick in the behind on the way out. Some products you come to love over the years. Others, you're glad to see them go and usually you forgot they were even there in the first place. Some products provide daily cheer and good times without asking anything in return. Selling them and buying them can be a highlight of a day, or even a week, for any average Joe parts counter guy.

The Alpinestars Cat Pants (recently relagated to Discontinued status and on sale for just $129.95) have been one of those products for the last three or four years. Pick up a pair while they are still around.

You see, working the day shift at the parts counter on the daily grind can come to wear on a guy. First of all, parts counters are greasy, worn out and full of stickers. Big greasy guys with guts looking for a Keihin carb jet kit. There's a lot of "Yea, we got that tire", "Nope, we're out of that spark plug", or, "No, that exhaust for a 1997 250 Ninja will not fit your 2002 Subaru".

But the opportunity to consult with a potentional high end client about the fit, features and merits of the Alpinestars Cat Pants, has always been a high point of the work week, not far behind Friday, 5 o'clock.

"Well, in fact, we DO stock those pants ma'am." I'd say, with a quiver in my voice.

"oooooo-ohhhhoooo great, Ihhh've been looking all over for these. So can I come down to try them on?", might be the reply, in a soft whisper dreamy fantasy kind of voice.

Then there would be the anticipation and the waiting. When the prospective customer entered the building, we'd be on our best behavior, trying not to appear like we were falling over ourselves to assist our distinguished procurer with a fruitful transaction.

The plain truth was, that it didn't matter whether the pants were actually purchased. The experience of selling them was always uplifting enough and, most times, the pants didn't fit most girls anyway.

Running a size or two small, the Cat pants tend to fit only a specific and usually imagined female figure from French or Japanese magazines. If you eat more tha one meal a day, or have ever even thought of having kids, they probably didn't fit. If they did fit, keeping them on would be a secondary barrier to a sale.

"Well, they fit, but I can't get the snap to stay" she would say.

"That's a feature", we'd reply.

Some things designed by men have intentional flaws that are part of their hidden beauty, just like the Mona Lisa, or a perfectly tuned race car pulling out of pit lane. Perfection comes with sacrifice.

Alpinestars Clearance Sale up to 70% Off

Fresh Deals on Top Selling Products

The deals on clearance Alpinestars products keep flowing in! Select models of Alpinestars boots, gloves, jackets and suits have been posted. Here's some noteworthy deals you'll want to snag or tell a friend about:

• Alpinestars Effex Gore-Tex Boots - normally $215.95 are now just $161.95 while supplies last. These are excellent touring waterproof boots. Great for commuting as well.
• The track or street road boots, the Alpinestars SMX R Boots - normally $259.95 are now $195.00. The SMX R boots are a great boot for track days and racing, or just plain old back hill "spirited riding".
• Alpinestars Octane and SG-1 Suits are on sale for just $499.00, down from nearly $700! These are moving quick, so if you think you want to buy a suit this year, act soon.
• The very best deal we have right now on gloves is the Alpinestars GP Tech Glove, on sale for just $169.95. The $109 price on the GP Plus gloves is also still in effect.

There's more. All leather Alpinestars jackets like the TZ-1 (now re-released as the Alpinestars TZ-1 Reloaded), SMX, or Interceptor are on sale at practically 50% off. Visit our web site.

We have also updated our TwoWheelSteals.com web site with more products, including some smoking deals on SIDI Vertigo boots, other Alpinestars and more.

Day of Stars Thursday July 2, 2009

When:
Where:
Cost:

Thursday, July 2^nd 2009, 8:00am – 4:00pm
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Turn 4
$500 tax deductable donation per person*

Join us for an exclusive behind
the scenes look at MotoGP!

Held on the Thursday immediately before the Red Bull US Grand Prix weekend, this one-day exclusive event provides you an opportunity to meet MotoGP stars, both past and present. Grand Prix legend and Riders for Health co-founder Randy Mamola is emceeing the event so it promises to be entertaining!

Day of Stars benefits Riders for Health – the international charity that uses motorcycles to save lives in Africa. Learn more about Riders at: www.riders.org. Day of Stars is supported by Riders for Health USA Chapters. Find your local chapter at www.riderschapters.org.

Each year more MotoGP Stars attend. 2008 attendees included: Loris Capirossi, Randy DePuniet, Colin Edwards, Tony Elias, Sylvain Guintoli, Marco Melandri, Ben Spies and James Toseland in addition to Grand Prix legends, Randy Mamola, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and Kenny Roberts.

Space is extremely limited so don't delay. To secure your ticket for this memorable event CLICK HERE (and scroll to bottom of tickets page)

Day of Stars Event Schedule

7:30 am

Turn 4 VIP Suites parking area opens

8:00 am

Continental breakfast at Turn 4 VIP Suites

8:45 am

Briefing on the day’s activities

9:00 am

Motorcycle tour of Carmel Valley wine country

1:00 pm

Arrive back at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Turn 4 VIP Suites

1:30 pm

Lunch with special guests Randy Mamola, Wayne Rainey, Don Emde, MotoGP Stars and other celebrities

2:30 pm

Exclusive behind-the-scenes MotoGP paddock and pit lane tour

3:30 pm

Motorcycle parade laps around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
(van provided for those who are not on a motorcycle)

*Please note: Your ticket for Day of Stars is a tax deductible donation made to Riders for Health II, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Your ticket includes a VIP parking pass for the entire weekend (motorcycle or car) but does not include general admission or seating for the MotoGP events.

Can you say "Akrapovic"?

If you can't, you're not alone and you're in good company! A quick feeler over at Google for "Akrapovic pronounce" pulls up all kinds of linguistic struggles with this name. "Ack-rap-o-vich" seems to be the best rendition but doesn't convey the guttural juice that's probably really needed to give it flavor. We find that your chances of pronouncing it correctly and with feeling depends on how much Vodka you've had that day. "Acerbis" is another common tongue twister for us Yankees, among others.

However the word is said, it's common knowledge that Akrapovič makes some fine exhaust systems. They are the kind of exhaust that other exhausts look up to like an older, more refined, naturally endowed and elegant female distant cousin from eastern Europe who spends a lot of time traveling to exotic cities to go shopping. I mean, name one other motorcycle exhaust company that produces it's own glossy magazine that looks like it would be in good company in the seat back pocket of a private jet en route to watch practice in Qatar.

For 2009, Akra has kept the bar in the raised position, with a long list of new products for 2009 street and off-road bikes, as well as redesigned systems for earlier bike models. If you're in the market for a new exhaust and you enjoy over-the-top quality, then plan on a daily diet of Top Ramen and Snickers bars from the company kitchen until your next pay check rolls around, because performance+quality comes at a price. No worries. You've endured far worse for far less in the past!

We invite you to review the Akrapovic 2009 line-up at our web site. And ICON makes an Akrapovic Jacket!. Twowheelsteals has been updated too.