Motostrano- TXT Us! 650-918-6259

I don't know. I don't FEEL cutting edge, but there is something new, fun, different and exciting about being able to communicate to customers and prospective customers via instant text messaging. I know we're not the first to do this, but still, kinda cool.

You may text us for anything at 650-918-6259. This goes to our office and our various wireless paraphernalia so we can respond (theoretically) to you question 24 hours.

Back in 2002, Motostrano was one of the first retail companies to email you a receipt right there on the spot for in-store purchases. It freaked some people out and pissed off those dudes who share their email with their wife - well, lesson learned.

Now, we can text local customers about orders ready for pick-up. We can respond to customers worldwide about order status or to provide price quotes.

Generation Y likes to text. Motostrano now accepts your text messages. (650) 918-6259

Gimoto Previews the WAS+ Riding Suit

Gimoto WAS+ suit

The importance of wearing the proper safety gear is no longer a secret to riders, with all manufacturers

seeking to develop new technologies that enhance the riders’ protection. From the same centre that designed an homologated airbag gilet ten years ago, Gimoto, comes a new riding suit, dubbed WAS+.


The new product reportedly encompasses the highest levels of resistance to abrasion, impact cuts and tears and seam bursting, with no compromises in rider comfort and quality of fit.

After a development lasting more than 1 year and after more than 400 tests have been carried out, the WAS+ suit was confirmed as exceeding CE EN 13595 level 2 – in all sizes and colours including made-to-measure.

Arm and leg zones are high risk zones, that require CE homologated impact protectors ('body armour'). Two levels of performance are specified for clothing providing protection against road impacts: clothing designed to give some protection whilst having the lowest possible weight and ergonomic penalties associated with its use (Level 1) and clothing providing a moderate level of protection, higher than that provided by Level 1 (Level 2).

There are however weight and restriction penalties in providing this level of protection.

According to Gimoto, all the materials and construction that are used in the WAS+ suit design exceeded all of the following tests:

• Tears resistance following
• Abrasion resistance of materials
• Maximum knife penetration
• Burst strength of seams and fastenings
• Chemical and ergonomic test

To satisfy the requirements of all these tests, Gimoto has perfected the development and introduction of a new elasticated fabric - called G-nforced - developed and patented directly by Gimoto and used exclusively in the WAS+ suit.

WAS+ also introduces the new 3D inner liner that reportedly gives greater breathability and comfort to the rider. Gimoto, however, did not reveal any pricing details for the moment.

Gimoto - Custom Italian Motorcycle Clothing

Motostrano has re-introduced GIMOTO motorcycle riding gear to the US market with the complete line of off-the-rack and custom motorcycle clothing products for racers and street riders.

Gimoto, based in Northern Italy, makes custom motorcycle racing suits, jackets, pants and gloves for track and street use. For the past ten years, Gimoto has quietly been making a name for itself in Europe and abroad as maker of fine motorcycle clothing, using latest manufacturing techniques and styles.

Motostrano began importing GIMOTO wear in 2003, delivering custom motorcycle racing suits, jackets and pants to the US market with rave reviews. The recession caused custom suit sales to decline, so the company took a pause from offering GIMOTO in the USA. With the recession now over and people getting back on bikes, customers are again asking for well-fitting leather suits for street riding, track days and racing. Gimoto is being reintroduced to the American market and is now imported exclusively by Motostrano.

Gimoto differs from other custom motorcycle clothing makers. Only Gimoto offers worldclass design techniques rivaling those of the major brands in protection and style. Not only can Gimoto customers own a suit that is as protective as an Alpinestars or Dainese, but it also looks as good too. Combine that with infinite customization options, from size, to color, to logos, name and number and you have an interesting package for the professional racer, the amateur racer, the track day patron and unique street rider.

Ride a BMW S1000RR white/blue/red and want a custom suit to match it exactly? Not problem. Gimoto's on the job. Your and your buddies and forming a pro am race team and going to give the big guys a run for their money in the AMA and need 3 sets of matching race suites for the season? No problem. Gimoto's on the job. Always wanted to have a kangaroo leather custom fit classic riding jacket in purple leather? No problem. Gimoto's on the job.

Gimoto offers road race suits, supermoto suits, minimoto suits, touring suits, suits for men, women and youth. Suits can be made in just about any color and are offered both in Cow and Kangaroo skin.

Ordering up a suit is easy. Call us or visit the Motostrano web site. Download the custom measurements form. Get a friend to help take your measurements. You can send us your measurements and you can also go to www.gimoto.com to visualize your custom color options.

If The Boots Fit

If The Boots Fit

Motostrano has been selling motorcycle boots for nearly 9 long years. I didn't think of myself as becoming a high tech shoe salesmen when I started this company, but in fact that's what happened, in part And I've come to like that aspect of what I do. I like shoes. I like boots. They let us do what we want to do in comfort and safety and there's something "bionic" about motorcycle boots when you start to analyze them.

Motorcycle boots are highly technical pieces of body armor localized at your feet. Without them, think of your feet, unprotected, dangling in the air
Motorcycle Boots
If The Boot Fits
with the whir of four or five buzz saws not 5 inches away, moving around, up and down. That's how I think about it.



Kind of like ski boots, but you can't walk in ski boots. Ski boots are kind of lame that way. Motorcycle boots are sort of like what you get when you want a running shoe designed for a cross country race on a volcano on a planet with no gravity- highly specialized technology for protection, safety, cooling and comfort.


One of the secrets that many riders don't know is that the leading boot companies don't only compete with each other on price, or similar boot categories or style, but also on he actual foot shapes and molds that each company relies on for all of their boots. Aside from all the technology and feature patents, it's those foot molds that each company has developed over the years that define what part of the market they serve and what boots fit who.

Motostrano's main boot brands have always been SIDI and Alpinestars, followed by Gaerne and Puma and over the years we have become very familiar with the ins and outs of their quality, performance and features. Whether you are in the market for a pair of boots now or later, please feel free to contact us by phone or by email with your boot questions.

And what do you think of our new newsletter format?

www.motostrano.com

Alpinestars Close-outs - How To Save Money and Get Great Gear

Being one of the larger, if not the largest, supplier of motorcycle clothing in the world - I like to call them the NIKE of the motorcycle world when describing the company to newbies - Alpinestars develops a lot of product each year, a lot of new product. And with the new product, comes a lot of old product, a lot of stuff that needs to be let loose, set to sail, off into the sunset, kicked out the door to more happy trails, instead of some dusty old warehouse. Alpinestars Close-Outs.

There's nothing wrong with stuff that's on close-out, or clearance. Even though the stuff that replaces it is supposed to be better- some times it actually isn't! Some times the new stuff comes out and it's cheaper, thinner, less. The old stuff, can be better, more.

Sometimes, the close-out stuff has some "issues", or "tissues" as my son would say. A size run will be off, run small, or big, causing chaos at the warranty and returns desk. Sometimes, a $69 gloves should have been a $55 glove. Sometimes, an item built for a certain riding style will be eclipsed by another brand, or another product of the same brand. Why stuff doesn't sell is often a mystery.

Like any builder of stuff, some times Alpinestars just plain makes too much stuff, other times, they don't make enough stuff. Some times they'll make too much of a specific colored stuff, other times the styling of the stuff will be a little off to the price, or a new item is introduced that puts the old stuff to shame, sending it to the back of the room with its tail between its legs. Other times, people just can't afford to buy the stuff! Other times, there's no sense at all to it.

Whatever the reasoning - Alpinestars produces a lot of close-outs each year and Motostrano has a habit of watching the close-out list like a hawk so we can in turn offer our customers some great deals on last years price-reduced clearance items from one of the best motorcycle apparel companies in the world.

It's a tough game to play. You got some dough and don't want to spend it. But, your moto threads are stinky or ripped or non existent and up comes all this new stuff that you can't afford. Dig a little deeper and you'll see last years stuff on sale for as much as 50% what it sold for just a few weeks ago. Wow. Great.

We've been selling motorcycle stuff and Alpinestars in particular for 9 years. We've seen a lot of product come and go and we've made a lot of it go ourselves. We know a little bit about this game of close-outs.

Motorcycling has two main seasons. The beginning. The end. The beginning is about Spring and Summer. The end is about Fall and Winter. New products from all makers of moto stuff are released around these times, which means old stuff is jettisoned out the door around the same time. Good riddance!

Once a batch of product is put on close-out, it's only a matter of weeks before all the good choice, colors and sizes are gone. So, a main point of advice here is that if you want the good stuff, buy early. Buy when it's raining, not in the middle of summer. In other words, buy motorcycle stuff, when you are probably out skiing, or locked up in your garage with the space heaters purring.

Depending on the product, the economy and last year's buying habits, the quality of what goes on close-out varies radically. One year there might be complete size and color runs of top tier leather suits, jackets and boots. Other years, you're stuck digging through size 4xl pink perforated mens jackets with matching assless chaps. It's all over the board.

Close-outs are close-outs. They are on clearance. They are priced to move and NOT COME BACK. If you're expecting to buy something at 80% off retail, get it and return it because it doesn't match your socks. Think again. Most close-outs are going to be final sale type deal, with the exception of a store credit or exchange option, as with Motostrano. We allow returns on standard close-outs for exchange or store credit. But, I can tell you, we sure don't like to take back close-outs. So, try to keep them if you can, please.

Be flexible on color. If you are like most of the dark, gloomy, colorless, drab and dull American motorcycle men out there, if it isn't BLACK, all black, you won't buy it. Riders in South American and Europe will wear any imaginable color combination of gear. Americans buy black motorcycle gear or none at all. Like our cars, which are nearly all silver or gray or pewter, our moto gear for street has to be black.

But black is not on sale. Almost never. Sorry. What's on sale? Blue is on sale. Red is on sale, White is on Sale and Green, Yellow and Orange are DEFINITELY on sale. Primarily, because you aren't buying those colors at regular prices. Never have, never will. I often wonder why they are even around, except perhaps to round out a catalog. Personally, I would not want to make things, I just new would not sell. So, I don't get that.

DON'T be flexible on fit. Look, this stuff is made and you are spending your hard earned dollars on it to PROTECT you. If it looks good in the process that's good too. It's also made to keep you comfortable. Don't buy, keep or use a close-out item based on price alone. If it isn't the right size, don't keep it. Give it away, throw it to the Ebay dogs. Trash it, wear it for Halloween next year. An unfitting motorcycle garment will do you no amount of good.

(If you're not local to our store and you're buying online, sight unseen, one of the things you can do to avoid buying the wrong size is call us. Talk to us. Email us. Get us on the phone. Ask us how tall we are, how much we weigh, get us to get off our chair and go try on a jacket or suit, then have us come back and tell you how it fit. We're happy to do it. ASK US ANYTHING AT ALL)

At 50% off retail, you start to loosen up your color matching principals and have even been known to .... mismatch colors and for instance, wear a red jacket on a blue Yamaha. I know, I know, blasphemy. But, if it involves saving $200, I've seen it happen, even with most fashion conscious men among us.

So, now you know some of the secrets to buying Alpinestars close-out gear. Doing so, is a great way to get your mitts on some quality motorcycle gear at some tasty prices. We're happy to offer it to you. We're happy to sell it to you.

Still have questions? Call us, email us.

Some Beautiful Warp 9 Supermoto Wheels

The Warp 9 folks had some wheels done up custom with some beautiful orange rims that a customer backed out on. They called us up to see if we would want them and we said sure! We have customers dying for these.

Here they are. Really beautiful wheels, border line works of art. Explosive orange color. These wheels are in stock and on display at our store and can be ordered up any time. Just visit our web site, for Warp 9 Supermoto Wheels

BUY THESE WHEELS HERE

Motostrano, the supermoto specialists, sell more supermoto and more warp 9 supermoto wheels than any one on the planet. Really! Order online with confidence, call us up on the phone, or drop on by our show room. We are happy to help you with your supermoto wheel purchase.


In addition to Warp 9, Motostrano carries Marchesini, Excel Talon, DNA, Kite, HAAN and other wheels. You can have them in any color you like. Ready to roll.

Motostrano Now Sells Givi's Trekker Series Cases

GIVI’s Trekker Series

CHARLOTTE, N. Carolina. – With over 30 years of injection molded cases GIVI finally breaks the “mold” with our new aluminum Trekker series.

With GIVI’s continual efforts to understand and adjust to market trends in line with our proven designs and technical innovations comes the new dual purpose polypropylene/aluminum Trekker case series

The new GIVI Trekker series is designed to offer the functionality, durability and style associated with GIVI cases to meet the more rugged and demanding needs of the dual purpose market. The new Givi Trekker luggage series is offered in 2 sizes, 33 liter and 46 liter incorporating our standard full lid opening (clam shell opening) as well as an optional top lid opening for convenient top loading selected by way of a toggle latch. The Trekker is molded in durable polypropylene and the lid is finished with brush aluminum panels secured by stylish, protective molded bands, the fully waterproof Trekker series comes complete with our patented GIVI latch mechanism. The Trekker is also available as a complete 3 case set up TRKPACK3 including 2 x TRK33N and 1 x TRK46N and will be supplied with matching locks and keys. Additional accessories available for the Trekker series will include, top case back rest, top case luggage rack, custom inner bags and cargo net securing hooks.


ABOUT GIVI
With over 30 years experience in the motorcycle and scooter aftermarket segment, GIVI now manufactures and distributes to over 45 countries worldwide with dedicated distributions centers in 12 countries including 2 warehouse distribution facilities here in the US. Starting initially as a fairing manufacturer GIVI has grown to be the #1 choice manufacturer and supplier of hard detachable luggage, that has included factory supplied options for Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and Can AM to name a few. The GIVI product range now currently includes an extensive range of hard and soft motorcycle luggage with specific mounting hardware solutions for over 200 model motorcycles and scooters, replacement and universal windshields, as well as a very innovative range of ¾ and modular full face helmets.