RST Pro Series Evo One-Piece Airbag Leather Suit Review

Want to go track riding? You’ll be needing some good leathers - either a two-piece set that zips together, or a one-piece. I’ve had a one-piece set of leathers on test this year in the form of the airbag version of the RST Pro Series Evo Airbag. I used the suit on track and for some limited road riding.

The clue’s in the name, really, in more ways than one. ‘Evo’ refers to the fact this is an updated version of the outgoing Pro Series leathers, featuring a less aggressive cut. Meanwhile, ‘Airbag’ refers to, erm, the airbag. You can get a non-’bagged version of the suit, but my test sample had an In&Motion airbag system and is compatible with the same control module I use in an RST Sabre textile jacket tested last year.

Key features

• Double-layered leather on impact areas
• In&Motion airbag
• Elbow and knee sliders
• AAA rating
• Aero race hump
  
   

You’re not left wanting in terms of protection. The suit is AAA rated,  with a four-way woven stretch that allows the “safe deployment of the airbag,” RST says. The shoulder, elbow and hip armour is CE level 2, while the knee armour and back protector are rated at level 1.

Without going with a custom-made suit, taller, slimmer riders might not get on so well with the sizing. I initially tried a size 40, which fitted perfectly around the middle, but was so tight that standing was a struggle, and came up far too short at the ends of the sleeves and legs. 

I switched this for a size 42, which was much better in terms of sleeve/leg length, but left me with an excess of material around the belly which folds in on itself when leant forward on a bike with clip-ons (which, let’s face it, is the kind of thing you’ll be riding in a one-piece cow suit).

A removable liner means it’s not too arduous to get on and off (but do expect a bit of an awkward struggle), and the suit is reasonably comfortable to move around in when off the bike. When on it, even with the less-than-snug fit around the middle, the RST feels ‘freeing’, allowing you to move around on the bike in a much less restrictive way than other riding gear. To quote Ned Flanders, it’s like wearing nothing at all.

The quality of the suit looks to be very good, as you’d expect for something costing the best part of a grand. I haven’t used the suit extensively enough just yet to cover long-term durability, nor have I accelerated the wear by coming off a bike with the suit donned, but all signs point to the Pro Series Evo lasting a long time.

Should you buy an RST Pro Series Evo Airbag leather suit?

Whether or not you take the plunge on one of these suits depends largely upon your build. If you are, like me, reasonably tall and quite thin, the off-the-peg sizing isn’t going to be much good. You’ll need to either look elsewhere, or spend extra and use RST’s made-to-measure service. We’d strongly recommend trying a pair on before buying regardless of how tall/short/thin/somewhat less thin you might be.

Should the suit fit well, it’s certainly a one-piece option we’d recommend. You’ll just need to bear in mind that the subscription for the airbag costs £120 a year, or a one-off payment of £400. Another thing to bear in mind is if you are going to use it for the odd road ride (or a lot of road rides, if you're especially committed), you'll need to bring a small bag or something to stash your phone and house keys in - there are no pockets. 

What I particularly like is the range of colours available. While I opted for a simple black suit owing to availability of other options in my size at the time, you can get some brilliantly lurid colourways including my personal favourite, Tigerflo.