The Alpinestars Stella Dyno is another in a long line of great-looking women’s leather jackets from the Italian brand that serve two important roles—keeping you safe and stylish while riding. It’s a trim, hip-length jacket with a slightly boxy cut at the waist and a mandarin collar. Tailored for women, the clean, classic lines of the Stella Dyno create a casual chic look that suits cruisers, retros, and urban streetfighters. My first time out in it was riding through the Italian countryside, and it required no break-in.
The chassis, constructed from 1.0 to 1.2mm bovine leather, meets the EU’s CE Category II abrasion-resistance standards. When I first donned the Stella Dyno jacket, I was disappointed, as I thought it didn’t have any shoulder or elbow protection. As it turns out, it’s there, courtesy of Alpinestars’ impressively stealth proprietary Nucleon Flex Plus armor. It is tactilely transparent, and scores a CE Level 1 rating for non-racing use.
I installed a Nucleon Kr-2i back protector ($70) in the dedicated pocket in the liner. It slightly tightens the fit across the back, which may enhance comfort for some riders but feel snug for others, depending on your body shape. Here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we consider back protection non-negotiable, and the Kr-2i is high-end Level 2 impact protection.
An alternative to adding the back protector is to pair the jacket with the Alpinestars Stella Tech-Air 3 airbag ($600). It can be worn over or under the Dyno, but I would not wear it over the jacket, as it compromises the Dyno’s refined aesthetic. I’ll be testing that safety apparel soon, though hopefully not the hard way.
Elastic belt tabs inside the jacket at the waist are there should you want to connect the Stella Dyno to your pants belt. For leaned-over riding positions, this is useful, as the jacket doesn’t have a long tail.
Side waist tabs have two snap positions for customizing the fit, but don’t snug it up. The Dyno’s leather, while smooth and decently pliable, doesn’t lay well when gathered. Just enjoy the relaxed fit of the boxy cut and consider the tabs a styling detail. Speaking of wonderful details, the small tricolore appliqué on the left hip adds a subtle, stylish nod to Italian heritage.
The Alpinestars Stella Dyno has a removable sleeveless mesh vest with a thin quilted front, providing sufficient insulation to counter chilly windblast without adding bulk. The vest secures under the arms with snapped elastic tabs and detaches effortlessly via a zipper when unneeded.
A trio of ventilation grommets stacked in formation along the back of the upper arms, allowing the leather jacket to breathe. Accordion stretch panels at the shoulder blades provide the needed flexibility for that forward reach to the grips.
My one nit to pick with the Alpinestars Stella Dyno jacket is the fit of the sleeves, as they are quite narrow. Even with my skinny arms, I have to unsnap the cuff tabs and unzip the cuffs to get my arms out of the jacket, even with a short-sleeved shirt on. On the upside, it retains the tailored look, and I don’t have to worry about the sleeves migrating upon my arms should I find myself unexpectedly sliding down the pavement.
The three zippered pockets and the racing stripe down each sleeve are timeless motorcycle motifs and immediate eye-catchers. Alpinestars tweaks the Stella Dyno’s stripes with asymmetrical leather details stitched to the lower sleeves: three stars on the right sleeve, and the A’stars logo on the left.
The same graphics are repeated down the sides of the jacket, using the opposite pattern from the sleeves. It’s well done, offering extra pizazz without being too self-conscious—typical Alpinestars styling. If you prefer to fly slightly under the radar, the Black version’s gray stripes tone things down. For me, the Red version is perfectly Italian and the way to go.
The zippered exterior Napoleon pocket fits your smartphone. The hand pockets are suitable for cargo, but shallow and positioned too high to be a comfortable place to rest your hands. A waterproof seven-inch square pocket inside the jacket’s mesh liner is ideal for a wallet or paperwork, though the five-inch zipper restricts larger or rigid items.
The Alpinestars Stella Dyno leather jacket is a sharp-looking, around-town riding jacket that also works for casual canyon carving. The sleek, tailored design and bovine leather, complete with flexible armor and a removable front-quilted vest, ensures both protection and versatility. With its timeless moto style, the Dyno delivers reliable protection and distinctive style, on or off the bike.
Alpinestars Stella Dyno Leather Jacket Fast Facts
- Sizes: XS – 2XL
- Colors: Black; Red
- Armor: Nucleon Flex Plus CE Level 1 shoulder and elbows (optional Nucleon Kr-2i CE Level 2 back protector tested)
- Certification: EN 17092-4:2020 Class A
Alpinestars Stella Dyno Leather Jacket Price: $540 MSRP ($610, as tested)
