The Gloves
The Dainese Full Metal RS is new for the 2013 Dainese catalogue. The Full Metal RS is essentially an upgraded version of the Full Metal Pro, to takeover its place on the top spot of Dainese gloves. Coincidentally, Valentino Rossi is also wearing the Full Metal RS in MotoGP, but of course in his distinctive high-vis colours.
The gloves come in a variety of colours. I chose the white/black/red combination to compliment my Dainese race suit.
Fit & Comfort
I wear a size M Full Metal RS, which is the same size as my Dainese Scalpel Gloves. Good consistent sizing within the brand. It is much easier to slip into the Full Metal RS than the Scalpel, probably because of the softer leather used.
The leather feels very soft and thin when compared to my retired Alpinestars GP Pro gloves. I'm not too sure about the abrasion resistance of the softer leather, but if Rossi's hands can survive crashes with this glove, then it can't be too bad for us mere mortals either. I hope I won't get a chance to test its crash capabilities though.
The fit on the gloves feels very comfortable and snug, which is a huge plus point for operating motorcycle controls. Notice the square rubberized panels on the index and middle finger, these are grip panels that help to increase grip and feel for the levers. A different version of the panels are also found on the top of your palm to help with throttle control. These panels are sewn into both the left and right gloves.
Protection
Looking at the photo above, notice the palm slider (in black) located below the little finger. When we fall, most of us instinctively place our hands in front of ourselves to brace. When that happens, combined with the speed at which you are slammed against the hard ground, you will most likely break some bones in your arms and/or hands. That is exactly what happened to me when I highsided last December, and broke a few bones.
The palm slider dissipates the impact forces, and forces your hand to go into a slide which further reduces the impact. Remember, crashing and sliding is unlikely to hurt you much, but crashing and coming to a dead stop sucks.
The Full Metal RS makes use of the Dainese Distortion Control Panel (DCP), which prevents your little finger from hyper-extending (bending in the wrong direction). Ask any hardcore racer and you would most probably see pretty messed up little fingers. The little finger is a common victim in motorcycle crashes. Especially when sliding across the tarmac, it can bend beyond its limit, and dislocate or fracture. Dainese also reinforced the leathers covering the little finger with plastic plates underneath that line up to further protect it from hyper-extension and abrasion.
As for the other fingers, there are sliders to help prevent the 'coming to a dead stop' situation.
Moving on to the back of the gloves, titanium plates on the knuckles and back of the hands, which are reinforced with metal hard parts below them. The titanium not only protects the back of your hands, I think they just look beautifully bad-ass.
Coming to the cuffs of the gloves, we see hard protection on the ulnar side. The ulna bone is another common victim of motorcycle crashes. If you look at at your wrist, below your little finger, you will find the head of the ulna bone. In a lowside, you will most likely land on your side, and that bone is going touch down hard. The added hard protection helps to spread the impact, and reduce the amount of force on your bone.
Price
The Dainese Full Metal RS retails for USD$349.95 at Dainese.com, and I got it for SGD$490 at JR. Not very close to the official retail price, you could perhaps get it for less online if you buy in bulk with a couple of friends and share the shipment cost.
Verdict
As with most Dainese products, unless you're a rich fellow, you're going to find their prices a bit on the high side. You're paying for the brand somewhat, but I convince myself that I'm buying top-grade stylish motorcycle gear.
The soft and thin leather on the Full Metal RS doesn't inspire a lot of confidence, but I suppose it does its job since top level racers are wearing it.
This is actually my second pair of Full Metal RS gloves, the first pair I brought home actually had a seam already busted open at the index finger, and it had just arrived at JR as a new shipment! Dainese imposes that its distributors keep a high level of customer service, and that was probably why JR gladly exchanged them with another new pair, apologizing profusely for the inconvenience.
This experience is probably the effect of Dainese shifting their production lines outside of Italy, therefore I urge you to check your purchases before you leave the store. Overall, I'm quite pleased with the experience because I was given a new pair, no questions asked, without much hassle.
RB Rating: 9 / 10
Next up, review of the Dainese back protector!
Ride safe.
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