2022 FXR Helium Keefer Inc LE Gear Set

It has always been a dream of mine to design my own gear. I have been a gear snob for as long as I can remember. Every Christmas since I was five years old I would ask for gear even when I didn’t have a dirt bike. I just loved the look of being a motocross rider. I would dress up as a dirt bike rider for Halloween and I would subscribe to every single motocross magazine just so I could see what the top pros and test riders were wearing. Something about having a bad ass set of gear on when you’re riding just makes you feel so good. No matter what age or skill level!

When Milt, Andy, and Carson from FXR asked me if I would like to design my own gear for the 2022 gear season, I jumped at the chance and was honored. I wanted to design a set of gear that appeased to the younger and vet riders out there. As most of you know I love a clean all white set of gear so I designed mine around that. The fit, quality and the performance of this gear is some of the best I have worn. It’s a set of gear that will make you excited to ride every time you get suited up for a moto.

I would love to see photos of all of you wearing it, so please tag me on Instagram at @keeferinctesting or @keefer120. Use the code KKMX35 to save 30% off as well! Visit www.fxrracing.com to view all of the new 2022 FXR Helium lineup.

Moose Racing Agroid Gear (Pant, Jersey, Gloves)

Editors Note: Ben wrote to us via email about trying out some gear and even though we normally DO NOT use readers tests we thought it could be a cool way to give you an outside perspective on a set of gear that is not tested by myself. Ben is just your average guy that loves to ride and race on weekends. -KK

Written By: Ben Ingold

The podiums of Monster Energy AMA Supercross and FIM World Championship, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and the MX Sports Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s are typically filled with large gear brands such as Fox, Thor, Fly Racing, Troy Lee Designs and Alpinestars. However, the podiums of off-road racing series such as Grand National Cross Country, World Off Road Championship Series and Kenda AMA National Enduro series are often filled by riders wearing gear a little different than riders who stick to motocross tracks.

The Moose Racing Agroid line is marketed as a lightweight, flexible and high-quality line of gear and the jersey, pant and glove msrp for $49.95, $139.95 and $24.95 dollars, respectively. Agroid is Moose’s entry into the lightweight gear market currently filled with lines like the Fox’s Flexair, Fly Racing’s Lite, Thor’s Prime Pro. I recently purchased a set of Moose Racing’s 2021 Agroid gear from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and have ridden and raced in it multiple times. I race the 25+ C class in the Mideast Hare Scramble series located in the Carolinas and am 6 foot 2 inches and 205 pounds. I wear a size large jersey and glove with size 34 pants.

 The Agroid jersey is exceptionally light as advertised. It is made of a softer material than my pervious jersey, the Fly Racing Lite, and has a drop tail in the back to stay tucked into the pants. The sleeves on the jersey are noticeably longer than other modern jerseys in the market and taller riders may appreciate the full coverage the Agroid provides. The jersey does not have ventilated side panels like competitors, but air does flow nicely through the material.

 The Agroid pant is also lightweight and flows air well. The fit is looser than the Fly Racing Lite pant, but is still very much an athletic cut. The pant has a buckle closure in the front and two Velcro straps on the sides. The pants do their job of staying in place while allowing good mobility on the motorcycle. The fitment of the pant was true to size with plenty of room in the knee for my braces. The leather on the inside of the leg of the pant is larger than I am used to and is wearing out quicker than I had hoped. Lastly, the length of the pants is on the long side, like the jersey. 

 The Agroid glove has a Velcro closure system and the first thing I noticed was the thicker palm than competitor’s gloves. The gloves provide good grip on the handlebars and do not bunch during riding. Air flows well through the gloves and picky riders should be happy with the Agroid gloves.

 Moose Agroid is a solid set of gear and comes in at a price point below the mainstream motocross gear companies for a similar product. The jersey and pant flow air very well and do not feel like a cheap set of gear. This gear is for the blue-collar rider that does not want to break the bank but still wants the latest technology in fabrics and fit. This gear also is for the taller rider who is tired of jersey sleeves and pants coming up while riding and not fitting their larger body how they would like. Additionally, the Agriod line has a “retro” theme for two of the sets of gear and it is quite eye-catching. 

 I think Moose getting into the lightweight gear game is a good sign for the company. Moose is expanding their racing effort and their gear has also been seen recently on the Pheonix Racing Honda team in supercross and Kicker AMA Arenacross. Kyle Peters took Moose to a podium at the Arlington 2 250 West round. I look forward to the next big thing from Moose racing. 

Learn more about Moose Racing’s line of products at: https://www.mooseracing.com

Thor Terrain Off-Road Pant And Jersey

Although I ride year around, winter in Southern California is my favorite time of year because it means wet dirt, awesome traction, and prime trails. To me there’s nothing better than taking off from the truck on a cold morning into the unknown of a good trail ride. This time of year also gives me the chance to try some new off-road riding gear form various companies. Thor’s original roots may be in motocross, but they also have a long history in off-road racing and trail riding. I was pleased to see that they hadn’t thumbed their nose at us off-road riders and had a new line of off-road specific gear called “Terrain”.  I received the gear just before a good rain, and when the sun came out the next day, I was on my way to Kris’s house to put it to the test.

The Terrain jersey is made from a four-way stretch material and has abrasion resistant sleeves to minimize fraying when riding through thick brush. The paneling is vented to promote airflow, and raglan style sleeves have only one seam underneath the arm to try and minimize snagging. The pants are made with rip stop paneling in the high wear areas, use double and triple stitch seams and have full grain leather inside the knees for grip/durability. There are two external pockets with waterproof zippers and one internal hip pocket. There are waterproof zippered vents for better airflow when needed, and the waist uses a dual clinch to keep everything snug. 

The Terrain jersey has a great cut when it comes to fitment (I’m 6’ 175lb and wear a large). Unlike a lot of off-road gear that can be baggy, the Thor jersey is form fitting without making me look pregnant after having that trailside beer. The stretch material on the neck is also a comfortable fit, not being too loose or too snug.  The venting works well, almost too well when its cold out, but that’s where the Thor Jacket /Vest comes in handy (keep an eye out for a review) the material on the sleeves feels a little stiff to the touch, but when on the trail it’s nice to not worry about snagging a bush and fraying your new jersey. Foliage tends to brush off the jersey instead of snagging and caching a seam. 

When putting the Terrain pants on I noticed that the legs from the mid-thigh down were on the snug side and I really had to push to get my leg and braces (Asterisk) far enough down so that the waist would be far enough up on my hips. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and chalked it up to them being brand new and stiff since it was so cold outside. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case because I had to repeatedly fiddle with the mid leg sections of the pants due to them feeling tight enough to hinder my ability to move around on the bike. Since the pants felt sucked down in the knees, it made the waist slightly low and of course the crotch area didn’t stay high enough, so I found myself at every stop stretching out the crotchin order to situate the pants. That being said, the front button and double latch were comfortable and never came undone. Speaking of the crotch area, where there is traditionally a zipper, the Terrain pants have a panel that is always connected and just folds open or closed when buttoning or unbuttoning the front of the pants. When it comes to having a bathroom break on the side of the trail I found it hard to open the pants enough to get my junk (or stream for that matter) to clear the flap. The protective paneling worked well to fend off traditional off-road obstacles, but was no match for the new DR.D head pipe that doesn’t have a heat shield.  While the paneling may have melted, the leather inner knee area hardly showed any wear from the hot head pipe even after many close encounters. The zippered vents worked well and it was nice to have the option of opening or closing them dependent upon the temperature. Pockets are very important when it comes to off-road pants, whether it be for carrying your phone, some gel packs, or some spare tools. The placement of the pockets on the pants was less than ideal for a couple of reasons. One is that they are very hard to unzip in the sitting position, especially when wearing gloves. Secondly, that no matter what I stored in them, whenever I bent my hip, whatever was in the pockets, either limited my mobility, or jabbed into my hip/thigh.  

I didn’t get a chance to try the Terrain gloves as Thor sent me some Draft gloves that were minimal for off-road protection, but very comfortable and although minimalist, they seem to be holding up well. One thing that is always a downside to off-road gear lines, no matter the company, is that there are limited colorways, but that’s simply due to the fact that the volume of off-road gear sold doesn’t justify the cost of investing into multiple colorways.  With the Jersey coming in at $59.95 and the pants retailing for $139.95 the Terrain off-road line of gear is on the pricey side for what you’re getting. With that said, just a few refinements would greatly improve functionality and mobility of the Terrain gear. 

 -Michael Allen (michael@keeferinctesting.com)

Fly Racing Patrol Off-Road Gear

By: Michael Allen

Being a test rider I have had the opportunity to test almost every brand of gear on the market. Doing so has really shown me what works and what doesn’t when it comes to gear design, fit, function, durability and overall quality. Being that I ride moto, but really love off-road, I have found that although most moto gear looks and fits better than off-road specific gear, moto gear never seems to last as long as off-road gear. Why? Because to me off-road gear is designed to be abused out in the elements, most moto gear is not. I was looking at the Fly Racing website while getting information for my review on the new Patrol jacket (https://www.keeferinctesting.com/gear-2/2020/1/15/fly-racing-patrol-jacket) and I came across Fly’s Patrol off-road gear line. I was going to be racing the Tecate Enduro and figured this would be the perfect test to see how the gear would hold up. If you’ve ever raced Tecate you know just how hard the tight Baja single track can be on jerseys and pants. It seems as though the bushes in Tecate reach out and grab you and it almost never fails that I come home with at least a ripped jersey. 

I ordered black Patrol XC pants (they offer an over the boot version also) as well as the Patrol jersey in maroon/black, and the Patrol XC lite gloves in black. When the gear showed up, I tried it on and was very pleased that the size of the pants as well as the jersey is true to size (and also has extra adjustment both ways). I have big hands, so you know what that means (I wear big gloves) and in most cases I order XL gloves, which I did with the Patrol set, but these XL gloves seemed to be a tad on the small side. Just note that they still fit around my hands, but took a little tugging to get on. 

The Patrol jersey uses mesh, multi paneling to help with ventilation while trying not to compromise performance or durability. The cuffs have a relaxed fit in order to not squeeze your writs too tightly while riding. Unlike some off-road gear the Patrol pant/jersey wasn’t baggy and was even slightly form fitting. It wasn't super tight where it looked like Spandex, but had the perfect amount of material for my 6’ 185-ish pound frame. The jersey also features a slightly longer tail to stay tucked in and it did just that for the hundreds of miles that I logged in this gear. For being as vented as the Patrol jersey is, it has held up surprisingly well and has yet to rip. My only complaint about the jersey (and this is going to sound weird) is that it vented too well. Since I have been riding a lot in winter, the massive amount of air flow can sometimes be too much and if I started the ride without my vest, it tended to be pretty chilly when I would stop on the trail. I think it would be great if Fly offered the same style jersey with a little less ventilation for colder climates. 

The Patrol XC Lite glove offers more protection than your typical moto glove, but slightly less protection than the Patrol XC glove. Going on looks alone, they look like they wouldn’t be too comfortable because of the slightly bulbous knuckle protection, but in this case, looks are deceiving. Like I mentioned earlier, the XL gloves were a little on the small side, but once on they were comfortable and I didn’t notice the knuckle protection at all, except when it saved my hands from the harsh Baja landscape. The gloves are secured with a Velcro strap which stays in place even when smacking trees. The area of the glove where the palm meets the writs started to tear after several uses, but I think this could be due to the gloves being slightly too small for my hands and me having to pull excessively hard to get the gloves on. We will be getting larger gloves to examine this further. 

The Patrol XC pants come in either black or grey and are offered in “over the boot” or “in boot” configurations. Inside the pants is a mesh liner for comfort and added ventilation on longer or warmer rides. Also to help with airflow, there are zippered vents that can be opened or closed depending on the weather. On hotter days my “manhood” really appreciated these vents as they really do add some airflow. There are also three zippered pockets integrated into the pants, which came in handy on more than a few occasions. The two front pockets are padded, which work perfect for a cell phone while keeping it protected and easily accessible. The third pocket is just inside the waistband and is just big enough to store an ID, credit card, and some cash. The knee panels are durable leather and have yet to show any signs of wear, but can mark up your shrouds when squeezing with your knees. The knee area is roomy enough to accommodate any knee brace, but also not super baggy and awkward looking so you don’t look like you borrowed your larger riding buddy’s pants. Riding off-road often has me out on the trail for many hours and the stretch ribbed panels make the pants extremely comfortable to wear all day long. To keep the pants secured Fly uses a zipper/ratcheting strap in front and one Velcro adjuster on the side in case you need a little more adjustment (some days I’m fatter than others). Overall, I was very impressed with the pants for two main reasons. The first is that they are SUPER comfortable for long rides and have the great fit to them. The second reason is because the options of having the vents open and closed is really handy along with having very functional pockets. 

The majority of the time when I ride off-road I wear moto gear and just deal with not having some off-road gear amenities. Usually I don’t mind, but the Patrol gear has really opened my eyes to how good off-road specific gear can get. The quality and durability of the jersey is impressive and I have yet to even have a frayed thread. The extra knuckle protection from the gloves really came in handy when my hands met the rugged Baja wilderness. Most impressive of all were the pants; the comfort, quality, ruggedness, and functionality was really a surprise. The Patrol pants have now become my off-road benchmark to which I will compare any other off-road specific gear I test in the future. The only real downside to the Patrol XC gear set is that the color options are pretty limited. Off-road gear that doesn't come in many different colorways? Shocking! I know! If you ride or race off-road, I highly recommend you look into the Fly Patrol gear set and give it a try. If you have any questions about the Fly Patrol XC gear, feel free to reach out to me at Michael@keeferinctesting.com. 

Patrol XC Pants-$ 129.95

Patrol Jersey- $38.95

Patrol XC Lite Gloves- $29.95

"On My Own Time" (Fly Racing Lite Hydrogen)

Time… It’s something more precious than any amount of money. When you get older time becomes more valuable and as you all know when you get older there seems to be less time in the day to get things done. When at the track, I get asked questions like “what do you ride on your own time” or “what product do you use on your own time, when you’re not testing something”? After getting these questions asked to me several times, I thought it would be a good idea to start a monthly article on what I like to use on my own time. Even though my own riding time is rare, there are times when I just go ride to just enjoy the ride, not for the sake of testing something. 

Coming from a business standpoint, people assume that I only use or test companies products that pay me, but in most cases that is simply not true. I left Dirt Rider Magazine to create a testing media outlet that has transparency and lets people in on what is REALLY happening within the walls of a media outlet. I didn't want any hidden agendas and I didn't want to just be an editor that you can only talk to through a magazine or website. I hated being at Dirt Rider and having to talk highly about a product that simply wasn’t good, just because they were spending money with the magazine. I hated hiding behind the print advertising wall. I lost sleep over it. I would come home moody because it just didn't feel right to me. Telling the consumer to go ahead and purchase a product when it’s inferior not only ruins integrity, but it throws consumers money into the trash. It bothered me. 

I grew up with a father that didn't have a shit ton of money and he would rely on magazines to guide him into the right purchasing decisions. Hell, I barely had a relationship with him because he worked so damn much. The times we did get to spend together usually revolved around dirt bikes, so getting the correct parts put on our bikes made our time spent together less stressful on him. However, that wasn't always the case. What I didn't know (at that point in my life) was that time together, with dirt bikes, had costed him a lot of money (as well as labor). Sometimes my dad would purchase a product that he thought he or I needed, but found out later, through trial and error, that he was misinformed. It turned out it wasn't as good as stock, was a POS, or didn’t fit right, but because “the magazine” said “it was a must have” he went out and learned the hard way. When I started working for Dirt Rider I really thought we were going to take the “hard way” out of purchasing products and/or machines for readers/consumers. That theory wasn't always the way it worked out at the magazine, because we normally had some hurdles to jump through before that would happen. Little did I know in that world the edit side of things do not met eye to eye with the sales side of things at times.

Of course any business has to make money to operate, but what if you believed in a product so much that you only took those advertising dollars from the ones YOU truly believe in? That was my thought process when I was thinking of leaving the magazine to start my own deal. I wanted that motto to be my guideline when I started Keefer Inc. Testing. I knew I probably wouldn't make as much money as the other big media outlets, but I didn't care. I would rather be able to sleep at night than have the weight of steering a fellow blue collar type of rider, like my dad, into the wrong direction with a product or machine. Maybe this is a horrible business model and I am doing it all wrong, but to me it’s something I can truly do that lets me sleep well at night. I had certain companies in mind that I grew to love after testing them over the years and I knew that they had great products, so I went after those companies to see if they were interested in advertising with my brand. I wanted to push those products more on the Keefer Tested Podcast and wanted to have those companies a part of the Keefer Inc. Testing mission statement so to speak. Hell, who knows? Maybe it was that damn movie Jerry McGuire that got me inspired, but I needed to know “who’s coming with me”. 

Now I won’t sit here and tell you that every single company or product that I like has come on board to advertise with us, but that doesn't stop me from using said product. I would rather spend my own money on something that works than get something free that doesn’t. If a product is good, I am not scared to go purchase it myself, for my own use, on my own time, and of course let you all know about it. If it isn't a great product, I want you to know about that as well. I am not here to bash companies products when they are not great, but I will let them know about it so they can try to make it better. Not everything works well on every bike or body and that company has the right to know that they need to be better. Just because we take advertising dollars from one company doesn't mean we will not test other competing brands and give you the straight scoop on if that’s a great product or not. We are trying to create an open line of communication between the consumer and the media testing world. Yes, our time is valuable, and so is yours, but if we can give you quality feedback that can help you smile, once you’ve used what you've purchased, it’s a win win situation.

So now that you have some background on why I am typing these articles, here is the first installment of “On My Own Time”. We will be diving into one company/product a month, some that advertise and some that don’t, but that doesn’t matter to me, because if I am using it on my own time, it could be worth yours as well. If you have any questions on any product you see here on keeferinctesting.com you know I will do my best to help you. Simply email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com and I will do my damndest to steer you in the correct direction. 

Fly Racing Lite Hydrogen Pant/Jersey

Fly Racing has been a part of Keefer Inc. Testing since the beginning. Why? A couple reasons. It’s because they have a great product and also the people behind WPS/Fly Racing are genuine enthusiasts of our sport. I have been a fan of the Lite Hydrogen gear since their pant was redesigned in 2018. That pant incorporated the BOA system. Fly Racing is one of about three gear companies that I would spend my own money on (we will talk about the other two companies in a future “On My Own Time” articles) and below are the reasons why I like this product so much.

I am extremely happy with the BOA system on the Lite Hydrogen pant. Every time I wear another set of gear I am looking to tighten the BOA reel, but quickly realize that there isn't one available. If there was one thing I don’t like about other minimalistic pants is that they can be too stretchy in the rear yolk panel while accelerating out of corners. That can leave me with an untucked jersey as well as pants sagging down by lap three. I don’t have an ass! If you have an ass, maybe you DO NOT have this problem, but for my flat ass this is noticeable quickly. With the BOA system all I have to do is turn in the reel and tighten, so that my pant is securely locked to my waist. If you want to loosen the waist area you simply pull the BOA reel outwards and it releases the tension on the pant. The Lite Hydrogen pant has held up great against my knee braces (especially the leather) and although this is a very lightweight pant it has superb durability. The Lite Hydrogen pant is not as light as the FOX FlexAir, but has held together better over time for me and ventilates very well. 

If you are a bigger guy don't fear because Fly sells the Lite Hydrogen pant in up to a size 38. I have seen a pair of 38’s on my large sized buddy and it doesn't look abnormal at all. Also chances are if you’re a size 40 the 38 is stretchy enough that you will be able to fit without any issues. When comparing the FlexAir and Lite Hydrogen cuts, the Fly pant is not quite as tight, has slightly more stretch, and doesn't hug against your legs as much. This left me with a little more room for an array of knee braces that I test. The colors that Fly came out with in 2018 is so much better than the colors they had in 2017. Bright yet clean colorways are what I prefer and that is exactly what the Lite Hydrogen is. Although I am not sure Fly recommends putting your pant and jersey in the dryer, I have done so on many occasions and the BOA reel sticks works flawlessly. Over the years the Lite Hydrogen pant continues to evolve and be one of the leaders in comfort and durability. It's tough to get a lightweight pant that can last more than a few months, but these suckers have held up to the abuse that I can give. 

The Lite Hydrogen jersey ventilates very well and the low profile/open cuff design is one of my favorite aspects of this jersey. Sometimes when you get an open cuff design the jersey will ride up your arms during a moto, but the Lite Hydrogen jersey’s cuff will stay in place and not go all Mike Alessi on you. The athletic cut of the jersey is on the snug side, but again not as tight as a FlexAir jersey. It’s important to note that the Lite Hydrogen is not as tight as the FlexAir for the bigger dudes with some extra weight in the belly region. Don’t fear the spare tire because Fly offers a 2X and I promise you will not look all EMO with a snug fitting jersey. Once you slip the jersey on you can feel how soft it is as Fly Racing’s material will not irritate your skin. You will also have enough stretch for an under protector if you choose to wear one (which I did on most occasions). Mrs. Keefer has washed the pant and jersey several times and the colors have not yet faded or dulled out. I also liked that Fly updated their collar in 2019 to a lycra collar that doesn't grab a hold of your neck like a WWE wrestler. 

I remember when Fly Racing wasn't even in my thought process when it came to picking out gear to wear on my own time. Back in 2011-2013 I always dreaded having to wear Fly’s stuff for photos because it was so hot, baggy, and just didn’t look that great. Fly has evolved their line of gear and have made the Lite Hydrogen one of my favorite sets of gear to wear “On My Own Time”. 

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/riding-gear/fly-racing-lite-hydrogen-jersey-p/?ref=1009

2020 Fly Racing Summer Camp

For 2019 Christmas morning came on July 24th. Why? Today I got to ride in the new FLY Racing 2020 line of gear and for those of you that know, this is a very big deal to me. FLY Racing has been putting on a “Summer Camp” to showcase their new 2020 racewear that will be available on August 1st. Fly Racing has been a huge supporter of the Pulp MX Show and The Keefer Tested Podcast and they kindly inited us to Boise, Idaho once again to try the new threads and also do fun other activities like white water rafting as well as some trail riding with Damon “Freakin” Bradshaw! 

Summer Camp kicked off on Tuesday night where FLY catered a dinner on the rooftop of a place called Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) where we go to see the new line of FLY gear for the very first time. Riders like Andrew Short, Weston Peick, Damon Bradshaw and a host of media outlets were on hand to enjoy the festivities. The JUMP venue had a long slide that winded down five stories, but with dirt bikers that meant one thing… Who could get down the fastest. Racers will be racers. Slide times (AKA lap times) were on tap to see who could get down the quickest and most took the competition serious. I never did get the final results, but you can almost guarantee some sort of racing will find its way in the mix if there is enough downtime. Dinner, drinks, slides, desserts, and slide times go hand in hand.

Wednesday was designated the moto day as we got to spin some laps in the new gear at a facility called Skyline MX Park. When I pulled up to the facility it reminded me of a track that was on the Canadian Nationals for a while called Regina. It was muddy in the morning, turned tacky for a while, then went into straight hard pack mode in the the afternoon. FLY left gear bags full of new 2020 gear lined up for us media dorks plus had a fleet of motorcycles for us to ride. I am usually not a an all black kind of gear guy, but to my surprise, the all black/white/hi vis set of Lite Hydrogen that FLY put out for 2020 is sexy. Can I say sexy? Well I just did because I looked damn good and I felt damn good wearing the new colorway. I haven't spent a ton of time on the new FLY Formula helmet as of late, but after wearing it again (on this day) it made me realize how comfortable this helmet really is. It is super light weight, ventilates well, has a very plush liner/cheek pad feel, plus the looks are starting to grow on me. I mean let’s be real here… This set of gear that I had on today, along with the Husqvarna Rockstar Edition I was riding could have won some Best Dressed and Lit Kit awards. No lie… The BOA reel is Zach Osborne’s favorite thing in his life next to his family (just listen to his podcast) and the Lite Hydrogen along with the EVO line has the BOA incorporated into the pant. It works and I am huge fan of it as well. Maybe not as much as Zach, but it’s pretty damn good! 

The FLY gear line will be available to the public on August 1st and even though they didn't come out with an all white set of gear for 2020, I will have to say they did a damn good job with all the lines this year. The Kinetic line has a very clean blue and white set that I will be wearing for the 2020 YZ450F intro and the EVO DST line has a camo green that I am all in on with the KX250! None of the 2020 fit has changed, so if you have heard me talking about how well the gear fits on my podcast then you can guarantee the 2020 gear will be just as good. From big guys to D&R dudes, FLY Racing has a fit you will like! Trust me. 

Another bad ass thing that I witnessed was Damon “Freakin” Bradshaw wringing the shit out of his Gas Gas 250 two-stroke on the MX track. I usually pride myself on riding the most when we go to these type of events, but Damon had me handled by far. The dude absolutely hauls ass still, but more importantly, doesn't look like an old man doing it! He is smooth and moves around on the bike well. Weston Peick and Bradshaw were ripping around on the track at the end of the day and Bradshaw wasn't making it easy on Peick, let me tell you. This sparked up a debate with Matthes and I on what 90’s rider would be the fastest today if those riders were all on the same bike? Riders like Bradshaw, Dubach, Ward, Lechien, and Matasevich, RJ. Who would be the best? My money was on Dubach the night before, but that was before I saw Bradshaw ride the day after! Holy crap! The dude rails and still has that pissed off mentality when he rides! I Iove it! Off the track the guy is just chill and the most down to earth, mellow person I know. 

Tomorrow we head out to go white water rafting so say a prayer for me! Hope to see you guys in Washougal for the debut of the gear! 

2020 Alpinestars Gear Intro/First Impression

New gear season is upon us and Alpinestars had us out to ride in a couple sets of their latest offerings for 2020. There was some heavy hitters out at Milestone MX Park riding along side all of us media dorks. Factory riders like Justin Barcia, Jason Anderson, Ricky Brabec and movie moguls like Dax Shepard as well as Channning Tatum were on hand to rip around the Riverside, California track. The good news for you consumers out there is that the Alpinestars product line will be available at a few select North American distributors for 2020, including Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and BTO Sports. I hear a lot of people saying that you can’t get Alpinestars gear here in the states, but in reality it has been available online directly at alpinestars.com for a couple years now. So there are no excuses on why you can’t order yourself up some now! Instead of boring you with the happenings of the day, I will just break down what my first impressions are of the 2020 Alpinestars gear. 

I got a chance to ride in the 2020 SuperTech pant and jersey so here are some statements from Alpinestars about the product and a quick first impression from myself.

From Alpinestars:

Supertech is Alpinestars innovative Motocross apparel line, designed for superior dirt riding performance. Featuring an innovative performance fit design, a chassis consisting of advanced stretch material and an ultra-lightweight construction with a simple, clean design and an aggressive look, the Supertech Pant incorporates a host of race-proven technologies for comfort and performance-winning pedigree in Supercross and Motocross. 

• Meticulously designed to a new pattern keeping the pant perfectly positioned while riding aggressively and offering unrivalled levels of movement and flexibility.

• Main shell extensively constructed (80%) from advanced stretch fabric for freedom of movement. Textile fiber composition specifically developed by Alpinestars to offer high levels of mechanical properties, such as strength, elasticity and durability.

• Heavy (900 Denier) reinforcements on seat area provide seam strength, durability and critical coverage.

• 450 Denier knee panel for durability and freedom of movement.

• Strategically positioned stretch mesh inserts offer cooling comfort and freedom of movement.

• Localized perforations for enhanced airflow.

• Leather panels on inner leg provide heat resistance, grip, comfort and durability.

• Ratchet waist closure system with two flaps and a front metal fly
hook offers a precise, personalized and secure fit.

• PU reinforced knee area and on back.

• Leg cuff features stretch mesh insert for easy on and off.

• Silicon print on inner waist to keep the pants in position.

With a new performance design for an athletic fit, a chassis consisting entirely of advanced stretch mesh and an ultra-lightweight construction, the Supertech Jersey is Alpinestars lightest ever MX jersey, featuring a host of race-proven technologies such as the innovative floating arm construction for superior freedom of movement and an extended back panel to maintain a flawless riding fit. 

• Ultra-lightweight advanced fabric main construction for moisture-wicking and performance fit. Jersey features a more fitted, lightweight design.

• Chassis consists of stretch mesh chassis with open mesh inserts on arms and side torso for high levels of cooling airflow.

• Innovative, fully floating arm construction offers excellent freedom of movement.

• Neck and sleeves feature fully tape-welded hems for reduced weight and improved levels of comfort.

• Pre-curved sleeves for maximum comfort and performance fit.

• Extended rear design helps maintain a perfect riding fit.

• Sublimated fade-resistant graphics.

So what exactly was my first impression of the new Alpinestars 2020 SuperTech gear? I was worried that the pant would be too snug, but to my surprise the size 32 pant fits well and is true to size. The pant is an athletic fit yet is stretchy enough to be comfortable to move around on the bike out on the track. The ventilation of the pant is what you’d expect from a minimalist type of pant yet the knee coverage proved to be thicker than other minimalist pant I have tried lately. I am not a huge fan of the front metal fly hook, but it is something that could come in handy in case of a zipper failure. I may have to get used to latching the hook before ratcheting the buckle closure system. I also noticed immediately that the leather in the knee is very grabby against the shroud area of the machine. While gripping with my knees in corners I could feel the leather almost feel sticky, which was odd, but also great for gripping the middle of the bike. 

The SuperTech jersey is snug! It’s stretchy, but just know that the arms are very athletic, almost compression-ish. The SuperTech jersey is right up my alley because it conforms to my body, makes me feel streamlined, and is super thin/ventilated feeling. I do know that larger riders may not like this feel, but for my size 32/Large sized frame it’s great. I will say that once you have sweated in the jersey, it can get a little sticky to the skin when trying to take it off your body, so that can be tricky. The cooling effect of the jersey when perspiring is very good because of the materials the jersey is made up with. There are only a couple jerseys out there today that do as good of job of cooling you down and the SuperTech is one of those jerseys. 

Overall, I think Alpinestars really nailed the colorways of the 2020 gear lineup. Lots of solid colors along with clean lines make for the best looking Alpinestars gear that I have seen yet. I will be doing a more thorough review of the gear that will involve more of the durability side of things to see if the price tag of $229.95 for the pant and $89.95 for the jersey is worth it. Stay tuned… 

The Wife And Dax

Fly Lite Hydrogen Gear Set

Having been a contributor for many years at a publication (that is now worthless) as well as testing with Kris over the last two years; it’s safe to say I’ve worn many different gear brands and styles. That being said, for some reason I had never worn anything from Fly Racing until last year when I got their Patrol jacket which quickly became my favorite off-road jackets/vests of all time. After telling Kris how much I liked the jacket he said I should try a set of their gear so I ordered up a pant, jersey, and set of gloves from their Lite Hydrogen line and patiently waited for it to arrive at my door step. 

Let me preface this review with the fact that although I ride a lot of moto with Kris, I also do a lot of trail riding as well as off-road racing, so I tend to really put sets of gear through the both sides of the fence. I got my set of red Lite Hydrogen gear and one of the first things I noticed when getting dressed was the fit. I’m a little picky when it comes to how gear fits as I don’t want the LBZ look, but at the same time I don’t necessarily have the figure of a super model, so skin tight gear is almost as bad as wearing baggies. The large jersey and 32” pants contoured my 6” 180 pound frame perfectly without making me suck in my beer belly (yes, I like beer, sorry Keefer). The jersey is slightly looser than the pant, which is fine with me because I like some air between my body and the jersey. This also allows me to wear my chest protector under the jersey without looking like a football player. The jersey has mesh ventilation panels, is laser cut, and has a slightly longer tail, so you don’t look like Jason Anderson when on the track. 

Having a slightly slimmer fitting pant is also fine with me because the fabric stays contoured without being too tight and uncomfortable. Being more form fitting also doesn’t leave any baggy material to get caught on shrouds or other parts of the bike which can impede your ability to feel comfortable on the bike. The pant material although having a contour fit seems to still be able to breathe and also has a very durable knee area, which hasn’t shown any signs of breaking down yet. One of the coolest features on the Lite Hydrogen pant is the BOA system, which gives you another way to keep the pants snug. It also kind of gives you that custom fit as everyone is made different right?  On the back of the pants, along the waist line, there is a BOA reel which can be clicked out and turned clockwise to tighten the waist of the pants. One off-road reason that I like this system is that when I wear my fanny pack (yes, I’m that guy) the extra adjustment lets me keep the pants tight so they don’t slowly fall down on a long trail ride. Boom! 

The Lite glove is a minimalist glove, which for me makes it very comfortable; although it’s no secret that minimalist gloves don’t provide the most protection off-road, it works out ok for me because I am a hand guard type of guy. The palm of the glove is made from perforated Clarino material and has a reinforced thumb area which have both lasted with no signs of tearing. On the top of the hands is a spandex material, which is very comfortable, but doesn’t protect from bush and shrub slaps when off-roading. 

I’ve been wearing this gear for a few months now and to be 100% honest it has been really good for both aspects of my riding! I only thought this gar would be good when I rode moto, but it has been great when I am hitting the trails as well. The only real downfall that I’ve found is the lack of protection of the back of the glove. That being said, the gloves were never meant to be off-road gloves (Fly makes a whole line of glove options for any discipline you may ride).  With the price breaking down as follows: Jersey-$49.95, Pant- $169.95, Gloves- $21.95, I think the Lite Hydrogen gear set is a great value for the hard earned dollar that you’re going to spend. If you have any more questions about the Fly Light Hydrogen gear, feel free to reach out to me at Michael@keeferinctesting.com. 

2019 Fox FlexAir Pant And Jersey

Fox has been a staple in the motocross world for as long as I can remember. Being a little seven year old high desert kid I can still remember seeing my heroes wearing Fox Racing gear. I used to ride around my house, on my YZinger, with my trusty Pawtector’s on pretending I was racing the Coors Light Supercross Challenge at Anaheim Stadium. Fast forward 35 years and Fox is bigger than just motocross, but have stayed true to their motocross heritage. The FlexAir is Fox’s high performance, race driven set of gear that you see top riders like Ken Roczen, Ryan Dungey, and Austin Forkner wear every weekend. I have reviewed the FlexAir set a couple years ago, but I wanted to re-visit the new updated version to see how it performs on my body and track. 

The FlexAir pant utilizes Fox’s RAP (Rider Attack Position) construction for a precise fit on the bike, a rigid waist system to firmly hold the pant in place, a four- way stretch TruMotion main body fabric that is said to provide increased mobility on the machine, laser perforation in key areas for enhanced airflow, a dyed main body fabric with premium heat transfer logo treatments, the elimination of internal liner is said to reduce weight and heat, slim knee construction provides a sleek performance fit over braces or guards, a double layer knee system for durability against knee braces and guards, critically taped seams to help reduce chaffing, and there are hip pads that are available, but sold separately. 

The FlexAir jersey incorporates a lightweight construction for complete freedom of movement, new for 2019 is an athletic fit sleeve with laser perforation for enhanced airflow, a TruDri fabric provides a soft, lightweight fit as well as moisture wicking, a dyed main body fabric with premium heat transfer logo treatments, a bonded collar to reduce chaffing, and lastly a bonded stretch cuff provides a slim athletic fit.

Now that some of the details are out of the way, here are a few things that I wanted to share with you all about the Fox FlexAir set of gear: 

The Flex Air pant is an athletic style pant that fits tight/snug over my knee brace/knee area, but remains super stretchy. I am able to move around on the bike freely and less restricted than other non athletic type pants. The word “snug” doesn’t have to mean “restrictive” or “uncomfortable”. Having a snug fit against your body can help make you feel streamlined while riding. Think of bicycle racers and their skin suits they wear for time trials. They wear tighter fitting clothes to cut through the air when tucked into their attack position. Motocross is not that much different, except we are flying through the air and going much faster speeds. No media testing outlet ever really talks about this, but when going back and forth between athletic and non-athletic cut gear you can feel a difference in drag (especially at speed). The updated closure system is like having a half belt around your waist with Fox’s two-piece design. When you cinch down on the buckle it feels like the waist area is firmly secure all the way around your waist, not just the front area. When I move around on the bike with the older style FlexAir pant, at times, the pant slipped down and this led to my jersey untucking as well as having to deal with unwanted pant slippage. However, with this closure system my jersey stayed tucked in and the FlexAir pant stayed around my waist where it belonged. The taped seams inside the pant are great and I wish every manufacturer would do this because you never have get snags when pulling the pants up. Not only do taped seams help when putting the pant on, it helps when moving around on the bike and keeps the pant lightweight feeling. Fox’s “RAP” system really does work and is not just a gimmick. The FlexAir pant bends with my natural motion on the bike and doesn’t bunch up near the leather of the knee area when I am seated on the machine. Not to mention that the leather knee is extremely durable for a minimalistic type pant. I have endured a few weeks of durability testing with the FlexAir pant and it has held up well against my CTi knee braces. The FlexAir fit is true to size and has a little extra room with how stretchy the pant is in the waist. So if you're a size 33, a 32 will work just fine. I usually wear either an Asterisk ZeroG pant or Leatt knee brace pant and the fit isn’t too snug around the waist. 

The FlexAir jersey has one big change to it and that is with the sleeve/arm portion of the jersey! If you are looking for ventilation look no further than this jersey right here! it is THE BEST on the market (besides the Shift Blue Label jersey) with ventilation and a lightweight feel. No other jersey compares to it! The FlexAir jersey felt like it had an overall shorter cut length arm when on the bike, which I approved of, but if you're a taller rider (6’2 and up) you may notice a shorter overall sleeve length than normal. The perforated sleeves ventilate insanely well, but when sweating, it does turn the material on the sleeve kind of crusty once your sweat dries. The feeling isn't a harsh or course feel to the skin, but it does change once you have started to sweat. The FlexAir jersey is athletic cut, but not skin tight like other performance-based jerseys. Hey all you bigger dudes out there!!!! If you're a little overweight and have a belly, don't fret, the FlexAir jersey will not show ALL of your curves in your stomach. I have a couple fat rolls and it’s not even noticeable, so don’t stress! The updated cuff also doesn't get stretched out like the old FlexAir jersey over time and although it is somewhat tight when sliding over your hand, it’s very comfortable when riding (and isn't restrictive). The FlexAir jersey feels so light, it’s almost like wearing nothing, so be forewarned of roost if you’re a non-chest protector kind of guy. It’s super thin! Most underprotector’s work well with the FlexAir jersey because it is so stretchy. I had zero problems with movement on the machine with an underprotector on. Durability of the jersey is superb, but DO NOT go woods riding with this jersey and expect it to last. Tree branches will rip this jersey! This is a motocross only type of material.

The cost of the 2019 FlexAir pant is $229.95 and $99.95 for the jersey. This is a steep price, but you're getting what you pay for with the Fox FlexAir stuff. It has proved to be durable for a minimalistic type of gear and Fox offers a wide variety of colorways to keep anyone happy. If you’re looking for ventilation along with mobility on the bike, this set of gear is hard to beat. You can check out the complete line of Fox products over at foxracing.com.

If you have any questions about this test please feel free to email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com 

Answer Racing Trinity Pant And Jersey Product Review

Yes, I know that we are in 2019 gear season, but sometimes there is a set of 2018 gear that goes underneath the radar. The Trinity line of gear from Answer Racing to me is one of the most underrated sets of gear there was in 2018. I like an athletic fit that is stretchy, ventilates well, is lightweight and that is exactly what the Trinity pant and jersey is. I wanted to get you all some on the bike details on a set of gear that may have gone underneath your 2018 gear radar as well. 

Some of the key features of the Trinity pant are:

– 320 denier multi-weave 4-way stretch nylon knee panels.

– Durable, 900 denier poly seat panel.

– Drum-dyed and de-bossed leather inner knee panels.

– Interwoven aramid inner leg heat barriers.

– Mesh lower leg panel allows for unobstructed air flow.

– Adjustable internal waist fitting system.

– Integrated knee and thigh TPR system with mesh-air flow panels.

– Laser cut ventilation panels.

– Strategically engineered stretch channels add support without limiting flexibility.

– Double and triple stitching throughout. 

When you put the Answer Trinity pants on you will notice the snug yet stretchy nature of the panels and that it contours to your legs nicely. The Trinity pant fits snugly over my knee brace/knee area, but still remains super stretchy for me to move around freely on the machine. The Trinity snap/button closure system is a nice touch and has been easy to get in an out of, but never has failed on me while riding. When I move around on the bike the Trinity pant’s rear yolk panel wasn't so stretchy that it pulled my pants down and let my jersey escape. The rear of the pant stayed in place and kept everything that I wanted, tucked in. I also really like how light weight this pant is when I ride, especially when it is baking-balls-hot here in the desert. The pant ventilates well enough where I can feel a slight breeze in key areas when I am putting in my long motos on the track. The best feature of this pant is how durable it is for a minimalistic design and how thin the material feels on your body. I have hit creosote trees, had violent roost hit me, took some diggers in this stuff and it has held up very well without tearing. The seams stay in tact and that leather inner knee panels are very resilient.   

It also should be noted that the Trinity fit is true to size and has a little extra room with how stretchy the pant is in the waist. So if you're a size 33, a 32 will work just fine. It is a little tight in the crotchial region however and will show your man goods off a little more than you would like. No you will not have to worry about your fat roll busting out of the pants so you're safe there! 

Some key features of the Trinity jersey are:

– Strategically located laser cut ventilation holes.

– Minimalistic, spandex stretch neck panel.

– Articulated panels in targeted flex zones.

– Lightweight, athletic fitting body form.

– Ergonomic shaped front panel minimizes bulk while in the riding position.

– Spandex stretch dart on sleeve opening provides a comfortable, tailored fit.

– Lightweight, welded cuff openings with Spandex darts to help maintain shape.

– Fade-resistant, sublimated panels and graphics.

If there is one thing that I am picky about in a jersey it is the arm length. I DO NOT like a long, baggy sleeve where it bunches up at the end, near my glove. That annoys the crap out of me and it creates for less airflow which gets you hot quicker when riding. I love the taped seams on the cuff because the taped seams keep their integrity and do not stretch out. The Trinity jersey also ventilates fairly well and is also more of an athletic cut fit, but not so tight where you see every little imperfection in your mid drift. The collar rides up a little high on your neck, but the material is soft enough that it doesn't annoy or chafe my skin. The Trinity jersey has a simple clean look and has the correct sizing. You will not ned to work about getting a larger sized jersey because it’s an athletic fit. It’s snug enough, but its stretch enough where you're comfortable on the machine! 

For $199.95 for the pant and $74.95 for the jersey it is right in that premium gear price range, but I like the fact that it’s durable and will not fall apart after a few rides. If you’re in the market for some athletic/performance fitting gear, the Answer Trinity pant and jersey is a viable option.

Shift MX Blue Label LE Pant And Jersey

I probably could start a Keefer Inc. Gear Testing website only. That’s how much I love testing and nitpicking all different types of motocross gear. I get a lot of gear through my doors here, but only a handful of those sets of gear I would actually purchase myself. When I received a set of Shift’s new Blue label LE gear I was excited to try it since I have never worn the Blue label stuff. Immediately when I went to pick it up I was shocked on how light the stuff was. It literally felt lighter than any other pant or jersey I have worn to date.

The Blue Label Limited Edition pant combines premium fabrics, advanced technology and a fresh new graphic. Shift designed the 3LUE (that’s how Shift spells it, but we are going with “Blue” in this test, ok?) Label pant specifically for their factory dudes, but wanted to pass down what they built for them on to us mere mortals. Built on a Cordura Stretch Nylon chassis, the pant is designed for mobility, an ultra-lightweight feel and durability. Not easy to do! Its main purpose is to create a streamlined fit for less drag and improved movement on the bike. The lower leg consists of an extremely lightweight and breathable Nylon/Elastane for comfort and breathability inside the boot. Taped interior seams reduce restriction and overall weight. 

The Blue Label Limited Edition jersey retains a streamlined fit and minimalistic wrist openings for reduced drag and restriction. It has a 4-way stretch upper torso and sleeves, so it virtually disappears while you're on the bike. For sweat management, the jersey features TruDri fibers and perforated sleeves, deigned so the rider can stay cool, dry and comfortable on the bike during long motos.

Now that you got the gist of what is going on with this stuff, let’s get to the nuts and bolts of this test….I am not going to sit here and tell you how great this stuff was right off the bat. Honestly, it took me a few times to appreciate what Shift has done with the Blue label pant and jersey. When I first put the Blue label pant and jersey on it literally felt like I was wearing almost nothing! It was a completely different feeling and weird sensation to me. I have worn Fox’s FlexAir gear, Thor’s PrimeFit, FXR’s Revo and Alpinestars Techstar stuff and nothing comes close to how light the Blue label pant and jersey feels on the body! It was also awkward how the Blue label pant’s zipper is set off to one side. There was nothing wrong with the way it was designed, it’s just an awkward way to zip up your pants when you have been zipping your pants up one way for 30 plus years. The Blue label pant has a snug, but very stretchy fit that allows you to really be mobile on the machine. The sizing is true to size and the waist is so stretchy that if you’re a size 33 you're good to go with a size 32 pant. The seams on the yolk of the pant are slightly annoying at first and take some time to get used to, but once you have put a few rides in, it becomes a natural feeling. You will feel the seams when you're sitting on the seat and that is what feels foreign to me. Usually the seams on other sets of pants aren't there or not noticeable while riding, but the Shift Blue label seams are noticeable right away. The yolk (or butt area) of the pant can pull down with pleated/gripper seats when accelerating out of corners so make sure to tighten the ratchet style belt snugly to combat this. The leather on the knee area of the Blue label pant is not only tough, but provides excellent grip against the machine. For how lightweight the Blue label pant is, it can take some abuse. For an athletic fit pant, it’s not so tight where you will have trouble with knee braces fitting inside. This pant stretches remarkably well and is very breathable on the track (more on all this in a moment). 

The Blue label jersey is thin and stretchier than any other jersey on the market today (minus the FlexAir jersey). The perforated sleeves are genius and I fell in love with the way the jersey fit on my body. The amount of air flow and breathability this jersey has is unreal. It’s tough to get a perforated sleeve that doesn't feel harsh or course on your body. I have worn plenty of perforated jerseys before and they chafe the crap out of my skin! The Blue label jersey’s sleeves are soft, pliable and fits sungly against your arms. I can’t begin to describe to you in this test how comfortable the sleeves are. The neck area has plenty of room and doesn't ride high up on your neck, yet doesn't let dirt inside the jersey very easily. As stretchy as the pants are I was shocked on how well the jersey stayed tucked in. I am not a big “No Tucks Given” kind of guy, so keeping ‘er’ all inside the pant is more my style and the Blue label jersey’s tail is long enough to stay “Tucks Given”. I also like the fact that the jersey accommodates underprotectors well and is stretchy enough to still feel comfortable. 

This jersey is so comfortable when riding. Perforated arms are a blessing. 

One thing I have never noticed before, until recently, is how much better I feel on the bike when I have an athletic, streamlined fit pant and jersey. The Shift Blue label gear is the most streamlined fit I have put on to date. Riding back to back on the same day (with other sets of gear) you are able to really feel less drag when hauling ass around the track. When scrubbing jumps or accelerating down the straights I am able to feel more aerodynamic with the Shift Blue label gear. I honestly thought the word “streamlined” when talking about motocross gear wasn't a big deal and kind of “gimmicky” until I actually rode several days back to back (with the Shift Blue label gear against other sets of gear). Now does that mean you’re willing to pay $229.95 for the pant and $89.95 for the jersey? If you’re a weekend warrior probably not! However, if you're a serious racer type and want the most out of each race, I personally would pay money for this set of gear. Shift makes a White label line that is much more affordable for the weekend warrior that isn't looking to spend over $300.00 on a set of gear. 

The seams on the yolk of the pant take some getting used to. 

“Hey Keefer what about durability for that price”? I am fairly abusive with gear and after several long test days wearing the Blue label stuff I can sit here and tell you it’s pretty damn impressive for how lightweight it is. Now you can’t go and hit trees and shit and expect the stuff not to rip. It will! If you're sticking to the motocross track and you’re the guy getting roosted in the middle of the pack, don't stress, it will hold up! The hinges on my knee braces have yet to wear the leather down after several hours of riding and the colorway is black so it stays looking decent for a longer duration of time. I am usually not a huge fan of a black colorway, but if you tie it in with some colorful boots and gloves it could make it pop some! 

The Blue label pants have held up extremely well for how light and thin they are. 

Overall, it took me a while to get used to how lightweight and thin the Blue label pant and jersey were, but once I went back to back against other sets of gear on a hot day, there was no way I was taking this stuff off. It was like an air conditioner on my body. Even if you're a bigger dude and not all “weiner and ribs” you can still look good in this set of gear! Don't be scared, try it, but be ready to spend some coin! 

If you have any questions about this set of gear please feel free to email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com.  

Thor Sentinel GP Roost Deflector Product Review

I haven't been on the chest/roost protector bandwagon since I was 18 years old. My dad used to make me wear one when I was young, but once I turned 18 and I started paying my own way to race, I thought I would try not wearing one at the track. Well.... That turned into not ever wearing a chest protector because I got used to all the freedom I had on the bike by not wearing one. Throughout my professional career I didn't wear any chest protection and luckily for me the difference of not having one on never came into play. I would occasionally wear something under my jersey to protect my chest from roost when I raced, but if the dirt was soft enough, I would just raw dog it for the most part. Fast forward to 2018 where my own son now sits and asks me, “Dad, how come you don’t wear a chest protector and I always have to when I ride”? Crap, that little sucker got me! I really had no answer for him. So in order set an example for my kid and try to promote better safety, I went searching to get back on the chest protector bandwagon and now I find myself here. 

 I can tell you that I have tested a lot of chest/roost protectors over the course of 15 years with Dirt Rider, but I recently only came across a couple that I could actually live/ride with. The Thor Sentinel GP Roost Deflector comes in six different colors, three size options and will cost you $129.95. The Thor Sentinel is a lightweight certified stone shield that is constructed with energy dispersing molded panels and is a level 1 back protector constructed to reduce impact energy transmission. The Sentinel has an adjustable elastic torso strap with a ratcheting buckle closure that comes with strategically placed ventilation ports for maximum cooling. Its chassis has a soft liner molded for maximum comfort and also supports a back strap kit (just in case you want to remove the back panel) and ID panel that is sold separately. The Sentinel stone shield is tested and certified according to European Standard and the back protector is also tested and certified according to the European Standard. 

Note: Stand by for the AMA to step in at some point and require all AMA sanctioned events to have some sort of standardized chest/back protection rule in place soon.  

Sizing is true to form as I wear a size medium/large in the Sentinel, which is normal for my 170 pound 6’0 frame. I wasn't all that excited (on the inside) about setting a good safety example for my kid, but once I slipped the Sentinel on over my jersey, I started to re-think my fatherly decision. The Sentinel hugs your body and wraps around just enough to where it feels like it’s a part of your body. I was also impressed by the lightweight feel of the Sentinel and that it had enough ventilation for me not to bake out in the desert heat. I love that it has a ratchet style closure system and not a clip on style system as well. With the ratchet style system I can really feel the closure system start to hug around my torso and the Sentinel doesn't flop around on my body while riding. The soft shoulder pads don't do much for protection, but in this case for me, I do not mind the lack of plastic protection up on the tops of my shoulders. The downside to the soft shoulder foam padding is that it can rub the skin around your neck a little raw. If the collar of your jersey doesn't go up far enough around the neck area it can be bothersome. Although I didn’t have this problem on my Sentinel, my chest protection, pot-stirring son Aden did get a little chafing around the neck (from the foam padding moving across his skin). The Thor protector also is neck brace friendly as it accepts the Leatt and Atlas braces that I had on hand to test with the Sentinel. 

There are only two things that can get me to wear a chest protector. One is my son telling me he wants me to be safer and the other is the chest protector has to be very, very comfortable. It can’t hinder my movement on the bike and must be cool enough to where I am not hot as hell when riding. The Sentinel checked all those boxes for me, but it took me a while to find a chest protector that fit my way of moving around on the bike. I figured I would pass on the information to all of you about how comfortable the Thor Sentinel GP Roost Protector is and how I have come to really enjoy wearing this when I ride. Yes, even when I wear other sets of gear besides Thor, you will now know that there could be a Thor Sentinel GP Roost Deflector under my jersey. Yes, it can be worn under the jersey as well so you don't have to worry about mix matching while riding. You’re safe! You can buy some Thor gear (Prime Fit is my favorite out of what Thor offers) and wear the Sentinel over the jersey like me or if you’re wearing another brand of gear you can wear it under. 

Thanks Aden for bugging me enough to wear some protection. Your dad is getting up there in years and I guess I need to start dressing for the crash and not the ride. Thanks Thor for making a nice chest protector that isn't bulky and protects me well. You can check the Sentinel out at www.thormx.com. 

If you have any questions about this test feel free to email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com 

Leatt GPX 4.5 Pant, GPX 4.5 Lite Jersey And GPX 2.5 X-Flow Gloves

Leatt may be known mostly for their groundbreaking neck brace invention that changed the way most people think about rider/neck safety, but in the past couple years their off-road riding gear has been making a name of its own. We recently received a box full of Leatt protection pieces, including knee brace pants, knee braces, a helmet and some gear. Stay tuned for reviews on the other Leatt products, but for now let’s talk gear. Leatt sent us a 4.5 pant, 4.5 lite jersey and the 2.5 X-Flow glove to test, so we obliged and put it through some wear and tear. Being that California hasn't experienced winter yet this year I was just fine with testing a more lightweight, vented gear set in mid-January. Don't be jealous Minnesota peeps! 

When it comes to jerseys, I feel as though they can be over priced at times, but the GPX 4.5 Lite jersey comes in at only $39.99, which doesn’t hit the wallet too hard. Don’t let the fact that the 4.5 gear is Leatt’s price point (AKA less money) gear scare you away, the jersey is nicer than some other companies high end jerseys that we have tried in the past. The Leatt 4.5 jersey is made from Moisturecool 3D stretch material and isn’t just a baggy one size fits no one fit. In fact the fit is what I normally like in a jersey. It has a precise athletic fit, but not so tight that it looks like I’m in a skin suit skiing down a mountain. The cuffs have a slightly stretchy material, so they don't ride up too high on your arm, but at the same time won’t cut off your circulation. Being that it’s a “Lite” jersey, it has excellent ventilation. That being said, it has such great airflow, that on chillier mornings, I found myself wearing a vest (yes I’m an off-road guy) until the temperature came up, so be forewarned. The overall stitching has held up well, but the material of the jersey tends to fray after being snagged on a few bushes (think creosote bushes). Other than the little fray points, I feel like the 4.5 Lite jersey is high quality for a fair price. 

The GPX 4.5 pant, like the jersey, is Leatt’s price point pant at $119.99, but again don’t let the term “price point” fool you. The knee area of the 4.5 pant, which tends to be most riders weak point on pants, uses an Amara material. This material is soft and semi-stretchy, but still durable and so far has held up excellent to my knee braces, especially with how much I squeeze the bike with my knees. The 4.5 pant is somewhat like the jersey in that it’s a fairly lightweight construction and has quite a bit of venting, which results in a very breathable pant. The pant has held up to bushes and the occasional tree branch, with no rips. The zipper is smooth, hasn’t gotten stuck and also comes with a hook and loop strap, which keeps the pants closed at the top of the zipper (this comes in handy after lunch time). The main closure on the pants is the ratchet style system Leatt incorporates, which has worked flawlessly. There is also elastic inside the waistband that helps keep the pants snug along with silicone (like on the backs of goggle straps) on the inside of the waist band.  The fit of the pant is true to size, is very comfortable to wear and for the price is a great product.

When it comes to gloves a lot of riders are like Goldilocks “these are too soft, these are too hard, these are too bulky, these are too thin", but in my opinion the $29.99 Leatt GPX 2.5 X-Flow glove is like wearing heaven on your hand (if you can imagine what heaven would feel like). Although some people would complain about it being too minimal, I LOVE the 2.5! Yes it’s thin and its intended purpose is not to protect you from branches or roost (I use handguards so I don’t care). It contours to my hand perfectly in all the right places, doesn’t bunch and oh man is the palm material great. The material in the palm is called MicronGrip and it feels like a very soft, smooth, slightly stretchy leather. My ONLY complaint about the glove is that the stitching can be weak when putting the glove on that is typical of minimalistic gloves. Almost every minimalistic glove does the same thing. These gloves are meant for performance and comfort, not durability. You can choose between Leatt's other model gloves if you want a little more durability, but if you want comfort look no further. If you have a bad habit (like I do) of pulling hard on the glove where the wrist elastic meets the palm material you might go through these faster than the riders that do not do that. After more than several riding days the stitching gave out and the elastic separated from the palm, but just to show you how much I like the gloves, I kept wearing them even with the tear because it didn’t really bother me when I was riding. If Leatt can beef up their stitching in this area a little and maybe put a little pull tab on the end of the palm, it would be a flawless minimalistic glove.  

After many days on the track and trail, I have to say I’m very pleased with the quality of the Leatt “price point” gear. Other than some bushwhacking that I have done and the glove separation, I feel like this is a set of gear I would love to purchase for myself to ride on long warmer days. Although I will say that for riders who strictly ride off-road, this gear my not be for you because the more you go through shrubbery the more frays and snags you might begin to see. For the guy that motos 70 percent of the time, rides off-road 30 percent of the time, the Leatt 4.5 pant/jersey and 2.5 X-Flow gloves are something seriously to consider. -Michael Allen 

If you have any questions about the Leatt 4.5 pant, 4.5 Lite jersey or the 2.5 X-Flow gloves, please feel free to email me at michael@keeferinctesting.com 

Fox Racing 360 Viza Pant and Jersey

360 Viza: $174.95 (jersey), $59.95 (pant)

The Fox Racing 360 line of racewear is the flagship set of gear that is currently worn by many factory motocross riders in the sport today. Fox designed the 2018 360 line of gear to be super flexible when the rider is in the attack position and using different types of fabric that wick away moisture better. The pants utilize TruMotion 4-way stretch fabric for a wide range of motion, while 600D polyester protects high abrasion areas. This strategic fabric placement delivers a combination of mobility and durability. Fox’s Rider Attack Position (RAP) construction is used for a precise fit, so it can put you in the best position to be comfortable. Finally, laser cut perforations and vents channel air through the pants for superior breathability. The 360 jersey also has a moisture wicking polyester fabric, a larger hole polyester mesh back panel for enhanced airflow, minimal athletic precision fit cuff and an athletic fit collar for increased comfort up near the neck. 

               No this isn't a Tinder profile pic. It's helmet head and a bad ass set of gear. 

Immediately, when you see the Fox 360 Viza line it screams “Best Dressed” right? If you’re team “Lit Kit” you can stay and continue to read, but don’t get too comfortable. If loud isn’t your thing, other more traditional colorways our available in the 360 line with the same features as the Viza line. The pant fits well, goes over many types of knee braces and the waist is true to size. While the waist seems true to size I also noticed that the 360 pant still has more of an “athletic cut” feel below the waist (which I like). The pant is tighter around the thigh and knee area (again, which I prefer), but if you have bigger than average legs the pant might be on the snug side in those areas. However, don’t fret as the pant is stretchy enough to not cut off your circulation and moves with your lower extremities very well. Yes, even if you’re a size 38, just ask my test rider Kelly Gelhaus. You will just have to get used to the more revealing fit if you're old school. Trust me, I'm 40 years old and come from the baggy gear era and I am just fine with the snugger fit of the 360 pant! My knee braces never get caught up or snag on the inside of the pant and feels seamless against my body. Even though the pant is on the slimmer side moving around on the bike didn’t feel constricted while I rode. There were tons of flexibility at the knee and I noticed more give when I swung my leg over the bike in the groin area than other pants that I have tried lately. The life of the pant has been superb and although it has seen its fair share of crashes, has held up well. The leather knee panels are still soft and pliable and even the abuse of the recently "knee brace shootout" have not created that much wear. The pant comes in sizes 28 all the way up to 38. 

Slipping on the 360 Viza jersey gives you a minimalistic feel. Its lightweight and breathability gives you a cool feeling when the temperature rises. The cuffs elastic keeps them from restricting the forearms but are tight enough to not let the jersey slide up on you when you’re riding. Like the Fox 360 pant, the jersey is made for slimmer riders. If you have broad shoulders or carry a beer belly you might want to try a size larger than your traditional sizing. The tail of the jersey stays tucked inside the pant (sorry Jason Anderson), but I do wish the jersey had a little padding on the elbows for some protection from lighter type crashes. The Viza jersey comes in a range of sizes from small to XXL. 

For the price of the Fox 360 line of gear it is amongst some of the most comfortable and long lasting gear that I have tried to date. I am coming to prefer this 360 gear to the FlexAir, especially in the cooler months of testing that lie ahead of me. If you are looking for a pant with durability, flare, a slim feel without being restrictive the Fox 360 Viza gear is a top choice, especially when I go to the gear closet and decide on what to wear. Don't laugh! This actually happens, ask Mrs. Keefer. She thinks something is wrong with me. :)