MotoReview-Thor Sector Edge Off Road

MotoReview- Thor Sector Edge

Greetings MotoReaders and welcome back to another MotoWriter gear review! Today, I'm going to be talking about Thor's Sector Edge jersey and pants. The sun is shining, so let's not waste any time!

Disclaimer- I am not being sponsored by Thor, or any affiliate of Thor, and I'm not being sponsored by MotoStealz, or any affiliate of MotoStealz. 

Where It Came From, And What I Paid For It

With that little "disclaimer" out of the way, you might have guessed that I "stole" this set from MotoStealz.com. The jersey is normally $28 and I got it for $10, and the pants are normally $75 and I snatched them for the low, low price of $15. Now, I was already somewhat familiar with Thor Racing products, because I've got one of their 3/4 street helmets- The Hallman McCoy... but that's a different review for a different day. Having some experience with the brand, along with the deep discounts, I felt pretty confident in letting go of the $35 + shipping for this jersey and pants. MotoStealz delivers quickly, so I had them in my grubby mitts pretty quickly, only to realize that, either I was a bit chubbier than I thought I was since retiring from my payin' gig, or these pants are just not as forgiving as my Levi's. Regardless, I knew I needed one size bigger and, fortunately for me- they had them in stock in the larger size, too. It was cheaper to keep the smaller size pants, since shipping them back would have cost more than I paid for them in the first place, so I just crammed them into my gear cabinet in case I lose weight or if I come across someone that needs a pair of riding pants in that size.

The Jersey

Despite the pants being, eh, hmm... one size too small, the jersey is spot on. I wear a large, ordered a large and the large fits me perfectly. One really nice part about off-road/motocross jerseys is that they are, intentionally, slightly bigger to accommodate wearing them over your protective gear. The styling is pretty basic- I got the gray with the hi-vis panel, but they also have red, and blue options, too. Now, because these were overstock that MotoStealz picked up, sizing and color options might be limited as they sell out.

Wearing it on the trails is really where the quality of this jersey shines through- the sleeves stay down thanks to the slim and, Goldilocks-fitment cuffs- they are tight, but no too tight for those unfamiliar with the story of the little blonde trespasser. When I'm on the trails, I sometimes like to ride into bushes and fall down in briar patches... this jersey hasn't snagged or ripped yet. The material is thin and light enough to be comfortable in the humid Southern air, but strong enough to withstand my off-trail oopsies. 

The Pants

Once I got the correct size pants, I found them to fit very well. They are precurved with well placed stretch materials where needed, and they have reinforcements in the groin, knees and lower legs for protecting your legs from those pesky branches, rocks and thornbushes. The ratcheting buckle closure is easy to use and the zipper is a handy feature when trail riding, when there is a tree that needs... um, "watering." The pants easily accommodate my O'Neal articulated knee and shin guards (that MotoReview is coming soon). The outer shell is very strong and made of a durable ripstop material and the inside of the pants have a mesh lining that does a good job of keeping the pants from sticking to your sweaty legs out in the woods. The only complaints I have about the pants, is that they are a bit scratchy on the inside when you first put them on and, if you're trying to slip out of the house while your better half is still asleep... put the pants on after you leave because they are sort of loud. Not squeaky loud, or color loud, but loud like your obese aunt, wearing new corduroy pants loud. These pants are not stealth, but once you get in the woods, it doesn't matter anymore, so that's not a deal breaker. 

Final Thoughts And Observations

Cleaning this riding gear isn't bad, just throw them both in the washing machine on cold and hang them up to dry. Easy-peasy. One other thing to note, is that the reason these were so inexpensive, is because they are new old stock- basically new, unsold gear from a previous year's styling, so MotoStealz bought it up and is selling it for crazy discounted prices. What that means, is if you need to wear the most up to date styles so that you are the most fashionable of your riding group, then MotoStealz probably isn't the best online retailer for your new gear... but if you're tight on cash and just want some well made, name brand, gear that does a good job protecting your hide while still looking pretty good... then go check them out. 

Overall, I like this riding gear a lot. I'm not a fan of the scratchy pant legs, but maybe they'll soften up a bit after a few washes. If they don't, I'll just wait until the weather cools off and wear my insulated underwear under them to prevent any potential chafing issues. Regardless, with MotoStealz's discounted prices on this Thor Racing gear, you really can't go wrong- you're getting a reputable brand with a pedigree in motocross racing for dollar store pricing. Stay tuned, because I have some more off-road riding gear to review, coming soon.

Until next time, MotoReaders...

Save Money, Gear Up, and Ride Safe!

MotoReview- Answer A22 Syncron

MotoReview- Answer Racing A22 Syncron Prism Jersey & Pants

Greetings MotoReaders! As promised, I'm here with a brand new MotoReview of some of my off-road riding gear- today, I'll be reviewing the Answer Racing A22 Syncron Prism riding jersey and pants.

Notable Details

Before I begin, I'm going to point out a few things: first, for those that don't know this, or just as a reminder to those who do- when you see words or phrases that are hyperlinked- I do that in almost all of my blog posts for your convenience- those are links to that site, product or page; second, I bought the Answer A22 Syncron Prism (hereafter referred to as the "Prism" because "Answer Racing A22 Syncron Prism" is a mouthful!) from MotoStealz, for a deeply discounted price; and finally, these are not the most current offerings from Answer Racing. MotoStealz buys brand new gear that is new old stock that there is nothing wrong with, it just simply didn't sell. Companies like Answer (among others) sell their overstock items to MotoStealz, who turn around and sell it to us for discounted prices. It's a great arrangement all around- both companies make a few bucks off the overstocked gear, and folks like you and me get great deals on awesome riding gear. This is particularly awesome if you're like me, and are just getting into (or back into) riding and need gear, but don't want to invest a bunch of money up front. 

Jersey

Jumping straight into the review, I'll tell you that the best feature of this gear is the comfort of it. Specifically, the jersey is extremely light and wearing it all day in South Mississippi summer heat and humidity didn't bother me one bit. I've been more uncomfortable in a short sleeved T-shirt than in this long sleeved jersey. It doesn't have any vents or mesh panels like some jerseys, but it breathes extremely well and does a great job of wicking sweat and keeping me cool. It is also roomy enough to wear a chest/roost protector under it, and the sleeves are long enough, and the cuffs are tight enough, to stay at my wrists for maximum coverage. The next best thing about it, thanks to MotoStealz, was the price. This is a $30 jersey, and I picked it up for a fraction of that, at $8. Yes, you read that right- $8 USD. Another thing I like about it, is that it looks great. The colors are vibrant and after a few washes, haven't seemed to fade at all. The biggest con, though, is that the material seems to snag when riding trails. This could be that I'm not using it for its intended purpose, though, as I'm pretty sure it is intended for motocross racing, not trails covered in vines and thorns. Even with the snags, it still looks good enough for the kind of riding I do. 

Pants

The pants are are a good bit more durable. I haven't had any issues with abrasions, rips or snags. They are made with a ripstop material, that I will assume is a type of cordura, but I don't really know fabrics or materials... I just know they are tough. The colors, like the Jersey, are vibrant and haven't faded yet, after a few washes. The pants have a mesh liner that does a good job of wicking sweat, but the pants don't have any vents and the outer shell is built for protection, not airflow, so I have found that I still get hot and sweaty below the waist. Even so, they are tremendously better than my favorite pair of Levi's in the sweltering summer heat. The best part of these pants has to be the flexibility. The crotch and inner thigh areas are made of a stretch material that offers great flexibility and a little bit of airflow (not much, but more than the rest of the pants), which keeps everything safe and comfortable. The knees and lower legs are reinforced so that when I take a spill, I don't have to worry about them ripping. They are also pre-curved and have extra room to accomodate wearing knee braces or protectors inside the pants. 

Much like most of the off-road riding pants I've seen, there are no pockets, so you will need to stow your truck key in your hydration pack, or in your bike's tool kit if it has one. The waistband has a velcro cinch strap that is easy to use and "infinitely" adjustable. There is no zipper, just a gusseted flap that doesn't open, unlike some of my other riding pants, which does make relieving bladder pressure a bit more cumbersome. Again, the lack of a zipper could be because these are probably designed primarily for motocross, not enduro or trail riding. It's not a deal breaker though, as the pants are comfortable enough in every other way. As with the jersey, Motostealz delivered on the price... I picked these $80 pants up for less than $10. I don't mind wearing the "out of date" styles if I can save enough money to buy a few tanks of gas and a fast food sammich and fries. 

Final Thoughts

Even without the Motosteaz discounts, this set is still worth the full price that Answer Racing sells them for. They are well made and, so far, have held up very well. As far as the styling- personally, I really like it- it reminds me of the styles and designs of the early 90's. I've got some other gear that I'll be reviewing soon, but in all honesty, I think this set is my favorite to wear, especially when riding with the guys, because the colors stand out well in the woods and I don't necessarily need pockets to hold my keys, knife, phone or wallet when I'm riding in a group. 

I'm not affiliated with Motostealz in any way other than being a paying customer, so while I mention them a few times here, just know that the price I paid is the price that everyone pays. They sell the stuff until it sells out, then once it's gone, it's gone for good so it's a good idea to check back often for new stuff. They are also limited in a lot of sizes and colors, so keep that in mind when you are browsing for discounts. If you're like me, and are just getting back into off-road riding after a few decades, or if you are new to off-road riding, you may not want to invest a bunch of money just to get your feet wet into the sport. This is a great way to outfit yourself in good, high quality, purpose made riding gear. Motostealz makes if extra affordable, and Answer Racing makes a solid product that looks good, fits well and keeps you comfortable. Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with their products, no matter where you buy them.

Until next time, MotoReaders,

Gear up, save money, and ride safe!

I Busted My Gas Tank!

I Broke The Leg Breaker!

Okay, the photo may be slightly altered to make the affect hit a little harder, but you get the point. 

The Honda XR600R is famously, or rather, infamously, known as "the leg breaker." It's a big bike. At 591cc, this air-cooled, high compression, kickstart-only, monster makes 46 hp and over 38 ft lbs of torque in stock form. In stock running order, it weighs in at over 320 pounds. Add a 5.8 gallon aftermarket gas tank, and you can easily add another 20 pounds to that. 

Since my last dirty bike post, I took another solo ride in the National Forest, where I started getting a lot more comfortable on the bike, and felt like I was actually starting to hone some of my off-road techniques  bit. I had a good ride that day, even though I was only out there for a couple of hours. I left that day feeling pretty good about myself and my off-road riding, so when it came time to meet up with the guys the following week, I was all about it.

Physical Exertion And Dehydration

I decided to video the ride, since we were all riding together and I figured some of the other guys might like to re-live their day through my camera lens, too. The day started out great, but pretty soon after we got on the trails, one of the guys had a family emergency, and had to head home, so we made a quick run back to the trucks. After helping him get loaded up, the rest of us went back out and kept riding. Everything was going great until a log crossing, one that I had successfully crossed in my first solo ride, kicked my butt. You know how they say, that if you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough? Well, it's a good thing I'm tough. Tough or not, after that debacle, I was still pretty gassed. I took a water break, regained my composure, and started riding again. Apparently, I was stuck on that obstacle, behind the guys, for so long that one of them circled back to go look for me.

Back Together

Once we were all back together, though... the ride continued, and I was feeling a lot better. We were all riding pretty hard... even though those guys are much better off-road riders than me. One guy has been riding off-road for, easily, half his life and the other, well... he's a class-A Enduro rider. I felt like I was riding pretty good, though, and a good bit faster and more confidently than I had been, especially compared my my first couple of rides. That is, until I took a simple spill and realized that I was getting dehydrated and physically exhausted. In my defense, we had been riding for a while, and the South Mississippi sun was bearing down pretty hard. The trails were still very wet from recent rains which made the trails hot and humid, especially when stopped. I knew that I was just about spent, but I think my ego, and maybe my immature mind, wanted to keep riding. Big mistake.

Target Fixation

As a motorcycle instructor, I tell my students all about target fixation. Basically, you go where you look and, just like riding on the road, on the trails, you have to look far enough ahead to avoid any obstacles... like small trees. I could keep going on that, but instead... I think I'll let you watch for yourselves:

https://youtu.be/zSn1RQqul7w?si=S0s-OA6GOTnhw3yt

Lessons Learned

The bike didn't explode like in the movies, but finding parts for a 37 year old dirt bike can be tricky, so it did blow up my bank account a bit. I was able to find a used gas tank, but it cost me as much as a new one would have. The fuel petcocks from my old tank wouldn't fit the "new" tank, so I had to order a new one of those, too.

This little incident made me realize that my "retirement body" wasn't cutting it, so I started a workout regimen to get myself in better shape. I'm not trying to bulk up, by any means, but I do need to improve my overall strength and stamina, in case I have to push this heavy bastard out of the woods in the future. It also got me looking for a newer, smaller and more manageable off-road bike, one that will be easier to throw around on single track trails, will have better brakes, and most importantly- won't be so dang tricky to find parts for. Until that happens, though- when I'm not on my Harley, I'll still be out in the woods throwing this big hoss around, and trying my best to stay upright and, hopefully, not running into any more trees. 

Keep an eye out for some upcoming MotoReviews of my riding gear and, as always MotoReaders...

Ride Safe and Make Good Choices!

My First Solo Dirt Ride- Video

 

Back In The Saddle

As I mentioned in a previous post, I haven't ridden off-road in 30 or so years. When I decided to get a dirtbike again, I opted to take the economical route, and get a good used bike to keep my investment at a minimum... just in case I decided to abandon the idea. What I ended up with, was a great bike for a great price... but she's a big 'un. A 37 year old XR600R that was set up for extended desert rides, not single track trail riding. 

After word got out that I had bought an off-road machine, I was invited to ride with some guys that I used to work with, before I retired from my paying job. Now, keep in mind that my bike is older than each one of these guys, and I haven't been on a dirtbike since before most of them were born! Regardless, these guys are awesome and I couldn't wait to get on the trails with them. 

My First Ride

My first ride with them was on the local trails in the National Forest... and I had a blast. I was slow, fell over a lot and was absolutely not in the proper gear, at all. I had good off-road boots, a good off-road helmet and goggles, but that was it. The guys were great, though- they were very patient with my slow, cumbersome riding, and they even said I did pretty good for my first time out. I appreciated it, even if they were lying to me! The takeaway, though, is that I was hooked! I couldn't wait to get back out and ride again. There was just one problem though- I am retired, but they aren't, and riding single track trails in the National Forest alone isn't the smartest thing to do, especially for a novice rider like your old pal, The MotoWriter.

Smart Or Not, I Needed To Ride

After talking to the guys and getting their gear recommendations, I went home, got on Rocky Mountain ATV & Motorcycle's website, and ordered some more gear. After it arrived, I donned my new gear and loaded the old XR into the truck. When I got to the parking area, it looked like I had the place to myself, which was good... but a bit unnerving. Thoughts of "what if.." circled my head, but the need to ride the trails was too strong, so I kicked that 600cc beast over, and set out into the woods alone. 

I took it easy... really easy, after all, riding off-road by yourself is dangerous- if you break down, or worse- crash, there's nobody there to help you. I didn't get crazy, kept myself within my own comfort level and made sure that I had my OnX Off Road App pulled up on my phone. I also brought the GoPro to document my ride so I could critique it later... and so I could share my adventure with my friends and loyal MotoReaders, once I got back home.

Now Playing... The Slow Guy Trail Ride

I'm not a racer and never claimed to be. The following video isn't exciting, and in true MotoWriter MotoVlog fashion- it's probably way too long. But, I had fun editing it and, as long as you can get through the first four and a half minutes, you can see a much better view of the trails I was riding. 

The takeaway is that I didn't crash, didn't break down and didn't get mugged by marauders or killed by a serial killer. I made it back to the truck, safe and sound, and had a great time. If you want to ride along with me on my first solo ride through the DeSoto National Forest, on The MotoWriter dirty bike, you can watch me slow crawl along the trails here:

https://youtu.be/QEEgezJiB-A?si=ohzs9NJax3LZl8pB

I made this video several weeks ago, and have since been out on the trails a couple more times. The last time with the guys, however, I ran into some trouble... literally. Check back for that one, coming soon!

Until then, MotoReaders...

Ride safe, and get dirty!