2005 Forma Pro Boot, Troy Lee Designs Vegas SE Gear - Dirt Rider Magazine

How does a company from Illinois get away with selling So-Cal gear? Does So-Cal have a meaning other than Southern California (the undisputed epicenter of the motocross universe, or MX T-shirts, depending on where you live)? Whatever it means, the gear looked cool on a friend of mine, so I got a set for photos.First, I was surprised by the build of the pant. It feels sturdy, and the material is a bit thicker than most stuff out there today while still offering a lighter weight. Second, when I put it on, it was plenty roomy. I wear a 34 MX pant and a 33 street size. The waist fit perfectly and cinched up nicely, with a quick-release ratcheting belt and elastic keeping it snug. Now, the good part for all you tall guys out there: I have never seen a pant with this much length in the crotch or in the legs. The lower cuff was down at my ankle even when I wore a knee brace. I was swimming in the pant, mostly from length, and there was no binding whatsoever in the knee. But once tucked into a good-fitting boot, the pant was just fine. I had some slim-waisted 6-foot-4-inch (or so) guys try the pant, and they were in heaven. I thought the loose-fitting crotch would be a problem, but it didn't slide around or bunch up at all, way less than some tighter-cut pants that don't fit around the waist as well as the So-Cal pant did. And the elastic strip across the back of the butt and the U-shaped strip attaching the front panels are well-thought-out to keep things free yet flow cooling air. Same goes for the entire elastic sidepanel. Internally, there is a netted mesh that didn't tangle and kept the seams away from your skin. The knee is protected by a Kevlar strip and didn't wear through in spite of my knee braces. Most mud washed right out instead of staining, even with large panels in white, but I haven't worn them when riding in red clay, so the white color might worry some mud fleas.The jersey is a standard polyester affair with sublimated colors. It is light and slightly vented, making it an all-season (at least in Southern California) wear. After a fair amount of use, it still held its color and looked good.The MSRP is $99.95 for the pant and $34.95 for the jersey. They are a darn good value and durable and look great. -Jimmy LewisFOX2005 Forma Pro BootWhen we first received our new Fox Forma Pro boots, we assumed they were the same as the 2004 boot but with a new look. Then the boot broke in more easily and was more comfortable than our previous pair. A call confirmed that the design had been changed to help break-in and comfort. In the interest of comfort, it got seam-minimized internal construction, customized internal padding, buckle-strap-pressure-dissipating pads and a calfskin heel strip for comfort and to stop heel slippage. The combination works well. The boots look great, with pearl white leather, chrome and aluminum accents. The boots kept their looks as long as we stayed on moto tracks; an off-road ride in Nevada left them colored from brushes with creosote bushes and surface-rashed from rock grazes, but our feet remained in fine condition.Even though the boots broke in quickly, they haven't grown loose or floppy. The support remains like new. Even if they were priced as premium boots, the Formas would be a good buy, but at a midline price of $239.95, they are a very stylish bargain.We found that the boots run a little small. So if you are on the edge sizewise, round up. The buckles take a solid whack to close, but it was never a real problem; and the more tension you have on the buckle straps, the better they stay closed.How can you tell if you are getting the 2005 boots? All of the new boots are available in the 2005 colors of black, Dark Stone, Metallic Silver, Metallic White and red; and the look is hard to confuse with the 2004-and-earlier model. The different colors are available in sizes 6 to 13, and the matte black boot is available in sizes 5 through 15. -Karel KramerUtopia Optics
Too Dirty Goggle
We were so impressed with Utopia's "Dirty" goggle we gave it a 9.0 using our previous rating system (April '04). Now Utopia has made a few changes to the already-good goggle and is calling it "Too Dirty." The first noticeable upgrade is the foam used; it still is triple-layered yet seems to be a bit firmer than the previous version-but it remains comfortable and holds in sweat effectively.I was really impressed by the anti-fog, scratch-resistant lens after several outings in muddy riding conditions. I didn't experience any fogging and noticed only some slight surface scratches on the lens-nothing like you would expect to see on a normal lens, and this was without using tear-offs. I felt the Dirty goggle offered a sufficient peripheral view; but the Too Dirty version has even more with a revised frame, and it still seems to fit most of the helmets with which I have tried it. The silicone tack strip that runs along the center of the goggle's strap is so tacky that it is difficult to slide into place at times. But that is ultimately a good thing, because once the strap is in place, it grips the helmet unmovingly.The goggle comes in several colors. My favorite is white, because it matches almost anything; the only problem is it's a little harder to keep looking clean. I think the Too Dirty goggle is well worth its $49.95 retail price. -Joe McKimmyTroy Lee Designs
Vegas SE Gear
The consensus on the new Speed Equipment (SE) gear in the Vegas color scheme is that you either love it or hate it. I love the look of the gear, so I jumped to be the first in line to test it.The SE gear is among the most comfortable I've worn to date. I've had trouble with the past few sets of other brands' gear I've tried; they just didn't fit my 5-foot-8-inch frame in one area or another. This set fit me nicely and snugly in all areas. Normal pinch points in the $159 pant (available in sizes 28 through 38), including under the knee and hip areas, are not there as it flexes with the body naturally. Ventilation is excellent through the entire pant. The knees feature scooplike pockets that act as radiator shrouds and take in large amounts of air. Another nice thing is the leg bottoms' stretchy elasticized material fits knee braces a little more easily. The inner knee areas are made with very soft leather, which is good for gripping the bike and flexes well in a sitting position. The material and stitching used on the pant have a strong, high-quality feel and held up really well after several runs through the washing machine.I noticed a slight coloration discrepancy between the pant and the jersey. The pant is very vibrant in color; the fluorescents really pop against the shiny black material. But the vented jersey doesn't hold the colors nearly as well; therefore, its graphics look very weak when paired with the bright, rich hues of the pant.The $50 jersey's vented material is light and comfortable, especially around the neck and sleeves. The jersey (available in sizes S through XXL) also has good elbow padding. One of the best things about Troy Lee Designs' gear, besides the fact that it is trick, is so much attention is paid to the details. I think a lot of this can be attributed to Troy Lee's being a true rider himself. -Joe McKimmyEVS
Vision Knee Brace
We should all thank EVS for pioneering affordable knee protection for motocross and off-road riding. It was the first company to offer quality off-the-shelf knee braces that did not require a fat check and a custom-fitting session. Fortunately for moto enthusiasts, other brands have followed its lead and also offer much more-affordable knee braces. Because of this affordability, more of us can now consider the added protection. And with the introduction of the new Vision brace at just $250 per pair, EVS is pushing the price down even further.As with many of you who may now consider using braces, I was not a knee-brace wearer in the past. For that reason, I can only compare this set with standard knee pads offered by most apparel brands. Two things had kept me from buying knee braces. The first was cost, which was probably not smart since even expensive braces are much cheaper than knee surgery. Being a magazine bum, I didn't have to pay for this set, but at this price, I would be willing to give them a try even if I did. My second concern was that the bulkiness of most knee braces would interfere with my knees' ability to grip the bike. The Vision braces (available in S to XL) are not much larger than standard knee pads, and the pivots are relatively thin, so I decided to give them a shot.I now have about 15 days of riding with them at the motocross track and during long off-road rides in both very hot and cold weather. I can report that these braces are every bit as comfortable as any knee pad I have ever worn. I did not wear the under socks many knee-brace wearers choose, yet the braces were very comfortable and never left any marks or hot spots on my skin from chafing. The rubber material inside the brace that touches the skin gripped well and, combined with the anatomically correct pivot system, kept it from moving. By participating in some bike testing, I also was able to wear the braces while riding several different bikes, which gave me the opportunity to see if the braces would get caught on any of the bikes; they did not. Some of the more-expensive braces would probably provide greater knee protection with their additional gripping area and bulk. However, based on the price, comfort and increased protection the Vision braces provide when compared with traditional knee pads, there is no good reason not to step up to at least this level of knee protection. -Sean Finley