The Alloy Gear is tougher than a lot of the equipment our testers have worn in the past.
Many riders, especially newbies to the sport, don't give much thought about what gear they want to wear. Their decision often revolves around how cool the jersey looks or what's on sale. But it doesn't take long to realize that there are a lot of equipment options available, and the subtle differences between them can mean the difference between an enjoyable day of riding or eight hours of rubbing, chafing, and being uncomfortable.
We recently put some of Alloy's '04 gear to the test to see how it holds up to the different riding environments of Southern Oregon. Included in the test were the Alloy SX-1 Pants and Jersey, Fuel AC Jersey, and Atom Gloves.
The first thing our testers noticed about the Alloy SX1 Pant, which retails for $159.95, was how sturdy they are. The vented material, which some might assume would be lightweight and cheap, actually has a heavy-duty build. The 1680D ballistic-nylon diamond twill and 1000D Cordura material hold up well, and we liked having the heat-resistant Schoeller® Carbon Kevlar oversized panels on inner leg/knee, double and triple stitched seams, and protective TPS logos. Combined, these features make the SX1 pant feel like they're in it for the long haul.
Alloy focused on comfort and ease of movement when designing the SX1 pant and our testers immediately took notice. There was extra room in the knee to give joints maximum flexibility. The lower leg is constructed from a four-way stretch nylon, which is less bulky and fits comfortably inside almost any boot. Unfortunately, the nylon lower leg that adds to the comfort level also makes it slightly more difficult to take the pants off. And even though the pant sizes seemed to run a little on the baggy side, that's part of what made the gear more comfortable.
Alloy also improved on the dual side waist adjusters and fly cover to make them easier to adjust with gloves on, but our testers would have rather seen them switch to a ratchet type system rather than keep the buttons on the pant.
Our riders tested two of Alloy's jerseys along with the SX1 pant. The SX jersey, which retails for $67.95, has an excellent fit and looks good too. The articulated shoulders, elbow joints, and pre-curved sleeves give the gear a very flexible feel. The 100% polyester material combined with air flowing Micro Mesh panels is extremely breathable while the stitching is top notch.
The Fuel AC jersey, which retails for $42.95, matched the SX in structural integrity. The biggest difference is that the AC in the name stands for "Air Conditioning." The 100% polyester sections in the SX jersey are replaced with Micro Mesh-vented polyester to give a rider maximum ventilation. Our tester also liked the Lycra memory crew neck and wrist cuffs, and he was happy that the drop-down tail never pulled out of his pant.
"The jersey feels neutral," explains Jeff Bailey, Motorcycle USA Retail Manager and tester. "I never once felt constricted."
He also praised the overall breathability of the ventilated material, mentioning that when he was completely decked out in all of his gear he almost felt naked.
"Vented is an understatement," Bailey adds. "The breeze blows right through this stuff."
The only major complaint about both jerseys was the over-sized rubber puck on the chest. It was designed to deflect roost or anything else that gets in the way, but our testers found that it was the logo itself that seemed to get in the way. However, it did serve its purpose and even helped protect against the occasional tree limb.
The Atom gloves provided great protection with lots of padding on the top of the hands.
Alloy's Atom gloves, which retail for $39.95, completed the gear lineup. Alloy modified its pre-curved design by adding an articulated thumb that helps reduce bunching. The Spandura Lycra material gives the gloves a killer fit while the use of a material called Clarino in the palm, thumb, and finger area hold up well.
"I loved the gloves," says Joe Wallace, Motorcycle USA Software Engineer and tester. "They were super comfortable and didn't need to be broken in."
Even though the gloves were comfortable for Bailey and fit his hand well, he did have some problems them.
"I definitely didn't order up the super-sized blister the gloves delivered," Bailey describes. "But in the gloves' defense, I did take a fresh glove out of its packaging and rode 50 miles hanging on to a YZ450F like a rhinestone cowboy on his first bull ride."
All in all, Alloy's gear was greatly accepted by our testers. They feel that it's tougher than a lot of the equipment they've worn in the past and its overall function is top notch. Alloy's high-end stuff definitely competes with all of the other spendy gear on the market. And even though the jersey's oversized logo is a little much, our testers would still recommend this Alloy gear to anyone because they can't deny its comfort and durability.
