Fly Racing's new Evolution gear is a huge step forward in the pogression of quality racewear. The 208 gear is changing perspectives on Fly apparel.
Our off-road testing lineup for this season was about to kick off in a whirlwind of activity, being only weeks away, and I was still looking for a set of fresh, clean riding gear. One call to
Fly Racing was all it took and instead of just one set I wound up with four complete get-ups. At the top of the list were two outfits of top-shelf 208 Evolution gear - the same gear Andrew Short uses to attack his AMA Supercross competitors. Fly was nice enough to slap on custom name/numbers for the jerseys to really make us feel special. We discovered, after many, many hours in this stuff, that the gear itself deserves more special notice than we do.
Because they share the whole shaved head thing, BC wanted to look like Tyler Evans, so he took the Black/Graphite colorway. I, on the other hand, was hoping that the Sky/Navy combo would give me the same speed as those Yamaha of Troy guys. Unfortunately, neither of us got any faster as a direct result of wearing the Evolution gear, but we both looked the part if nothing else. Fly's six different color schemes offer an upgrade in style as well as performance.
The Scoop:
208 Evolution Pant:
"I have worn the 208 gear almost exclusively over the last four months and it shows absolutely no signs of wear," says MotoUSA Creative Director, Brian Chamberlain.
That about sums it up for the pants, but some of the technical features responsible include the use of 1000D and 840D "cross-weave" nylon, patent-pending rubberized knee grip, low-profile calf design and tons of stretch panels. Fly keeps the 208 pant light and breathable by using mesh panels, perforated leather knee patches and a trio of eyelets in each outer knee. The result is a long-lasting, comfortable and multi-function pant.
A single Velcro waist closure strap fine-tunes the fit after a zipper and double snap seal things off. "The adjustable waist is quick and easy to manipulate, and the enclosure snaps are very secure," comments BC. "Also, the knees provide plenty of room for even the largest braces and the stretch panels throughout the legs make the pant very easy to move around in."
Hilde thrash-tested the 208 gear time and time again in this Glen Helen berm during our
450 MX Shootout.
This jersey uses three different materials to create the double-stitched panels that make up this piece of "professional grade MX equipment." We beat the crap out of it with hard riding and cheap laundry soap, but the sub-dyed graphics refused to fade away. A tagless neck label is nice, but the neckline itself is a little tight. BC especially had trouble getting it to fit over his fat noggin. The same, however, can't be said for the low-profile cuffs, which are roomy and comfortable.
Before he popped his knee, our graphic guru was sweating like a pig at the EnduroX, but was able to stay cool thanks to the available venting. "It breathes very well with mesh material in the non-impact zones," he says. "Like the pant, the Evolution Jersey's standouts are comfort and durability."
208 Evolution Race Gloves:
Despite their designation as "race gloves," the evolution mitts were a happy mix of durable padding and minimalist race-only design. Light and airy enough to be worn for a moto session, they could also withstand the abuse of a full day in the saddle. We wore them on multiple enduro rides and they kept our tender flesh from bubbling thanks to the lightly padded Clarino palm. They do run a little large so either try them on before buying or consider ordering a size smaller than you typically wear. Thankfully, the Velcro wrist strap and flexible, multi-material construction allowed me to wear them anyway.
The Sentence:
Brian got his own customized set for the
EnduroX project. He's been wearing it ever since without any problems and has admitted to becoming a Fly Racing convert.
We sheathed ourselves in the 208 Evolution gear for the EnduroX, 450 MX Shootout, mini testing, 250F MX Shootout and various enduro rides on our wooded trails, and each time we came away impressed with our new Fly setup. Everything was comfortable and allowed plenty of movement without being baggy.
Not all of our testers had been thrilled when they found out we were testing a boatload of new Fly stuff. Our experiences in the past have shown durability issues with some of their products, and the styling has left many wanting. Now, after our months of riding, all the doubters have erased their negative memories thanks to the resilience and sex appeal of the 2007 208 Evolution.
"I had always considered Fly to be more of an entry level brand," admits Chamberlain, "but their Evolution line proves that they are very capable of producing a high end product. Overall, I am extremely impressed with the 208 line and foresee it making it into my gearbag often."
Product: Fly Evolution Riding Gear
Color Options: Black/Platinum, Sky/Navy, Red/White, Yellow/Black, Stone/Red/Black, White/Platinum
Sizes: Pant: 28-42; Jersey: S-2X; Gloves: 8-13
MSRP: Pant: $149.95; Jersey: $45.95; Gloves: $34.95
Buy It Now: Pants,
Jersey
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