The Score
Fresh moto duds are the best. It's tough to hide that smile when a fresh set of gear arrives, and even harder when the shipping label reads From:
Shift Racing. The guys at Shift have returned to the edgy
styling and aggressive marketing that blew them onto the big scene back in the late '90s. When we saw the caliber of babes that sponsored rider Broc Hepler was hanging with in the catalog photo shoot, we wasted no time in ordering a set of Faction gear for
Contorting your body into the necessary moto configurations is comfortably done thanks to a series of stretch panels and a well-tailored fit.
our own prurient interests. Unfortunately, the purple (Crown) was a hot item this year and we couldn't score any, so we had to drop down a step down from full pimp status.
The Scoop
Shift Faction Pants
There's not much else you could want with the styling of Shift's top-shelf pants. The $149.95 pant comes in a slew of cool colors, traditional and modern. The construction of the trousers is equally as good. The fit is correct at the waist and the pre-curved legs fit our 5' 11" frame very well. These aren't necessarily a summer-specific pant as airflow was fairly standard through the perforated front panels. Polyester construction with full-grain leather on both inner knees keeps the pants looking fresh for a long time.
Four-way X-Stretch panels in the crotch, hidden rear flex panel, lycra insert liner gussets and accordion knee panels make moving around simple and unrestricted. The pants were actually a little stiffer than most new, but after a couple rides and washes they began to break in and became much more comfortable. We outfitted two testers and both had no problems with their knee braces, but their reactions to the "natural" cuff was mixed. One felt very comfortable, but the other couldn't get used to the thick hem which bunched painfully above the ankle. However, that tester is admittedly partial to elasticized cuffs, regardless of heat retention.
"This stuff is great to ride in."
Shift Faction Jersey
This is one of our favorite jerseys of the 2008 gear offerings. The angular lines are sharp and racy but the underlying patterns are on par for even the vainest hipster. We never had any problems with it coming untucked and the jersey flows a ton of air, much more than the pants do. Vents under the arms and the entire back panel create an airy feeling. The 22-panel construction has yet to show wear and the graphics are fade-free. We especially like the cuffs which allow for engorged arm veins without becoming restrictive, yet are small enough to resist skirting up the forearm.
Shift Faction Glove
This was the only piece of equipment that we didn't feel was worth the money. Both of our testers had problems with the gloves. One claimed that the single-layer Clarino palm was too thin and unforgiving while the other had issues with bunching and blisters every time he used them. The
Both test riders had problems with the gloves, but we know from past experience that Shift makes other models that suit us better. On a good note, the Faction gloves held up very well.
two-way stretch knuckles allow respectable airflow and a smattering of TPR logos keep your digits protected from roost.
The Sentence
Our two sets of Faction gear were definitely spiffy-looking digs, and neither of our testers was unhappy with them. The issue with the gloves was unfortunate, but we couldn't entirely overlook having beat-up hands. They definitely take away a little from the set as a whole, but the rest of the Faction equipment is great.
"The pant and jersey were great, it was the gloves that I had a problem with," said MotoUSA's fragile-boned, soft-skinned Creative Director, Brian Chamberlain. "Still, I know Shift has other gloves that meet my needs a little better, and I would happily supplement them in order to stick with the Faction line. This stuff is great to ride in."
Product: Shift Faction MX Gear
Sizes:Pant: 28-38; Jersey: S-XXL; Glove: 8-12
Colors: Black, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Crown
MSRP: Pant: $149.95; Jersey: $49.95; Glove: 32.95
Buy It Now: Faction Pant,
Faction Jersey,
Faction Glove
Find More: Shift Products
