Fresh threads from the north.
Somewhat new to the American motocross market is the Canadian-based snowmobile gear company FXR Racing. FXR has been pushing the motocross market very heavy by sponsoring numerous privateers and now in 2018 they just announced JGR Suzuki’s Jimmy DeCotis to their team of riders. Their mid-priced line of motocross gear called “The Clutch Prime” has seen its fair share of usage on my body over the past few months. The Clutch pant is constructed of 600D Polyester, a double layer knee system that features an inner material with heat and abrasion resistant leather outer panels, pre-shaped knees to accommodate room for all types of braces, and a soft-stretch span at the crotch and back leg areas for added mobility. There are also knit stretch inserts above the knee areas for extra mobility as well as full front closure system. The Clutch jersey features lightweight mesh polyester, moisture-wicking material to repel sweat, a V-neck shaped collar and tapered cuffs for unrestricted mobility, a longer length drop-tail hem to keep jersey tucked in, and fade-free sublimation prints.
Putting on the pant I immediately noticed a more athletic cut thigh area that is tighter around the legs, but also stretchy enough so it doesn’t feel too restrictive while riding. The crotch area of the Clutch pant is not quite as snug and has a little more room to breathe before the pant tapers down into the more athletic cut thigh. The knee area is roomy enough to accommodate the few knee braces that I tried (which were Asterisk, CTi, EVS RS-9 and Mobius). Sizing is true for my 32-inch waist and the ventilation of the pant, although not as good as some other pants that I have worn, is still adequate on warmer days. The leather knee area has some signs of wear from the hinges of the knee braces, but with over four months of riding time on the pant, no holes have shown up to greet me. The closure system stays intact and the pant stays in place even with extra grippy seat covers. The colors on the pant have stayed vibrant and not a hint of fading has been seen.
The Clutch jersey, although very comfortable when worn, feels a little heavy and somewhat baggy in the arms compared to the pant. The material is soft to the skin, but can be a little warm on hot summer days. It does, however, wick away sweat fairly well once you are riding. The polyester of the jersey is stretchy, but like I mentioned above is not as form fitting as the pant. It seems the Clutch jersey’s cut is a little more on the “comfort” side through the arms and torso area, which can flap around while riding. I would rather see the jersey’s arm length and arm area tighten up just a little more to match the pant’s more athletic cut. The tapered cuff on the arm however is a nice touch and it also stretches somewhat, so that I can pull them up to get some added airflow to my arms during longer motos. For all you metrosexual riders the V-neck shaped collar is a one of my favorite aspects of the jersey. Less restriction is felt around my neck area when moving around on the bike. This collar doesn’t leave me with a rash like some other rounded cut collars (which are typically much tighter). Just like the pant, the bright colors stay true and the jersey has yet to fade after many rides.
I have been very pleased with FXR’s mid level Clutch pant and jersey. However, the downside is at $120.00 for the pant and $45.00 for the jersey, the cost is slightly on the steep side for a mid level price point. The upside is the FXR gear has held up to my durability standards, which is not always easy to do. Yo can go to fxrracing.com to view the full line of 2018 MX gear.
