Tested - Seven MX Rival Gear 2

Reviewed by Michael Lindsay / Photos by GuyB

The New Fit?

Since motocross gear has been produced, there have been a few riders that have gotten involved with gear companies like Torsten Hallman (Thor), Bob Hannah (HRP), Jeremy McGrath (early days of No Fear), etc.. Now James Stewart has done the same.  With the help of Troy Lee, they took on the challenge of launching a gear brand that’s synonymous with James’ career number “Seven”. With a different approach on both gear fitment and material, I was left curious to see what kind of new approach they would bring to the motocross gear industry. That’s why I slipped on the new line of gear to find out. For this test it was the Seven Legion White jersey ($75), pants ($185), and glove ($36).

First Impressions
With it being about a year since we first saw the Seven gear unleashed on the track, I anxiously awaited to see what would finally arrive in my hands when it was released. Picking up the gear, it’s immediately noticeable how light the material is and how much snugger it fit than most other sets of gear I had tried on before. Contrary to your typical moto gear, which can be a bit bulky and loose fitting, the Seven gear has a much more athletic and snug fit. The sleeves of the jersey lightly hug your forearms, while it wraps around your back and is quite form-fitting. The pants felt similar, but had quite a bit of stretch in the knees allowing for knee braces to find their home. The waist is held closed by a standard zipper and ratchet buckle that I tend to prefer over button closures. It fell into what I would consider average to slightly larger compared to what I consider a normal size 30” waist.

On The Track
Initially the snug fit of the gear was a little worrying, but after swinging a leg over the bike and not getting hung up, I felt a bit of a relief. The first couple of laps were a big surprise as the gear is much more flexible than it appears, but only in the areas needed. It keeps its contoured fit even while in action, whether that was scrubbing a jump (I wish), or foot-planting in a corner to save me from landing on my head. Surprisingly, the large venting holes are quite noticeable, flowing air through the light material easily, but left me needing a light undershirt in the mornings or on overcast days here in Southern California. (We don’t have winter, I swear…)

Long Term Durability
The larger venting holes and the lightweight materials initially brought the durability into question in my mind, but after spending some time in the gear I haven’t experienced any of my initial worries. The snugger/flexible fit actually seemed to help, lowering the chances of catching the material against anything and tearing it since there isn’t any excess “flapping around” on the jersey.

The Final Word
Seven has brought a different approach to the riding apparel market, with gear that has a unique and athletic feel that could take a little getting used to since it’s out of the norm. Also new with Seven is the way it will be sold, with gear launches around every three months in limited quantities, which means each run won’t be on the shelves for long.

All this comes at a cost though, with a steeper price tag than the top of line that any other company currently has on the market. For the price conscious buyer this probably won’t be fitting into your budget, but for the racer looking for any advantage they can get, Seven’s line is worth your attention.

Rating: 4 out of 5

If you’re interested in Seven’s Rival gear or other Seven products check out Sevenmx.com or one of our affiliate retailers.

About the Test Rider
Michael Lindsay is a born-and-raised moto freak and gearhead from the heart of motocross in Southern California. First swinging a leg over a bike at the age of five, he immediately caught the racing bug, spending nearly every weekend behind a gate…and a lot of time on the couch while injured. While swinging back and forth between moto and the off-road scene, giving him a wide range of experience on the bike. Of course, all of this led to one thing: Lindsay loves working on his bikes almost as much as he loves talking about them. When he’s not in the Vital MX forum or writing his latest product review, you can find him out at the track taking dirt naps, tearing down bikes, working on heavy equipment or maybe even over at Enzo Racing building suspension. With an outspoken personality, gearhead background, and as Vital MX’s guru for product, Michael is here to share his unbiased opinion.