Fox Racing, a leading brand in both motocross and mountain bike gear, has just entered the adventure market with a purpose-built ADV Collection that puts a focus on off-road performance. This project has been three years in the making and includes partnerships with key companies in the industry — Gore-Tex, D3O and Superfabric. Legendary supercross racer Ricky Carmichael (now turned Adventure Rider) has also been tapped for development and testing duties.

The new ADV gear, debuted to the press earlier this month at Fox’s SoCal headquarters, draws on the company’s deep expertise in performance racewear in an effort to deliver something truly innovative for adventure riders. “We recognize that off-road riding is no longer contained to tracks and the trailheads of mountains and deserts,” said Michael Crocco, Sr. Global Marketing Manager at Fox Racing. “It can now be an extension to a rider’s commute or countryside tour where every technical feature matters to maximize the experience on the bike. The ADV Collection was built with this in mind—connecting riders to dirt with highly versatile gear that has everything you need and nothing you don’t.” 

The all-new ADV Collection includes three jacket and pant offerings — Recon, Defend, and Ranger. All three adventure suits are built with the following key characteristics:

1. Minimalist Chassis Design: Each suit uses a lightweight, simple shell design with venting directly to the body and there are no extra zip-in layers.
2. 100% Waterproof: All three use seam-sealed Gore-Tex waterproofing built into the shell and come with a 100% waterproof guarantee.
3. CE ‘A’ Rated With D3O Armor: Removable D3O molecular armor is standard with a CE level-2 rating in the shoulders, elbows, and knees, plus a CE level-1 back protector. Elbows and knees come with Velcro adjustments and the suits all come with CE ‘A’ safety rating.
   

In addition to shared cornerstone features, each jacket has been designed to allow for a hydration bladder to be placed behind the back protector, and the jacket and pants may be zipped together for more security. Also, the pants legs have an adjustable cuff that is designed to accommodate knee braces and tall MX-style boots. What’s more, the pants cuff can be easily removed and hemmed by a seamstress for a personalized fit. All suits utilize reinforced fabrics to increase abrasion resistance and durability on asphalt as well. 

Where the suits differ is in their use of stretch fabrics, ventilation schemes, and storage options that vary across the three product tiers to meet the demands of a multi-day or out-and-back rides. Here’s a breakdown of what sets each suit apart:

Recon

As the pinnacle performance offering in the new adventure collection, the Recon jacket and pants are designed to deliver maximum mobility and breathability with a close-to-body fit and stretch material for peak performance on dirt. The Recon offers all the bells and whistles of a high-end adventure suit but with a lightweight design that is said to be ⅓ the weight of similar 3L GORE-TEX suits on the market.

Key Features:

• 100% waterproof GORE-TEX 3L stretch fabric maximizes mobility.
• SuperFabric in high-wear areas for enhanced abrasion resistance.
• Removable D30 CE level 2 (elbows, knees, shoulders); CE Level 1 (back).
• Minimalist chassis with close-to-body fit.
• Full-length front zipper vent, 2 chest vents, 2 back vents, 2 underarm vents, 2 front and 2 rear thigh vents.
• Multiple internal and external pockets for storage.
• Left arm concealed ID card pocket.
• Price: $949.95 for the jacket and $899.95 for the pants.

Defend 

Fox’s mid-range adventure suit offers the most storage and ventilation in the lineup for adaptability on the move. As the versatile, do-it-all offering in their adventure collection, Defend is designed to deliver high functionality on dirt adventures with a balance of features. Unique characteristics include cinch straps on the arms and Velcro adjusters around the jacket waist to help give a fine-tuned relaxed fit.

Key Features:

• 100% waterproof GORE-TEX 2L main body fabric.
• Maximized ventilation and storage.
• Removable D30 CE level 2 (elbows, knees, shoulders); CE Level 1 (back).
• Relaxed fit with adjustable waist and elbow straps.
• Reinforced high-wear areas for increased durability.
• Full-length front zipper vent, 2 chest vents with hold-open hooks, 2 lower arm vents, 2 back vents, 2 underarm vents, 2 front and 2 rear thigh vents.
• Multiple internal and external pockets for storage, including a large rear pocket for oversized items.
• Left arm concealed ID card pocket.
• Price: $699.95 for the jacket and $649.95 for the pants.

Ranger

The Ranger is the most accessible adventure suit in the lineup designed to provide all the essentials needed for off-road adventures. The focus of the Ranger is on practical functionality, with features that offer maximum utility and versatility at a price point that won’t break the bank. But the Ranger doesn’t skimp on style. On first look at all three suits in the lineup, it’s hard to guess which is the least expensive one. The Ranger also doesn’t scream adventure, so it’s a suit that won’t look out of place on different types of motorcycles from scramblers and enduros, to pure street models.

Key Features:

• 100% waterproof GORE-TEX 2L main body fabric.
• Removable D30 CE level 2 (elbows, knees, shoulders); CE Level 1 (back).
• Traditional relaxed fit.
• Reinforced high-wear areas for increased durability.
• 2 chest vents with hold-open hooks, 2 back vents, 2 underarm vents, 2 front intake thigh vents.
• Multiple internal and external pockets for storage.
• Left arm concealed ID card pocket.
• Price: $549.95 for the jacket and $499.95 for the pants.

First Test

I got a chance to get in a day of testing on the flagship Recon suit during the ADV Line press introduction at Fox Racing Headquarters in Irvine, California. After getting a full briefing on the gear, we headed into the nearby Santa Ana Mountains for a primarily off-road ride on a perfect spring day with temperatures in the mid-to-high 70’s Fahrenheit. Even better, we had two special guests leading the ride — the greatest of all time motocross/supercross racer Ricky Carmichael and legendary X-Games competitor Carey Hart (first man to backflip a 250cc motocross bike in competition).

My first impression of the Recon after pulling it off the rack was that it’s seriously light for a fully-armored suit with a 3-layer Gore-Tex shell. The shell is made of a thin material, reinforced with ‘Superfabric’ (small ceramic beads) in the knees, elbows and shoulders for max maneuverability. 

The suit feels light and soft to the touch, the fit is contoured but roomy, plus there’s a bit of stretch to it. There’s no stiff crinkly feel and it doesn’t weigh you down much more than light enduro gear. In fact, with its soft, stretchy material, it reminds me of the Fox’s Legion softshell waterproof enduro gear but with built in padding. It’s incredibly comfy for a suit with this much tech built in, and you’re not dying to get out of it once the ride is over. Styling is modern too, rather than the stuffy standard ADV designs we typically see. 

After a quick safety briefing from RC in which he jokingly stated “don’t do anything to try to impress us,” we were soon out on the trail. We began our ride on a crisp morning and the Recon felt airy even without any vents open, but it wasn’t quite cold enough to need a separate base layer. 

As the day warmed, I opened the long front zipper vent and it had a significant cooling effect. I could have probably ridden the full day with just the front vent open, but opening up the under-arm and back vents, along with the four thigh vents, really kept things breezy. I’m a big fan of forearm vents on my adventure jackets, which are absent on the Recon but they are available on the Defend.

On the rougher portions of the trail, I pushed the pace of the bike to give the Recon a good test. It was a blast trying to keep up with Ricky and Carey on some technical OHV trails and the suit offered full range of movement for aggressive riding. It’s great for maintaining dexterity during quick counterbalancing maneuvers or dodging holes and it doesn’t overheat easily while doing it. I especially like the interior, which has smooth fabric on the joints and the D3O padding is very light and soft. The pads have good coverage over the top of the knee and shins as well. Overall, the suit has a high-quality feel to it for both materials and construction.

While I love the comfort and lightness of the suit, a set of hip pads would be a nice addition and perhaps a CE level-2 back protector (a CE level-1 back protector is included). I’m also curious how well the chassis will hold up in a serious fall on the street. With the Superfabric reinforcement, I’d expect sliding won’t be a problem and the D3O armor is stout for impacts, but I wonder if the thin chassis material will cut or tear easily. But perhaps as they say, it’s “everything you need and nothing more.” For those who primarily stick to the dirt, the protection should be more than enough.

Impressive job by Fox on their first ADV Line. It’s great to see another large company getting into the Adventure world. We’ll keep testing the Recon and report back as we gather more miles in more varied climates, especially in warmer weather and wet conditions.

Photos by Simon Cudby, Fox Racing and Rob Dabney

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.