We’re all well aware that motocross is a predominately male sport. However, women also share a love for the sport and it’s about time retailers realized this. Today we’re talking about gear, the one piece of equipment that can literally make or break you. You may have the cleanest bike out there, but if you’re in old, ratty gear – you’re just another goofball. On the other hand, if you’re a Joe on a clunker – the right gear can make you look like a pro! Everyone knows that first and foremost, you gotta look good in your gear. Clean, fresh, swag, etc… you get the idea.

Personally, I’m an MSR fan. I have a few sets of gear in rotation, both men’s and women’s: Men’s 2011 NXT, 2012 NXT and Women’s 2010 Starlet. Finding the perfect gear is especially hard for women. There are little to no color options and the sizes tend to change from year to year. For example, there was a significant size adjustment made from the 2010 to 2011 Starlet. I ordered the same size for 2011 as I had for 2010 and they didn’t fit at all. And no, it wasn’t because I had gained weight!

The obvious solution for women is to buy men’s gear, but they don’t necessarily fit women either. Men’s pants have a higher waist and inseam, plus longer legs and lower knees… only natural considering men typically have longer torsos. The jerseys are also longer in the arms and waist. For women this leaves plenty of fabric hanging loose and flying in the wind while riding. The Velcro adjusters on men’s pant sides are a great addition; women would probably appreciate them on their pants, too.

Women’s gear is constructed to be proportional to a woman’s body type. However, there never seems to be enough in stock and the options are limited. Most women don’t want to wear pink or purple for every race. Pink is great, but a little variety makes riding more fun and interesting. Men have it made when it comes to gear selection. They have the options, they have the stock, and they have the fit.

More “unisex” type gear might fix this problem and offer women more options, but most companies aren’t likely to put the dollars and research into producing a greater variety of stock for this purpose. Women are getting the short end of the stick, but we all make do with what we have because at the end of the day all any of us want to do is ride!