Product review: O'Neal Element MX combo

In a market where you can pay over $400 for a motocross pant and jersey combo it's nice to know brands like O'Neal are 'keeping it real' by offering adult ensembles from as little as $145. The 2019 O'Neal Element range might be cheap but it's certainly not nasty. I picked my set up for the launch of the 2019 Yamaha YZ250F and I reckon I got a good bang for my bucks.

The Element range uses lightweight materials which help create an unrestricted feel on the bike. The pants also feature stretch panels above the knees, across the butt and most importantly through the groin, so you can comfortably nail that out-of-control flying 'W' without splitting your strides.

Like most brands of entry-level MX pants, the Element pants don't have leather on the inner knees like you'd expect on more expensive options. A heavier-duty material has been used in the knees but it's not leather, so I expect that area to wear quicker and be more susceptible to damage from a hot exhaust. Fortunately, there are no signs of wear just yet.

Inside the pants there are removable hip pads, a sewn-in key or coin pocket and a full-length liner – all nice touches for entry-level MX pants.

O'Neal has designed the Element pants to suit a wide variety of shapes and sizes. These are motocross pants for the weekend rider like you and me, rather than for professional riders with ripped abs and no-carb diets.

Adult pant sizes start at 28 inches around the waist for whipper-snappers and go all the way up to 52 inches for the big boys, although colours are limited in the largest sizes.

The waistline of the Element pants is elasticised all the way around, unlike the next range up in price, which only has elasticised sections on the hips. So, if you over-indulge over Christmas you'll still be able to fit into your O'Neal elements when the dust has settled on the fattening festive season.

If you're buying this gear online, just match the pant size with the size you normally wear in jeans. My advice is don't be tempted to go up a size, because the elasticised waist has plenty of give in it.

Keeping the pants strapped on is a simple zip-and-ratchet closure system. No pesky press-studs that have a habit of popping off or rusting out. O'Neal does a great job of keeping things simple and fuss-free.

Finally, on the subject of waistlines, my only criticism of the Element pants is the lack of that grippy silicone stuff on the inside of the waist that you get on the dearer O'Neal Mayhem and Hardwear pants. As a skinny flat-back (ie no arse), I found the lack of grip inside the waistline meant I had to ratchet the closure to the max to stop them slipping down. Bigger riders with more booty and belly probably won't have this issue.

The matching Element jersey is a lightweight, breathable bit of gear, which is what you want to avoid overheating. You won't feel choked by the V-neck collar and there's a whisper-thin section of padding stitched into the elbows.

The jersey has a generous bit of length, so you shouldn't have any trouble keeping it tucked into your dacks. While the pants are generously sized, I found the sizing of the jersey to be on the small side. I've always worn 'Small'-sized jerseys to match size 30 pants, but I went up to a Medium in the Element jersey for extra breathing room.

In the adult range, jersey sizes start at S and go up to 3XL in most colours. O'Neal has a Classic Black range in the Element gear and the jerseys go up to 4XL.

Not only is O'Neal Element gear available for blokes, there's also a range for women, boys and girls. In fact, the girls gear is so on-trend (according to my six-year-old daughter) there was almost a PW50 on her Christmas wish list. She's much more ballet than bikes at this stage but the fact O'Neal has pink pants, jerseys, gloves, boots and helmets almost saw her switch codes!

If your current riding gear looks and smells like you've been living in a wheelie bin, but you don't want to spend a fortune on new threads, the 2019 O'Neal Element pants and jersey can have you looking fast and smelling fresh from a respectable $145. If you're hard on your gear and ride every weekend then spend the extra for the heavier-duty O'Neal Mayhem or Hardwear combo instead.

O'Neal Element pricing:
Adult pants: from $109.95
Adult jersey: from $34.95

O'Neal MX gear is available at most motorcycle and accessory stores throughout Australia.