There is nothing like getting on a bike and going for a ride, to some it’s more than just a sport, it’s throttle therapy. With endless off-road riding at our doorstep and spring encouraging us to roll our mountain goats out, we then take a closer look at our seasoned and pretty tatty riding gear. There’s nothing worse than having your bike dressed to kill in its latest plastics, having the bike perfectly prepped for that ride, but then you stand out like a red-nosed deer with a dated kit.
Husqvarna and their new range of dirt bikes have pushed the envelope in technological advancements, ergonomics and styling for this year’s line-up. With these bikes looking so good and being just as intelligent, you don’t want to be “the partner” that stands out. Luckily Husqvarna makes it seriously easy for you to pair up with your significant other with a range of 2023 male, female and junior functional wear.
Husqvarna, KTM and GASGAS are the only real plastic-orientated motorcycle brands in SA that bring in the same stylish kits we see in their awesomely shot promo videos on social. Unlike the logo-heavy racing team kits, these fresh skins are slick, high-quality and make you feel like a true winter test rider.
Just like Huskies enduro motorcycles have to withstand and overcome all the challenges that mother nature can throw at them, so do you, so to help you do exactly that we welcome Husqvarna’s Functional off-road range. From lightweight race gear to the waterproof Gotland range, the line-up caters for all conditions and also includes helmets, goggles, gloves and other protective items to keep you safe.
In the photos you’ll see me wearing a combination of items from the range; Gotland Bell Moto-9 helmet, Railed pants, Authentic gloves, 100% goggles and Gotland shirt. A stand out for me is, that you can mix and match between the range, whether it’s Railed, Gotland or Authentic, they all match and complement one another—allowing riders to pick whatever combo suits their preference.
Husqvarna realise they can’t do it all and want their riders to wear the best on the best and for this, they have gone with the stunning Bell Moto-9 and 100% for goggles (new for this year is the Leatt Velocity 5.5 goggles). I have personally ridden with Bell for the last few years and can’t say enough good about them. The Moto-9 is no exception, it feels light at 1400 g, has good ventilation, comes with handy quick flip peak screws and has a magnetic D-ring for easy location. Design-wise these graphics have made their way down from the Norden 901-inspired Bell MX-9, integrating well with the kit and giving it a unique look.
Just like the premium lid and goggles, Husqvarna themselves have gone to town on designing a range of kits that follow suit. The shirt, pants and gloves are made of a combination of nylon, polyester and leather, making for an ultra-lightweight, breathable and robust kit.
A nice touch from Huskie on the Authentic gloves is the Nanofront material on the palms which not only look and feel good but enhance the grip on the bars. To reinforce the gloves there is a stitched leather insert between the thumb and pointing finger to help increase longevity for those more throttle-heavy and aggressive rides. With 70% polyester being used in the making of these hand warmers, the gloves breathe well—on top of that, they have mesh lining between the fingers.
The shirt has to be my favourite, not only because of the retro look but because Husqvarna has thrown in a chest pocket with a goggle-cleaning microfiber cloth. How cool is that! Stop, give your goggles a spray with some lens cleaner and wipe them off before hitting the next trail—a usable feature I see myself using.
Complementing the shirt and gloves we get the Railed riding pants. The elastic waist, nylon upper and mesh lower make for a good-fitting, protective and well-ventilated setup. The leather inners help with grip on the plastic and keep the heat from the motor relatively low. Again, Husqvarna’s distinctive styling has to be admired with a subtle Husqvarna crest on the one side and the ‘Husqvarna motorcycles’ logo on the other—because symmetry is everything.
So, there you have it, Husqvarna is ready and waiting for their next set of weekend test riders to come and pick up their official riding kit. As far as pricing goes, the kit is on the more premium side of the spectrum, but in our opinion, is worth every cent.
For more information on the Husqvarna functional wear featured in this article, click on the links below…
