The Thor MX brand has been a household name within the motorcycle industry for decades, providing high quality gear to the top riders in our sport for many years.

Domestically we have seen riders achieving great success wearing Thor product, while internationally an obvious standout would be Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto who has taken countless titles sporting their outfits.

GAS Imports shipped MotoOnline.com.au a set of fresh 2013 Thor Core gear to put to the test recently, read on to see what we thought about the gear after putting it through it’s paces out on the track.

Technical Information

The Thor Core jersey for 2013 features an all-new collar construction, which includes two large knit panels for easy entry and exit. In addtion, athletic stretch-rib gussets have been added for a perfect fit at the cuffs.

Using a moisture wicking, 100 percent poly chassis construction, the jersey features large mesh panels in the chest, underarms and side panels increase ventilation throughout. A dropped tail is featured to keep jersey tucked in while riding, along with sublimated no-fade graphics.

A pre-curved 900D poly oxford chassis is featured on the Core pant, increasing durability, along with strategically placed high TPR’s with integrated vent panels.

Leather knee panels are secured to the pant using Kevlar stitching, with accordion stretch Spandura knee panels for expansion and ventilation. Additional stretch material at the ankle also provides a secure fit without bunching.

Debossed full grain cowhide leather inner knee panels offer improved heat resistance, while the ride-lite perforated inner liner with four-way spandex panel at the waist for is added for uninhibited movement.

Lightweight, cupped TPR knee panelling is placed strategically for roost deflection and a ratchet style waist with lock-down closure is also featured to hold the pant in place.

The Core glove uses a sublimated stretch mesh construction for maximum airflow and fade-free graphics. While the single layer, fully perforated palm provides optimum feel and maxiumin ventilation.

Back of hand and knuckle protection has been removed to increase mobility and minimize weight. Additionally, a reinforced thumb overlay for abrasion resistance has been added, plus four-way stretch finger and wrist gussets to contour to the shape of your hand, reducing bunching.

Positives

Initially, the first thing you I noticed upon receiving my Thor Core gear set, was the impressive ‘Scorpio purple’ colourway. The combination of purple, yellow, black and white, definitely stands out from the crowd and looks the goods at the same time.

When throwing the jersey on for the first time, you can instantly feel that the 100 percent poly chassis constructed jersey is a high end product. The all-new collar construction provides ample room and the athletic stretch-rib gussets ensure a snug fit around the wrist, while providing freedom to move.

Next up is the Core pant, which as expected, lives up to the same standards as the jersey. With TPR panels, leather inner knee’s, multiple stretch panels and a mesh inner liner, the pant certainly comes with all the bells and whistles we expect from top of the range motocross gear.

The knee area has definitely been built with knee braces in mind, leaving just enough room to fit your brace of choice, without leaving any excess material – a feature which many brands tend to miss the mark on I think.

The additional stretch material at the ankle provides a secure fit without bunching up inside your boot, maintaining the same snug feel from your knee brace down. Finally, securing your Thor Core pant is made easy with the ratchet style buckle closure which is simple and effective.

Keeping with the current trend, Thor has hit the market with their ‘minimalist’ style Core glove, removing all of the finger, knuckle and hand protection to create a very light and thin glove. I am a big fan of this style personally, so for me this is a big plus.

The minimalist styling and slip-on design, paired with a single layer palm, creates a lightweight and comfortable glove that not only looks great, but performs well out on the track – where it counts.

Negatives

Firstly, we are currently in the middle of a hot Australian summer, and although the Thor Core gear features a selection of vented areas, I do feel that more ventilation and airflow is needed. I think that having a fully vented jersey option on offer would be the perfect solution to this problem.

My only other gripe with this gear combination is the fit of the pant, specifically throughout the thigh area and above. The pant does feature stretch panels in these areas, but still feels quite tight and slightly restricting at times.

Although the pant has started to loosen up over time, my initial experience riding with the pant was slightly awkward.

Verdict

If you are looking for a great looking, high quality and very durable set of motocross gear, the Thor Core line will be right up your alley.

After wearing the gear on a constant basis, a run through the washing machine will bring it back to showroom condition and any signs of wear are virtually non-existent.

Although some slight fitting and ventilation issues were ran into while testing the product, the good points outweigh the bad in every aspect – the Thor Core gear set is a quality product, that’s for sure.

Thor MX is distributed throughout Australia by Gas Imports. For more information on the 2013 Thor range, or to find your local stockist, call Gas Imports on (03) 8331 0300 or visit www.gasimports.com.au.