2016 Fly Evolution 2.0 Code Pant and Jersey

What it is

• Boa. closure system.
• Soft-Flex badging.
• Zipper lock closure.

Even though non-leather riding gear has been on the scene for over 45 years, material and cuts have changed over the years companies like Fly keep coming up with new technology to incorporate into their gear. According to Fly, the integrated Boa closure system is a first for the MX world. It’s a system that adjusts the waist tension of the pant and evenly distributes it throughout the waistband.

In addition to the unique waist tension adjuster, other features of the pant include Hex 600D construction for a long-lasting build suited for the track or the trail with ample vents. Other features are Kevlar® panels for heat areas around the knees, zipper vents in the legs for added air flow, unique zipper lock closure to keep you from busting at the seams, stretchy Lycra liner and internal pocket for your cash, stash or ID. Other niceties include laser cut perforations for added ventilation, Soft-Flex badging, relaxed cuffs in the boot area, ergonomically pre-shaped knee area to accept braces or knee cups, and sublimated graphics. The pant is available in three color ways in sizes from 26-40 and has a retail price of $169.95.

The jersey is straightforward and easy fitting. Made from several panels of Lycra polyester. The front panel is a tighter weave material while the rear is more open for ample ventilation. The bottom rear panel also features rows of thin silicone rubber embedded into the material to help keep it tucked in during a ride. The collar is open with a multi-directional stretch material. The cuff is what they call an open-zero cuff that flairs out slightly with another piece of multi-directional stretch material to avoid any constriction. The jersey is available in youth XL to adult 2XL, three different colors, and goes for $49.95.

How it works

• Comfortable pant with lots of adjustments.
• The right about of venting for most riding conditions.
• No binding or pinching after wearing the gear for 10 hours.

What drew me in to the Fly 2.0 Code Gear were the features and the unique Boa closure system. Anyone that has experienced that unnerving feeling while racing as your pants start to pull down and you look like you are about to star in a rap video knows what we are talking about. And this look does not just apply to big dudes (which I am). Skinny or average-sized riders or whether or not you have junk in your trunk or spend the day with your wallet floating in the air, you’ve all had the experience. Fly has tried to eliminate the above-mentioned possible affliction.

When I first pulled the pant from the package they felt a little stiff but once they are worn and washed, that sensation goes away. The pant is fairly light at approximately 37 ounces at size 36 (yes there’s a little more material because I am above the average 32-34 size). The pant is well engineered with tucked away vents, zipper vents in the legs, and panels in the right places for protection. I have long legs and often the inner panels stick out of my boot and I end up ripping the pant or burning a hole in the pant on the heater side. This was not the case with the Fly Code 2.0. The pant fits very well with cups or knee braces. I really liked some of the details in the pant like the zipper lock closure. Yes it is another item to deal with if you have to go in for a quick pit stop but I liked the fact it kept the tension off the zipper and from opening up while riding.

The flagship feature of the pant is the Boa closure. In addition to the ratchet closure up front, the Boa adds more tuning to distribute the tension on your waist from either hipbone around the back of the pant. The system is simple, just push or pull on the button to lock and unlock the tension adjuster on the rear of the pant and turn the dial clockwise to increase the tension, and counterclockwise to release the tension. While riding with the system I never felt like the pant wanted to pull down. You just pop the adjuster in with either hand in the back and dial the tension to your desire. Then pop the lock open and the setting will loosen. You can just leave it as is, but to get the pant on and off with ease, I often unlock and release the tension on the system.

When riding motocross in standard conditions the ventilation is there but not bothersome and not too much. Maybe in very hot weather we would desire more venting and a lighter material, but for a crossover from warm to chilly weather, the pant and jersey was very accommodating. We know the venting is working well when riding off-road on a chilly morning, if you covered the vents in the knee area you can feel the difference.

The fit of the pant on my 6' 1", 215-lb frame is very nice, the pant was not too loose or tight and the stretch areas built into the pant make riding off-road or motocross comfortable. I spent several days wearing the gear for 10 hours both riding and standing and walking around, and there were never any pinching or binding.

However, this pant is not all peaches and cream for me. I do have a few comments on things that felt different to me or that I did not like. The first is the main zipper, it does not zip down far enough and when nature calls it requires a firm pull of the pants in the front or having to pull them down a tad altogether. A slightly longer zipper would do the trick.

The second is the inner liner. At first it felt like it slides around a little too much under my butt. This was most apparent when I was thinking about the pant for the test and trying to feel every sensation. If you just ride, the feeling goes away for the most part but while riding motocross I do feel my butt slip in the pant and not grip when I want it to once in a while. Definitely not a deal breaker for the pant and it can even work to your advantage moving around on the bike but something to at least note. And be careful when removing the pant because the liner floats around the knee and is only attached in key places. My braces got snagged on the liner a few times and if you pull too hard you can pop the stitches on the liner. Just reach down and unhook your brace if this happens and pull the pant off.

As for the jersey, it just works and there are no negatives to report, which is a good thing. There is no binding, they don’t look too baggy, and it feels like you have some covering yet still offers enough airflow for most conditions. On cold mornings I wore an undershirt to block the cold air on the chest area because I was chilly. For most riding and when you are heated from all the action, the mix of airflow was just enough for most rides between 68-94 degrees. I liked the neck and sleeves because you never really noticed they were there.

The Fly Evolution 2.0 Code is a solid set of gear with lots of features and a first in the industry with the Boa system. The gear performed and had a great fit for both motocross and off-road. The size was true for my application and the gear held up to a slew of trips through the washer and banging through bushes in the desert. Best of all I never had to sing the song “Pants on the Ground” and nobody ever saw my boxers poking out the top. If you ride once a week I can easily see this set of gear lasting a season or longer under normal conditions.

Support this site by clicking through and purchasing on the logo below.