I remember when I used to race in O’NEAL gear back in the real early 2000’s. Then for some reason it kinda disappeared and Barely anyone could be seen wearing O’NEAL gear for quite some time. It’s only in the last 5 years that O’NEAL has made its comeback as a serious go-to MX clothing brand again.

With Forbes and Davies now the New Zealand distributor of O’NEAL riding gear, plus their sponsorship of the Honda Kids Camps, it was inevitable that some new O’NEAL gear was going to be coming through The Dirt pretty soon. Originally I received this to use in the Husqvarna Hard Enduro, which I was planning to do in the teams section with Jono Hill on some old air cooled bikes. But as it turned out I was not able to make it to the event. Only recently have I been able to really get a hold of this gear and give it a good go.

This year in particular has been huge for O’NEAL in regards to marketing and sponsorship. You can now see O’NEAL gear all over your TV screen as AMA pro riders are getting gobbled up by the brand. Nichols, Ray, Musquin, Masterpool, Millsaps, Smith, Clason…just to name a few top riders who come under the O’NEAL umbrella.

The Mayhem Covert model sits as second in line behind the Hardware range, which is O’NEALS top stuff. RRP is $69.95 for the jersey and $199 for the pants. For this set, we went with the Element gloves which are a modest $39.95.

Jersey Features

Athletic Cut body with 2-way stretch arms. Set-In Straight Cut

• Breathable, moisture-wicking material

• Sublimated graphics

• Extended tail that keeps jersey tucked in

• Clear silicone printing on lower back to help keep jersey tucked in

• V-Neck collar

I like the jersey because of a few aspects. It’s not super tight and clingy - meaning not all my 40+ year old ‘dad bod’ is on display to everyone at the track. But at the same time, it is stretchy enough that I can get the chest protector under there and still not feel restricted and tight. The V-neck allows for plenty of room and zero neck chafing, and the cuffs are tiny - which I prefer.

Pants Features

• Streamlined and lightweight design

• Sublimated graphics for reduced weight and increased mobility

• Durable denier fabrics with triple stitching in all critical areas

• Premium leather heat shield on both knees

• Ultra-soft no pull half liner, stops at the knee

• Reinforced and adjustable elastic waist system with hook-and-loop closure for a precise fit

• 360-degree adjustable belt keeps pants in place

• Hidden external zippered hip pocket

• Stretch panels in key points on front, back, and knees for great freedom of movement

• Ergonomically correct, pre-bent and padded knee area

I like being able to fit my knee braces inside my pants and not struggle to pull them up or bend at the knee. But I also don’t want too much extra material flapping around either. For my body size of a 38 pant and Large POD knee braces, the Mayhem Covert seems to strike a perfect balance of the two. And again, the adjustability around the waist is so important to those of us who fluctuate between sizes depending on last nights dinner. The knees have been really tough and the overall fitment is comfortable. Pocket is a cool touch too. Great for an enduro timecard.

Glove Features

• Vented mesh top for increased airflow and cooling

• TPR strips for added protection from branches and debris

• Adjustable wrist with Velcro® closure for a secure fit

• Stretch Lycra® side panels for added comfort and flexibility

• Ergonomic padding and stitching on palm for increased comfort and dexterity

• Pre-curved tailoring for the best fit possible, and helps to eliminate arm pump

With regards to the glove - I only really have one pre-requisite. It has to be double layer at least. The Mayhem are a single layer glove so it made sense to go with the Element model. The best feature I think is the stretch side panels which make them super easy to slide on. Other than that is it just a glove really and that’s how it should be in my opinion. No need to reinvent the wheel here. Cover the hand. Make it comfortable. Jobs done. The extra around the thumb is cool too.

The entire Mayhem Covert V.23 set fits well, has so far been very durable and I really like how it looks up against the red bikes - which is all that seem to be coming through recently. Also if you are worried about the white, it actually stays white, assuming you wash it correctly. And for just over $300 all up - not a bad price either. But don’t take my word for it…let Jono Hill tell you about his experiences with O’NEAL…in a way only Jono could.

Jono’s Opinion

I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to try out the latest O’NEAL Mayhem gearset from Forbes & Davies in the Husqvarna Hard Enduro. I was very excited to put on a fresh kit, the very same as worn by the 2022 NZ GNCC champ, Damon Nield.

I have never tried a set of this gear before, but here are my top 3 favourite things about it.

Useability

The fit/comfort is great, it’s not skin-tight (as seems to be the trend these days). Both the pants and shirt have ample room to move all around the bike in and are not restrictive in any way. The pants belt buckle is a nice thick Velcro strap which always fits comfortably around the waist, unlike other brands that tend to dig in after a few too many bakery visits. The shirt has some rubber/silicone grip areas on the tail to ensure it stays tucked in. The pants also have a handy thigh pocket to carry small item in them out on the trail if needed.

Durability

This O’NEAL gear gets a 10/10 on the toughness scale from me. I have used the gear for the 3-day Husky Hard Enduro (Smashing through undergrowth, sliding down banks on my bum, crashing, endurocross etc), a couple of NZ GNCC rounds and all the rides in-between. That’s a good 20+ hours of riding time and the gear isn’t showing any signs of wear yet. The knee area is nice and thick, the material the gear is made of feels quality and all the zippers are big and strong.

The Looks.

Most people will choose their gear set based on appearances. The O’NEAL sets slap! They have nice, simple, clean-cut colours that aren’t too busy.

Would I recommend this gear? Absolutely. I have a few sets of different brands in my gear bag but since having the opportunity to try the O’NEAL Mayhem gear, it has become the set that I grab out of my gear bag first, every time.

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