Who chooses gear colors for riders/teams?

Wicked65
Profile picture for user Wicked65
Posts
25
Joined
1/7/2012
Location
San Diego, CA US
Wicked65
Edited Date/Time 2/5/2020 5:22pm
I notice some teams changing up gear colors each race or week (Pro Circuit always rocking different Fox designs) and then others keep it consistent (Star racing w/ powder blue thor and Cooper Web w/ orange/black thor). Do the gear companies influence this or do the riders get their pick each week?
1
|
Racer111
Profile picture for user Racer111
Posts
2767
Joined
5/23/2009
Location
Concord, NC US
Racer111 2/2/2020 7:47am
2/2/2020 7:47am
The gear company for the teams.

For example....

Team Pro Circuit Kawasaki...... Their Fox Rep shows up every weekend and gives them their kits for the weekend. Same for Roczen, though the rep knows he predominantly likes black and red, so he brings that most of the time.
2
4
MxKing809
Profile picture for user MxKing809
Posts
6374
Joined
10/13/2013
Location
Big Sand Whoops, MI US
Fantasy
995th
MxKing809 2/2/2020 7:57am
2/2/2020 7:57am
Yamaha and KTM are notorious for restricting color pallets. I’m shocked by what Barcia wears at times, so maybe Yamaha is chilling out. KTM is almost ALWAYS orange and black.
1
2WheelsForTheMasses 2/2/2020 8:57am
2/2/2020 8:57am
Wicked65 wrote:
I notice some teams changing up gear colors each race or week (Pro Circuit always rocking different Fox designs) and then others keep it consistent (Star...
I notice some teams changing up gear colors each race or week (Pro Circuit always rocking different Fox designs) and then others keep it consistent (Star racing w/ powder blue thor and Cooper Web w/ orange/black thor). Do the gear companies influence this or do the riders get their pick each week?
The global marketing manager or chief marketing manager per company will have full control of all colorways and design that go to each team on a week to week basis. Reps are nothing more than a filter/delivery boy. Reps gave zero control!!

3
1
Barrett57
Profile picture for user Barrett57
Posts
2270
Joined
8/31/2010
Location
GB
Barrett57 2/2/2020 9:15am
2/2/2020 9:15am
Love me some kit colorways.
2
2

The Shop

See All »
Ramrod
Profile picture for user Ramrod
Posts
4982
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Ontario CA
Ramrod 2/2/2020 9:16am
2/2/2020 9:16am
MxKing809 wrote:
Yamaha and KTM are notorious for restricting color pallets. I’m shocked by what Barcia wears at times, so maybe Yamaha is chilling out. KTM is almost...
Yamaha and KTM are notorious for restricting color pallets. I’m shocked by what Barcia wears at times, so maybe Yamaha is chilling out. KTM is almost ALWAYS orange and black.
For sure different team theories on this.

I like the way PC does it now and think it grabs more visual attention. PC used to only run 1 or 2 gearsets back in the Thor days.
1
Wicked65
Profile picture for user Wicked65
Posts
25
Joined
1/7/2012
Location
San Diego, CA US
Wicked65 2/2/2020 9:19am
2/2/2020 9:19am
So then why do some teams have the same gear every week? The same blue gear kit the star racing guys are wearing every week looks awesome but obviously there are other great colorways available. Pro circuit seems to run a different kit each week which which gives better visibility for the different colorways.
1
GoonRider93 2/2/2020 9:33am
2/2/2020 9:33am
Depends on the team. Tomac for example, Astars, Kawi and Monster all have certain criteria that needs to be met. Historically he's always worn black/green/white but the last year or so they've really slackened the restrictions (2019 outdoors for example he wore purple and blue).

Same for other teams. I know Honda HAVE to have the wing on the front.
2
GoonRider93 2/2/2020 9:36am
2/2/2020 9:36am
Wicked65 wrote:
So then why do some teams have the same gear every week? The same blue gear kit the star racing guys are wearing every week looks...
So then why do some teams have the same gear every week? The same blue gear kit the star racing guys are wearing every week looks awesome but obviously there are other great colorways available. Pro circuit seems to run a different kit each week which which gives better visibility for the different colorways.
Different sponsors involved have different inputs. No one sponsor has full control. Thor might say "hey, wear this kit." But Yamaha will say "Ok, but we want it to be blue." Monster Energy might chime in and be like "Don't forget our logo on it!"

Not exactly like that but you get the idea.
1
1
Racerman967
Profile picture for user Racerman967
Posts
679
Joined
1/1/2019
Location
Littleton, CO US
Racerman967 2/2/2020 10:18am
2/2/2020 10:18am
Thor has 6 colorways in their spring gear 3 fit the Yamaha colorways, A couple work for KTM and then there is a burgundy. So the riders choice are limited this season.
KDXGarage
Profile picture for user KDXGarage
Posts
2561
Joined
12/16/2010
Location
AL US
KDXGarage 2/2/2020 11:51am
2/2/2020 11:51am
This week... on Project Runway.
5
2
OldPro277
Profile picture for user OldPro277
Posts
1875
Joined
11/9/2009
Location
Avonmore, PA US
OldPro277 2/2/2020 12:29pm
2/2/2020 12:29pm
Barrett57 wrote:
Love me some kit colorways.
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the "good 'ol days " when adult men wore GEAR !!! And the color was just that ---Color !!

Am I an old curmudgeon ? Possibly
13
4
nascarnate326 2/2/2020 1:21pm
2/2/2020 1:21pm
KDXGarage wrote:
This week... on Project Runway.
a quarter of the moto industry is clothing related it seems like. Im honestly shocked there isn't more of it on TV as the female demographic may be into it.
GoonRider93 2/4/2020 2:52pm
2/4/2020 2:52pm
Barrett57 wrote:
Love me some kit colorways.
OldPro277 wrote:
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the...
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the "good 'ol days " when adult men wore GEAR !!! And the color was just that ---Color !!

Am I an old curmudgeon ? Possibly
Don't pretend it didn't happen in your day, otherwise we wouldn't have all these awesome throwback gear coming out. It's always been around!
mattyhamz2 2/4/2020 3:06pm
2/4/2020 3:06pm
Barrett57 wrote:
Love me some kit colorways.
OldPro277 wrote:
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the...
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the "good 'ol days " when adult men wore GEAR !!! And the color was just that ---Color !!

Am I an old curmudgeon ? Possibly
Lol!!! I'm 29 and will never call it a kit or color way.

I wear my gear and I enjoy the different color sets of gear that I have!
10
2
therustybootbuckle 2/4/2020 3:07pm
2/4/2020 3:07pm
The gear gets decided between the teams and the gear companies. Some teams have restrictions on colors they cant run or the gear has to have a percentage of a certain color in the gear. Just depends on the team and their restrictions.
OldPro277
Profile picture for user OldPro277
Posts
1875
Joined
11/9/2009
Location
Avonmore, PA US
OldPro277 2/4/2020 3:22pm
2/4/2020 3:22pm
Barrett57 wrote:
Love me some kit colorways.
OldPro277 wrote:
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the...
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the "good 'ol days " when adult men wore GEAR !!! And the color was just that ---Color !!

Am I an old curmudgeon ? Possibly
GoonRider93 wrote:
Don't pretend it didn't happen in your day, otherwise we wouldn't have all these awesome throwback gear coming out. It's always been around!
We NEVER referred to our gear as "kits" or the color and design as "colorways" lol. The 70's Fox gear (in my avatar ) is still the best looking gear ever, in my opinion. Although there was a lot of cool designs back then. Simple, clean and yet eyecatching, ruled the day.
3
OldPro277
Profile picture for user OldPro277
Posts
1875
Joined
11/9/2009
Location
Avonmore, PA US
OldPro277 2/4/2020 3:23pm
2/4/2020 3:23pm
Barrett57 wrote:
Love me some kit colorways.
OldPro277 wrote:
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the...
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the "good 'ol days " when adult men wore GEAR !!! And the color was just that ---Color !!

Am I an old curmudgeon ? Possibly
mattyhamz2 wrote:
Lol!!! I'm 29 and will never call it a kit or color way. I wear my gear and I enjoy the different color sets of gear...
Lol!!! I'm 29 and will never call it a kit or color way.

I wear my gear and I enjoy the different color sets of gear that I have!
And proof that there is still hope for today's youth !! Way to go Matty !!!! lol
2
Wicked65
Profile picture for user Wicked65
Posts
25
Joined
1/7/2012
Location
San Diego, CA US
Wicked65 2/4/2020 3:35pm
2/4/2020 3:35pm Edited Date/Time 2/4/2020 3:35pm
OldPro277 wrote:
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the...
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the "good 'ol days " when adult men wore GEAR !!! And the color was just that ---Color !!

Am I an old curmudgeon ? Possibly
GoonRider93 wrote:
Don't pretend it didn't happen in your day, otherwise we wouldn't have all these awesome throwback gear coming out. It's always been around!
OldPro277 wrote:
We NEVER referred to our gear as "kits" or the color and design as "colorways" lol. The 70's Fox gear (in my avatar ) is still...
We NEVER referred to our gear as "kits" or the color and design as "colorways" lol. The 70's Fox gear (in my avatar ) is still the best looking gear ever, in my opinion. Although there was a lot of cool designs back then. Simple, clean and yet eyecatching, ruled the day.
Okay, post edited. "gear color". there. Also, anyone remember gear in these days?


2

Pit Row

See All »
mattyhamz2 2/4/2020 3:37pm
2/4/2020 3:37pm
OldPro277 wrote:
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the...
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the "good 'ol days " when adult men wore GEAR !!! And the color was just that ---Color !!

Am I an old curmudgeon ? Possibly
mattyhamz2 wrote:
Lol!!! I'm 29 and will never call it a kit or color way. I wear my gear and I enjoy the different color sets of gear...
Lol!!! I'm 29 and will never call it a kit or color way.

I wear my gear and I enjoy the different color sets of gear that I have!
OldPro277 wrote:
And proof that there is still hope for today's youth !! Way to go Matty !!!! lol
Hahaha! I can't stand hearing kit or colorway.

And just to help the situation a bit, every so often I do still refer to my pants as leathers Laughing
4
1
Gworm
Profile picture for user Gworm
Posts
2751
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO US
Gworm 2/4/2020 3:48pm
2/4/2020 3:48pm
Wasn’t Kit Colorway in a bunch of spaghetti westerns back in the 60s?
1
Falcon
Profile picture for user Falcon
Posts
12335
Joined
11/16/2011
Location
Menifee, CA US
Falcon 2/4/2020 4:09pm
2/4/2020 4:09pm
I still say "leathers," even though nobody wore real leather by the time I started riding. I say "gear" or "riding gear." I never say "kit," although I've been known to refer to something as a colorway if I'm differentiating between two versions of the same pattern. (That's a "different colorway.")
3
donman
Profile picture for user donman
Posts
716
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Golden, CO US
donman 2/4/2020 4:14pm
2/4/2020 4:14pm
As seen in black and white = lack of color / colorway on this gear / kit...


DE262
Profile picture for user DE262
Posts
328
Joined
8/20/2015
Location
The bar, OR US
DE262 2/4/2020 7:04pm
2/4/2020 7:04pm
2WheelsForTheMasses wrote:
The global marketing manager or chief marketing manager per company will have full control of all colorways and design that go to each team on a...
The global marketing manager or chief marketing manager per company will have full control of all colorways and design that go to each team on a week to week basis. Reps are nothing more than a filter/delivery boy. Reps gave zero control!!

This is not always the case- as not all companies are run the same.
Most teams do have certain criteria-
Certain riders have quite a bit of say in colorways.
Global Marketing Mngr's and the like are heavily involved- but they are not always the final say.

The colorways and logos (size and placement) are laid out in a VLP (visual line plan) for the entire season, and approved by each party involved. This can be quite a task...
Once the entire plan is approved the "kits" move into production.
Usually the gear is printed for a few races out at a time- in case the rider gets injured.

There are for sure certain "no no's" within the industry regarding colors. And other things...Cool

Carry on...
4
dsmith
Profile picture for user dsmith
Posts
4563
Joined
3/29/2011
Location
way north, IN US
Fantasy
722nd
dsmith 2/4/2020 7:35pm
2/4/2020 7:35pm
I like how Geico does it...everybody on the same team wearing the same shit..not how kaw does it...Adam one thing and tomac another.
kiwifan
Profile picture for user kiwifan
Posts
9756
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
CA US
kiwifan 2/4/2020 7:43pm
2/4/2020 7:43pm
dsmith wrote:
I like how Geico does it...everybody on the same team wearing the same shit..not how kaw does it...Adam one thing and tomac another.
Depends, some riders have their own clothing deal rather than team deal (e.g. Ken vs Justin)
1
TomKW
Profile picture for user TomKW
Posts
34
Joined
2/18/2017
Location
PL
TomKW 2/5/2020 3:52am
2/5/2020 3:52am
I was very interested in this topic because we never thought about that. It seems to me that the sponsor has great influence on the decision. By the way, I wonder if anyone has examined whether the color of the outfit has an impact on winning, as they did in football, that red outfits have a better chance of winning ... It would be worth checking ...
1
seth505
Profile picture for user seth505
Posts
10186
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
SD, CA US
seth505 2/5/2020 6:22am
2/5/2020 6:22am
KDXGarage wrote:
This week... on Project Runway.
4
dgmx
Profile picture for user dgmx
Posts
213
Joined
9/23/2011
Location
Salt lake city, UT US
dgmx 2/5/2020 6:45am
2/5/2020 6:45am
2WheelsForTheMasses wrote:
The global marketing manager or chief marketing manager per company will have full control of all colorways and design that go to each team on a...
The global marketing manager or chief marketing manager per company will have full control of all colorways and design that go to each team on a week to week basis. Reps are nothing more than a filter/delivery boy. Reps gave zero control!!

With some companies the “ reps” are also the marketing team
Spudnut
Profile picture for user Spudnut
Posts
1943
Joined
6/25/2018
Location
WA US
Spudnut 2/5/2020 7:03am
2/5/2020 7:03am Edited Date/Time 2/5/2020 7:03am
OldPro277 wrote:
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the...
Exactly,lol. "So what colorway is your kit for this weekend ?" lmao--- And these young guys wonder why us old dudes talk so warmly about the "good 'ol days " when adult men wore GEAR !!! And the color was just that ---Color !!

Am I an old curmudgeon ? Possibly
I think it’s time for your meds, boomer
3
2
OldPro277
Profile picture for user OldPro277
Posts
1875
Joined
11/9/2009
Location
Avonmore, PA US
OldPro277 2/5/2020 11:15am
2/5/2020 11:15am
Spudnut wrote:
I think it’s time for your meds, boomer
Watch that shit pal--- There's a LOT of us "boomers" that you still would have to chase around the track---. Get back to me when you're 65 and still racing 20+ times per year,lol.

I stand by my opinion --- Kit and colorway sounds like terms that High School Majorettes would use , NOT Moto, football ,baseball ,hockey etc, participants......
2

Post a reply to: Who chooses gear colors for riders/teams?