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2016 TLD

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
That giant metal buckle doesn't look comfortable.

The Velcro on the Skyline shorts works well, and definitely doesn't require removing the shorts to adjust. Find last year's model, buy on sale, price is fine then.

Agreed on the liner shorts though, they aren't worth the upcharge.
Are you talking about the velcro waist adjustment which does work well, or the velcro crotch that flaps open on my constantly where I wish the shorts had a zipper?

My new Skylines look great... a little long in the inseam though.
So cut them, there are two rows of hem on the bottom of the shorts, you can cut them off between the hems to shorten them up a little and you don't ruin the shorts.

@stiksandstones I understand about the smaller pockets on the sprint shorts and pants. In a pure race situation they work great and I like the fit a lot. I don't mind too much when at a race where I'm going out for a short practice session or just my race run, but for times when I am further from the car/hotel/etc for longer periods of time they don't have much room for a snack or two and car keys even.

I think just a hair more space in the pockets would make them a slightly better race pant/short for the privateer who may not have immediate access to a support crew or the pits between runs.
 

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
Just ordered one, put one on a while back and loved the fit. Hoping its not too warm though!
It's not too bad, comparable to my old xen. The ventilation is good, there's just more coverage (which saved the back of my head when I rag dolled off an icy skinny recently). fit is awesome.
 

amishmatt

Turbo Monkey
Sep 21, 2005
1,263
396
Lancaster, PA
Are you talking about the velcro waist adjustment which does work well, or the velcro crotch that flaps open on my constantly where I wish the shorts had a zipper?
Yeah, it's not perfect, but I only have that problem when I'm pushing the limits of the waist size. Belt loops on the crotch are the obvious solution.
 

Bikael Molton

goofy for life
Jun 9, 2003
4,010
1,146
El Lay
Thanks my Skylines don't have that tricky quad-hem designed for cutting.

Luckily my girlfriend is handy with the sewing machine though she HATES working on my clothes.
 

Mo(n)arch

Turbo Monkey
Dec 27, 2010
4,441
1,422
Italy/south Tyrol
Yeah, make a "Lederhose" look a like bike short. You will sell sh!tloads of them in Italy, Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
But don't forget the matching helmet accessoires:
 

maxyedor

<b>TOOL PRO</b>
Oct 20, 2005
5,496
3,140
In the bathroom, fighting a battle
Are you talking about the velcro waist adjustment which does work well, or the velcro crotch that flaps open on my constantly where I wish the shorts had a zipper?
So I'm not the only one who hates that. Skylines are some of the worst MTB shorts I own because of that stupid velcro, and the low quality snaps that undo at the slightest hint of movement.

Really hoping TLD can get their MTB shit figured out, their moto gear is some of my favorite, even their jeans are decent, their MTB gear, nope.
 

schwaaa31

Turbo Monkey
Jul 30, 2002
1,431
1,018
Clinton Massachusetts
No Hill on TLD anything this year. Pretty honest response from TLD about the situation.

Not sure what the politically correct thing to say here is, but, we are a pretty open and honest brand, so here goes. Having Sam Hill in another brand of gear...sucks. Sam has been with us for over a decade, and when we lost him in gear (2014) it was not fun. We were able to keep Sam in helmets for the last 2 years, but for 2016 a newcomer came into his team's sponsorship negotiations and we dug deep to keep Sam-but also outfit the rest of his rad teammates. Sam's team did not want him doing his own deals, which us totally understandable, so we jumped in with an offer to sponsor the whole program-including Sam. Ultimately, the stakes became too high, this competitor was willing to pay significantly more and we had to step away. The team has a different sponsor for half shell/enduro riding, so the fact our guys wouldn't be able to wear our A1, along with our D3's, made it a little complicated. The stakes in that game became so high for our small brand, it would have diverted funds from future development of our products. It was also a bummer to not come to a deal with Sam's team because we have a good relationship with Nigel Page and his company, always fun working with those fellas, but, business is business. So, that's that. Sam will ALWAYS be a part of the TLD family, the door is ALWAYS open, and we would gladly have him back next year, in 2 years, in 10, whatever it takes. We love Sam Hill and we hope we are together again
 

stiksandstones

Turbo Monkey
May 21, 2002
5,078
25
Orange, Ca
So I'm not the only one who hates that. Skylines are some of the worst MTB shorts I own because of that stupid velcro, and the low quality snaps that undo at the slightest hint of movement.

Really hoping TLD can get their MTB shit figured out, their moto gear is some of my favorite, even their jeans are decent, their MTB gear, nope.
Maxyedor,
Bummed to read you hate the skyline and that they are the worst shorts you own. Can't please everyone, but in an effort to help Troy and the design team, what is your default best short? are you sure you are wearing the correct size? what model/year Skyline do you have (colorway would help me determine), are you sure they are official TLD skyline's? we have seen a pair or 2 of fake ones.

So, 'get our MTB shit together', have you tried the entire line? we have a pretty big line of MTB equipment, and our growth in bike has surpassed moto, so we think we are doing a pretty good job-can ALWAYS be better and thats what Troy pushes all to be, so I am more interested in your thoughts on how we should figure our shit out. Thanks man.


As for the Sam Hill post I made on PB, yeah, it sucks...but we will still be cheering as hard for Sam out there.
 

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
@stiksandstones: For me the fit on Skylines is fine, but the velcro fly/weak snap combo is the weak link. Both are always opening unexpectedly and have gotten worse over time.

All my summer gear is TLD but my RF Agent Winter shorts fit great. The zip fly and snap waist combo is a big improvement over what I'm used to and the lengths etc are dialed. I'm going to be looking at their summer kit for this reason.

Try not to get so butt-hurt.
Until last season, for example, the fabrics used on many TLD products felt like shit against the skin.
Last years ruckus and sprint jerseys were spot on though, and an indication you finally caught on.
 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
23,928
14,449
where the trails are
at least one zippered large pocket
snap closure and zipper fly, if they even have a fly at all
belt loops > elastic/velcro, if adjustable waist

we're paying $100 for shorts. no need to stray from some features that have managed to survive for 100 years in pants, generally speaking.
 

cowman

Monkey
Oct 17, 2004
227
2
Seattle, WA
@stiksandstones
I actually have the same snap issue on my 2015 sprint pants. They like to un-snap even when adjusted not too tight around my waist.

I 2nd the praise on the newer ruckus shorts - amazing piece of kit IMO, but I do wish they were available without the chamois as most people have their own chamois preference. Might also allow for a price decrease?
 

maxyedor

<b>TOOL PRO</b>
Oct 20, 2005
5,496
3,140
In the bathroom, fighting a battle
Maxyedor,
Bummed to read you hate the skyline and that they are the worst shorts you own. Can't please everyone, but in an effort to help Troy and the design team, what is your default best short? are you sure you are wearing the correct size? what model/year Skyline do you have (colorway would help me determine), are you sure they are official TLD skyline's? we have seen a pair or 2 of fake ones.
Flipped back through my order history and found them, they're "Skyline new" size 34 in grey, ordered from Pricepoint, so I at least hope they're legit. Pretty certain they're the correct size, as my moto pants are TLD size 34, the waist feels right, and all my other shorts/pants are also 34, and feel about the same.

My current pile of shorts are mostly Dakine, the cut of the fabric isn't quite as nice as the Skylines, but they have zippers and snaps that stay snapped. The snaps started failing after a couple weeks, figured I'd eventually get them to a tailor to have a button or better snaps put on.

Like I said, my other TLD stuff has been great, the MTB line-up, not so much.
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
My only complaint is the velcro fly closure on the sky lines, otherwise I am a big fan, I wish they had a zipper though.
 

wydopen

Turbo Monkey
Jan 16, 2005
1,229
60
805
I dont have a problem with the velcro fly or button on the skylines but they have seemed to have stretched out in a pretty short time...I wear 34 in both the skyline and the sprint...the skylines seemed to fit pretty good when new but they have loosened up quite a bit...Have the velcro waist adjustment all the way tight now...the sprint shorts fit the same as when I got them about a year ago...I've been happy with them although Ive had to sew the crotch a little prematurely I feel when it started to unthread...I have a set of the connect shorts on the way...I sometimes wear the Network jerseys which are nice...

Just switched from a bell super to an A1...I like it...If I were to offer some criticism it would be to have the back straps attach to the bottom of the helmet like the super instead of inside the helmet..dont like them touching my head..
 

stiksandstones

Turbo Monkey
May 21, 2002
5,078
25
Orange, Ca
It is our new moto helmet launching in a couple of weeks. Troy had one made with much larger vents, just to test it out. Troy had it in his van at the otter, and decided to let Mitch try it. I could make up some hocus pocus story, but, I am trying to be different than the US Govt.
 

mykel

closer to Periwinkle
Apr 19, 2013
5,071
3,779
sw ontario canada
It is our new moto helmet launching in a couple of weeks. Troy had one made with much larger vents, just to test it out. Troy had it in his van at the otter, and decided to let Mitch try it. I could make up some hocus pocus story, but, I am trying to be different than the US Govt.

So what did the two test monkeys think about the new lid with moar betterer vents?
(Not even going to ask about possible future availability if the moar betterer vents work out :busted:)
 

chup29

Chimp
Sep 9, 2009
70
3
Ashland
yes please on the new moto lid - i love my sam hill d3 but when its time for a new one i definitely want to find myself in something that looks a little more like that new moto lid rather than the current trend of mtb full faces with huge long oversized chin bars - seriously though stik - that new moto lid is a looker - please take all my monies
 

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,827
13,063
Thread necro, love the fit of my Skyline shorts but the silly stretched Velcro at the sides is now tearing off and needs repairing.

Anyone know of similar lightweight shorts without crap Velcro on the sides and fly?
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
My only complaint is the velcro fly closure on the sky lines, otherwise I am a big fan, I wish they had a zipper though.
I ordered the new skyline race, better fit than the previous skylines, I use them for bike riding, downhill bike riding, and drinking beer. I still wish they had a zipper fly instead of the velcro fly.

Wife tried out the ladies skylines, bad fit, stiksandstones hooked her up with another pair in different size, still had a bad fit, the cut just doesn't work with her curves, not anything TLD can be blamed for though, no brand makes shorts that fit her badonkadonk correctly (according to her)
 

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
Thread necro, love the fit of my Skyline shorts but the silly stretched Velcro at the sides is now tearing off and needs repairing.

Anyone know of similar lightweight shorts without crap Velcro on the sides and fly?
The current Ruckus (sans the shitty, shitty diaper liner that drives up cost) is my go-to short versus the skylines I have.
zip fly, but still have waist adjust velcro.
much lighter than ruckus of old.
 

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,827
13,063
The current Ruckus (sans the shitty, shitty diaper liner that drives up cost) is my go-to short versus the skylines I have.
zip fly, but still have waist adjust velcro.
much lighter than ruckus of old.
Does the side Velcro/elastic have the stretch issue of the Skylines? That annoys me more than the fly.
 

Fool

The Thing cannot be described
Sep 10, 2001
2,761
1,471
Brooklyn
Not worth starting a new thread, and not to infer that TLD is a culprit, but, what gloves are not total peices of shit? And by total pieces of shit, I mean arrive new with the seams already coming apart, and/or have holes in the fingers after one ride, and/or split at the palm, and/or rip the velcro closure off before or while the other things listed above are already happening?

Any brand I've tried I have this happen. Not going gloveless. I need my hands intact for clearing jams in dangerous, high-speed equipment with lots of gears and and whirling, loose belt-driven gizmos.
 
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