Your guide to essential dirt bike gear

Your guide to essential dirt bike gear

Your guide to essential dirt bike gear

But getting started is often the hardest part of the entire process. When I first started riding dirt bikes several years ago, I found that there are so many different pieces of equipment and I didn't exactly have a full understanding of what I should be looking for and the "why" associated with the various options.

So let's cover the basics and then dive a little deeper into essential motocross gear. From the beginning, I've said it before and I'll say it again, protecting your pumpkin should be your top priority, so this is where we'll start.

Head protection

A motocross helmet is a little different than your everyday road helmet. You'll find a peak visor on top for blocking perch, hiding under branches on the trail, and is occasionally useful for blocking the sun. Quick note for you on the peak visor. I usually look for helmets that use plastic screws on the side or simply have an easy release system built into the visor. If you do a lot of trail riding, the peak visor can get caught under low branches and pull on your neck quite aggressively and cause injury. If your visor has a tear-off system, it should do just that, come off instead of pulling on your neck and head.

You'll also find that dirt bike covers provide excellent ventilation. In the world of motocross, you're moving your body around the bike a lot —standing on the pegs, sitting down on the corners, and sticking out a leg for counterbalance. You'll build body heat, so airflow should be your best friend.

But protection is the top priority. Cyclists encounter a variety of surfaces and terrains on trails or even the local MX track and that means different types of impacts in the event of a crash. The sand is a little softer and seems to be my favorite to crash into (I fall a lot). Clay can be really difficult. The helmet's job is to absorb and disperse the energy of the impact.

Some dirt helmets have built-in technology to help prevent rotational impact injuries. This technology allows for some movement between the outer shell of the helmet and the inner liner, as shown in the Bell video below. This helps prevent brain injuries when the rider's head is twisted by the impact.

At a recent round of Monster Energy Supercross, Cameron McAdoo had a fiery crash (seen in the video below) while wearing the new Bell Moto 10 spherical helmet shown in the video above.

Not only was McAdoo able to walk away from this crash, but he also ended up returning to the grid and finished third. Could he still do it with a non-MIPS helmet? Maybe yes maybe no. All I know is that the helmet did its job and potentially saved his life.

Once you've got your helmet sorted, the next piece of gear is probably just as important, and that's your goggles.

Glasses

Your eyes are incredibly vulnerable, which makes your goggles another valuable piece of gear that should pair well with your helmet. If you can't see, you can't really drive.

The glasses protect your eyes from perches, tree branches, rain, really anything that could damage them while driving. Additionally, you'll find a variety of tinted lenses for protection from the sun and to help provide a clearer view of the trail ahead of you.

While the glasses are pretty basic, there's a little more to them than you might think, so there are a few things I typically look for. First of all, stabilizers are great to have. It's these plastic pieces on the side of the frame here that seat the goggles further into the helmet and make them more comfortable. I also like to have a wide strap for my glasses because it helps the glasses stay secure. Finally, a wide field of view is always a plus. Seeing what's next to you on the trail or trail is just as important as what's directly in front of you.

You'll find goggles with roll-offs for muddy conditions, goggles with a different style of foam for dusty or sandy conditions, or goggles that feature a dual-pane lens to help reduce fogging. There is a lot to choose from, but the most important part is that they protect your eyes and pretty much all modern glasses on the market today will do this… some do it a little better than others.

Neck braces

Dirty bikers, for the most part, always wear boots, gloves, helmets, chest protectors, etc. But neck braces are one of those items that bikers either swear by and love wearing or find them uncomfortable and cumbersome.

Neck braces, at least in the motorcycle world, are designed to prevent neck and spinal injuries by reducing the amount of compression the rider experiences in a crash. While they help with hyperextension, (forward, backward, and those side-to-side movements), the main protection you get with a neck brace is associated with spinal compression.

Neck braces are an added layer of protection that's beneficial for riders of all disciplines. From talking to other riders who don't use them, it's often because they don't work well with their existing gear or simply aren't fitted properly. A neck brace should fit comfortably on your shoulders and not hinder your movement.

When it comes to sizing, each manufacturer does things a little differently. And for this reason, if you're interested in getting a collar, be sure to check the product details and manufacturer's specifications for an appropriate fit. Many manufacturers design their neck braces to work in conjunction with their chest protectors.

This brings us directly to the next piece of protection I want to talk about: perch protectors and chest protectors.

Perch protectors, chest protectors, body armor

Perch guards and chest guards share many similarities but also have some differences.

Roost protectors are most commonly used by motocross riders, and this type of protector provides lightweight coverage for the chest and back. And while there are always exceptions to the rule, in general, roost protectors are a little more low profile than chest protectors. As the name suggests, the main goal of a roost is to protect you from the roost and various debris that is fired at you by the knights in front.

Chest protectors, often referred to as body armor or “armored gear,” typically offer more coverage and are generally used by cyclists who encounter multiple obstacles: trees, rocks, roots, logs in the middle of the trail. The terrain simply isn't as clear and smooth as what you typically find at your local MX track.

Chest protectors generally offer adjustable bicep and forearm armor paired with chest protection and coverage around the ribs. This is another nice plus for any dirt rider. I can't tell you how many times I've taken a dumbbell, tree, or rock to the ribs. If you're accident prone like me, that additional coverage could come in handy.

One final note: If you're planning on adding a neck brace, you'll find some brands (Leatt is a good example) that have chest armor designed to fit their neck braces as well. Personally, I really like the Leatt 5.5 chest and neck combo, and some riders I frequent the trails with agree. Neck braces and chest protectors are quite universal, but if you can combine them easily, it is generally more comfortable and safer. When it comes to sizing chest protectors or perch protectors, I've found that simply going with your typical t-shirt size should do the trick.

While we're on the subject of braces (and I'm not talking about those things that go on your teeth), let's continue building our kit and talk about knee pads and knee pads.

Knee pads against knee pads

This equipment has saved my shins and knees countless times. Now you may think that knee pads and knee pads are the same, but although they are similar, they are very different in price and offer very different levels of protection.

Let's start with the knee pads. The main purpose of a knee brace is to stay in place in the event of an accident and provide impact protection. You have this hard TPU plate and straps that go around the back of your leg to ensure that the knee brace doesn't move while riding or when you take an impact. If you're riding off-road, you'll at least want some knee pads. Imagine falling head first onto some rocks and it's easy to imagine why you want to save yourself some pain. Even the cheapest option available will be better than nothing.

Knee pads also provide impact protection to the knee and shin, but they also go a few steps further. Knee braces help prevent torsional and lateral injuries to the knee and leg and help prevent hyperextension. Knee braces have a pivot point accompanied by a strong spine that runs along both sides of the knee. This design allows the knee pads to provide greater stability for the leg and knee that you simply cannot achieve with a set of protectors.

When it comes to sizing, just as previously discussed, each manufacturer does things a little differently. You'll find that some brands will want you to measure five inches above and below the knee, while others will want you to measure the entire circumference of the knee. For this reason, be sure to check the size chart for that particular knee brace or brace to ensure you get the right size for a proper fit. If you don't see a detailed size option, it's safe to assume that the knee brace is universal with a decent amount of adjustability to fit a wide range of body types.

One final note: You'll often find numbers on the straps used to attach knee and knee pads to your leg. It is important to fasten the knee brace or brace in the specified order as it will ultimately lead to a more comfortable and secure fit.

The final piece of lower body protection is the MX boots, which provide maximum protection to the shin, leg and foot.

Boots

Motocross boots are one of the most protective, if not the most protective, footwear worn by motorcyclists, and for good reason. As a dirt rider, you're constantly using your legs and feet, which exposes them to many potential risks, so I'd say the value and importance of a proper pair of dirt boots is right on par with the value of a motorcycle helmet.

Dirt boots are very stiff and may take some getting used to, but they are specifically designed that way. The stiffness of the boots will help prevent torsional and lateral injuries, which we briefly discussed with knee braces. And, speaking of knee pads, motocross boots are designed to accommodate knee and knee pads, so you should have no problem pairing this gear with your boots.

You'll find hard TPU protection around the shin and the rest of the boot for extra levels of abrasion resistance and impact protection.

Just like most motorcycle gear, you will find different price points within a given brand. For example, the Tech 3 boots are considered an entry-level motocross boot within the Alpinestars line. As you move up, Alpinestars' Tech 7 boots have an additional strap and feature a dual zipper system on both sides of the ankle. This makes the boot a little more flexible and a little more comfortable than some of the entry-level options like the Tech 3. Nothing wrong with the Tech 3 boots. Zito has rocked them for the last three years, but as you progress in a brand's line, you will often find a greater level of comfort and protection.

Sizing for your boots is really no different than sizing for your everyday pair of shoes. I don't want to sound like a broken record here, but be sure to refer to the sizing chart because each manufacturer will measure their boots a little differently. If there are outliers or a particular model performs generously, you'll generally find it noted on the product page.

The final piece of the dirt riding gear puzzle and I would easily say the most fun part is choosing your jersey, pants and gloves.

Shirts, trousers, gloves

There is a lot to choose from within this category, and while most of this gear simply comes down to style and personal preference, there are a few things worth discussing.

If you've looked into dirt gear before, you'll often find substantial price differences between jerseys and pants within a given brand, and you may wonder why. Most manufacturers these days create apparel focused on a specific type of rider or a specific riding discipline. Let's use Fly Racing as an example.

Fly has its own F-16 equipment, designed for novice pilots. It's comfortable, durable for the price, and offers a good amount of breathability - great value for money.

Fly Racing's Dirt Evolution DST gear focuses more on durability and incorporates greater flexibility, which ultimately leads to a greater level of comfort on the bike. The Evolution gear is also a little more breathable than the F-16 gear. This is a great option for riders who want something lightweight but also want kit that will stand up to the abuse of the trails.

And finally, Fly has the Lite jersey and pants, which focus more on performance than anything else. This gear is what professional motocross and Supercross riders will wear on race night because, as the name suggests, it is so light, incredibly flexible and very comfortable. A lot of this type of gear makes you feel like you're wearing yoga pants on a dirt bike, and that's not a bad thing.

The Lite jersey and pants are perfect for the MX track because you're doing your 15 to 20 minute motos, heading back to the pits and waiting for your next session. You don't have branches, rocks and a variety of terrain to overcome. This is where the Fly Racing EVO gear comes in, as it focuses more on the durability aspect. Keep in mind that with lighter weight and more flexible materials, you will often sacrifice some integrity. That's why it's important to match the type of riding you plan to do with the equipment you choose.

While I used Fly Racing as an example, every major brand in the industry is now focused on designing apparel with specific riding applications in mind. This is often the main reason behind the different price points found within a given brand. The materials change, the design becomes a little more complex and therefore the price goes up.

When it comes to sizing the shirt and pants, it's pretty simple. Unless otherwise noted, stick to your typical t-shirt size for your shirt and if you wear a size 32 jean, stick to a 32 for your dirty pants. Keep in mind that the shirt and pants are already designed to fit armor, so it is generally not necessary to size up.

Now let's talk about the gloves. You will find different levels of protection with motocross gloves. For trails, I'd recommend something that has good knuckle protection and some additional reinforcement on the palm, which you'll appreciate if you crash into a rock garden, as I sometimes do. For motocross, many riders tend to use gloves that are lightweight and offer maximum tactile sensation. You generally don't get much protection with MX gloves. They help reduce blisters and provide extra grip without sacrificing feedback from the dirt bike controls.

That's not to say you can't wear something that has knuckle protection on the MX track. I would even recommend it. Perching directly on your hands doesn't feel great, especially without any knuckle protection.

When it comes to sizing gloves, the size chart will usually ask you to measure the entire circumference around your hand just below the knuckles. If the size chart doesn't use the entire circumference of your hand, place the tape measure on a table, rest your hand on top of the tape measure, and simply measure the width of your hand just below the knuckles.

Once you have your measurement, simply refer to the sizing chart for that particular manufacturer. If you are between two sizes, nine times out of ten for motocross gloves, I would recommend going with the smaller option. Gloves break in all the time, and having a bunch of excess material will not provide the best feel.

Shipping times are approximately 7 working days , shipping is via negotiable express shipping.

Our international couriers may experience slight delays due to the current situation, in any case our assistance team will always be at your complete disposal for any eventuality

• EMAIL ➡️ Digitalnowinternational@gmail.com