MX Riding Kit
Riding kit isn't just designed to make you look good when you're rippin up the track - it's there to keep your mind and body in one piece!
So you have the bike and want to go ride but – whoaaaa there tiger –
don’t forget your kit! Sorry to sound boring but you really must make
sure that the most important tool in your off-road arsenal – safety
equipment – is up to the job of protecting you when you need it.
Because of the unique demands of off-road riding, the kit you need is
highly specialised – strong and tough yet lightweight so that you’re
not wasting excess energy just wearing it.
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The following list covers the essential off-road kit and what you should be looking out for when buying it...
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Goggles Goggles are an essential piece of kit to stop debris and stones hitting riders in the eyes and keep your peepers dust-free and sparkly! Make sure you buy motocross goggles as they must comply with safety regulations and feature shatter-proof lenses – ski goggles etc won’t cut it on the track. This is one item of kit that trials riders don’t need to buy unless you’re planning on competing in long-distance events. Price range: £20-£65 |
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Jersey Although they provide no real safety features, jerseys have been developed to provide maximum strength, comfort and cooling benefits to the rider. Price Range: £15-£50 |
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Jeans Riding jeans take a lot of abuse – good job then they’re constructed from tough man-made materials with reinforced sections in the most stressed areas such as the knee and seat. Most brands of jean also come with sections of rubberised plastic armour on the tops of the knee area, thighs and rear of the waist for extra support. Go for comfort ahead of looks and be sure that when you’re trying jeans on that they’ll fit comfortably over knee pads and body belts. Trials riders without a ‘fuller’ figure can dodge the traditional jeans n’ jersey option and go instead for a one-piece lycra suit for the full-on ‘pro’ look. Price range: £50-£150 |
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Gloves Full-fingered gloves are essential, not only to stop your hands from blistering but also to protect your pinkies in a crash. The palmside should be constructed from a soft material while the top side of the majority of gloves feature high-impact rubberised finger and knuckle protection to help guard against damage from flying roost and knocks in falls. Price range: £10-£40 |
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Body Armour Body armour essentially has two purposes – to protect the chest, back and shoulders in a crash and to stop welts and bruises when you get roosted by a competitor. The latest armour is incredibly lightweight and features ergonomically shaped, injection-molded plastic outer shells with impact resistant foam on the inside for added protection and padding. This is another area that trials riders can bypass. Price range: £40-£120. |
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Knee Guards The knee area is under constant stress in off-road riding and it’s also at a high risk of injury from twisting in ruts and from falls. No Mxer should consider riding without knee guards. There are a wide variety of choices available from pull-on foam pads up to custom-fitted orthopedic braces.Your local dealer or importer will advise you but our advice would be to buy the best you can afford – your knees are too important. Price range: £15-£1000+ |
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Kidney Belt They won’t ward off the after-effects of a big night out on the beer but kidney belts for speed-based events offer lower back support and also help stop your vital organs bouncing around like ice in a cocktail shaker! Price range: £20-£40 |
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Boots A top-quality pair of boots is essential for motocross, trials and enduro. Good boots are made from toughened leather and provide protection for the shin and support for the ankle, stopping excessive twisting and hyper-extension with stiff inserts that also protect against impacts. With MX boots look for smooth soles but for enduro and trials boots you’ll need a tread of some kind. Price range: £50-£250 |
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"Sponsored by Apico, the UK's leading off-road motorcycle clothing and parts distributor."
Contact details: http://www.apico.co.uk/ |
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Crash Helmet
