Riding Kit
By TMX Archives on 11th Aug 05
So you have the bike and you want to go ride but - whoaaaa there tiger - don't forget your kit! Sorry to sound boring but you really do need to make sure that the most important aspect of your off-road arsenal - safety equipment - is up to the So you have the bike and you want to go ride but - whoaaaa there tiger - don't forget your kit! Sorry to sound boring but you really do need to make sure that the most important aspect of your off-road arsenal - safety equipment - is up to the job of protecting you when you need it.Because of the unique demands of motocross, the riding kit you need is highly specialised - strong and tough yet lightweight so that you're not wasting excess energy just wearing it.The following list covers the essential off-road kit and what you should be looking out for when buying it...Crash helmetHelmet, skid lid, brain bucket - call it what you want, this is the most important piece of kit you will own. Period.In the event of a crash a good quality helmet could save your life. Only helmets which meet BSI regulations and are passed by the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) are acceptable for competition.The minimum ACU safety standard acceptable for motocross is silver approval, this is the second highest grading behind gold approval and you should only buy a helmet which bears one of these approval stamps. And you must follow this rule whether you're racing or just riding for fun.It also goes without saying that you should only buy a new helmet. A second-hand helmet is just too risky, despite what the person selling it may tell you. Get the best helmet you can afford - if you only have the funds to buy a quality helmet or the latest cool race pants then choose the helmet every time.Trials riders can buy specialised open-faced helmets while racing lids are suitable for MX, enduro and other speed-based events.Price range: 50-350GogglesGoggles 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: 20-65JerseyAlthough they provide no real safety features, jerseys have been developed to provide maximum strength, comfort and cooling benefits to the rider.Price Range: 15-50JeansRiding 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 rider 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: 50-150Body armourBody 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.GlovesFull-fingered gloves are essential, not only to protect your hands from blistering but also to protect your fingers in the event of 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.Kidney beltThey 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: 20-40Knee guardsThe 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 motocrosser 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+BootsA 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 and stones.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