NECESSSARY ITEMS FOR A BEGINNING RIDER

BOOTS

Boots are an obvious essential while on the track. While serving superior ankle and heel protection, a high quality pair will give you complete freedom, flexibility, and feel by following your natural movements of the foot and ankle. The support system in many boots are built inside their construction, therefore offering upper and lower protective structures. While improvements are consistently being made to many boots on the market, the main concept is to bring protection closer to your body. Most riding boots are very comfortable to wear while still being extremely strong, stable, and remarkably lightweight.

KNEE BRACES/KNEE PROTECTION

The body takes quite the beating in the intense sport of motocross, with the knees being a prime target. Not only should you never set foot on a track without proper knee protection, but you should also be aware of the best possible knee protection on the market today. While looking for a suitable knee brace, you should first look for one that has superior fit. Make sure to purchase one that offers full coverage to your entire leg, which includes the knee, thigh, and shin. Also, find one that properly deflects, diverts, and absorbs the energy and strain that is placed on the leg and knee joints. With many braces including hyperextension stops, these will make sure to protect your leg from overextension and potential injury, but will also be comfortable for those long days of riding. Another important feature to look for is a full coverage knee cup, which will prevent patella injuries.

While knee braces prove to be far more superior to any other type of knee protection, another alternative to wearing a knee brace would be a kneepad. However, kneepads should only be an option if a knee brace puts a dent in your pocket book. While kneepads are less bulky than knee braces and may seem to offer less protection, they still offer improved support and stability to both the knee and shin. They are comfortable to wear and easy to put on and take off.

Remember, there is no excuse not to wear proper knee protection!

CHEST PROTECTORS

Chest protectors are a crucial part to any rider?s protection collection. They come in all shapes and sizes to ensure you maximum comfort and protection. However, riders often have some concerns when selecting the right chest protector. They want to find one with a perfect fit that is not too bulky, too uncomfortable, and most importantly, one that won?t move out of place when and if a crash would occur. It is very important that a chest protector stays in place and moves with your body, not away from it.

For example, a beginning rider may want to find a protector with a hinging shoulder protector that follows your arm movement, allowing you to achieve maximum comfort. Another important feature to look for is whether or not your chest, shoulders, back, and elbows are all protected properly. It?s nice to have that peace of mind against crash damage during any type of riding. To ensure these are all taken care of, make sure to find a piece of gear that has full torso, shoulder, and elbow protection, as well as a kidney belt already attached. It?s essential to incorporate all upper-body protection into one effective and comfortable piece of equipment.

NECK ROLLS

Neck rolls can offer superior protection against common neck and collarbone injuries. While neck rolls are great for anyone, they are excellent for little kids. Since small children are still growing, their necks are often times not strong enough for helmets, and this is where a neck roll would come into effect. The neck roll adds as an extra support system to the neck and collarbone areas and will significantly reduce impact from any direction.

In addition, many of the rolls on the market today are made of soft terry cloth lining that adds for a great feel and reduces neck chaffing. The internal padding is also easily accessible for custom trimming and shaping.

HELMET

Helmets are by far the single most important piece of safety equipment any rider can wear. It doesn?t matter how fast or slow you?re going or what circumstances you are riding under, you should never be caught without a helmet. Helmets offer a wide variety of safety and comfort features. The majority of the top-of-the-line helmets on the market today are made of a fiberglass shell that offers the most superb protection. Many of them also take comfort to a whole new level and will leave many riders asking themselves, ‘Am I really wearing something on my head?’

In addition, a fully ventilated helmet can present a system of cooling and comfort. While looking for a potential helmet, make sure to try it on for size. Most helmets will have padding on the inside that will conform to your face and head for a perfect custom fit. While trying your new helmet on for size, you need to make sure that it fits just right. Maybe try on a few different sizes and go from there. However, your helmet shouldn?t be too snug to the point where it will cause any discomfort. On the other hand, if it happens to be too loose, it won?t be able to give you the maximum support you deserve.

A few additional features that a beginning rider may also be interested in are: goggle grabbers, integrated roost guard, and an adjustable visor with aluminum thumbscrews. A helmet that offers a warranty package is also a great advantage.

GLOVES

When choosing a proper glove to wear while gripping those bars, be sure to find a high quality pair that offers both flexibility and dexterity. Furthermore, make sure to find a pair that has padded mesh that allows for breathability and protection. And although it should go without saying, don?t forget to wear at least a long pair of pants and a long sleeve shirt (although motocross gear works best).

GOGGLES

To protect your eyes from roost, wind, and any other hazardous objects, always wear a quality pair of goggles. When first starting out, try to find a pair that focuses more on comfort and versatility. Since you will be adjusting to wearing all of this new gear, a pair of goggles that is best suited for everyday use will get the job done. Once you have fully adjusted, you can switch to a high-wrap, low profile pair that is more developed for actual racing.

READY TO RIDE!

Now that you?re well informed about the necessary safety items you should be wearing, it may be a good idea to take a motorcycle safety course. Then you can gear up, grab a few friends and hit your favorite track. Braaaaaap!