Archive for April, 2010
Helmets are manufactured all over the world. Some helmets are built after much testing for comfort and protection. Some helmets are not what you think they are.
DOT approved motocross helmetsare tested by the manufacturer. Snell approved helmets are tested for protection by a company other than your manufacturer. Know the credibility of your helmet’s manufacturer before you make a purchase. Also look for the availability of spare parts. Visors can be cracked with a minor fall. If your helmet supplier does not offer replacement visors then your helmet may have a short life.
In all the years I’ve been riding, there’s never been a more anoying topic than uncomfortable gloves. When you ride for hours at a time your hands can become cramped because of the additional wiggling you have to do to keep gloves from causing more grief.
When purchasing motocross gloves I look for 2 main factors. Number one is that the gloves fit the finger tips well, and that the gloves do not bunch which could cause blisters. The tighter the fit on the fingers the better the riding. The last thing I want at the end of a ride is blisters. Keep these factors in mind when buying new gloves.
Young adults rarely know what they want to do for the rest of their life once the get out of college. Many just know what they love to do but don’t know ho to apply it to making money and surviving out in the world. Some high school graduates took a risk on small engine mechanics and have come out the big winner.
There are many schooling options for young speedsters that are fond of motocross machines and want to do it for a living. Most schools are 18 to 24 months long and offer job placement assistance after graduation. 24 months is a short time compared to some trade schools and college degrees. Image being a well paid crew member for a pro rider all decked out in a sponsor’s motocross riding apparel and traveling across the country and maybe the world. There are many including this writer that wishes his schooling time was spent with wrenches and pistons rather than books and pencils. I wish all of you the best in your future.
Off road motorsports is a passion for millions of men and boys. We love to play in the dirt and go as fast as we can while doing it. For some of us our parents rode ATVs or ATCs back in the day so we couldn’t wait to be old enough to do it ourselves. Some of us got our first set of kids motocross jerseys under the Christmas tree and couldn’t wait to get them muddy.
No matter how we came to love the thrill of off-road speed, its the challenge that keeps us loving it. Thank goodness for the off-road motorsports we have today and the great toys we have to use.
The top endurance race in the world is without a doubt the Dakar Rally. The Dakar used to take place between Paris, France and an African coastal area called Dakar in the country of Senegal. The ever changing terrain covers thousands of miles of full throttle racing sections and connection areas that have speed limits and are not timed. Surviving Dakar over 14 days is a challenge in itself let alone actually winning. Dakar offers classes for race cars, motorcycles, quads, and support trucks. Yes, the support trucks also race.
In 2009 and 2010 the rally was moved to South America due the constant threat of rebel military forces in northwest Africa. A race like this for a motorcycle is beyond intense. Preparation is key. A strong running enduro bike is needed, as well as a strong support staff. The riders ability to make repairs while on the road is important as some race sections are 400 plus miles long in the middle of no where. A rider must have the best gear, and storage room for spare parts, tools, and a few snacks. A quality enduro jacket is ideal for carrying these supplies without complication. Dakar is a challenge unmatched by any other motorsports contest.
ATV racing is a very exciting type of motorsport. ATV racing combines the high flying action of motocross with the comfort of 4 wheels. ATVs or quads most commonly run on dirt tracks similar to motocross tracks.
Racing an ATV can take you to many more types of race tracks. ATVs can be found racing at dirt ovals, asphalt ovals, drag strips, trail courses, desert enduros and many more. The versatility of a quad matches very closely to a dirt bike with the ability to bang nerf bars and both riders come out ok. The protective gear used by quad racers is nearly the same as dirt bike gear with a few variations. Do yourself a favor and watch an exciting quad race and you will be pleasantly surprised.
Motocross racers don’t mind a casual ride on occasion. Sometimes it nice to lose the 450 dirt bike in exchange for an
ATV that allows a rider to relax and not worry so much about shredding the track. Instead of bolting on a full set of race gear, a casual ride calls for a different kind of motcross riding apparel.
Some motocross manufacturers offer adjustable outfits. One of the best ideas is motocross pants that unzip at the knee and convert into shorts. The optional bottom half allows the serious rider to relax and cool off without being too far from the comfort of real MX pants.
Two wheel motorcycle riding is a hobby of millions around the world. Two wheel fun happen on the road and off the road. One common denominator across all two wheel riders is the helmet.
Motorcycle helmets come in several different styles to match the different types of two wheeled vehicles. Full-face helmets for on road super speed of street bikes, shorty helmets for the Harley guys, dirt bike helmets for the off road extreme types, and finally open face for the scooter enthusiast. No matter what you ride, safety and protection is a commonality between all the different types of two wheel vehicles. The more information you can find on what helmet suits you best, the better your comfort and safety will be.
Off-road recreation is a very popular way to spend leisure time with the family. With the wonderful invention of the toy
hauler, familes can bring their favorite off-road vehicles on a camping trip. For many of us, the fresh air and the wide open spaces are just not enough while on a camping vacation.
A camping trip with an off-road twist can serve as quality time with the family. Rhino’s and Side-by-sides give the “hands-off,” rider the ability to take part in the fun without taking control of a vehicle. Quads are a great way to share a ride as well. Just not as comfortable as a bench seat in a Side-b-side. On your next outdoor vacation bring the BBQ and the swimsuit, but don’t leave home without you off road riding boots, helmet and your favorite off road toy.
This years Supercross Series has see it’s share of surprises. Injuries have dominated the headlines with 2 top riders not participating in the series due to injury. Chad Reed and James Stewart’s absence has allowed 2 other competitors to shine. Ryan Dungey and Ryan Villopoto have put on a great show this year but that battle will not go down to the wire.
The St. Louis race saw Villopoto suffer a broken leg after a nasty crash in the rhythm section. The crash occured after Villopoto tangled with another rider while making a pass for position. At age 22 Villopoto will ride another day after recovering from his injuries. Safety in motocross gear are common topics on this and many other blogs. In this case, there may have been no way for Ryan to protect himself from injury once this crash started. Pro riders are on a fine line of risk versus reward. The adrenaline you get from riding this fine line is why many of us ride in the first place. We wish Ryan a quick road to recovery.