Off Road Accessory Review

Motocross Pants and Motocross Jersey are virtually the same in importance and need. Motocross pants are also optional for off road riding. However there are some huge benefits to wearing motocross pants.

Just like jerseys, motocross pants have built in protection in specific areas to guard against injury. Knee and hip areas have additional padding on most major brands. Long pants tucked into motocross boots will also prevent burns from contact with a hot motor if you are riding a quad or dirt bike.

Motocross Pants will offer the mobility you need while riding. Riding pants have stretchy material built in to the crotch and knees. No other pant is going to match the protection and the mobility you will have with specially made motocross pants.

If cost is an issue, and you have to pick either a jersey or pair of pants, pick the pants. The benefits that a good pair of motocross pants  gives you far outweigh a motocross jersey’s benefits.

Part 5 of the new rider’s guide is the best part. All of the gear we have talked about so far has been directed purely at the safety of the rider. Especially new riders. What to buy and how to buy what will keep you riding for a long time. Motocross Jerseys and motocross pants are the only optional pieces of dirt bike gear we have talked about so far.

A long sleeve motocross jersey does have many safety benefits to be known. First, most motocross jerseys are going to have additional material or padding in areas that may be injured in a fall. Areas like the elbows and shoulders have extra protection in case of a fall.

A motocross jersey also has ventilation built into it. Keeping a rider cool and comfortable while out shredding is important. There are tons of cool designs from top manufacturers like Axo, Fox, Thor, and Oneil. Even if you don’t ride like a pro, you could look like one for sure.

Be sure to get a good fit. Too loose leaves you shirttail flapping in the wind. Too tight you can restrict your movement and cause bunching in the elbow and armpit area. Fit and comfort will be your first priorities when buying a motocross jersey.

In the true spirit of racer versatility 2 of our favorite topics (Travis Pastrana and Red Bull) took part in Wednesday’s Prelude to the Dream charity stock car race. Travis threw out the motocross helmet and rally racing gear for stock car gear. The Prelude to the Dream is a charity race that is held annually at Tony Stewart’s track Eldora Speedway.

Travis Pastrana took Brian Vicker’s place in the annual NASCAR charity event. Pastrana did not finish in the top 20 but did finish the race 3 laps down. Not too bad for his first time in a dirt stock car. Pastrana did beat Tony Kanaan who was also in his first dirt stock car race.

Jimmie Johnson (who also has an off road background) won the race leading every lap. I want to again thank Red Bull for crossing over its athletes. Earlier this week Red Bull announced Mattias Ekstrom will drive at Infineon Raceway in the Sprint Cup race. I guess Red Bull figured giving Pastrana a shot against the big boys of NASCAR wasn’t a bad idea either.

Motocross goggles are an important piece of dirt bike gear. If you have ever tried to ride with your buddies without eye protection you know what I mean. Goggles and tear-offs for goggles allow a rider to keep his vision clear. Tear-offs are placed on top of the goggle lens and are removed by the rider when the tear-off becomes too dirty.

Goggles need to have a tight fit to prevent dust from getting inside to your eyes. Goggles offer protection from rocks and other flying debris. The conventional off road helmet does have gaps which can allow for rocks to hit your face and nose even though you “should” have enough protection. Trophy truck drivers use dual sport helmets to prevent rocks from hitting their faces. The dual sport helmet cancels the need to wear goggles.

Having the right off road gloves for the type of rider you are will do wonders for your hands. Lots of men think that they don’t need gloves because they have strong tough hands. Save your tough guy stuff for smashing beer cans on your forehead. Gloves will keep your hands clean, and free of calluses.

The type of feel you like from your gloves and the type of weather you intend to ride in will help determine your best glove choice. Some riders like minimal palm padding to give the rider more feeling on the bars. Others will want more padding for increased grip and protection. Some gloves are built to vent, and keep cool. Other gloves keep heat in for riders who ride in colder weather.

Again, just like with a helmet, fit is important. You will want to avoid gloves that slip into uncomfortable positions while riding. Bunching at the wrist has been known to cause rider distraction. A tight fit is a must. Size your gloves before purchase for the best result.

The second most important piece of motocross riding apparel you will need is a pair of boots. Your feet are very close to the ground while riding dirt bikes and ATVs at 40 MPH.  A simple slip while wearing standard footwear could break an ankle or a foot. A specially made off road boot has a strong, supportive foot bed and heavy outer materials for protection.

Depending on the type of rider you are, you may consider a low boot. Low boots stop just above the ankle. Low boots are easier to walk in than a full height motocross boot. The low boot will still give a rider the supportive foot bed and heavy outer materials. The low boot just can’t support the ankle as well as a full boot.

A full height boot will make the most sense for your average rider and above. With the added protection and support you can’t go wrong.

It’s not often that we cover asphalt racing news. We are tied up talking about the best kids motocross gear and helping to coach young riders learn to have fun in racing and to coach parents on the benefits of motorsports. Today is different.

Today we are excited to learn that Mattias Ekstrom will take the wheel of a Red Bull Toyota Nascar at Infineon Raceway in California. Ekstrom is a Red Bull DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) champion who has won the ROC (Race of Champions) and also participates in the World Rally Championship (WRC.) This is a real treat to have Ekstrom in Northern California against the big boys of Nascar.  It’s not often that a high caliber road racer like Ekstrom comes to test his skills against Nascar’s finest. Welcome Mattias Ekstrom to Sonoma in 2 weeks.

An Off Road Helmet is the single most important piece of gear you will ever purchase. Protecting your head and face from scratches, and smashes is very important.

A standard off road helmet has a partially open face design where goggles will protect your eyes. The helmet will have an adjustable visor that is used to shade the eyes and can be used to deflect rocks and mud being thrown in your face.

A motocross helmet or dirt bike helmet should fit well and be lightweight. In most cases an off road vehicle ride involves lots of bouncing around. You will want a good fit to prevent the helmet from shifting on your head.  A helmet that shifts while in motion can feel heavier than it actually is.  Neck fatigue can increase with a heavy helmet. Most helmets won’t be over 4 pounds.

Some manufacturers have a dual sport helmet that takes traits from a street helmet and an off road helmet and combine them. You will not need a set of goggles when using  a dual sport helmet.

Finally, make sure the helmet matches your bike. You would hate to have colors clashing while you ride.

This blog is for those of  you who are new to off road motorsports. If you just bought a quad, ATV, side-by-side or a dirt bike here’s what you need to know about the motocross riding apparel you need.

Number 1 on the list is a helmet. Any time you are on a wheeled vehicle with a motor, your helmet should be bolted on tight.

Number 2 Boots. Protecting the feet and ankles while riding is important if you plan on riding more than once in your life.

Number 3 Gloves. Gloves offer protection for your hands during a fall and a more comfortable ride.

Number 4 Goggles. Dust in the eyes will end any rider’s day if you don’t have the right eye protection.

Number 5 Pants and Jerseys. This can be an optional part of your gear depending on what your riding and the level to which you expect to ride.

Number 6 Body Armor. If you plan on going big.

Check back for full details on each vital piece of motocross gear.