The Essential Dirt Bike Safety Gear

Dirt bike riding requires safety gear, which offers valuable protection in poor weather and during a crash. The right gear can prevent severe injury and even save your life!

But knowing you need gear is not the same as knowing what to purchase. We’ve created the following buyer’s guide to essential dirt bike safety gear. If you want help finding the right gear or the right dirt bike, visit America’s Motor Sports Dickson. Our dealership is based in Dickson, Tennessee, and we also serve those in Clarksville.

A Helmet

A helmet offers essential protection of your head. It can reduce the chance of concussions, spare you from brain injury, and even save your life in the event of a crash.

What to Look For

• A well-fitting model. A helmet that is too loose leaves a gap that allows your head to move upon impact, which reduces the helmet’s effectiveness. A helmet that is too tight is uncomfortable to wear and increases the risk of biting your tongue and cheek during a crash.
• A crash-tested model. Government agencies (such as the Department of Transportation) and non-profit organizations (such as Snell) run helmets through various safety tests. Make sure you get a model that received favorable crash-test ratings.
• A wide field of vision. The more that you can see, the safer you will be.
• Rider comfort features. Look for models that offer ventilation, comfortable and removable padding, and other perks to keep you comfortable while you ride.
• A full-face model. This style gives you the best protection.

A Pair of Boots

Riding boots offer plenty of benefits. First, they guard your feet from kicked-up debris caused by other riders. Second, they absorb impact after you land from a jump. Third, they protect you from twisting or breaking an ankle.

What to Look For

• Dirt bike boots. Get a model that is designed specifically with dirt bike riding in mind.
• A lack of laces. Laces can get caught up in your dirt bike’s parts, which can become a safety issue.
• The right fit. In order to get the protection you need, the dirt bike boots need to fit correctly. Sizing can vary among brands, so be sure to try on plenty of options so you can find the right size.

Knee Brace

Knee injuries are among the most common sport injuries. A knee brace offers valuable protection to your knee and leg, helping protect against damage.

What to Look For

• The right fit. A knee brace that doesn’t fit you right won’t offer the ideal protection you seek. Many models are built to be adjustable, helping you get an optimized fit.
• The right weight. A flimsy knee brace won’t offer much support, but a heavyweight option can be uncomfortable to wear. Try to strike a balance with protection and comfort.

Eye Protection

Eye protection helps you maintain visibility during poor weather, such as rain or wind. It also shields your eyes from kicked-up debris, branches, bugs, and so on.

What to Look For

• Compatibility with your helmet. Make sure your goggles fit comfortably with your helmet.
• Ventilation. Goggles can get fogged up during a dirt bike ride, which is why ventilation is an important feature. Some goggles are designed to use airflow to clear away fog, which means they might fog up while you are still but will clear up once you get moving.
• Plenty of Foam Padding. This keeps the goggles comfortable to wear and helps absorb sweat.

Chest Protection

There are two types of chest protection. A roost protector guards against “roost” (the rocks and dirt that gets kicked-up by other riders). It’s more commonly used due to its lightweight design. A chest protector guards against “roost” and offers protection in the event of a crash. It’s heavier, but offers increased protection.

What to Look For

• The right size. Make sure the chest protection fits with your unique height and weight.
• Compatibility. The chest protection needs to fit with your outerwear.

Outerwear

Sturdy outerwear will offer valuable protection in a crash. It can also help keep you comfortable during bad weather.

What to Look For

• Compatibility. Make sure the riding pants leave enough room for the knee brace and that the riding jersey leaves enough room for the chest protector.
• Backup Outerwear. If you will be riding for long periods of time, such as an all-day race, it helps to have a pair of backup outerwear. If your first pair gets soaked by rain or mud, you’ll have a dry pair to change into.

Gloves

Gloves offer valuable protection from scrapes, poor weather, and blisters. They also improve your grip on the controls, which can get compromised by kicked-up mud and dirt during the ride.

What to Look For

• The right size. Avoid gloves that are too big, which can lead to hand slips or the gloves catching on the dirt bike levers.
• Your ideal amount of protection. Some riders want their gloves to be lightweight, while others want extra padding for improved protection. 
• The right material. Look for options that protect against abrasion while remaining breathable.

We hope you found this buyer’s guide useful! If you have any questions or want to explore dirt bikes for sale, visit the experts at America’s Motor Sports Dickson. Our friendly staff can help you with whatever you need, so stop by and visit our dealership today. We are located in Dickson, Tennessee, and we also serve those in Clarksville.