6 Essential Pieces Of Gear Every Dirt Bike Rider Needs

Dirt bikes or motocross bikes are one of the most popular types of motorcycles. They're designed for off-road use and feature things like tires with aggressive tread, extensive fairing to protect the rider and sensitive components, and reinforced suspension systems to handle uneven terrain. While most dirt bikes are built exclusively for off-road driving, some — like dual sport and crossover bikes — are capable of cruising on both pavement and dirt. The two styles are relatively similar, but the street legal versions include equipment like lights, horns, and license plate mounts.

Regardless of whether you own a dirt bike or a dual sport bike, if you plan to do any off-road riding, you'll need to have a few essential pieces of gear. Dirt bike gear differs from standard motorcycle equipment due to the unique dangers you face when cruising off-road. While pavement is — for the most part — relatively level and smooth, off-road trails tend to be uneven and littered with obstacles like tree roots, rocks, and mud. Furthermore, many dirt bike riders enjoy performing extreme stunts, like jumping and doing wheelies. All of those factors can make riding dirt bikes dangerous, and it's important that riders take precautions to protect themselves.

Apart from practicing safe riding techniques, one of the best ways to protect yourself on a dirt bike is to use the proper gear. That includes obvious things like helmets and gloves, but it also can mean wearing less well-known items like body armor and neck braces. There are a lot of options for riders to protect themselves, and it's critical that dirt bike owners, especially new riders, understand how to select the proper safety equipment. So, from helmets to gloves and boots, here are six essential pieces of gear every dirt bike rider needs.

Our heads aren't the only parts of our bodies that we need to protect while riding a dirt bike. The unfortunate reality is that essentially every inch of our bodies is exposed to danger while riding any type of motorcycle, but especially dirt bikes, due to the unique dangers that off-road riding presents.

One area of our bodies that we may not always think to protect is our hands. Riding a regular motorcycle exposes our hands to debris kicked up by other motorists. Riding a dirt bike is even more perilous for our hands, due simply to the fact that there are a lot more hazards off-road than there are on smooth pavement. Between clumps of dirt, rocks, and tree limbs, there are a lot of things that can hurt your hands, especially if someone is riding ahead of you. Furthermore, gripping those handlebars during an all-day ride can result in some pretty uncomfortable blisters.

While some dirt bikes are built with special guards to protect riders' hands, not all bikes have that protection, and even those that do may not shield our hands completely. The best move is to purchase and wear a quality pair of riding gloves. Dirt bike gloves are usually constructed with padding over the knuckles to protect you from debris, while the palm-side may have a textured grip to help you grasp the handlebars without developing blisters. Most gloves feature air vents to allow your hands to breathe and close using Velcro. It's important that you try your gloves on before buying them, and it's wise to go with a slightly smaller size than you may think necessary. They'll most likely stretch with use, and it's better for them to be a little tight than to be too loose.

Your eyes are one of your most important and exposed sensory organs. Unfortunately, riding a dirt bike exposes your eyes to substantial hazards, like dust, flying debris, and tree branches. You'll also have to deal with things like wind, the sun, rain, and mud.

Fortunately, dirt bike goggles are neither overly expensive nor uncomfortable. They come in various different styles, but most are built with durable, shatterproof Lexan glass or injected-molded Plutonite lenses. They may be tinted for protection against the sun's glare and UV rays, and have various colors. Many dirt bike goggles allow you to install tear-off or roll-off systems to quickly remove dirt and debris, and some are even bulletproof.

One thing to keep in mind is that it's wise to purchase your dirt bike helmet before your goggles. That way, you can try on goggles to see how they fit with your helmet and ensure that they'll be comfortable and provide you with a solid field of vision. A wider strap may help you keep the goggles more stable on your helmet, while outriggers, the plastic pieces where the straps connect, allow you to position your goggles inside the helmet for a more comfortable and secure fit.

The final pieces of essential dirt bike gear you should consider are body armor. We've already mentioned many of the hazards that you face when riding a dirt bike off-road, and we've covered several ways to protect various parts of your body. However, using only the gear covered above leaves a lot of your body exposed. And if you're competing in motocross events, performing dangerous stunts like jumps, or riding on perilous and uneven trails, it's worth picking up a few additional pieces of gear to protect some of the most vulnerable parts of your body.

Roost guards and chest protectors are both designed to protect your torso. Roost guards are ideal for motocross racers and are built to protect riders from dirt and debris kicked up by other competitors. Chest guards are heavier duty and designed to protect riders from things like tree branches, rocks, and hard impacts in the event of a fall. There are also things like knee braces and guards to protect your legs and knee joints from collisions and debris. Like the other items covered here, it's important to try these products on before making a purchase. They should fit snugly, but not too tight. And if your body armor hinders your movement, you should look for a different style or fit.