Beginner Motocross Protection

What You Need

So you want to start riding? Well, build some savings to buy yourself a dirt bike, but don't get overly excited and forget to allocate budget for riding gear... you'll need this before you can swing a leg over your new beast.  Knowing where to start can be a difficult task, so we've set out to make it easy, we address each piece of protective gear you'll need, plus we organise them into the level of importance we'd consider them for a beginner or any rider really. Make sure you have a helmet (that's a no-brainer), specific riding boots, goggles, knee protection (that could be knee guards or braces), a chest protector, and your choice of a gear set, but from there it'll ultimately be up to you, take this information and run with it.

Helmets

When it comes to purchasing a motocross helmet, you get what you pay for, making budget an incredibly important consideration.  We break down everything you need to know when buying a helmet, but don't get overwhelmed, it's all in basic terms to make sure you can follow.  We start with budget, fitment and comfort, helmet construction (being the shell materials and technology packed into your helmet), weight, venting and breathability (an important one here in Australia), and extra features you might find value in; magnetic buckles, shearing visors, and bluetooth communication compatibility.

Boots

Why not just wear a pair of work boots? Motocross boots are designed to protect your ankle and lower leg from injury, they're constructed specifically to enhance your riding experience and use materials that will hold up against the thrashing they endure.  Whether you ride leisurely, are an elite racer, ride motocross, or enduro, there is a boot for you, you just need to know what you're looking for to find it.  We discuss the importance of motocross boots, riding style and how your boots might vary, what you can get for your budget, plus we can't forget some tips for fitment and break-in.

Goggles

Like most of what we've already discussed, goggle features will vary greatly across the range of price points... in this case though, if you're happy to skip on some of the premium features, you could easily get away with an entry-level pair of goggles.  What does entry-level mean? Most of the time these goggles will have single-layer face foam, minimal venting, a clear lens or tinted with less clarity, a smaller field of view, the strap mounted directly to the frame, and a simple (or not so simple to change) lens fitment system.  Without a doubt, you need a set of goggles to protect your eyes from dust, roost, and bugs, but there are so many features to consider, so we break it down to show you a range of goggles that each do something a little different.

If you already own goggles and you're having trouble with lens changing, we have a video to help!

Knee Protection

The topic of knee braces vs. knee guards is highly debated, but let's get down to the core, you need something on your knees to help with your technique and at the very least to protect you from bumps and scrapes.  Knee guards provide basic impact protection, but if you want to brace your knees from unwanted movements such as overrotation and hyperextention then knee braces would be your option.

Body Armour

Roost guards, chest protectors, padded tees, and protection jackets all fall under the category of body armour, but each of them will offer you different levels of protection.  It gets complex when we start talking about CE ratings and soft or hard shell armours, but watch the video, we do our best to keep it in simple terms.  You might want to think about body armour whether you ride track or trail, for roost deflection, trees jumping out at you, or when you hit the deck.

Gear Sets + Gloves

If we said "motocross protection" your first thought likely wouldn't be "jersey, pants, and gloves", but we've included them in this series, so hear us out.  Yes, they may offer minimal protection if we compare them to the other items on the list, but yet we have a few points for you to ponder... riding gear supports technique with an ergonomic construction, the right use of materials for the task should mean better flex and durability, and gloves protect your palms from blisters to name a few.

The Extras

Then there are neck braces, elbow pads, wrist braces, and padded shorts, are these compulsory? No, but should you wear them? Maybe.  If you feel more comfortable and confident to ride your best in any of these protective items, then go ahead, but if you feel like they hinder your mobility which causes you to ride technically incorrectly, then maybe you should give it a miss.  Like most of this, there are arguments both ways, so it's important to make an informed decision.  If we single out neck braces, they're designed to limit the range of motion of the head and neck, through their construction they help to absorb and distribute impact forces so if you're going to wear a neck brace, make sure it's fitted correctly.