Information On Motorcross And The All Important Motocross Helmet

Motocross is a grueling and physically demanding motorcycle sport held in rough and rugged terrain. The origin of the sport can be traced back to a British off road event known as the Scrambles. The first competition of this event was held in 1924.

Competitors are expected to speed their 200 pound motorcycles around a very rugged terrain and tricky terrain laden with steep hills and sharp bends. The winner is the rider who can negotiate the tricky and dangerous terrain in the shortest time possible.

Well a rider physical and mental condition play a big role in ensuring his / her safety on the terrain, it is the protection offered by the protective gear that can make the difference between a life threatening injury and a minor injury. Many riders have escaped from fatal accidents without even a scratch as a result of wearing the right protective apparel. Motorcross protective clothing must be worn by anyone partaking in the event, amateurs and professionals alike.

In motocross, the whole body needs to be protected. A rider must always be in complete motocross gear during the race. The complete motocross gear consists of:

Body Armor

A large part of the body armor is made up of the chest protector. The armor protects the torso not only from impact during a collision or a fall, but also from flying debris, stones and rocks, while racing. The armor can be worn either on top or under the racing jersey. Its most important role is to protect the ribcage and lungs in the event of an accident. The only price a rider has to pay for putting on the armor is the slight discomfort caused when the armor gets too hot due to reduced ventilation.

Face Shields

Face shields are meant to keep away dirt from the riders face and more importantly protect the eyes. Some helmets are fitted with face shields, in cases where motorcross helmets do not come with face shields, the rider can buy a pair suitable for the purpose. The most important thing to look out for when choosing face shields is their ability to resist impact and scratch. Scratch will lead to blurred vision while some materials crack under impact causing shrapnel to fly.

Goggles

Motocross racers need well fitting goggles to protect their eyes from debris and other elements like unwanted light. The choice of goggles will largely depend on the race and terrain conditions.

Jerseys

Motocross jerseys are made from very tough material. The jerseys are tough and able to withstand rough treatment without tearing. This allows them to provide protection to the rider in case of an accident. Some jerseys are made from fire resistant material. Such jerseys are able to protect riders in case a fire breaks out during an accident.

MX Pants

Just like the jerseys, the pants are made from a tough material that is hard to tear and good at absorbing impact. Some pants are also fireproof.

Gloves

Gloves do more than just protect the hands in the event of a crash or fire. They add extra grip of the motorcycle handle bar, especially during wet conditions, thus ensuring safety and improved performance.

Boots

Boot constitutes a very important part of the protective apparel. The rough and sometimes muddy terrains will require a rider to have boots that will grip the foot holds and pedals tightly allowing for maximum motorcycle control. Lack of control can easily result in an accident.

In motocross racing, riders use their feet for extra support when going round corners. The foot experiences quite a bit of rough treatment. This makes the choice of boots something of an important matter.

The rough terrain provides a potential for ankle injuries. Good motocross boots need re-enforcement to help them withstand the rough treatment and be able to provide protection to the rider’s feet. Additional feature to look for in motocross boots include heel cushions capable of absorbing shock, heat shields, metal sole inserts, and polyurethane pads for calf and shin protection.

Durability is something else that needs to be taken into consideration. Good quality boots should be able to last more than a couple of races. Choosing boots with replaceable sole option will go along way to ensure the boot remains in use for a bit longer.

Motocross Helmets

A motocross helmet is the most important safety item that every rider must always put on. Head or face injuries can be fatal, more so if the impact occurred at very fast speeds. Motorcross helmets have saved many a rider’s life.

When shopping for a motorcross helmet, is important to by helmets that have been certified by the Department of Transport and have a Snell’s stamp of approval.

Other important considerations to be taken into account include the right fit, liner, size of the eye ports and visor.

For the kid’s motorcross helmets, color can be one of the things one needs to take into account. Most kids prefer brightly colored motocross helmets, especially pink motorcross helmet.