If you choose Motocross as your way of off-roading follow these important steps…
2) Gear up! If you don’t have adequate protective gear don’t attempt racing.
A) You need a good quality helmet. I suggest trying on several to see what fits best. I use BELL and find the new Moto-7 to be awesome.
B) Make sure your goggles fit properly so you can see! Buy some tear offs and try them in practice. I like the SCOTT USA goggle. SCOTT goggles are of the highest quality and fit well. Reasonably priced Tear offs and replacement lenses are always available at the track and at your dealer. SCOTT USA is the biggest for good reason!
C) Long sleeve shirts are required at most tracks. Racing jerseys’ are best. Most come with light padding in the elbow area and are made of high quality tear resistant materials. Some jerseys are even designed with high-tech cool max or come with vented panels to keep you cool in hot weather.
D) A good chest protector is recommended but not required. Many Pro riders don’t wear them because they feel the chest protector impedes free movement and traps body heat. Although this may be true, my racing and trail riding experience leads me to feel a chest protector with shoulder pads is as important as a good helmet and good boots. I wear the HRP flak Jak. I’ve used HRP since 1982.
E) Racing pants. This is another item that is optional at some tracks but still a very good idea. Most racing pants have hip pads included and are made of special materials to resist tearing in case of a fall. All race pants are designed to install optional plastic covered kneepads. Some have enough room for a knee brace. The kneepad protects your knee from banging on the bottom of the bars in deep corners and from the ground if you fall. The new-wave baggy pants seem to last longer. I think it’s because the fabric isn’t pulled so tight in the knee area. I can’t get over the look, so I stick with the old school stuff. I have a new pair of vented pants, these are my best purchase ever!
F) Boots. There is no substitute for high quality motocross boots. Buy the best you can afford and never look back. I broke my ankle once and got a lot of those white spots that don’t tan on my shins wearing Timberland and Dunham boots. I wrecked enough of them to easily afford good MX boots. In 20 years of riding I have owned Scott plastic boots, Esprit, Hi-point, Garnae, and Alpinestars. I currently wear Alpinestars Tech 8 boots and have never been happier.
G) Gloves. Buy at least two pair of gloves. When gloves get damp with sweat or rain they tend to cause blisters. Always practice at least once with new gloves before racing to break them in. Try to keep your hands dry, you will get blisters fast if your skin gets overly damp. If you find a pair of gloves that you are especially fond of, buy several pair. Every time I find a good pair of gloves they become discontinued and impossible to replace.
Don’t ride terrain beyond your ability. If you come upon a trail riding area or situation where you’re truly unsure of how to handle your ATV or what you would do in a worst case scenario, stop one moment. Take a minute and consider: Is your ability up to it? What will happen if you suddenly have to bail? Are you by yourself? How far away is any help? Go ahead only after you’re satisfied that you can deal with the consequences of your actions.
Learning how to recover after a technical error, or knowing when to bail, is a delicate thing. For young or inexperienced riders, it’s best to ride with seasoned riders who have already experienced such extreme conditions and can share their expertise if needed.
Another requirement is a respect for the environment. The simple truth is that without a healthy world environment you would soon have nothing to eat, and no oxygen either. Consider it ‘virtuous self-interest’. Combine these principles with a few easy-to-learn riding techniques, and you’ve got the makings of a perfect adventure.
Where to Ride: Regional websites, provide information on specific states, and where different trails for ATV riding can be found. Do a search by state, county, and even national forest, to get specific information on your area from search engines like Google and Yahoo for tips on where to ride.
Crossing Obstacles:
Often you’ll have more success climbing over obstacles by approaching them straight on. This holds true for stairstep hill climbing, for instance. Don’t give all-out throttle to your ATV, or you may end up doing an out-of-control wheelie. When your front wheel(s) passes over an obstacle, keep the momentum going so your rear tire(s) will make it also. May sure you’re aware of what your vehicle’s ground clearance is, as well as your own capabilities.
