Dirt Gear: Advise me in your dark/muddy ways....

[Espionage101]

Dear DirtyBarfBastages,

Roost guard or full-ce-rated -fishnet-armor-jackets

boots, how cheap is too cheap?


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While at cyclegear today i was browsing, checking out the dirt side ( never been to this side). I just aquired a dirt bike and was looking at prices and gear i might need.


I was perplexed while looking at "roost guards" . To me it seem it is a bunch of plastic pieces held together by a few straps. Behind the plastic wasn't much "shock absorbing" material. Why is that??

I then look over to the "full armor" suits, you know the ones held together by fishnet. Why don't dirt rider wear these instead? In the even of a fall, id take one of these over a roost guard. Why do i see most dirt riders wearing roost guards and not these? Do they have armor underneath their roost guards that i don't see? If so what is it?

Yes, i understand be pelted by somesones rooster tail sucks. However the full-ce-rated-armo-jackets look like they offer a decent amount of protection as well.

Then i went to look at boots. Tech 3, 7, 8, 10. Is the 7 that much better then the 3? And is the 10 that much better then the 7? Does that mean tech 3's are basically bare bones entry level boots? If so, what makes an entry level boots different from the higher end stuff?

Thank you much,
~Dave

 

[corrupt]

MX boots... you don't have to spend a lot for a good MX boot. It's not unusual for a $100 MX boot to feel more comfortable than a $500 one. Try 'em on. I'd spend my money based on comfort. They're all pretty good, just don't buy them from payless shoes or something that doesn't make sense.

As far as the hard plastic junk... my opinion is that you don't always need the big sweaty mesh armor suits. Are you riding on dirt or pavement? True, the armored jackets are better than the goofy cheap football looking protective gear, but you're riding on dirt, not pavement, and not at 60+ mph.

I think a big part of it is fashion. Lots of people look up to the MX competition riders and what they wear. I don't ride dirt tracks really, so I don't really sport all the competition MX gear either.

Personally I'd rather be flexible than weighed down and tied up on the dirt. Wear what makes sense to you and the kind of riding you'll be doing.

Sorry I couldn't be any help

 

[Ironbutt]

I just wear MX pants, because they have leather on the inside of the leg.. so you don't roast the inside of your leg when you fall over... and expensive boots..

The rest really is a fashion show unless you race Mx.. Street stuff works fine.

 

[a1scoot]

Its not about fashion at all....
Buy yourself a good quality chest protector,pants,boots,helmet,goggles,jersey and kidney belt......
When you bail on some trail at speed or make contact with another rider or god forbid a tree....all the gear you spent your dough on will pay for itself in one flash......
Trust me on this....I have spent a lifetime figuring it out the hard way.
a1scoot:thumbup

 

[corrupt]

You've never met someone where their gear (or lack of) is chosen mostly because it looks cool?

Wow. You must ride on the moon

 

[2strokeYardSale]

Lots of people complain about the Chinese made boots. Look to the Italian made boots. Note that some of them don't have replaceable soles. Make sure they are comfortable and they fit with your knee/shin guards.

You used to be able to find gear made in Finland that was head and shoulders above the other gear. I guess it has gone the way of the dodo now.

Body armor is for roost and for falling on rocks and tree branches. But I guarantee you a tree branch will find a gap in your armor. I like a chest protector because it lets me tie in a Camelback backpack with all kinds of survival gear.

It mostly comes down to comfort. For example, over the years I've learned that elastic causes muscle cramps. Most of my stuff is modified quite a bit.

Like snowboarding, much of dirt biking gear is fashion. If you buy this year's stuff you will be paying a premium. If you buy last year's you can get it cheap.

 

[Choppa650]

I would say go atleast one step above entry level on the boots. THe padding/reinforcing that the tech 8 or fox forma pro, instead of the tech 2, or tracer boots is quite noticeable. good knee pads/braces are worth their weight in gold also. And as stated above you can always find last years gear for much cheaper, that is an option I tend to exercise because I personally dont need the latest and greatest.

 

[OldFatGuy]

I would get a decent pair of boots, gloves, pants and jersey, helmet (duh), elbow guards, knee guards, and chest protector.

The boots don't have to be super expensive, but they should provide good ankle support.

Gloves are mostly a matter of personal preference. Just make sure they fit well and have some protection in the knuckle area against flying rocks.

Pants don't seem necessary, but they last a lot longer than jeans under dirt biking conditions. The first time you slide down a hill, you'll be glad you have them.

A jersey isn't really necessary, but it doesn't cost much, usually has some small amount of elbow padding, and wicks moisture better than a t-shirt.

The helmet and goggles really need no explanation.

Elbow guards can prevent some painful elbow injuries if you fall down in rocks, as can knee guards. Personally, I prefer knee guards that only cover the knee, since boots already have shin protection built-in.

The chest protector is especially important if you ride with friends and aren't always in front. Bikes can throw some big rocks really hard and they can hurt like hell.

I would stay away from those mesh suits, mostly because you can't replace the armor pieces individually if they become damaged.

 

[Espionage101]

Dear DirtyBarfBastages,

Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight.

Does anyone mind sharing their dirt set up so that I can "get some idea" or what a proper dirt kit would look like?

How important is shoulder armor when riding dirt? I noticed that is very hard to find good shoulder armor with your run-of-the-mill roost guard.

Thank you much,
~Dave

 

[OldFatGuy]

My Fox chest protector has decent shoulder protection, but I still landed on my shoulder hard enough to break my collarbone. I think if you manage to find something with really good protection, you'll end up looking like an NFL linebacker.

And I forgot to mention another thing before. Padded bicycle shorts will go a long way in reducing monkey butt. I don't ride without them.

 

[Butch]

Dear DirtyBarfBastages,

Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight.

Does anyone mind sharing their dirt set up so that I can "get some idea" or what a proper dirt kit would look like?

How important is shoulder armor when riding dirt? I noticed that is very hard to find good shoulder armor with your run-of-the-mill roost guard.

Thank you much,
~Dave

Hey, what Oldfatguys said is spot on.
I have some stuff I cold part with. Size ten boots., jerseys...

And its not about fashion if you are there to ride. You cant's see how bitchin anyone is when its dusty or muddy. Only how well they ride...

Gear is about preventing pain.

PM me.

 

[Roadstergal]

Shorts - I have a pair of O'Neal Protector shorts, which I reviewed in Reviews and Recommendations. The crotch chamois is equivalent to that on my bicycle shorts, which keeps the crotch happy, and it comes with protective padding that has left me undamaged in a few offs.

I wore a roost guard with elbow guards when starting, because it was a cheap way in. Once I knew dirt was something I was going to do long-term, I invested in an Alpinestars pressure suit.

Gloves - I'm startled by how little protection most MX gloves provide. I wear a set of heavily vented road gloves with armor.

Boots - I was wearing a solid pair of MX boots when a CRF230 fell on me and broke my ankle. After that, I reevaluated my priorities on boots; I looked for boots that have bracing that keeps the foot from twisting in ways it shouldn't, which a lot of MX boots don't have. The best boot, IMO, is the Sidi Crossfire SR, which also has replacable soles; not cheap, but what price happy ankles and shins? There's an Oxtar boot out there that also looks like it has bracing, and a crazy-looking Scott "Genius" all-plastic boot, but I can't speak to those (I know people who have crashed gnarly ankle-risking ways in the Crossfires or the predecessor FlexForce and walked away).

 

[Choppa650]

Fyi, this year I am going to purchase a pressure suit so I will have a chest protector, and fox raptor elbow gaurds up for grabs probably free, and since my knee is somewhat messed up, some asterisk knee braces, so I also may be able to toss down a pair of axo total kneee protection pads, which will suffice for the time being. What roadstergal stated above, once the dirt bug fully has bitten you, investing in quality gear will carry its weight in gold due to less injuries.

 

[injury]

I would get a decent pair of boots, gloves, pants and jersey, helmet (duh), elbow guards, knee guards, and chest protector.

The boots don't have to be super expensive, but they should provide good ankle support.

Gloves are mostly a matter of personal preference. Just make sure they fit well and have some protection in the knuckle area against flying rocks.

Pants don't seem necessary, but they last a lot longer than jeans under dirt biking conditions. The first time you slide down a hill, you'll be glad you have them.

A jersey isn't really necessary, but it doesn't cost much, usually has some small amount of elbow padding, and wicks moisture better than a t-shirt.

The helmet and goggles really need no explanation.

Elbow guards can prevent some painful elbow injuries if you fall down in rocks, as can knee guards. Personally, I prefer knee guards that only cover the knee, since boots already have shin protection built-in.

The chest protector is especially important if you ride with friends and aren't always in front. Bikes can throw some big rocks really hard and they can hurt like hell.

I would stay away from those mesh suits, mostly because you can't replace the armor pieces individually if they become damaged.

totally true on all accounts!

 

[planegray]

I would get a decent pair of boots, gloves, pants and jersey, helmet (duh), elbow guards, knee guards, and chest protector.

The boots don't have to be super expensive, but they should provide good ankle support.

Gloves are mostly a matter of personal preference. Just make sure they fit well and have some protection in the knuckle area against flying rocks.

Pants don't seem necessary, but they last a lot longer than jeans under dirt biking conditions. The first time you slide down a hill, you'll be glad you have them.

A jersey isn't really necessary, but it doesn't cost much, usually has some small amount of elbow padding, and wicks moisture better than a t-shirt.

The helmet and goggles really need no explanation.

Elbow guards can prevent some painful elbow injuries if you fall down in rocks, as can knee guards. Personally, I prefer knee guards that only cover the knee, since boots already have shin protection built-in.

The chest protector is especially important if you ride with friends and aren't always in front. Bikes can throw some big rocks really hard and they can hurt like hell.

I would stay away from those mesh suits, mostly because you can't replace the armor pieces individually if they become damaged.

+1

but I like the one piece armor suits 'cause I'm lazy.

 

[spddrcr]

I follow pretty much what everyone else said, I dont use a roost gaurd cause i cant seem to ride as well as i do not wearing one. just to bulky for me. I like the mesh armour suits as they fit well without being bulky.

boots are a tough thing to buy as they have to be comfortable, the newer low end alpine stars with the molded rubber sole's are super comfortable but you cant replace the sole's like you could on the older one's.
I also have a pair of thor MX boots that are super comfy yet the straps keep breaking, there's nothing like having the straps on your boot break while your out in the middle of nowhere:thumbdown

 

[Espionage101]

Gear update: Thank you for the advice.

Dear DirtyBarfBastages,

I appreciate all the perspectives given. Thank you Bastages.


Gear purchased:

Sidi Crossfire TA's : they were on sale at cost +15% at road rider.
Alpinestars Bionic robocop vest/jacket : they were on sale at cost +15% at road rider.
Fox v2 helmet: it fit me the best and was on sale 50% off at cycle gear
Progrip Goggles: Heard really good things about them and they were on sale at cost +15% at RoadRider

Gear Needed:

Neck Brace: to save my neck
Jersey: to look cool and wick sweat from my hard, chiseled, "Men's-Health Cover" body.
Pants: For protection from falling and also the heat generated by my pipe.
Gloves: Will buy after neck brace

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To the concern of chest protection and kidneys belts. I have chosen to remedy this by purchasing an Alpinestars Bionic all-in-one vest/jacket. It has hard plastic armor on the chest portion however, the surface area is smaller than that of a roost guard. The back is heavily protected by a lvl2 ce-rated full length back protector that is held to the body via large velcro straps. It looks like this:

http://www.alpinestars.com/Bionic_2_Protection_Jacket/pd/np/170/p/650658.html

I originally wanted to purchase the jacket without the elbow armor because I don't want it to get ripped off by some branches.Roadrider had this one on sale for so cheap i had to pick it up.

To the concern of boots. I did some research regarding necessary protection Like the street boots with the ankle torsion systems, it would be good to have a similar system on dirt boots. Pointed in the way of Italian made boots, i reserched the Gaerne SG10 and the Sidi Crossfires. I ended up getting the crossfires because again, Roadrider was selling them at such discount, i could not refuse. They look like this:

http://www.motoworldracing.com/sidi-06-crossfire-ta-boots.html

The helmet I chose was the Fox v2.Fox fits my head the best out of all the brands and it was on sale for $100 at Cycle Gear.

The goggles I chose were the Progrip 3450.They come in carbon fiber I believe the weight savings will be considerable. Also, on thumpertalk.com it was reviewed and praised by many in the "product review" section. They looks like this:

http://www.progrip.com/default.asp?tip=22&ite=gog

Because of my limited funds, i have not yet purchased a quality jersey or pants. I do, however, have my eye on "Klim" brand pants and jersey. I have read more good things about that brand then my original favorite, Fox. The model i am looking at is this:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/6/9/7428/ITEM/Klim-Dakar-Pants.aspx

Also, something that wasn't brought up but i found a lot of "noise" about was neck braces. I'm still not sure if i can go cheap with the new EVS neck brace or if i should go with the Leatt GPX. I am leaning more towards the Leatt GPX because it seems like a "tried and true" product.

the EVS looks like this:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/6/10/12837/ITEM/EVS-RC-Evolution-Race-Collar.aspx

and the Leatt Gpx looks like this:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/6/10/11212/ITEM/Leatt-Moto-GPX-Club-Neck-Brace.aspx

When i have all my protective gear all sorted out, i plan on taking a dirt school of some kind. Maybe American Supercamp or the Rich Oliver Funcamp. My hope is that i will be "heel clickin" and "can-can-ing" my way to the top. When i do i will buy everyone in this thread tickets to my shows. Give and take... give and take.....

anyway, i digress.

Thank you very much DirtyBarfBastages,
Dave

 

[dbc]

Good choices!
Knee guards & gloves are a must, make them your next purchase.

Here's my selections:
Moose chest protector, Thor core gloves, Fox raptor elbow & Knee guards, pro grip goggles, Crossfire boots, Crashpad shorts, Klim pants & a good helmet.
http://crash-pads.com/product.aspx?dept=bike&style=2600

You can't have too much armor..

If anyone's looking for a killer deal on helmets, check this out- Bell Moto 8's, usually close to the $400 range for under 150 bucks! I got one, took 4 days from the time I placed the order till the brown truck dropped it off. Sizing was spot on compared to other brands I've used. Comes with a bag, extra cheek pads, extra visor & extra hardware. Rode Foresthill with it last weekend, very light & comfortable with exellent venting.
http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/off+road/motocross+helmets/bell_moto-8+holeshot+helmet

 

[Espionage101]

My Fox chest protector has decent shoulder protection, but I still landed on my shoulder hard enough to break my collarbone. I think if you manage to find something with really good protection, you'll end up looking like an NFL linebacker.

And I forgot to mention another thing before. Padded bicycle shorts will go a long way in reducing monkey butt. I don't ride without them.

Dear OldfatGuy,
About the monkey butt, I will be wearing t-pro armored short underneath my pants. It has the coccyx protector that i have found very comfortable. Thank you for the tip.
Bests,
Dave

 

[OldFatGuy]

Looks like you done good. :thumbup

When are we going riding? :ride