Dirt bike riding is a hot trend in the States, and for good reasons too! They’re fun, thrilling, and challenging at the same time. But getting a dirt bike is just a piece of the puzzle; there is a boatload of items that can enhance your entire motocross experience.
The things you can get are actually endless, but some essentials are on every rider’s list. Helmets, gloves, boots, goggles or eyewear – these protect you from injuries in case of an accident which means they are a must-have when getting out on the trails!
There is plenty more stuff you can get, and in this blog post, we will discuss some of those essential dirt bike gears for riding off-road. Stay tuned…
17 must have dirt bike gear
More and more motorcross riders are getting aware of the importance of safety while riding a bike, making the gear industry flourish. The forecast says this industry will have a valuation of $1.4 bn.
The number of bike gear you could get is infinite, so going through all of them is nothing short of a nightmare. But you don’t have to, just read through my curated list of essential dirt bike gear:
1. Helmets
Of course, helmets would be the first item on this list. There’s no other gear as important as a helmet. Having this could protect you from a fatal head injury. Not wearing one is madness. Besides, I’m pretty sure you’re legally required to wear one.
You should get a full-face helmet because while offroading, you’re more likely to get involved in freak accidents where you’d come off the handlebar and fall from a great height.
So, it’s not only your skull and brain which are at risk, rather anywhere on your head.
There are various dirt bike helmets available in the market now. Many come with stylish designs and colors and are super affordable. But that’s not what we’re looking for.
Each manufacturer has different ways to make their dirt bike helmet reliable. Some add a magnetic visor to combat whiplash, and others have gels that absorb pressure on impact.
Some even make helmets out of durable material with tempered carbon. If you’re willing to spend extra, then there are premium helmets that have Omnidirectional suspension to protect the brain from shear stress while crashing.
Top manufacturers also use the MIPS [multiple impact protection system] that has several layers of material, each acting differently to different impact levels. These manufacturers surely changed the game.
Whichever kind you choose, make sure your helmet passes the safety standards. The more certifications a bike helmet has, the better you can expect it to be, but the bare minimum is that it should be DOT certified.
Ventilation is another important factor. Without proper channels, you’re likely to overheat. That’s bad news since it leads to dehydration, loss of focus, and disorientation- any of this is rough when you’re out on the road.
So, look for vents that go through the lining to cool your face and the surroundings of your head.
Also, helmets must be lightweight. Heavy helmets do a number on your shoulders and neck. But you also need the helmet to protect you, right?
That’s why; look for helmets with composite carbon, polycarbonate or fiberglass. Or even high-quality tempered carbon would do. They’re light but super strong.
2. Goggles
These go hand in hand with helmets. You want a wide field of vision for motocross to perform stunts and avoid obstacles in your way. It’s a given that your eyes will encounter a lot of debris, dirt, and potential eye hazards. So, it’s best for you to have a pair of large-sized goggles to protect them.
Motocross enthusiasts love oversized dirt bike goggles as they provide a giant field of vision.
Goggles also come in different sizes and shapes. In general, what you’re looking for is a pair of goggles with wide aperture for a good field of vision while dirt bike riding. You can get special lenses to adjust to a particular situation, for example, anti-glare lens when it’s blindingly bright.
If I were you, I’d be cautious about cheap goggles that fog up easily. Those are a major inconvenience when you’re riding in winter. Try to look for a pair that has deep foam; they provide superb comfort, as well as ventilation.
3. Dirt bike boots and gloves
Obviously, they’re the next in line after we’ve secured the head and eyes. Proper dirt bike gloves provide excellent grip, dexterity, and control while boots keep your entire ankle and feet safe.
For gloves, you’re good to go as long as the grip is solid, but it’s best if they’re lightweight in the process. Why so? Because heavy gloves will feel annoying after a while and your wrists will feel worn out if you’re going for a marathon trip.
Gloves also keep your sweaty hands in place during summer while having them warmed up in winter. They might look insignificant, but such little benefits go a long way.
Comparatively, you need a little more caution for boots because your foot will encounter mud, debris, stones, and other solid objects. You need good quality boots to protect you from it, or you’ll risk injury.
Also, on rainy days, your feet could get slippery, so you need a extra grip too.
Budget boots should give you enough grip with ample protection, but the higher you can go, the better service you get. It’s worth getting high-priced boots because the ones from popular brands have high-quality material to keep your ankle safe.
4. Hydration packs
You must always have water with you whenever you’re on rides. Who knows when you’ll feel thirsty, or worse- get dehydrated. You could opt for a bottle of water, but drinking water, on the one hand, is risky, and I don’t even want to imagine the risks involved.
You could stop and drink water, but when the adrenaline rush is at its peak, I doubt that you would. Which is why these packs are a great solution. They are comparatively easier to take with you, and you can effortlessly use them with one hand. Hell!, you can even use them hands-free!
5. Handguards
This is not a must-have, but definitely a quality of life addition. If you feel like your gloves aren’t enough, you can also use them in unison for added support. These specialize in keeping your hands and fingers safe from breaking during an accident.
You’ll always find them on an enduro racer’s accessories; it’s a necessity for them. If you can spare a few extra cash, I’d say go for these.
6. Pivot levers
Even the most experienced dirt bike rider would encounter a crash once in a while. And you know how lightweight dirt bikes can be.
Actually, most dirt bikes are lighter than regular ones, and the most commonly damaged part is the lever.
Having a snapped lever is a nightmare if you’re miles away from your destination. That’s why investing in a good-quality pivot lever would be a brilliant idea. They swivel the opposite direction when there’s an impact instead of snapping like the regular lever.
7. Fuel tanks
How will you react when you’ve run out of gas during a long biking session? I know already, you don’t have to say. It’s not totally unheard of that someone forgot to check their fuel before they went out on a ride; to err is human, after all.
Still, it doesn’t change the fact that you’ll be in trouble if that happens. The only thing that can save the day in this situation is a portable fuel tank that’ll serve as your auxiliary.
Trust me; it’s better than walking uphill with your bike.
While you could carry a bottle of fuel in your backpack, I’m not sure if it’s a great idea. They could spill.
Getting a secondary fuel tank will benefit you greatly, and it doesn’t even cost that much.
8. Gas can
A gas can is a wonderful accessory for a dirt biker; whether you own an auxiliary fuel tank or not, it’ll still prove helpful. They’re relatively small, so you can take one or two with you all the time.
Since dirt bikes don’t have much runtime, having some extra is always a handy option. And they’re much safer than taking some in a bottle.
9. Skid plates
Have you ever met a dirt bike rider who doesn’t wanna explore the mountains or other rough terrains? Me neither. But, it goes without saying that such expeditions do a massive number on your bike.
Your bike will definitely have to endure random hits from stones, logs, and other objects that wear down your bike. It’d be a problem if it damages your engine.
The best way to avoid that is to get skid plates. They’ll provide protection for the lower portion of your bike. It’s less expensive to buy these than to fix a broken engine.
To get the most out of the skid plates, get the ones that cover the most area. The ones that not only protect the below portion of the engine, but the sides too are the best.
10. Stand
Like any other machine, a dirt bike also needs maintenance. Performing it isn’t that hard; in fact, you can DIY it. But to do that, you need a stand first.
While you could perform it with a makeshift wooden stand, I bet you don’t have those lying around. Plus, the bike could be too heavy and break that makeshift piece.
Proper dirt bike stands are made out of metal, and they’re sturdy enough to handle the weight of a dirt bike. They also come with a lever so your back won’t get much stress.
11. Tie downs
You probably don’t know but dirt bike riding on regular streets isn’t legal. Means, you’ll have to transport it wherever your trail is.
Getting a truck or car isn’t the hard part; it’s how you carry it. For that, you need some excellent tie-downs to hold it in place.
There are three significant kinds of tie-downs-
- Locking
- Soft
- Ratchet
Locking, as the name implies, has a lock in place. It’s made out of hard-to-cut materials, making it an impressive anti-theft option. They’re heavy-duty too!
Soft ones don’t have the finesse and reliability of a locking tie-down, but they’re affordable. Maybe that’s why they’re the most popular of the bunch.
Ratchet is the trickiest of the three, but its grip is excellent.
What you want to choose is up to your preferences. All of them are great options.
There’s no need to get premium tie-downs, but at least choose a product that’s durable enough and won’t break while transporting.
12. Pump and pressure gauge
It’s always handy to have an air pump lying around. Your dirt bike will always need to have correct tire pressure, even more than regular street bikes. It’s because you’ll be riding it all over the place, on various terrains, regardless of weather conditions.
If the balance of your tires is even a little bit off, you’ll feel it impacting your experience. Too high of an air pressure can jolt you too much, whereas having the pressure lower than required could make you wobble.
And since you’re on a dirt bike, you’ll have to be constantly adjusting it because your wheels will run best on different terrains at varying pressure.
That’s why, it’s best to have a pump at hand that you can access whenever you need to adjust.
It’s common to make human errors, so if you have a pressure gauge to measure the amount of psi on your tires, you could never go wrong. You want a gauge that’ll locate even the smallest incremental changes.
13. Radiator guard
This is a precautionary purchase. If left unguarded, your radiator will eventually break down, forcing you to fix or replace it. Both of them are expensive outcomes.
With time, the radiator will start to wear and tear. Besides, it bends a lot, creating leaks. But with a radiator guard installed, you can prevent it from happening and extend the life of your radiator.
Yes, it does cost a lot up front, but its long-term service makes up for it. They even look cool!
14. Locking mechanism
Dirt bikes aren’t cheap at all. Some of the best dirt bikes even cost above a thousand dollars. It’d be heartbreaking if someone steals your precious bike.
To prevent that from happening, you should get yourself a lock, just like you’d do for a regular bike. Try to look for high tensile cable locks; they’re extremely reliable and affordable.
15. Heavy tubes
You’re probably thinking I’m trying to increase your bills but believe me; you’ll need it. I didn’t think heavy tubes made a difference, until I had a puncture in the middle of nowhere.
It’s worse for dirt bikes because even their tires are expensive! And patching them up is also a major pain. I suggest rather investing in a high-quality heavy-duty tube to protect your tires than going through all that hassle.
Good tires and high-quality tubing, it’s a winning combo.
16. Backpack
I understand that a hydration pack would solve your water crisis. But what about the rest? You’ll still need food and a first aid kit, at the very least. It’d be a smart thing to have a backpack on you all the time.
Getting a “motorcycle backpack” is the best thing you could do. They’re comfortable and have sleeves where you could keep your hydration mediums.
Also, they are durable enough to withstand cruel weather conditions.
17. Toolbox
Every machine needs maintenance, even your dirt bike. But what if you’re in urgent need of it? In fact, cases, where a dirt bike needed maintenance in the middle of a trail isn’t uncommon. You must be prepared for it.
For that, you’ll need a toolbox. But I’m not talking about the ones with a drill and dozens of drill bits and screwdrivers. Instead, your toolbox should only contain stuff that’ll improve your dirt bike- for example, a tire repair kit.
You can get ready-made toolkits on the market or make them yourself. Then, depending on how much weight you want to carry, prioritize what must go in there.
P.S.: no matter what, always keep an extra spark plug.
Let’s have a fully equipped ride!
You can’t deny the role various dirt bike accessories play in a biker’s life. Getting these essential dirt bike gears will surely make life easy for you. Whether it’s a new set of goggles for clarity or a helmet for head protection- nothing will go to waste.
Even a single accessory can make a difference. I’m confident about the items I’ve picked.
