A Dirt Bike Helmet!

What can one expect of dirt bike helmets? A helmet is supposed to be a protection for the head. As such even the most basic helmet does this. But marketing is marketing, and so a company starts making a helmet made for dirt biking, others join in, and pretty soon each one is trying to outdo the other. Of course, such competition always benefits the consumers. So what features are there in dirt bike helmets?

For starters, these helmets no longer protect the top of our head only, but also our face. Most have visors to protect our eyes, and those that don't allow for the use of goggles. All these add to the helmet's weight, and so a point of competition among makers is to make the helmet as light as possible without sacrificing strength. This would be particularly important for youth dirt bike helmets. For decreased weight, various metal alloys made and shaped with the latest technology are used. Then there's the inner lining or pads. They should provide a snug fit, and they're made to be removable, washable and/or replaceable. There's also the shape: it must be aerodynamic so that it's not a hindrance for speed. And don't think that's all there is for dirt bike helmets.

There's also ventilation to consider. Dirt bike helmets are made for sport and the manufacturers do not want our heads to get all heated up in such events. So dirt bike helmets have ports/vents/holes to let air flow in and cool our heads during rides. These are found not only in the head part, but also in the mouthpiece. And if air flows in, then it also must also get out, and so we also have exhaust ports/vents/holes. And the final touch for dirt bike helmets? Appearance! You won't find any such helmet with a single color. Rather, you have an array of various patterns -- lightning bolts, stars, flames, and more -- all done to give the users something more to enjoy and be proud of.

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.my-helmet-4me.com/

Dirt Bike Safety

Who needs to consider dirt bike safety?

Dirt bike safety is something that absolutely every rider and possible rider must consider before getting on a bike every time. The massive rise in popularity of dirt bikes, ATVs and motocross bikes has meant that is now possible to do courses in dirt bike safety, and if you are a new rider considering taking up the sport or you are looking into it for your children then you should seriously consider taking part in one of these courses. Dirt biking can be a very dangerous sport for the ill-prepared and those who have no regard for safety. It’s not only your own safety that you’re messing with but the safety of everyone else on or near you when riding.

The danger associated with dirt biking is hardly surprising. Dirt bikes are powerful machines and when you consider jumping ten feet into the air, if you’re not wearing the proper helmet and your bike kicks out you have very little or no protection for your head.

What are the important aspects of dirt bike safety?

The most important thing to consider is getting the right equipment. Only the most haphazard of tracks will let you ride without the proper safe equipment; this equipment consists of a helmet to protect your head, a jersey to protect your torso, trousers for your legs and boots for your feet and ankles. If these clothes don’t have the proper padding or are made on inferior quality material you are running a very high risk of seriously injuring yourself.

You must also make sure that the clothes fit properly, not only for comfort but to ensure that loose clothing doesn’t flap around and get caught in wheels, engine parts or pull at your handle bars. A snug fitting helmet that isn’t too tight and isn’t too loose will offer the best protection and be the most comfortable.

What else apart from clothing?

You should regularly check your bike to make sure that it’s in good working order and that none of the parts are likely to break. While in some cases a broken part may lead to loss of power, in other much more serious cases it can lead to a loss of braking or a loss of steering and this can have dire consequences if you’re travelling at massive speed.

The obvious parts to check are the brakes, the steering and the suspension (a ten foot drop with no suspension is going to cause you to crumple on impact.) and many race organizers will want your bike thoroughly checked and even tested before you are allowed to compete.

Dirt Bikes HQ, http://www.dirtbikeshq.com/,for lots of information about dirt biking. 

Dirt Bike Parts

Many advocates of dirt biking will tell you that half the fun of dirt biking is buying a slightly clapped out old 250 and doing it up with new and second hand dirt bike parts until you’ve got as much performance and speed out of it as possible. Obviously, the nature of the dirt biking beast is that you will suffer damage to your bike. A Motocross hurtling 30ft in the air and then crashing back down to earth will cause damage to most bikes. The advantage of dirt biking is that the vehicles themselves are quite simple and you can pick up good parts for little money.

Be safe.

As with any bike, you should always be careful when buying anything that you intend to trust with your life. Of course not all parts for your bike need to be about performance and the look of your pride and joy will probably be just as important to you as the performance.

Be frugal.

The parts for your dirt bike don’t need to cost you the earth, the advent of the Internet has brought with it masses of competition for all sorts of items and dirt bike parts are no exception. The problem with the advent of the internet has been the numerous sites that pertain to contain the information you want but are essentially banner farms leading to more banner farms. You should find yourself a trusted dealer, whether online or offline, and if they provide what you’re after then stick with them. Finding dealers you can rely on can be difficult but there are good and reliable sites you can keep using.

Seek help.

It is important that if you don’t fully understand what you are doing or exactly the parts you are looking for that you get someone with that knowledge to help you. Incorrectly fitting parts or fitting incorrect parts can lead to a bad accident. There is no substitute for safety or knowledge.

Summary.

A lot of the fun of dirt biking is in the buying and modification of the bike itself. Hunting down second hand parts in good condition and fitting them to your bike. Gaining those extra couple of horse power and then, of course, putting all your hard work to good use. However, you should always be careful when modifying your bike; if you don’t have the necessary knowledge consult someone who does to ensure safety. Dirt bike parts can be easy to come by, and shouldn’t cost you too much, but may make all the difference when you’re riding.

Dirt Bikes HQ, http://www.dirtbikeshq.com/,for lots of information about dirt biking.

Dirt Bike Jumps

Do I have to face dirt bike jumps?

If you ever want to ride on a motocross track you are going to have to learn to beat the dirt bike jumps. At first they are a very daunting affair, and riding at them with any pace seems almost suicidal but to get anywhere in dirt bike racing you need to face them and you need to beat them otherwise you won’t get anywhere and you won’t have any success. When you first start dirt bike racing you’ll be lucky to get a couple or feet of air and stay upright when you land, but this will all change when you have a little experience and a little knowledge behind you. The only real trick to being any good over dirt bike jumps is to practise and keep practising.

The best way to beat dirt bike jumps.

It’s true that there are no quick fixes to beat dirt bike jumps and the real key to success is to practise and keep practising. However, there are some basic guidelines that will increase you chance of success and it is these guidelines you should be practising.

Firstly, you posture should be that of a standing up position but crouched slightly and gripping the bike with your legs; if you don’t grip with your legs you and the bike are likely to become separated and this will ensure that you can land relatively comfortably in a sitting position. It also stops the bike from kicking out sideways if you hit a bump on the way up the ramp.

As you approach the ramp you should know pretty much exactly where you want to be on the up ramp; finding the line on the ramp and keeping an even throttle all the way up. Again, this will mean less chance of the bike jumping if you hit a bump or a rock.

If you want to land with your bike upright and you on the seat, then when you’ve got air you need to be looking where you’re going to land and amend your bike position accordingly so if you’re landing on the flat lift your handle bars before you hit the ground; this way your back wheel will make contact first and will take most of the pressure of the landing. If, however, you are landing on the down slope then you need your bike to be at the same angle as the slope. To alter your bike’s position, you can either rev while in the air which will drop the rear of your bike or you can let up on the clutch and apply the rear brakes giving the opposite effect.

The second before you land get straight onto your clutch, the revs will help your rear suspension take the blow and will give you good acceleration on landing. One of the hardest things about dirt bike jumps is having the confidence to pull it off. If you’re confident then you’ll stand more chance of doing everything as well as you can so practise and practise hard; don’t get too carried away at first though, just take it at your own pace. 

 

Dirt Bikes HQ, http://www.dirtbikeshq.com/,for lots of information about dirt biking. 

Dirt Bike Helmets

Safety before looking cool. Always wear a dirt bike helmet.

Let’s face it, everyone wants to look the part when they’re out on their dirt bike, but it’s difficult to look cool when your head is split open. Dirt bike helmets are singly the most important factor you should consider when buying your protective gear for dirt biking. Don’t get me wrong though because boots, a jersey and proper pants are all exceptionally important items but the helmet is the one that stops you killing yourself in a crash. There are quite a few things to consider when looking to buy any helmet, but especially your first one; it’s quite a momentous occasion and you want to make sure you do it right.

What should I consider when buying dirt bike helmets?

The first thing you have to consider is that you are going to wear a helmet every time you go dirt bike racing. There should be absolutely no exception to this. If you’re looking to buy your first helmet it can seem quite a daunting task. You’ve probably looked on the Internet and seen one that you think looks good, safe and is reasonably priced. My first word of warning though, is not to buy dirt bike helmets without seeing it and preferably trying it on first, but at the very least you should go and try some helmets on in your local store. You can get a good idea for what size fits well and take this knowledge away with you. Besides it’s always easier to try a little haggling if you’re in your local bike shop than on the other end of the Internet.

Do dirt bike helmets have to cost a fortune?

You shouldn’t scrimp on the price you pay for your helmet just because it’s cheap. You need to find a strong and safe helmet that fits snugly. Then consider the price. Buying a tested helmet is always best, in America you’re looking for SNELL or DOT certified helmets. This means they have been professionally tested and proven to be safe enough to wear.

That said, just because they’re safe doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be expensive and for under £50 or $100 you can get a good looking, safe and certified helmet. It won’t stop you falling off your bike and landing on your head, but it will be the difference between getting up and not getting up after your crash.

Where can I buy dirt bike helmets?

There are plenty of places you can buy dirt bike helmets. Many people will only buy from their local store because you build up a good relationship, or simply because the helmet came as a sweetener when you bought your bike, but there are also plenty of options online too. As long as you know the right size to buy there is no reason why you can’t buy a perfectly good, certified dirt bike helmet over the Internet.

 

Dirt Bikes HQ, http://www.dirtbikeshq.com/,for lots of information about dirt biking.

Dirt Bike Racing

What’s so good about dirt bike racing?

The adrenalin is flowing, heart beat racing and blood pumping; the dirt bike racing is about to begin. As far as adrenalin fuelled sports go, you don’t get much more action packed than dirt bike racing. It’s fast, and to coin a well-used phrase, it’s furious. People from age 4 to age 64 love the thrill and regularly take part in dirt bike racing.

What should I consider when dirt bike racing?

First and foremost, you should consider your safety. The very nature of dirt bike racing as a sport means it’s dangerous and it’s even more dangerous if you don’t take it seriously. Any reputable dirt bake track won’t let you on if you don’t have a helmet, goggles, a jersey, pants, chest protector and in some cases a neck protector. You should always pick gear that fits because if it doesn’t fit it isn’t safe.

Dirt bike riders don’t appreciate people who ride recklessly, and if you are a reckless rider you will undoubtedly get an ear bashing for your dangerous behaviour and quite possibly kicked off the track. Dirt biking is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, but taking it seriously and following all the proper safety rules will help you make the most of it.

The bike also plays a serious part (obviously) and when you are selecting a dirt bike either for yourself or for your children you should always make sure that the rider can sit on the bike with their feet touching the floor and legs bent slightly. If the bike is too big there is no way you can have full control and the same can be said if it’s too small.

Also, consider how practised you are. The more experienced you become as a rider the better you become. Don’t try getting air of incredible heights until you really know what you are doing. Beginners should be happy with a foot or two of air; the riders you see on TV who are climbing up to ten feet have been riding for years and years to be able to do that.

As a beginner you will probably find a line you are happy with and stick to it. While this is unlikely to win you any big races, it will give you chance to hone your skills and gain confidence. Once you’re a bit more experienced you will be able to take different lines to overtake people and win races.

Dirt bike racing is not something you can just throw yourself into. It takes plenty of practise to become any good and you should never try anything you aren’t confident with. If you stick to this and find yourself a reputable track then you won’t go far wrong.

 

Dirt Bikes HQ, http://www.dirtbikeshq.com/,for lots of information about dirt biking.