When people ride dirt bikes, many don’t think about safety matters or requirements. People think wearing a helmet is all you need while riding, but it’s not. There are three things you should always do before riding: the equipment, your clothing, and your bike.
When riding a bike, you need to ensure everything is in order with the bike. There needs to be air in the tires; if there’s no air in the tires, you would lose control, risking injury, and a high risk of damaging your tire and rim, and make the bike unridable. The other things you need to check are gas, oil (depending on what type you ride), chain, brakes, and ensure all components are functioning correctly, such as the throttle and clutch.
With the equipment, it might be challenging for some people due to the high cost of some of the gear. But you should always have, helmet to protect you from any fatal crashes, goggles so you can see in dust or any fog, boots to protect your feet in crashes, and protective body armor to protect your body from injuries caused by impacts from crashes, falls, and flying debris like rocks and branches, as well as from abrasions and cuts when falling onto the ground or against objects. Not having these requirements will make crashes more deadly.
Every time I see someone riding, I always see one problem, and it’s the clothing. You should never wear shirts, shorts, sandals, or any other normal shoes. Why? Because it’s a bigger risk when crashing for you to get broken bones or sprains. You should always wear long sleeves to protect yourself from injuries like abrasions and sunburns. You should wear riding pants to protect your skin from scrapes. But pants are also an option.
No, this won’t stop accidents or crashes. But this will protect and make accidents less damaging. “Dress for the crash, not the ride.” This quote was made throughout the dirt bike community. I like this quote because it shows that the community is spreading the word about safety for riders. And it’s not just the community, it’s also people who ride for a living.
Ricky Carmichael, an American former professional motocross and supercross racer, has publicly endorsed communication systems (Cardo Systems), highlighting safety as a primary benefit. In a social media post, he noted: “Safety is our priority and having the ability to communicate with each other on the ride not only keeps us safe but entertained as well.” Another quote made by the community, “If you think wearing a helmet is uncomfortable, try a hospital bed.” More of a comedy joke, but a sharp reminder of the importance of wearing a helmet to avoid a far more uncomfortable fate.
So when riding your dirtbike, make sure you have all the requirements with you: your bike, clothing, and gear, because you never know what could happen. Did you know that in 2023, there were 498 OHV(Off-Highway Vehicle) crashes? And in 2019, there were 2178 fatal crashes. So if you still go out without the requirements, just know it’s always an option to ride safely.
