Off Road / MX

I don't get to go out and ride dirt bikes as much as I'd like. I'm sure I'm not the only one out there that feels that way, too. But, when I do get to ride in the sand or the mud, there's always the day after that I don't ...

I've always been a Honda fan, probably stemming back to the first motorcycle I ever owned. It wasn't the prettiest thing out on the streets, but I had a blast on it, and it ran well with very little maintenance. For as much as I love Hondas, though, you can't ...

For those of you out there in internet land who have a utility trailer that is used to carry your ATVs and dirt bikes out to the sand dunes, sometimes finding a ramp that is portable and strong enough isn't always an easy task. There are plenty of ...

The Team Valhalla Neck Brace / Support Kart is designed to protect that wonderful neck of yours in many ways. First of all, this brace is approved for use in the WKA (World Karting Association), which is the world's largest sanctioning body for the world of go-kart racing. That ...

Bugs are really annoying. It never fails, either. I could be out taking a nice leisurely ride out in the country roads and get thirty miles out with not a single bug splatter, then all of a sudden it will be like a swarm of locusts have descended ...

One of the things that I miss the most about being young is the ability to get up from falls without so much as a bruise and wanting to try the same stunt again that had me on the ground in the first place. This works when climbing trees or ...

"Oh Steven, I can't believe that you got that beautiful hand stitched jacket your grandmother made for you right before she died all muddy and filthy like that. Have you no shame? Did you even think about her frail, bony fingers pushing the needle through that tough fabric, almost ...

Maybe you're the kind of person that likes to have a couple of "extras" around just in case. Maybe instead of one buying one hacksaw and extra blades, you buy three or four hacksaws just to be on the safe side. Some people might call you weird, but ...

Out on the dirty off-road trails, you seldom are thinking about whether or not your brake components are safe from debris, until they stop working and you run into a tree. I'm not saying that it's going to happen, but you know what the Boy Scouts and Davy Crockett ...

Dust, by definition, is annoying. It gets everywhere, on everything, and can make normal activities like seeing and breathing somewhat difficult during your outdoor adventure. Sure, the excitement of getting out on your dirt bike or ATV might be enough motivation to deal with all the dust that’s involved, but ...

There's been more times than I care to mention when I've gone out to the sand dunes to waste away the day riding as fast as my ATV could possibly go with a huge grin across my face, only to spend the next few days brushing my teeth ...

One of the best ways to prepare your offspring about the world that they will eventually dwell in as (hopefully) a productive member of society is by giving them a little taste of real life early. I'm not a psychologist, but I know from my own experience if you ...

During the short time that I was enrolled in a kung-fu class, mastering the arts of Shaolin Kempo, one of the things that I remember to this day is how painful a punch to the kidney can be. There are some times when riding dirt bikes or an ATV ...

I appreciate a good center stand on my 2-wheeled, fun-inducing vehicles. I like having the ability to check my oil accurately (you never get a good reading on the side stand) or just having a little bit more stability when the bike's in the garage. It's a wonder why ...

Speed & Strength does it again with the Kiss 'N Tell textile motorcycle jacket. This jacket features CE-approved removable shoulder and elbow protectors, a removable Dual Density back protector, and "Speed Zip" controlled ventilation -- which is a nice touch since there's nothing like struggling with a zipper ...

When I started in motorcycles in the 1970s, Bell helmets were the big deal. My first street helmet was a Bell Star. You saw Bells on motocrossers, street racers, and all over the road. Sometime in the '80s and '90s, Bell helmets lost their luster ...

Wow! Do they still make these? A traditional, no frills, no nonsense dirt helmet?

The HJC CL-X5N solid helmet is refreshing in its simplicity. This helmet doesn't pretend to be anything but a well-built off-road helmet. Rest assured, in the case of this helmet, simple does not mean low ...

The Moose Racing Qualifier Jersey is simply a well-made, well-designed dirt jersey. It is not some frilly, gaudy, attention-seeking billboard. It is attractive, understated, and functional. This is a welcome departure from modern MX gear for a lot of us.

The jersey is polyester with sublimated graphics. What ...

Dual sport riders probably encompass the widest range of interests in the motorcycling world. You have dual sport riders who spend all of their time on the road, and you have dual sport riders who only use the road to get to the trail. Riders who ...

I've reviewed the GoPro Motorsports camera for this site. In short, I love the product. It comes with a variety of mounting options out of the box -- some of which are more secure than others.

Dirt bike mounting poses its own unique issues due to vibration, banging, tree branches, ...

Versatility is becoming the name of the game in motorcycle protective apparel. Here we have a hydration system that integrates a chest protector (or vice versa). At first glance, the Fly Racing Convertible Hydro Pack Kit looks to be a perfect marriage. In fact, for most ...

Most riders avoid weather extremes like rain, hail, snow, sleet, and blazing heat. I know adventure riders who actually seek out these extremes -- preferably in the same day! Obviously, riders with this mindset seek out gear with the ability to adapt to this full palette ...

I live in the Desert Southwest, so I am no stranger to flat dirt-bike tires. Thorns punch their way into my tubes, and the rocky terrain inflicts more than a few of the dreaded "snake bite" sidewall pinch punctures. Because of my treacherous home trail environment, ...

What to do if you want to do some track days on your sport-bike, or if you want to try your hand at racing? If you get serious about these pursuits, you are ultimately going to want to get a set of racing plastics. Track bodywork alleviates ...

We have talked here on SpotMotorcycles about the issues plaguing motorcycle batteries. The combination of small size, infrequent charging, high power demands, and a plethora of other ravages take a toll on our relatively small electrical storage boxes. Eventually, every motorcyclist is going to need a jump. ...

I have spent quite a bit of time reviewing helmets for adventure-touring. However, the second most difficult body part for the adventure-tourer to outfit is the foot. These riders (of which I am one) ride through water, mud, and dust, and still must have a boot that will ...

The Triumph Tiger, the BMW R1200GS, the Moto Guzzi Quota, the Buell Ulysses, the KTM Adventure... What do all these bikes have in common? Well, they are all big, powerful, versatile dual-purpose motorcycles. They are all (with the possible exception of the KTM) most comfortable on the ...

Dirt bikes are popular for good reason. There are still millions of square miles of dirt in which to ride across the US. However, we dirt riders can be our own worst enemy. Loud bikes screaming on our public lands are a social nuisance and a ...

I began my motorcycle riding obsession over three decades ago on dirt bikes. To this day, I still ride in the dirt, and I still love it. However, there is one thing that has always stuck in my craw -- the overly trendy and gaudy nature ...

Dual sport riding is a great compromise in the motorcycling world. It is growing in popularity for a number of reasons. Dual sport motorcycles can perform reasonably well in both dirt and street situations. However, this dual nature can create some interesting gear conundrums for ...

I have always wondered about these frame-hitch mounted motorcycle carriers. I have used something similar with mountain bikes. However, with bicycles, we are carrying (at most) about 50 pounds total. Cycle Country rates the Wedge-Lok at 400 pounds. That is a lot of weight on the ...

As an avid dual sport rider, I have always felt the choice of helmet for this kind of riding is a bit of a conundrum. Should I wear a full-on dirt helmet and goggles? Sometimes this is the perfect set up -- especially in slower, dustier off-road ...

Let's start with the technical features of the Fox Racing V3 Latinese motocross helmet. Most importantly, it is Snell and DOT certified. The shell is constructed of carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass. These are the premium materials for modern helmet construction. Fox Racing knows dirt ...

These days, nothing is tailored to fit. You get a pair of new shoes that feel good, wear them for a day, and you end up with sore feet until you break them in --them being the shoes or the feet, take your pick. The same goes for motocross armor. It ...

People buy Fox Racing products based on the name, because the name is known for quality. Fox's Dirtpaw glove, which is updated constantly so make sure you're looking at the 2009 model, is their low-end beat-me-up glove.

Constructed of tough vented synthetics, the Dirtpaw won't let sweat disturb your hold. The palm ...

Top-of-the-line, $80 gloves are great if you get them as a gift from some rich uncle, but for most of us that's not going to happen. Don't get me wrong; high-end equipment is an investment and provides a lot of protection for motocross riders who need it. If you ride pro or ...

Cruiser seats and motocross seats are different animals. One is meant to cushion you for hours and hours of lazily sitting, and the other is for the short, hard ride. Cruisers baby their seats, covering them in inclement weather, whereas the motocross riders are willfully abusive to themselves and their equipment, ...

Helmet branding is important. My natural inclination is to reject branding due to its relevance to status, which is a bunch of bull in my opinion. Branding, however, has function beyond that superficial stuff. It's a way to know that you're getting a good product without having to conduct crash tests in your ...

Alpinestars' riding boots are great, everyone knows that, but most of them are nothing I would ever buy. I don't ride motocross, and I don't race. I like to keep my gear at a reasonable level, but not to the extent of paranoia. I'm not alone in this perspective, and Alpinestars' ...

The world of the dual-sport rider is often one of compromise. You are compromising between speed and torque. You are torn between devoting your vacation time to a cross-country road trip with your cruiser buddies or a cross-state trail trip with your off-road buddies. It's a hard life.

Tires are of particular concern ...

Where I grew up there were miles and miles of woodlands with ill-tended 2-tracks snaking throughout them. You could ride off into the forest and not see another human for hours. Most popular sports involved guns, and most popular clothing was camouflage.

Many of THH's helmets are designed with flaming skulls and ...

Motocross riders who have been around the track know exactly what these are: these are Alpinestars' Tech 8 boots. Well known and well worn, many riders stick with these when it comes time to get a new pair of boots. There are numerous reasons why these have developed such a loyal following in ...

Aside from the tires, the most vulnerable part of an off-road motorcycle is the section right below the engine and transmission. Knowing this, most manufacturers include minimal skid plates on new machines. But stock skid plates don't cover much and are often at least partially made of plastic. That's fine if ...

I'll start this off by saying I am not a doctor and I don't even play one on TV. If you have a serious injury and you are looking at a motorcycle product review website for advice before talking to your doctor, then you ought to have your head checked as ...

Much has been written and more has been said about which brand of pre-mix to use for your engine and what fuel-to-mix ratio is best. If you own and ride a two-stroke, you've heard lots of stuff, and maybe made up some of your own lore. But the real answers ...

The Shoei Na Company has been making helmets for motorcyclists since 1958. Their newest off-road offering is the VFX-W, introduced in 2008 and bringing some new designs for 2009. While a top-quality helmet with unique features, you'll also pay for this uniqueness in the same ballpark as Arai or ...

To those folks outside the wonderful world of motocross, our beloved sport's apparel and protective gear can often come across looking "weirdo" or "wanna-be superhero." Let's face it: brightly-colored flashy clothes, paired with large amounts of plastic body armor and big ol' boots, is kind of reminiscent of a forgotten ...

My first riding helmet was a matte black shell without any kind of symbol or emblem aside from the DOT sticker. After a while, I cut a few designs out of reflective tape and decorated its plain exterior. One of my riding buddies told me later that the ...

Your spirit may be indomitable, but you're body is still made of tearable flesh and breakable bones. The corporeal form is never going to be as tough as your mind, but you can help it to withstand the hazards of track, trail and road with SixSixOne's Assault pressure suit.

Although it has ...

The similar appearance of chest protectors and insect exoskeletons is far from accidental. Bugs can survive a lot of abuse. Their hard shells have allowed them to endure more damage than you'll ever see on the motocross circuit, so take a page from their book.

The Vega motocross chest protector, made by Jafrum, ...