Top 5 Motocross Rider Safety Tips

Whether you’ve been riding for years or you’re getting on a bike for the first time, you need to observe certain safety precautions to ensure that you have fun and come out the other end in one piece.  This is especially important for those interested in motocross because of the extreme nature of the sport.  Riding a motorcycle can be dangerous even if you’re cruising down the road, but throw in rough and rugged terrain, jumps, (even mid-air stunts, if you go that way) and a competitive atmosphere, and you’ve got a whole other world of things that could go wrong, resulting in injury and even death.  So it’s important to pay attention to safety tips if you want to excel in motocross.

1.) Know the risks.  To begin with, motorcycles can be difficult to control.  Even dirt bikes, while smaller than some street bikes, are heavy and cumbersome.  They can behave like an extension of your body and your will or they can act as a lead weight and a liability.  Besides that, you will be moving at high speeds, more or less unprotected.  And in motocross in particular, you are careening around the course with several other riders, any of whom could foul up the party at any time.  But as long as you are aware of the risks, you can take precautions to avoid accident and injury.

2.) Use proper safety gear.  This one is not too hard to figure out.  There are many resources available online and in bike shops to help you select the proper suiting, booting, elbow and knee guards, helmets, gloves, goggles and various other protective pieces to ensure that you’re outfitted for the utmost safety.

3.) Maintain your equipment. Your bike is a machine that requires regular inspection and maintenance, especially if you’re entrusting it with your life.  So be diligent about keeping it clean and in good working order, make an effort to learn how it works and how to care for it, and don’t ignore warning signs that could herald problems, such as cracks, leaks, excessive wear, or strange noises.

4.) Practice. Unfortunately, practice does not make perfect in a sport where so many outside factors can affect your performance, but it certainly minimizes the risks involved.  So know the ins and outs of riding your bike, be aware of any hiccups (or try to work them out), run a new bike through the paces before you take it on the track, and take your time in practice runs to learn the course like the back of your hand.  Run it on the inside, the outside, and through the middle.  If you know that bump is coming, you can brace for it instead of being caught off guard and slipping or going down.

5.) Don’t take unnecessary risks. Sure you want to win, otherwise you wouldn’t be competing.  But don’t push yourself into unnecessarily risky situations that could spell trouble for you or other riders in pursuit of that brass ring.  If you want to go on to race another day, always practice safety first.

Guest Post: Michael Devonshire writes for Medical Billing and Coding Certification where you can find more information about a career and training.