I’m a firm believer in wearing protective gear when I ride. Honestly, once you get used to it, you barely notice it’s there – until you really need it. Let me tell you about the day my Dirt Bike Chest Guard went from being just another piece of gear to a lifesaver.
It happened on a downhill stretch, coming off a fourth gear run into a turn. I was feeling confident, maybe too confident. Then, it happened – a highside. One minute I was in control, the next I was flying through the air, my feet over my head. In that split second of airborne panic, my brain actually had time to register, “This is going to hurt.”
And hurt it did, but not nearly as bad as it could have. I blacked out for a few minutes. When I came to, paramedics were there, asking me the usual questions – “What day is it?” Thankfully, I could still answer. It wasn’t until I got back to my truck and took off my gear that I saw the real story. The back of my dirt bike chest guard was shredded, completely chewed up.
Looking at that mangled plastic, the reality hit me hard. Had I not been wearing that chest protector, that damage would have been to my back. I’m talking hamburger meat. And it’s not just about high-speed crashes. Think about landing on your back during a simple wipeout. Out on the trail, there are rocks everywhere. Landing directly on one, unprotected, doesn’t bear thinking about. A dirt bike chest guard suddenly seems a lot less optional.
I know there are always those riders who try to play it tough, the “I don’t need all that gear” types. But the truth is, we gear up for the crash, not the ride. Nobody plans to crash, but it’s part of dirt biking. That’s why I also wear knee braces, not just shin guards. I’ve used Asterisk knee braces for years and they’ve been fantastic. It’s all about layers of protection.
If you’re new to dirt biking, or even if you’ve been riding for a while and are considering ditching some gear to feel ‘freer’, please, reconsider. Get yourself a dirt bike chest guard. It’s not a magic shield that will protect you from everything, but it can absolutely be the difference between a serious injury and just walking away with some bruises.
Seriously, invest in a plastic front and back protector. That back section, the part that was destroyed in my crash, could be what keeps you walking after a bad fall. And another thing to consider – chest protectors also offer an extra layer of defense if, God forbid, you ever get run over in a pile-up. It’s about being smart and riding protected. Don’t learn the hard way like I almost did. Get a dirt bike chest guard.
