Protective Street Gear for Children
Finally, as if it happened overnight, your child can plant their feet on your motorcycle’s passenger pegs, with a nice knee bend to boot. This is the day you’ve been waiting for. You can finally take them on their first real ride.
But a quick look around the garage reveals you only own kids’ dirt bike gear, and reality sets in. You don’t have the right kit to protect your child for a ride on public roads. Kids need proper riding attire just like yours—only smaller. Here’s a wrap-up of everything you need to enjoy a fun and safe motorcycle ride with your child.
Helmet
A children’s street helmet is easy to find. Your local dealer will most likely stock them. A full-face lid with a quality visor will offer the most comfort and best protection for your offspring. An open dirt bike helmet with goggles does little to divert wind, bugs, and debris at 55 mph. The fit should be nice and snug, just as with your own bucket. Don’t try to save a few bucks by buying an oversized one and thinking your child will grow into it—that might work for boots, but the helmet must fit perfectly. Make sure your first shared ride is a good one, so you’ll be asked to go for another.
Jacket
Proper street riding jackets for kids are a little trickier to find. European and Asian companies tend to offer the best ones. Leather jackets offer the most protection in case of a slide, and your child will love the cool look—guaranteed. For shorter rides in hotter climates, a technical fabric jacket will work as well. Pay attention to the types of protectors at the shoulders, elbows, and back (and make sure that they’re there in the first place).
Pants
Sizing for kids’ pants can be all over the place. They do grow disproportionately. Long legs and a skinny waist make buying well-fitting riding pants a challenge. It’s best to order a couple of different sizes to get it right, since you can always return the unnecessary pair. Knee and hip protectors are a must. You can even find Kevlar jeans for kids, and they look super trendy.
Gloves
Your child’s hands will most likely be the first to touch the ground in a spill. Buy quality leather gloves to safeguard their little grabbers. Kids will need to get used to the feel of bulky gloves, so it’s best to start the acclimatization early. Remember, children don’t have long fingers like we do yet. They might complain about the stiff gloves at first, but as soon as you let out the clutch, they’ll have forgotten all about it.
Boots
If your child is already riding a dirt bike in the backyard, you can definitely save some money and use motocross boots on the street. In fact, these types of boots are the best for kids in general, as they provide better protection than any other boots. Riding jeans will tuck neatly into them, and most fabric pants have enough room to slip them over the boot.
Back Protector
A worthwhile extra piece of equipment to consider is a high-quality back protector. Even if the riding jacket you bought for your kid comes with one, remove it and get dedicated back armor in the form of a vest. This way, you won’t risk the protector shifting around and becoming useless, or even dangerous.
By investing in quality gear for your child, you’re not only protecting your most cherished being in the world, but also making each ride a comfortable one for them. Plus, once they get older and go on to ride on their own, they’ll know how to gear up properly.