Answer Racing: Gear Proper Protection for Kids
When my son, Oliver, was riding around the yard on a Stacyc electric balance bike, he was wearing closed shoes, jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a cheapo helmet. They were more than enough to keep him safe. The low speed and lack of obstacles didn’t call for full-on motorcycle gear.
Over the last winter, he graduated to an Oset TXP-20, a wicked cool electric trials and trails bike. We’ll publish a separate review of this motorcycle in a future issue. I kept the TXP-20 in the trials configuration, so my son could easily stand on the pegs and get a better feel for balance. The Oset, unlike the Stacyc, is not a toy. It has a higher power output and, consequently, goes a lot faster. Combine the increased speed with the expanded riding area in the woods behind our house, and I had to go shopping for real protection. As a first time buyer of kids’ moto gear, I didn’t even know where to start looking.
Answer Racing
The answer came in the form of Answer. Started in 1976, Answer Racing has manufactured motocross gear for children for quite a while. In the U.S., there’s almost no street riding gear for children younger than 10. Most of the time, these young riders are still practicing on dirt and gravel paths in fields and woods.
First and foremost, they need a quality helmet. A chest and back protector, elbow and knee pads, and—of course—gloves and boots are necessary, too. To package it all up, a stylish jersey and matching pants are apparently the most important part, if you ask my son. Who knew that style mattered that much already at such a young age? In any case, Answer Racing has delivered an ideal solution.
Answer AR3 Helmet with Apex 3 Goggles
Children’s (or anyone else’s, for that matter) most precious body part to protect is the head. We now know injuring the brain before it is fully developed in the mid- to late 20s has a devastating effect. I feel comfortable with my son riding with a proper helmet sporting the latest safety features, like multi-directional impact system (MIPS) technology, which we’ve covered in great detail in the Jun ‘23 issue. The cheek pads and liner are removable for easy washing. The AR3 helmet is like my off-road helmet, just a little smaller and, thankfully, a fraction of the price at $174.95. It comes in sizes S-L in two color choices.
The goggles were an easy item to add to the cart for an additional $34.95. They feature a nose guard, an anti-scratch and antifog mirrored lens, and even come with a replacement clear lens.
Answer 25 Arkon Nitrus Jersey and Pants
Kids look way cooler today than back in the day. I ordered two sets of the 25 Arkon Nitrus jersey and pants—the former in hi-viz yellow and the latter in black, because it looks good with anything When riding around others, a hi-viz jersey will certainly help Oliver not get run over. In the North Carolina heat, a jersey is ideal for maximum airflow. There’s very little stretch in these. He can get dressed by himself for the most part, and I only have to help pull the jersey over his shoulder pads. The jersey comes in four colors in sizes ranging from S to XL and retails for $34.95.
The pants are made of 600D Oxford polyester and feature full-grain leather by the knees. Mesh panels in the lower legs provide airflow. They’re tight around the calves and make it easy to get into proper motorcycle boots. The pants come in the four matching colors in sizes 16-28 and cost $99.95.
Answer AR1 Boots with Moto Socks
Speaking of proper motorcycle boots—the AR1 boots are so little, yet so big. I wrestled for a while picking these boots. Will he be able to walk? How about any movement at all? Luckily, the Oset doesn’t have any foot controls, so Oliver only has to stand on the pegs.
Besides the helmet, this was the other item I was very impressed with. These boots are like a mini version of my technical riding boots. My son proudly places them next to his Oset, always ready for action. Even the first time he wore the AR1s, he commented how secure he felt and how much they made him feel like a real racer. Of course, his little ankle socks weren’t made for motocross boots, so we added a pair of Moto Socks. They function as hockey socks, as well. The AR1 boots cost $129.95 and come in six sizes and three colors. The socks come in two sizes for $15.95.
Answer Aerlite Drip Gloves
I got big style points when Oliver saw these gloves. Plenty of color and lots of attitude! These ultra-lightweight gloves fit his little hands perfectly. Again, features that my own gloves have abound on the Aerlite Drip, but at a fraction of the cost at $22.95. There’s an adjustable velcro strap to get them just tight enough around the wrists, synthetic leather palm support, and a perforated thumb guard. The index and middle fingers have silicone grippers, so Oliver’s hands won’t slip off the levers. Sizes range from XS to XL.
Answer Peewee Roost, Elbow, and Knee Guards
Protection is where I gambled a little bit. I know from my own experience that something like the Alpinestars Youth Bionic jacket, where chest, back, and elbow guards are all part of a complete system, offers the best protection and the easiest way to get dressed and undressed. However, it costs twice as much.
Instead, I stuck with the Peewee line from Answer for separate elbow, knee, and chest/back protectors that together ring in at $79.85. The knee guards have a hard plastic shell, but almost no padding on the inside. It’s the other way around for the shell-less elbow pads, which only provide cushioning. They work if a little branch whacks Oliver, but I wouldn’t want him to experience a hard impact with these.
The roost guard covers Oliver’s chest, back, and shoulders. Mobility and comfort seems to have taken priority over protection, but the armor will safeguard his upper body in case he falls and rams the handlebar into himself. As he inevitably gets faster and more daring, I will definitely upgrade Oliver’s protective underlayers.
For less than what a helmet costs for me, I was able to outfit my son with proper riding gear that keeps him safe, looking sharp, and eager to ride every single day. Next, we’ll look for street gear, as he’s itching to go on a daylong ride with me.