Dirt Bike Gear - Dirt Rider Magazine

Asterisk
Cell Knee Braces
I've been wearing knee braces since I first hurt my knee in 1989 and have been saved many times, I'm sure, from further damage by this preventive measure. For the last few years I've been a big fan of the Asterisk Cell. It fit better than even my custom braces, and the kneecap protection was the best I'd found. I really had no issues with these braces...till I tried the new Asterisks.The biggest renovation, in my opinion, is the new strapping on the back of the brace. Asterisk unified the previous two attachment pads on the back into one big pad with four drawstrings to better grip the back of the leg. The revised model settles on the knee better because the new rear section cups the bending knee and holds the brace tight in a V. It is now almost impossible for the brace to slip when properly fit.Asterisk is even prouder of a new attachment that goes from the front lower bar of the brace and attaches, with a clip, to your boot. (You have to drill a small hole, install the other half of the strap-attached clip to your boot, plus cut a small hole in your pant leg.) When you do this, the boot and knee brace are united into a much more twist-resistant package, making a knee-twisting injury less likely. You really do feel the increased resistance to corkscrewing. I was skeptical till the first time my toes caught the ground. My knee is usually the first thing to yelp, "Pain!" but with the new setup, my foot got kicked off the peg instead of rotating outward. It worked. And now when I don't clip the strap, I don't feel as protected.The padding got a little help in some areas, and the attachment clips underwent a redesign, making them easier to unbuckle. A few riders who tried the brace felt some pinching or poking, but these incidents occurred under unique situations that could have been easily remedied with some additional padding or more time spent in setting up the very adjustable strapping and attachment points. Until I went back to my old braces, I didn't realize how these small improvements made the new Cell so much better. At $599 a set, it is cheaper than an MRI-and a lot more fun. It would have ranked even higher for me in our September knee brace comparison, especially in the confidence rating. -Jimmy LewisBerik
Contender Boot
A fairly new entrant to the motorcycle market, Berik has gained instant credibility through the strong endorsement of its top rider, Ricky Carmichael. The Contender boot is Berik's midpriced product, and though it isn't the exact boot the champ wears, it boasts many of the same features, including full leather heat shields, an internally padded ankle, full-coverage impact panels and replaceable buckles.The Contender broke in easily and comfortably for me, needing only a few slight adjustments of the buckles to dial in the fit. New, the boot probably offers the most protection that it ever will, as the pivotless ankle quickly loses stability as it breaks in. Distracted by the boot's comfortable fit and fairly slick appearance, I needed quite a bit of time to really notice the ups and downs of the Contender. After about six or so rides, the ankle loosened up considerably, leaving an unsettling feeling of nonsupport. It remained like this for the next 20 hours or so of ride time (no bull-we keep track of this type of thing) until the seams busted out where the heat shield meets the ankle. Another few rides and the boot was toast, as it would barely stand up straight when set alone on the soles.The ankle did have a somewhat limited life span (and the support went right out the window early on), but the Contender still has quite a few redeeming qualities. First, the soles will outlast the boot, and I have easily worn through the bottoms of much better-known soles in half the time it took me to blow the freakin' seams out of the Berik. Second, the buckles, shin plates and toes all held up great, and the blunt-protection level of the boot is commendable-I kicked a lot of rocks while wearing the Berik. Overall, the weak link ankle shouldn't shy anyone away from at least checking out the Contender, as it is still comfortable and somewhat strong. If you don't have any ankle problems, this $229.95 boot is worth a look. -Chris DenisonNiteRider
HellFire HID Lights
Adding powerful riding lights to most dirt bikes is expensive, and the price of the light itself may be only part of the problem. Many bikes need rewound or even replacement stators to power those lights. In addition, those lights can add weight to the bike, affecting handling. But now NiteRider has handlebar-mount HellFire HID lights. The lights are so tiny and weigh so little, you barely notice them. The diminutive lights mount one on each side of any type of handlebar, and they come complete with all the necessary mounting hardware, an on/off switch and a complete wiring harness. Each HID light produces 80 watts of bright, blue-white light, but the total draw on the battery is only 20 watts. On almost any bike with electric start, there should be no need to modify the ignition to provide power for the lights. We mounted the lights on a KTM 525 MXC fitted with a modified 2005 KTM EXC headlight. That was a bonus for evaluating the HellFires; since we had an on/off switch for the stock headlight, we could run any combination of lights at any time. Although the stock headlight was fitted with a better bulb and a higher-quality reflector, the HellFire battery lights made a huge difference in lighting. How huge? A sand wash that felt safe in second gear with the stock light was easily handled in fourth gear! Riding with just the HellFire lights was better than with the stock light, but the combination of the semi-wide-beam stock light and the narrower-beam HellFires was the best option. The KTM battery is not large, but we rode for several hours with no apparent reduction in available battery power. The lights stayed bright, and the starter remained willing. The lights are not cheap at $349.99, but they went on in minutes with no modifications to the wiring or ignition required. Any step above the performance of these lights would require a rewound ignition and a very expensive (and usually heavy) aftermarket light. If your night trail forays are low to medium in speed and not a weekly habit, I'd say grab some HellFires and have fun.-Karel KramerCycra
Mechanic Rollcart
As I get older, I get smarter. From the way I ride to the way I work on my bikes, experience tells. And the $94.95 Cycra Mechanic Rollcart is just another one of the tools I've found to keep me doing things the most efficient way possible. By putting wheels and a nice pad on a plastic stand, Cycra makes rolling around your machine in the garage less stressful on your back and knees. There is a lower tray for larger stuff as well as little storage areas on the sides to keep tools and supplies handy. I've been using the cart now for the past year, and it is the first thing I look for when I feel my leg and knee muscles starting to tire or ache.-Jimmy LewisSidi
Coolmax MX Socks
"Feet don't fail me now." We've all said that. After all, feet are important. Without them you fall down. This is why I take care of mine by wearing a good pair of riding socks inside my boots. The $15 Coolmax MX socks from Sidi are my new favorites. Here's why: First, they're tough. I've worn out boots in these babies, and their seams, toes and heels are still holding up-even after multiple hot-water wash cycles. Second, they're constructed with Coolmax, a moisture-wicking, blister-preventing fabric that keeps my toes as dry as possible in the sweltering conditions of a riding boot. And third, the Coolmax socks from Sidi are just the right length for use with standard knee cups and won't slide down. If you value your feet, and their comfort, try the Sidi Coolmax socks on your next ride.-Jesse Ziegler