Protective Gear

BMX race protective gear: what the rules require and what to add

BMX racing is run on a dirt track with a start gate, jumps and berms, so kit is never optional. UCI and national federation rules require five items, not four: a full-face helmet with a fixed chin bar, a peak at least 10 cm long on that helmet (rule 6.1.081), a long-sleeve jersey, long race pants and gloves covering every finger, in motos and supervised training alike. The rest — back protector, elbow pads, knee pads, rigid shoulder protectors, cervical protection — is the rider's own call and is exactly what the UCI recommends in that same rule; it is strongly advised from Micro to Expert.

The full-face helmet, foundation of the kit

An open-face mountain bike lid will not do: the chin bar protects the face in a crash out of the gate or on a short landing. Models sold in Europe carry EN 1078 (CE marking), often alongside the American CPSC 1203 standard — two texts that certify the shell but include no chin bar test. For face protection, look additionally for ASTM F2032, the BMX-specific standard, or ASTM F1952, the downhill mountain bike benchmark. Check the peak as well: the UCI requires 10 cm as a minimum. Shot, Kenny, Fly Racing and Answer models are in our BMX full-face helmets.

Race clothing: jersey, race pants, gloves

Long sleeves and covered legs limit dirt burns. Race BMX jerseys are cut close to the body so nothing catches on the bars, BMX race pants are reinforced at the knee, and full-finger gloves keep the feel you need on the brake lever.

Add-on protectors and their CE levels

Two sets of standards coexist and they are worth telling apart. EN 14120 covers protective clothing for roller sports: it is the cycling-side benchmark, the one behind soft sleeves. EN 1621-1 (level 1 or level 2, depending on the residual force transmitted in the impact test) and EN 1621-2 for back protectors, in full back (FB) or central back (CB) coverage, are motorcycling standards, widely used by gravity brands but not the regulatory benchmark for cycling. Level 2 absorbs more but stays thicker: over a 35-second moto, plenty of riders prefer a well-vented level 1, such as the Fuse or Kenny models.

Getting the size right for the body

• Helmet: head circumference measured roughly a centimetre above the eyebrows, in centimetres.
• Gloves: palm circumference excluding the thumb, youth sizes Y-XS to Y-L, then S to XXL.
• Elbow and knee pads: upper-arm and thigh circumference, never the clothing size.
• Back protector: spine length from the shoulders to the small of the back.

Kitting out a young rider

In the Micro and Mini categories, an oversized protector slides out of place and guards nothing: a size that fits now, renewed each season, is the better call. Do not overlook grippy-soled shoes either, which stop the foot coming off the pedal on the first stroke.

The BMX RACING advice

As a multi-brand shop, BMX RACING compares cuts, CE levels and size charts from one brand to the next instead of defending a single catalogue. Unsure about a shoe size or a fit? Our team answers. Dispatched within 24 to 72 hours and you can spread the cost over 2 or 3 payments.

Kitting a rider out for a first season? Our guide to starting BMX racing runs through the compulsory kit item by item, and what to add beyond it.