Garage Finds | JT Racing V-2000

Presented by Backyard Design

These days full-coverage chest protectors are making a comeback as most top racers have begun to race with the new-style, low-profile chest protectors beneath their jerseys. It’s a great trend to see, as dressing for the inevitable crash is something that we should all do. Motocross is, after all, a dangerous sport and protecting yourself as best you can is the best defense against injury.

This week, I dug an old JT Racing V-2000 from the garage cabinets. At the time – the mid-1980s – the V-2000 was revolutionary and offered a level of protection that had never been seen before. With its clamshell design that slipped over your head, the V-2000 enveloped your body in plastic that was designed to deflect roost and disperse impacts. The most defining design element of the V-2000, though, were its hinged and winged shoulders that were designed to absorb energy from a shoulder-smashing crash into the ground, 

Looking back now, the JT Racing V-2000 looked a lot like the costume that KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley used to wear on stage. Haha! No matter, I thought the V-2000 was super cool back in the day and I wore one religiously until my mullet grew so long that my hair would get stuck in the shoulder pivot bolts. Around that same time, I noticed that Ryan Hughes would drill the pivots out and wear the V-2000 sans the shoulder wings, so I – of course – did the same. 

These days, I wear the new Fox Racing Raceframe Soft Back beneath my jersey as it offers exceptional front and back protection while maintaining a low profile and an exceptional level of comfort. The back F3 Armor panel conforms to your back and offers CE-level impact protection. Check it out here.

Backyard Designs Graphic Kit of the Week

Custom Graphic Kits Starting At $179.99

Backyard Design was founded in 2010 by two privateer Supercross racers: Jared Hicks from Alabama and Philipp Klakow from Germany. What started off as a project to fund their Supercross racing efforts has now grown into a worldwide graphics manufacturer, with dual headquarters in the United States and Germany. Backyard Design is known for being one of the first custom graphics makers to have a completely interactive website, where customers can design their own kits with a few clicks on a computer mouse.

Ryan Villopoto is the latest superstar to join the BYD team and although he no longer races professionally, he still wants to look as sweet as possible when he is at the track. RV and Jared Hicks from BYD worked hand-in-hand to design the new kit that RV will run on his Yamahas throughout 2020. Sick, right?

Backyard Design can create something completely custom for you, or you can choose from a wide selection of graphic design starting points before adding logos and numbers. Every single experience we’ve had with Backyard Design has been a home run from the design process, to the easy installation, to the durability of the graphic itself. If you’re in the market for a new graphic kit, you’d be a fool not to check out BackyardDesignUSA.com