Pants!?

[HungryLikeMe]

What sort of legwear does everyone use out there? Just jeans? Riding pants? Leather? Knee pads?

I am a new rider getting the last of my gear together, and pants are the one thing I'm having trouble with. I am going fairly top of the line with boots and gloves, and price is a bit of a factor. I'd like some kind of leg protection beyond just jeans though.

Thanks for any help/insight.

 

[Rabbitman109]

What sort of legwear does everyone use out there? Just jeans? Riding pants? Leather? Knee pads?

I am a new rider getting the last of my gear together, and pants are the one thing I'm having trouble with. I am going fairly top of the line with boots and gloves, and price is a bit of a factor. I'd like some kind of leg protection beyond just jeans though.

Thanks for any help/insight.

I have the Speed and Strength Coast is Clear pants, warm liner that is waterproof, plus has zip out panels to keep cool in summer.

 

[sammy56]

As always it depends.
I typically wear overpants when commuting to work since I am usually wearing dress pants to work. I would recommend riding jeans with kevlar if you wish to just wear jeans. The big benefits of overpants is that they provide good protection, are vented with mesh (typically) and you are likely to wear them which helps support buying them. I will sometimes wear regular jeans or heavy/strong cotton pants, but rarely and only for short rides (ex: warming up the chain for maintenance). Dare I say this for risk of the wrath from the forum group telling me ATGATT!!!

LB

 

[Rabbitman109]

As always it depends.
I typically wear overpants when commuting to work since I am usually wearing dress pants to work. I would recommend riding jeans with kevlar if you wish to just wear jeans. The big benefits of overpants is that they provide good protection, are vented with mesh (typically) and you are likely to wear them which helps support buying them. I will sometimes wear regular jeans or heavy/strong cotton pants, but rarely and only for short rides (ex: warming up the chain for maintenance). Dare I say this for risk of the wrath from the forum group telling me ATGATT!!!

LB

You bet, ATGATT!!!

 

[Diluted]

Right now I just wear jeans, I'm still trying to find some pants.

BTW, where in MD are you located?

 

[Chucker]

I like the idea of these under jeans for city riding.

http://images.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/OG/2005_Icon_Field_Armor_Knee_Shin_Black.jpg

 

[HungryLikeMe]

I'm in Bethesda, just outside NW DC.

 

[HungryLikeMe]

Those knee/shin guards are perfect! I will probably also get some sort of overpants for when I ride to work (I also wear dress pants to work).

 

[Tmak73]

I am getting some reinforced jeans to wear out this summer. That way I can be comfortable if I am wearing them out for the day when I am not on the bike and I don't have to change or anything. Usually run from $60.00 to $120.00 depending on where you look

 

[anson650]

Mostly I wear jeans. I have worn overpants of leather which were nice and warm but heavy. I've worn chaps when I rode a cruiser. I like light rain pants with pockets. Probably the best combination I ever wore and I had them on my last crash, is a pair of heavy carhart work pants over my jeans. I've been down a couple of times and most of the damage has been above the waist line.
Now if it is cool enough I wear a Firstgear suit.
Anson
Absolutely wear gloves!

 

[ajskillz13]

If you want some great overpants, I would suggest the Firstgear HT Overpants. I just got mine in the mail yesterday and they are sweet! They fit true to size and have pretty much every feature you will need in an overpant.

Firstgear HT Overpants - Street Bike - Motorcycle Superstore

Only issues I found were that a tooth in the liner zipper was offline and is catching when I try to remove the inner pant and one of the buttons to keep the inner liner looped in came off when I tried to re-attach them.

Will be sending back to Motorcycle Superstore, but just to replace. I really like the pants, just got a bad pair.

 

[jay]

I recently got Tourmaster quest over pants.. got it basically for added protection and for cold morning ride to work.. it's prolly best textile pants for the bucks.. just around $67.00 it got waterproof liner, knee and shin guards also hip protection.. very comfy.. rugged construction on knees and back.. no reflective patches on it but it fits nice.. as it have elastic waist bands

lets plan a ride as weather turns favourable... i am at Rockvill md... so pretty close to you.

 

[CtrlAltDl]

I wear my Cortech Snowmobile pants. They are total overkill, for anything but torrential rain, but better safe than sorry.

Cortech :: Snowmobile Apparel :: Cascade Snowmobile Bib

 

[Detrich]

i wear (a) leather suit for canyons, and (b) kevlar jeans + a* shin/ knee guards for street.

imo, ku can still get scrapped up really badly underneath kevlar jeans... so, i try to wear full leathers as much as possible. but, sometimes, for city riding full leathers are not very practical.

i almost wish they'd make affordable, leather-lined, inner-armored jeans- ie jeans that look like ordinary jeans on the outside, but lined and armored on the inside.

 

[JonKerr]

Depends on the kind of riding what I wear. Weekend canyon carving, I'm in my 2 pc leather Frank Thomas XTi suit. If I'm out cruising around with my family (all on their Harley's) and don't want to be the guy in leathers, I'll wear jeans with knee/shin guards and armored shorts on underneath. If I'm commuting, I'll wear my Firstgear overpants with upgraded CE Rated knee armor. But I will always have lower body protection since you're actually more likely to be injured from the waist down in most crashes.

 

[Detrich]

Are armored shorts bulky Jon? How do u like them, and what kind did u get?

I've always thought of getting some for under the kevlar jeans. But, I didn't want to look like I was wearing diapers- hahaha. and, i also wondered if they unzip to take a leak... lol xP

 

[ajiribarren]

I like the idea of these under jeans for city riding.

http://images.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/OG/2005_Icon_Field_Armor_Knee_Shin_Black.jpg

Wait for the redesigned version, I have those Icon Field Armor and they are uncomfortable as hell!! Unless you got really skinny legs, wait for the redesigned version (looks much better designed)

 

[dart1963]

agree with everyone... more than jeans, but depends on riding style (commute or fun) and your level of risk as to what to get. Sometimes you just can't get into a full leather get-up to ride to work. Nice to have a couple different options for difference rides/weather/etc. If money's an issue, start with what you'll do the most and plan on adding more.

As to what brand/style... your best bet is to get to a shop and try on a couple different pairs. Everyone's different.

Your on the right track though by thinking about all the gear!

 

[joloy133]

I ride with kevlar jeans and the icon leg armor all the time. I also use a motocross type armored/padded short which fits well as my slider jeans are fuller cut. I also have kevlar pants which are thin enough to use as a liner, firefighters have these for wildland fires. (This may be an option to consider also, for all.... )

 

[bigguybbr]

...you're actually more likely to be injured from the waist down in most crashes.

100% right there. Jeans will last less than a second against pavement in a crash. Riding pants are not just good to rid yourself of road rash and cushioning your joints, but are also important in keeping the wound clean in the case of something like a compound fracture. This could help save you later from some of the life threatening effects of infection.