Motorcycle Trousers

Luimni

I am in the process of gearing up for my first bike. I have bought the usual gear but the waterproof padded reinforced trousers i bought just dont feel comfortable. I have a 125 cruiser so i aint tearing up the roads. I would just like to hear people optinions about just wearing jeans instead. I know safety wise its not the best thing but its just so much more comfortable. Is there such a thing as motorcycle jeans or a light but tough jeans, something to take the wear in a slide but not the bulkiness of those padded trousers.
Thanks

Idleater

Luimni wrote:

Is there such a thing as motorcycle jeans or a light but tough jeans, something to take the wear in a slide but not the bulkiness of those padded trousers.

Check out a product called "Draggin Jeans". They do what you describe.

However, a word of caution.

Jeans (even kevlar reinforced jeans) are no good at impact absorbtion or protection. The videos on the draggin jeans website shows somebody being towed along a road, but I don't think they protect you from the fall - hitting the road in the first place.

If I were being honest, I would say not to bother with them. There is no substitute for proper motorcycle protection. I would say you would get used to wearing the motorcycle trousers. Also, are you wearing normal trousers under the motorcycle trousers? You could try changing them for a pair of thermal leggings which are thinner and not as bulky.

L.

Steffano2002

I personally stick with jeans... I was going to invest in the proper stuff but I knew I wouldn't be wearing them much (if at all) so I didn't bother. I will however invest in a proper pair if I ever go on a big journey!

tk123

I have these ones and they're nice and light and handy too with the zips up the legs. I have a crusier too and find them comfy enough. I wear them over my jeans/trousers..

Idleater

Steffano2002 wrote:

I was going to invest in the proper stuff but I knew I wouldn't be wearing them much (if at all) so I didn't bother.

Not sure if I agree with that sentiment. I have seen people after sliding down the road from 30kmph and it is not a pretty sight.

Wasn't there also some statistic (yeah I know...) that a huge proportion of accidents occur within 5 minutes of your destination or departure point?

The only time I found the bike gear uncomfortable is during a hot summer day. And for me anyway, the safety aspect is overriding to the short while I sit baking in traffic. Any other time, it is more than adequate to wear walking about.

You might think you look like an idiot/powerranger, but you are the one wearing armour which is great especially for getting through the crowds in the months coming up to Christmas

L.

tk123

I fell twice due to my own stupidity but both times I hadn't got proper gear on - the first time I hurt my knee which was just bruised. The second time I fell going up a foot path that was too high and came down on my elbow - i still have problems with it after 3 years. Now I wear some form of safety gear all the time . The weather is pretty unpredictable and there's noting worse then showing up somewhere looking like you wet your pants!!

Hotblack Desiato

Luimni wrote:

II have a 125 cruiser so i aint tearing up the roads.

True, but my first bike was only 100cc and falling off it without proper gear still hurt like hell

As nereid says, imagine yourself sliding up the road at 30 or even 20mph wearing everyday clothing, you'd be in bits. I'm not sure about Draggin Jeans either, the pair I looked at at the bike show didn't seem much use to me, and someone I know crashed while wearing them and got very little protection from them.

One thing not to overlook is boots and gloves. A broken ankle is NO joke and could have you off work for a long time or even with a permanent limp (ooer) Proper bike boots give a lot of protection. I would have been in a very bad way in my crash last year without them.
The hands often come off badly in a slide too - always wear gloves.

Krusty_Clown

I've only ever had one accident, and it was on my cbr250.. Very minor, as in slow speed (20-30mph), wearing jeans (but proper gloves, jacket and helmet). Slippy surface, rear wheel lost traction, resulted in a high-side.

Wasn't badly hurt, but my knees were completely skinned. Might as well have been wearing shorts. So, if you'd be comfortable with wearing a pair of shorts while travelling on the bike, then I say go for it, wear the jeans.. Just don't expect any kind of protection from them..

I had a pair of draggin jeans (which thankfully I never crash tested). The thing about them is: They're not cheap, don't offer any impact protection, and they're essentially like a normal pair of jeans/clothes, so need to be washed every other day, and no good in the cold / rain, and the outer fabric will wear out long before the kevlar does! (The Kevlar is inside the normal material exterior). They cost around 120 euro, so you'd get a decent set of proper protective trousers for that money (even a set you might like!).

Luimni: Maybe give them a chance.. Most new safety equipment takes a while to soften up and shape properly (particularly the armour). Otherwise, maybe return them and try something else?

Luimni

The pair i have bought will definately do the job in both impact and slide protection and thats the most important thing i suppose:o

It will just take a bit of getting used to and hopefully after a bit of wear, i wont even dream of leaving home without it...

Great stuff anyway, my whole prespective was slightly skewed by TV and film with lads riding in jeans but the thought of me sliding down the tarmac in jeans (shorts!!!) really drives home the point.

bbbbb

I was in mega bikes on wexford st. a couple of months back & they had draggin jeans in stock if you're interested in checking them out.

Tomohawk

Originally Posted by Luimni
The hands often come off badly in a slide too - always wear gloves.

Truer words were never spoken!
If you only take one piece of advice outta this discussion, take this!

tk123

bbbbb wrote:

I was in mega bikes on wexford st. a couple of months back & they had draggin jeans in stock if you're interested in checking them out.

Some of the places you can get them online give free knox armour - it attaches with Velcro to the inside of the trousers. I got mine from http://www.clubpromoto.co.uk/ but I'd agree with what Krusty says abt them - they're fine for the summer for a short spin but wouldn't be warm enought/waterproof for this time of year. Luimini - give your tousers a chance - you be glad of them once it gets frosty and they're stopping your legs freezing off!!

Steffano2002

nereid wrote:

Not sure if I agree with that sentiment. I have seen people after sliding down the road from 30kmph and it is not a pretty sight.

Wasn't there also some statistic (yeah I know...) that a huge proportion of accidents occur within 5 minutes of your destination or departure point?

The only time I found the bike gear uncomfortable is during a hot summer day. And for me anyway, the safety aspect is overriding to the short while I sit baking in traffic. Any other time, it is more than adequate to wear walking about.

You might think you look like an idiot/powerranger, but you are the one wearing armour which is great especially for getting through the crowds in the months coming up to Christmas

L.

You don't have to agree with me nereid. I have my helmet, armoured jacket, armoured gloves and armoured boots. That's enough for me. I really don't see myself wearing armoured trousers on top of all this. That's enough security for me for now...

Fobia

Steffano2002 wrote:

You don't have to agree with me nereid. I have my helmet, armoured jacket, armoured gloves and armoured boots. That's enough for me. I really don't see myself wearing armoured trousers on top of all this. That's enough security for me for now...

I think his point is, if you want to drive without leg protection, that's perfectly ok for you. But your post gives off the idea of "I do it and I ride a bike, so it's ok", when in reality it's been well proven that even at low speed legs can be damaged very easily in the event of a fall..so he just wanted to make it clear that although you do it, it certainly isn't safe to do so?

I mean, I think his post was for the OP, rather than to advise you..

Krusty_Clown

Good point Fobia. There are many new bikers (and potential new bikers) reading this thread. I think Steffano you'd agree that you were posting about a personal preference/choice/assumed risk, rather than advocating riding without suitable equipment, right Steffano?

Tree

my main issue w/ trousers for the bike is finding supersize ones, tight ones start leaking soon after you start wearing them

Steffano2002

Krusty_Clown wrote:

Good point Fobia. There are many new bikers (and potential new bikers) reading this thread. I think Steffano you'd agree that you were posting about a personal preference/choice/assumed risk, rather than advocating riding without suitable equipment, right Steffano?

Well, if we read my post, I think we'll all agree it was a personal opinion as opposed to an advice:

"I personally stick with jeans... I was going to invest in the proper stuff but I knew I wouldn't be wearing them much (if at all) so I didn't bother. I will however invest in a proper pair if I ever go on a big journey!"

Pigeon Reaper

Just wait 'til the cold weather comes. Then you'll be wearing everything you can to keep warm. Last winter I even took to long johns under my trousers. Still froze my nads off.

tk123

Pigeon Reaper wrote:

Just wait 'til the cold weather comes. Then you'll be wearing everything you can to keep warm. Last winter I even took to long johns under my trousers. Still froze my nads off.

Luckily thats not a problem for me!

Krusty_Clown

Steffano2002 wrote:

Well, if we read my post, I think we'll all agree it was a personal opinion as opposed to an advice:

"I personally stick with jeans... I was going to invest in the proper stuff but I knew I wouldn't be wearing them much (if at all) so I didn't bother. I will however invest in a proper pair if I ever go on a big journey!"

Sorry Steffano, I didn't mean to sound patronising (and didn't succeed quite as well as you did ). I was just trying to highlight the distinction between the rest of the posts, which were recommendations, and your post which isn't. You post could suggest to a new rider that safety trousers are only required for long journeys.

I don't know how long you've been riding, but I'm glad that you haven't needed protective trousers so far, and hope that you wont need them in the future. My particular lesson happened about 3 kms from my office.

Steffano2002

Krusty_Clown wrote:

Sorry Steffano, I didn't mean to sound patronising (and didn't succeed quite as well as you did ). I was just trying to highlight the distinction between the rest of the posts, which were recommendations, and your post which isn't. You post could suggest to a new rider that safety trousers are only required for long journeys.

I don't know how long you've been riding, but I'm glad that you haven't needed protective trousers so far, and hope that you wont need them in the future. My particular lesson happened about 3 kms from my office.

Sorry for being patronising there in my last post Krusty_Clown. Was having a bad day...
Of course I would recommend purchasing motorcycle trousers. "Do as I say, not as I do!"
I do hope I never need a pair though... Fingers crossed! But like you said, when the cold weather starts, I might invest in a pair alright!