Choosing Motorcycle Pants

“Avoiding Road Rash in Comfort”

You want to see something amazing and exciting? Tune into one of the AMA motorcycle races that are often seen on TV that display the ridiculous skill that some of the riders have worked hard to obtain. These racers blast around the courses and through turns at speeds up to 200 miles per hour. These racers lean over far enough through the corners that they are dragging their knees. The thought crosses the mind when watching one of these races, “What happens if they crash?” Well the answer is simple. They slide… a very, very long way. These riders are trained to go into a slide when they know they are about to go down. That way, instead of tumbling and breaking every bone in their body, they simply slide to a stop and let their protective gear keep them from injury.

If these riders are kept safe by their gear at well over a hundred miles per hour, one can assume that if the average street rider wears the proper equipment they will be well protected. Obviously, the every day rider is not going to wear full racing leathers. However, they should not neglect to cover the majority of their body with some kind of proper gear. This includes the legs. The vast majority of casual motorcyclists are content with throwing on a helmet and possibly some boots. The most unprepared of motorcyclists can be seen wearing shades, a t-shirt, some shorts and flip flops. If that person were to crash they would either be dead, or so banged up they would be wishing they were dead. What happens if you crash while wearing only some shorts or jeans? Well, my guess is your legs would look similar to some raw meat that’s been beaten bloody by Rocky Balboa. This article will go over a few different types of dry weather riding pants to help you decide which kind of pants would best suit your needs.

Full Race Pants

These pants are the most protection a rider can get for their legs. They are also the most expensive, and the most cumbersome. They are typically designed for people who ride their sport bikes to the max. There are a lot of different choices of racing pants. These types of pants are usually constructed with some variety of durable leather. They also come in a synthetic mesh material that comes in many colors. They also have knee protection for dragging the knee around tight corners. They also have padding in the hips in case of a crash. The most popular brand of racing pants is manufactured by Joe Rocket. Joe Rocket also controls most of the sales of jackets for sport bikes.

Full Leather Pants

These pants are designed for riders of all kinds. They protect against small debris kicked up off the road, and they also are designed to prevent road rash. They will not however offer any extra padding around the joints. In addition to their safety features, these pants do a good job in keeping the legs warm. They are typically constructed with durable leather.

Riding Jeans

These are a relatively new variety of riding pant. From the outside they look just like normal jeans. However, they are usually a lot thicker in the knees and will hold up well to prevent road rash in a sliding situation. They also protect against small debris kicked up off the road. These pants are valued because they are more fashionable than most varieties of riding pants. They are constructed with some sort of abrasion-resistant denim.

Leather Chaps

These pants cover only the legs. They are held up by a belt around the waste. It would be rare to see someone on a sport bike wearing chaps. These are worn by riders on cruisers or touring bikes. Chaps usually fit a little bit looser than normal leather pants. They are usually black, but they can also be found in brown or white. They are constructed with durable cowhide leather to protect against small debris on the road. More expensive varieties of chaps have an elastic lining on the inner thigh portion for a more comfortable fit. Cheaper pairs are typically made of only leather. These pants are valued for their comfort, and because they are easier to take on and off.

Those are the basic types of dry weather pants. There are many pants that are waterproof, and are designed to be worn in the rain. Those will be discussed in another article. Though it is quite rare to see someone wearing proper pants, they are a vital part of motorcycle safety gear. The extra time it might take to put on some good pants could end up being well worth it.