Cars & Vehicles Motorcycles

Need Motorcycle Riding Pants? Here's Info to Select the Best For You

If all goes well when you ride your motorcycle, you'll probably cruise along quite comfortably wearing ordinary denim blue jeans. 

However, blue jeans won't protect you even if you have a minor accident. 

If you have an accident, a good pair of purpose-built motorcycle pants can give you the margin of safety you need to limit severe injuries to your thighs, hips or knees. 

They might even enable you to avoid such injuries entirely. 

And if the weather gets wet and cold, the right motorcycle pants can keep you dry and comfortable.  

That's why you'll do yourself a big favor by tracking down a pair of motorcycle riding pants well suited to your… 
  • Riding style…
  • Riding season…
  • Motorcycle's design and purpose…  
  • Desire -- or lack of it -- to ride in any weather…
  • Favorite roads or trails… 

You'll benefit greatly by wearing motorcycle pants designed to… 
  • Protect you in an accident…
  • Keep you comfortable when and where you like to ride… 

When you start evaluating motorcycle riding pants, a good first step is to determine which of these three materials you want your pants to be made of… 
  • Leather…
  • Synthetic textile…
  • Denim/cotton fabric… 

Here's what each has to offer… 

Leather motorcycle pants  

Leather pants will give you great abrasion protection if you have an accident. 

But leather by itself won't absorb a hard blow to your knee, hip or thigh if you have an accident.  That's why it is a good idea to consider leather pants that have strategically placed armor or padding on these impact-prone areas.  

 Leather pants will block cold winds, dampness and mild rain. 

But, unless your pants are lined with a waterproof material such as Gore-Tex, or the leather has been specially treated to make it water resistant, you must wear rain pants over your leathers to stay dry in wet weather. 

On hot days, leather pants -- especially black leather pants -- can be very uncomfortable.  You have the best chance to remain cool if your leather pants are perforated or otherwise well ventilated. 

Synthetic textile motorcycle pants 

Pants made of synthetics such as nylon, polyester or even Kevlar are thinner, lighter, more flexible and can be more comfortable than leather.

 Many have a removable insulating layer to keep you warm. 

Synthetic materials resist mildew and are easy to wash and keep clean. 

But they're not waterproof.  So to stay dry when riding in the rain, you need pants equipped with a waterproof lining.  Otherwise, you can pull on a rainsuit. 

Nylon and polyester by themselves cannot protect you from accident-caused abrasions.  They'll tear, wear through or even melt when scraped hard against a rough road surface.  

Pants made entirely of Kevlar or have Kevlar-reinforced panels covering your knees, thighs and seat can prevent "road rash" on these abrasion-prone areas.  

And similar to leather, synthetic textiles won't absorb a hard impact.  That's why many synthetic pants give you armor padding on the knees, thighs and hips.  

Denim motorcycle pants 

Many riders like pants that don't look like motorcycle pants.  So they wear denim motorcycle pants that look, feel and perform like blue jeans and other cotton pants. 

They're airy, very comfortable and can keep you cooler than leather or synthetic textile pants. 

But denim tears easily and gives you virtually no abrasion or impact protection.  Such protection must be built in.   

You can find denim pants that have Kevlar sewn inside to protect your knees, hips, thighs and seat from abrasions.  

You can also find denim pants that have impact-absorbing padding on the knees and hips. 

But even if they have such reinforced areas, denim pants can't protect you as effectively in a severe accident as a well-designed pair of leather or even synthetic textile pants. 

However, when compared to department-store blue jeans, you'll do yourself a big favor by wearing at least a well-designed pair of strategically-padded, Kevlar-reinforced denim motorcycle jeans whenever you ride. 

Companies that make motorcycle riding pants try to give you garments that are stylish and comfortable and provide protection from harsh weather, abrasions and hard impacts.  

It's a difficult balancing act to achieve.  

That's why, when you start searching for motorcycle riding pants, it's good to determine first what material you want your pants to be made of before sorting out the numerous features and capabilities available to you. 

Go to http://www.motorcycle-gear-and-riding-info.com for more info to help you choose  motorcycle riding pants and other riding gear, and info to help you to get the most enjoyment out of motorcycle riding…

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