Realistic leg protection?

16785 Views 20 Replies 14 Participants Last post by BAZININJA, Aug 23, 2020

Billdoor22

Discussion Starter · Jul 18, 2007

Sorry for the array of newbie questions but I figured I should do a ton of research before deciding. I understand that it's much safer to ride around in full gear -- helmet, jacket, gloves, pants, boots. 4 of those 5 aren't really an issue for short trips... the pants are. If I go to the store 5 minutes away, I can easily walk around wearing the boots, and I can similarly wear the jacket with gloves in the pockets or something. But the mesh-pants that go over your current pants? I dunno... seems like an awful lot of hassle to try to put on special pants on your pants, get on your bike, drive for 5 min, and then sit there in a parking lot trying to remove the aforementioned pants off your real ones.
What do you guys recommend? I know some motorcycle pants look like regular jeans but I cant come to work wearing the same jeans everyday, lol. Is putting the pants on/off a pain? Do you do it every time?

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

esspee51

· #2 · Jul 18, 2007

leg protection

IT IS MUCH SAFER TO WEAR ALL OF THE GEAR, BUT A LITTLE COMMON SENSE GOES A LONG WAY. I RIDE TO WORK EVERY DAY AND KNOWING THE RISK I'M TAKING, I WEAR MY WORK PANTS. KNOWING THE RISK THAT IF I DO GO DOWN I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE PROTECTION I WOULD HAVE WEARING THE GEAR, BUT THAT IS THE RISK I TAKE. WHEN I RIDE ON THE WEEKENDS OR LONGER TRIPS I DO WEAR ALL MY GEAR.

DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WEAR FOR WORK, MOTORCYCLING APPAREL HAS COME A LONG WAY, IT'S NOT JUST BLACK LEATHER AND DENIM ANYMORE.

I WANT TO STRESS THE SAFETY THAT ALL THE GEAR PROVIDES AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO WEAR WHEN POSSIBLE.

HAPPY AND SAFE RIDING:

adrian

· #3 · Jul 19, 2007

When I think of pants, I think of jeans. Jeans are fine without the mesh overpants; I have lowsided (~35 mph) in regular Levi jeans and they protected me from road rash perfectly. If you are talking about thinner material like cotton or polyester slacks, you might as well be wearing shorts because you are going to suffer from road rash, and ruin a good pair of slacks as well... so I would wear the overpants.

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't wear anything thinner than denim jeans if you really want protection from heat and asphalt. And nothing beats leathers; like a friend of mine says: riding leathers are expensive when you are buying them... but they are worth every penny when you are sliding across the concrete/asphalt.

Bullzaye

· #4 · Jul 20, 2007

I have a 66 mile round trip on my daily commute. This is through rush hour traffic in Phoenix, mostly on the highway, with speeds from 5 to 80 MPH. I always wear my riding pants(and full face helmet, jacket, gloves & boots.) I just remove them at work and stash them in my saddlebag.
However, if I'm doing some shopping close to home I'll make do with the jeans. I agree that pulling them off at every store you stop at is time consuming, as well as kinda odd looking to passersby.
Tim

hogheaven

· #5 · Jul 25, 2007

I went with a set of riding pants (with Kevlar) as well. I don't see how you can go wrong with them - that will save your skin - literally.

cameron

· #6 · Aug 4, 2007

I wear protection as much as I can, everytime I go out there I never know what could happen and I do not want to find out by saying I should have worn what I have.

I fell from my bicycle maybe .10mph and scraped my chin really bad.

Now I have chin armor under my riding pants and everything else that is supposed to protect my skin.

Take the time to suit, not worth taking that chance.

I saw a site but can not remember the name, ride to live or ride or ride to die, something in that order, it was chilling.

Bullzaye

· #7 · Aug 4, 2007

I'm guessing that's "shin" not "chin". Either that, or you pull your pants up much higher than I do!
Tim

Reactions: 1

cameron

· #8 · Aug 5, 2007

Hey Tim, yes it was a typo "shin" instead of "chin", but it is true that I am wearing my pants higher and higher every year.

Cameron

Bullzaye

· #9 · Aug 5, 2007

LOL!

TFee3

· #10 · Aug 10, 2007

Hey guys, it's been pushing 100 degrees here for many days, and sometimes over that. I see more and more people riding their motorcycles wearing shorts with their boots. When I rode years ago, I NEVER had levis or protective clothing on while riding. Because it's so blasted hot here in the Ozarks, I'm thinking about riding in my shorts, too. (I know, I know, the biker gods will get me!)

esspee51

· #11 · Aug 10, 2007

It's not the biker gods you need to worry about, it's the ticked off drivers and buckled highways. remember a lot of those people in their four wheeled vehicles are hot and some are ticked off for a number of reasons, they are the ones that will get you.

Reactions: 1

G

· #12 · Aug 10, 2007

I usually wear jeans, the exception being my heavier dockers on work days. Even though I bought the Harley, I just can't see myself in chaps. It's only one more step from there to putting a big HOG patch on my jacket, and that ain't a happening.

TFee3

· #13 · Aug 10, 2007

I totally agree with all that Harley **** on everything. We were in Eureka Springs, MO yesterday, and these two guys were practically in rags on their Harleys. One of them had a "Vietnam Vet" on the back of his vest, which was also in rags. I told my wife that someone looking like that didn't say much for the American military, and she agreed. I'm retired military, and it really offended me. I wonder what they're trying to tell people. Or, maybe they're trying to make people feel sorry for them. They'e trying to be different, but on the other hand, they're starting to all look alike. Go figure.

rossjr

· #14 · Aug 10, 2007

As stated before it all depends on how much risk you want to assume. I used to ride around on my GoldWing in shorts...

I ride 40 miles round trip to work everyday (weather permitting) and I jeans or Khaki pants, but I ride with my helmet, gloves and jacket. Don't forget your goggles too.... The route I take is pretty good as far as traffic, road condions and speeds, I have one stretch of highway riding at 55mph for about a mile or two. The rest is blvd speeds 40-45mph with stoplights, but it moves well. On the way home I will often for go the jacket, just because it's been so damn hot here.... I know that I am placing my personal comfort in front of protecting my skin, but that's my choice....

MyChopperBlog

· #15 · Aug 14, 2007

Riding with safe gear is a must. My 12 year old daugther always asks if she can wear shorts or even capri pants on the harley. I ask her "If you want to get your leg burned by the pipes or if the bike goes down do you want to be protected?". A good rule of thumb I go by is if I tell my kids they have to suit up then I have to as well.
MyChopperBlog.com

Reactions: 1

TFee3

· #16 · Aug 15, 2007

Ross, it's good to know you weren't riding across the 35W bridge at the wrong time. That kind of a drop in a motorcycle wouldn't matter what you were wearing, you'd be dead. My sympathy to the folks who lost loved ones in your area. My wife and I grew up in the Sioux Falls area, so we've been there many times. It's a great city!

Blackwater

· #17 · Aug 22, 2020

Billdoor22 said:
Sorry for the array of newbie questions but I figured I should do a ton of research before deciding. I understand that it's much safer to ride around in full gear -- helmet, jacket, gloves, pants, boots. 4 of those 5 aren't really an issue for short trips... the pants are. If I go to the store 5 minutes away, I can easily walk around wearing the boots, and I can similarly wear the jacket with gloves in the pockets or something. But the mesh-pants that go over your current pants? I dunno... seems like an awful lot of hassle to try to put on special pants on your pants, get on your bike, drive for 5 min, and then sit there in a parking lot trying to remove the aforementioned pants off your real ones.
What do you guys recommend? I know some motorcycle pants look like regular jeans but I cant come to work wearing the same jeans everyday, lol. Is putting the pants on/off a pain? Do you do it every time?

When it is really hot and I ride with shorts, I wear leg protectors. They work great

hogcowboy

· #18 · Aug 22, 2020

Blackwater said:
When it is really hot and I ride with shorts, I wear leg protectors. They work great

It would sure be nice and appreciated, if you would introduce yourself to the community in the New Member Introduction forum. Folks tend to open up more if they believe they know someone just a little bit. 👍

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If I wear shorts then I wear chaps. Basically the same thing I guess but covers more.

Doc Samson

· #19 · Aug 22, 2020

13 year old question? Pretty sure the OP has it figured out by now... 😆

Reactions: 1

vito

· #20 · Aug 23, 2020

For me its jeans 95% of the time, and the other 5% is jeans with leather chaps over them. Chaps are inexpensive, the set I have came from LeatherUp and cost me $80. A bit of a hassle to put on and off, so I only wear them in colder weather as they really work over jeans to keep my comfortable when temps drop down. The fact that they would protect me in case of a crash is just extra icing on the cake. I can't wear most motorcycle over pants since I am short and with a generous waist size, so the few motorcycle specific pants I have owned fit me very poorly and uncomfortably. I've been told that regular jeans offer little protection against road rash, but I feel safer with them on than if I wore a pair of shorts. Plus, shorts and boots look really silly!

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