Motorcycle Pants Reviews

Quality Motorcycle Pants,
guaranteed Butt Savers!

How to Review Motorcycle Pants?

Quality Pants will save the day. No matter what comes at you ... wind, rain, sun, sand or even the pavement.

This Motorcycle Pants Guide shows you how to select quality Pants plus you will find links to motorcycle apparel discounts, biker pants brands & motorcycle directories.

Motorcycle regular pants
I can not say it any easier, pants are your only alternative for riding normal pants. Specialized in protection, weather and safety. They will save your butt :0) They can be made of leather or non leather material and are most often used for longer day trips and motorcycle tours.

Motorcycle rain pants
Same as rain jackets. Often no more than a thin plastic coated pants to keep water out. Often combined with a jacket into a rain suit.

Motorcycle overpants
Overpants give you the flexibility to quickly adapt to weather and/or clothing requirements(for example wearing your work clothes under overpants). Overpants often have long zippers down the side.

Motorcycle 'jeans look' pants
New kind of pants with a jeans look and feel. However they do meet the highest standards in motorcycle safety. The jeans look is only the top surface. The pants are built-up with different strong materials including padding.

Motorcycle leather pants
Of course the safest kind of pants for motorcycle riding. The best protection a rider can wish for when caught in a crash. You can find more info about leather in our leather section.

Comfort
You need to take into consideration that you will be sitting in the same position for an extended time. This means that the motorcycle pants should be designed for this position and not standing up. This is why some riding pants look funny standing straight (they balloon a bit around the hips and the knees tend to stick out). Anyway no big deal for a rider, right!


Pants material
Pants are mostly made of leather or Cordura (which is a kind of nylon). The Cordura differs in strength and you should be looking for something around 500 denier (which is the unit strength, it goes to about 1000). If you are looking for leather motorcycle pants please browse over to my detailed explanation about motorcycle leather.


Waist design
Most pants have some way of tightening at the waist. It can be via a belt, Velcro or buttons (elastic isn't your best option). Tightening helps a better fit and avoids cold getting in (or worse water). Just below the waist you will often find an expandable area so the pants don't feel uncomfortable when you're riding.


Waterproof
Leather motorcycle pants aren't really made to withstand rain. You need to cover them with rain motorcycle pants. I know this might suck but it extends the life of your pants. Leather treated to withstand rain will last a bit longer. Please also read my leather section.

Non-leather pants need to have an inner material to seal against water. Gore-Tex is often used just like with jackets (both breatheable and waterproof). Rain mc pants are often coated plastic which are non breatheable but hold out all wind and water (they can get damp very quickly on a humid day).


Cuffs
Select cuffs that can be sealed. This avoids water and wind blowing in. Furthermore it stops your pants from flapping at your feet. Some designs look silly with sealed cuffs (like black leather pants for example). So take this feature into account when you review with the design.


Zippers
Look for strong zippers in pants. Even if it's only the zipper for your fly. Mc pants seem to get the worst beating. Jamming your boots in them or just packing them in your saddle bags. So always lean towards heavy duty zippers on pants.

Long zippers down the side really make for easy access (this goes especially for overpants). Just like with motorcycle jackets make sure that the zipper teeth are covered otherwise the wind will blow straight thru them.


Pockets
A few pockets will help but they are not as important as on a motorcycle jacket. Try to get pockets which can be closed. (if you put your house key in them it will still be there when you return :o)


Knees
You need some extra space around your knees. Simply because your legs are bent, otherwise the motorcycle pants will be pulled up over your ankles. In the knees you will also need extra padding, since they are so vulnerable.


Padding
Essential padding are around the waist and on the knees. Both high impact areas in case of a get off. Padding can be extra material or carbon Kevlar shells. If your pants use shells make sure they are easily kept in place.


Lining
Take a good look at the lining of motorcycle pants. For example overpants lining which are used with boots (stepping in and out) need to be extra strong. Normal pants should have a lining which is very comfortable.

In the case of extra winter lining (which can be inserted) or removable lining make sure they can be secured in a good way. It sucks when your lining comes out every time you take off your motorcycle pants.

If you wear big motorcycle boots under your pants check that your cuffs are wide enough to accommodate them.

This goes for nearly every category of motorcycle gear. When you wash your pants (in a machine or by hand) with soap (remember no tumble-dry, no iron, check label) your waterproof quality will be dramatically influenced. Often you'll need to spray your pants with a impregnating coat afterwards.

Every mc pants test takes a careful look at the padding, so make sure you do too. Are they in the right place for your knees and does the protection cover a bit of the area around your knees. Furthermore check what kind of padding (remember hard shells are much better than soft padding)

Some motorcycle pants have integrated support (kidney) belts. This is uncommon but they are available. You can also opt for a seperate kidney belt (you have a few choices here but every major apparel brand should have them). I find that on long rides it is nice support for your back and waist. You don't end up as tired.

1. Motorcycle pants legs should be long enough, to reach your boots (even with bent knees).


2. Check that you have enough room around the waist and upper thighs.
3. Tighten waist, does it still feel comfortable?
4. Is the padding in the right place and will it stay there..
5. Check for loose material which can start flapping in the wind.
6. Do the motorcycle pants contain the features you need.
7. Does it look good :o)

A few selection pointers. (doesn't apply for every type of pants):
(1) reinforcements on the inner leg - (2) Knee protection - (3) extra space for knees - (4) belt - (5) more material at the back to cover riding position - (6) strong waterproof material - (7) inner liner - (8) strong zippers - (9) enough room for boots - (*) reflective material - possibility to zip to jacket -