3 season trousers that don't boil your nadgers in summer?...

[TIJ650]

The consensus though seems to be that there is no such thing as 4 season "year round" trousers, unless you have a suggestion, hence the drift towards a more summer oriented design with decent protection.
One of the benefits for a forum like this is you can call on friendly sharing of individual experiences and suggestions and I'm not too proud to take the advice coming out of that despite having my own thoughts, which are limited to what I've stuck with over the years, as we can only comment on what we've bought and used ourselves. The big difference for me, is I no longer commute regularly, but do undertake far more longer distance work, and that definitely has a bearing on choice, mainly for comfort in all seasons, as I'll be riding year round. When I was commuting, I tended to wear textile over trousers, or use full leathers. In summer, my commute times were rarely more then 45 minutes each way, and annually I would do perhaps two tours. I'll probably be spending a lot more time in the saddle now, so choice will be influenced by performance and comfort in all seasons hence the question. As a lot of you guys regularly do the big miles too I was fishing for your experiences and am grateful to those who've chipped in with feedback on what they use or recommend.

Guess the bottom line is you wouldn’t wear the same regular clothing 12 months of the year and probably unrealistic to expect this from motorcycling apparel ………despite the marketing efforts of the various clothing manufacturers.
Having said that, the aforementioned Marrakesh trousers are my go to choice from April into mid November. I live in the mountains of Scotland and find keeping your core temperature high is more key to overall comfort than anything else. This is why I plug in the heated vest anywhere south of 10C. Everyone is different, but I find the Marrakesh super comfortable to the point I forget I’m even wearing bike trousers when out and about. To me this is nirvana in protective clothing.
I don’t ride after the gritters are out cause BMW bikes don’t seem to have the same corrosion resistance as their cars. But that’s another conversation for another day


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[Mr Derek]

So...the consensus is...there isn't an ideal in trousers. I'll probably just stick with what I have unless I can find better textile alternatives for summer use only.

Bull-it jeans, from Helmet City. AA abrasion rated, level 2 armour for hips and knees, stretchy, so fit well. Go down at least one size as they are cut really big. £149.99. Brilliant product. I used them for my recent Scotland trip and didn't bother with leather jeans for the first time ever. A thin pair of waterproof over trousers and job's a good'un.

 

[TIJ650]

Bull-it jeans, from Helmet City. AA abrasion rated, level 2 armour for hips and knees, stretchy, so fit well. Go down at least one size as they are cut really big. £149.99. Brilliant product. I used them for my recent Scotland trip and didn't bother with leather jeans for the first time ever. A thin pair of waterproof over trousers and job's a good'un.

Yeah, jeans are great choice too. I used to swear by my Dianese ones until I found out they were actually made by Diesel and had no protection! Lol
D30 ghost armour is probably the biggest evolution in clothing and wouldn’t mess with anything without


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[Barnoe]

As for waterproof winter gear....
i snubbed Klim or Rukka and saved money.
Spent 35k on a car instead....... erm... hang on?

 

[TIJ650]

As for waterproof winter gear....
i snubbed Klim or Rukka and saved money.
Spent 35k on a car instead....... erm... hang on?

I remember riding in the 80’s when the only protective gear was leather. Was still better riding than sitting in a boiling car………..that has all changed with a/c and we’ve turned into spoilt brats?! Lol
Even notice at bike racing - there’s a lot more cars in the camping area than bikes


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[Morety]

Guess the bottom line is you wouldn’t wear the same regular clothing 12 months of the year and probably unrealistic to expect this from motorcycling apparel ………despite the marketing efforts of the various clothing manufacturers.
Having said that, the aforementioned Marrakesh trousers are my go to choice from April into mid November. I live in the mountains of Scotland and find keeping your core temperature high is more key to overall comfort than anything else. This is why I plug in the heated vest anywhere south of 10C. Everyone is different, but I find the Marrakesh super comfortable to the point I forget I’m even wearing bike trousers when out and about. To me this is nirvana in protective clothing.
I don’t ride after the gritters are out cause BMW bikes don’t seem to have the same corrosion resistance as their cars. But that’s another conversation for another day


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Yes, I agree. I've looked at loads which claim to be "4 season" and they're not, not really. I'll probably thin down what I have, and bite the biscuit and try some Klim Marrakesh trousers for fit. I'll also look into the suggestions for John Doe, the latest Bull-it options and perhaps one's I'm hearing a lot about, the Roadskins jeans, but I've always regarded biking jeans as more urban/commuting and never as good as leathers or decent textiles. They do seem to be gaining in popularity though. I tend to use my Halvarssons between mid October and April. I've decent armour in those, they fit well and are very comfortable, warm and waterproof. Agree about salt on the roads, especially where modern BMW's are concerned. I'll ride most of the year round but generally try and avoid salt laden roads as they don't do any bike much good.

 

[Morety]

I remember riding in the 80’s when the only protective gear was leather. Was still better riding than sitting in a boiling car………..that has all changed with a/c and we’ve turned into spoilt brats?! Lol
Even notice at bike racing - there’s a lot more cars in the camping area than bikes


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I commuted year round, about 85 miles a day in the late 1980's. I remember having to stop on the way to work during some pretty horrible freezing cold mornings, after riding through freezing fog, to knock the ice off which was building up on the forks and on my jacket, and the agony when arriving at work of the freezing digits warming up again. Not much fun! Heated grips were a rarity back then and I used a one piece Rukka over-suit (no armour) and Derri-boots which looking back, offered no real protection as they were more like biker's wellies! We have a much better selection of bikers gear these days.

 

[TIJ650]

I commuted year round, about 85 miles a day in the late 1980's. I remember having to stop on the way to work during some pretty horrible freezing cold mornings, after riding through freezing fog, to knock the ice off which was building up on the forks and on my jacket, and the agony when arriving at work of the freezing digits warming up again. Not much fun! Heated grips were a rarity back then and I used a one piece Rukka over-suit (no armour) and Derri-boots which looking back, offered no real protection as they were more like biker's wellies! We have a much better selection of bikers gear these days.

…………..just remember there’s an age limit on wearing blue jeans too!!
Sounds like you’re in my age group


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[Schtum]

I did 250 miles in temperatures up to 30 deg C one day last month. On my lower half I was wearing my IXS leather trousers.
They're TFL Cool coated and have Keprotec panels in the upper inner thigh.
With a pair of very light Patagonia long johns over my Rohan boxer shorts, I had no sweaty 'nads.

I was pleasantly surprised as previously in those kind of temperatures, I'd have gone for my BMW Adventure Pants which are better vented
but don't retain their armour so well and are therefore probably less protective in the event of an off.

 

[Morety]

…………..just remember there’s an age limit on wearing blue jeans too!!
Sounds like you’re in my age group


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Lol...yes, I'm a gent of mature years. Watching Jeremy Clarkson trying to carry jeans off was what convinced me that maybe they'd not be the best look!

 

[Mr Derek]

…………..just remember there’s an age limit on wearing blue jeans too!!

They are not for the under 40s? The upper age limit is death!

 

[adm1]

I'll also look into the suggestions for John Doe, the latest Bull-it options and perhaps one's I'm hearing a lot about, the Roadskins jeans, but I've always regarded biking jeans as more urban/commuting and never as good as leathers or decent textiles. They do seem to be gaining in popularity though.

Good biking jeans now have slide times better than leather or other textiles (although some of these claims are probably marketing hype). Good ones are now single layer, with UHMWPE fibres woven in as part of the material rather than having kevlar linings.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

decent base layer is the answer

Wicks the sweat away after the sweat has done its job
recently in spain at 30 degrees i was just fine ( warm but not diying hot) with Rukka Nivala trousers with the vents open and a thin merino baselayer under them. I also combined this with a Mesh jacket

 

[Orinoco]

decent base layer is the answer

Wicks the sweat away after the sweat has done its job
recently in spain at 30 degrees i was just fine ( warm but not diying hot) with Rukka Nivala trousers with the vents open and a thin merino baselayer under them. I also combined this with a Mesh jacket

Yup, layering is the answer for the colder months and summer with wicking under garments. Interesting thread, I wish I'd taken my Twat jacket to the Netherlands a couple of weeks ago, took my Halverssons Prime jacket and really warm even with the liner out at 27/28 degrees. the twat is good much beyond that. I'd assume that most of use having been riding for some years would have worked out our favourite range of kit for the circumstances and have wardrobes full of the stuff!

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

The most versatile outfit is made up using layering, a base layer, thermal layer, vented layer and waterproof layer.

Take them all and wear whichever best suits the weather conditions.

 

[Morety]

Layering is something I've always done, be it hiking, mountain biking or riding the bike. Always wear a wicking layer, summer or winter, leggings and top. It's amazing how effective using a light compression top is in winter to keep muscles and core nice and warm. Layering effectively was something drummed into me in my early infantry days but it's something you learn early on with anything out doorsy.

 

[Zorro]

+1 for the Marrakesh option. I also fell for the ‘chap in the cap’ marketing ruse and bought the layers. I have to admit that it definitely makes it 3 seasons.

 

[DevonAl]

I have some Outlast kit from Wolf, probably doesn’t look rufty tufty enough for you adventure bike riders but with the different layers and vents along with a decent wicking base layer it is very comfortable over a good range of temperatures, and I totally agree with the comment about using the cool cover type products for the seat.

Al.

 

[6821snape]

I’m a convert to Klim Marrakesh if it’s hot great on its own if there’s a cool breeze I use a montane windproof underneath I’ve also used with a base layer early morning at 12 degrees…. basically same clothing set up as if your going hiking .. thin layers take up very little space

 

[Wapping]

I have two suits which I use regularly.

1. Rukka, I forget the model but it was the expensive one. It doesn’t really matter, as they they seem to do a new model every year. This I wear if I know it’s not going to be north of 30 degrees for a protracted period of time. I always remove the linings, which never go back in.

2. A Rukka mesh suit, if I am pretty sure it’s going to be warm / hot enough. For example, I took this away for four days in the Eifel at the end of May 2023, as the very sort term forecast (I take no notice if long term forecasts) showed it was going to be very warm. Would I be stupid enough not to take any back-up, ifreoective of what the man with seaweed and fir cones suggested? No.

Suit one, will work in hot temperatures, as well as when it’s cold and passing down. If you get hot, stop and drink water. If it gets cold, layer up and / or use an electric liner.

Suit two, I take a simple waterproof over suit (separate jacket and trousers) in case of rain or to simply sling on if it drops much below 15 degrees. I also have the layers / electric liner (see above). For a simple example, I used the waterproof top for the late the evening run from London to Harwich, as simple common sense told me it was not going to be 20 degrees all the way. I lobbed my very thin (I forget the make, it scrunches up into a very small bag, which will fit in a pocket) wind stopper liner on, under the mesh, when I rode off the ferry in Holland, discarding it at the first midmorning coffee stop.

That has all four seasons covered but with two very different suits.

Now the killer bit…..

Does everyone like Rukka? No. I do, which is all that matters to me.

Does everyone like something else? Yes, quite often. Why? Well, how long have you got? Does this mean you’ll get lists of things? Yes. For every, “I like xxxx” you’ll get, “It’s crap“. Does everyone think their armour is in the ‘right place’ for them? Rather like crash helmets fitting or not, everyone will have their own favourite. Some really will not care, whilst others will be like the princess and the pea. To continue on the theme, the tale of Goldilocks and the three bears, is a pretty good metaphor as to what is (or is not) ‘Just right’.

Is there some magical short cut to Nirvana? No.