Padded Jeans or Over-Trousers

[cbutler]

Wondered if anyone had any experience using padded jeans? I was thinking getting them or a pair of textile biking trousers big enough that I can wear normal trousers underneath them.

I'm not sure if my view on this is naïve, but I think it makes sense...

 

[meat head]

I've had a pair of draggin jeans for about 3 years...never been down the road on my arse in them...but they are comfy, look ok and have lasted well.. they will never give you the protection that a decent bit of dead cow will provide...but ... much better than ordinary jeans or cargo pants...and worth having in your wardrobe

 

[Bem]

Wondered if anyone had any experience using padded jeans? I was thinking getting them or a pair of textile biking trousers big enough that I can wear normal trousers underneath them.

I'm not sure if my view on this is naïve, but I think it makes sense...

Not entirely sure what your view is, but heres mine FWIW.
I sometimes wear my Dragging Jeans in late spring/late summer by way of something various - in other words to prove to the world that I don`t only have one outfit. I do find that they (I?) can become over-hot wearing them in midsummer - the Levlar seems to keep the heat in - Airflow suit is perfect for Summer wear.
If i was to be wearing a suit for the office or similar then I would go one size larger in overtrousers.

 

[Buz]

I've had both Draggin Jeans and Hood Jeans. Both seem decent enough, the thing IMO that puts the Hood jeans just in front is the fact you can order them to the leg length you require and the kevlar lining goes all the way down. The Draggin ones are a set length and you just cut them off to whatever length you require. The kevlar lining doesnt go down all the way and i felt it didn't give enough protection around the knee......this is when sliding along the tarmac, not impact, you'll still break the leg just wont peel all the skin back as well.
I slid down a grass verge in Hoods and the jeans survived, still wearing them now.

Here's some footage of Draggin jeans being, Dragged!!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t_8A8ZaH9sY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Deer Stalker]

Rukka Granite are the commuter overtrousers with zip sides, I'd use them in any weather.

In terms of jeans I do have some Draggin combats but the pair I think are really good are Rokker http://eu.therokkerstore.com/index.php?page=product&info=305

Hellish expensive, and fantastic comfy, with full all round kevlar rather than the patches that come in Draggins. They are cut to length and are pretty heavy, love'em

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I crashed while wearing a pair of M&S' finest jeans. Mrs Miff was wearing a pair of Next's finest (well, she's a woman after all). We were both fine, and we're still wearing the jeans now, as they were pretty much unscathed.

 

[cbutler]

Woah thanks for all the help never had this much from other owners club forums...

I have literally zero bike clothing - do bike trousers (non-leather) have any sort of armour? I am fairly sure they have knee, but up the leg or in the shins?

I am tempted to go for over trousers, as they will be waterproof and jeans are not(?)

 

[Deer Stalker]

Woah thanks for all the help never had this much from other owners club forums...

I have literally zero bike clothing - do bike trousers (non-leather) have any sort of armour? I am fairly sure they have knee, but up the leg or in the shins?

I am tempted to go for over trousers, as they will be waterproof and jeans are not(?)

With our climate I would have overtrousers first that is for sure and the Rukka Granite version are very good but also by their standards comparatively cheap at £360

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Woah thanks for all the help never had this much from other owners club forums...

I have literally zero bike clothing - do bike trousers (non-leather) have any sort of armour? I am fairly sure they have knee, but up the leg or in the shins?

I am tempted to go for over trousers, as they will be waterproof and jeans are not(?)

Usually they have knee and hip armour. Sometimes the knee armour extends down the shin a little way.

I (probably like most on here) started biking when bike kit consisted of a helmet, gloves and leather/paddock jacket. Some on here will have started biking long before that

You only got leather trousers when you got upto something BIG (GSXR1100).

Some people now insist on ATGATT (all the gear all the time) but I don't. It all depends on your planned ride ie easy gentle trundle = leather jacket and jeans. Mad thrash (or long distance) = full leathers.

I don't own a twat suit so am not allowed to visit , even if I ride into the carpark while stood on the pegs...

 

[Buz]

ATGATT for me, i was knocked off my bike at about 30MPH, luckily onto grass but i'm sure without the kit I had on i'd have faired a lot worse....

Its all down to personal preference, I know for a fact pain isn't a friend of mine so i try and steer clear of it

Miff, i'm a rebel, i ride into carpark and don't have a twat suit either

 

[cbutler]

I've decided to get a pair of armoured trousers for when I might need them. I will be doing long trips, and certainly off roading / green lanes.

Although struggled to find one that fit well at Hein Gericke, or Infinity Motorcycles, with chunky jeans on underneath (I've got big'ol legs).

What's a twat suit?

 

[(RIP) Miff]

What's a twat suit?

A textile "adventure" suit, but specifically BMW's own textile kit.

If it's being worn during a round the world/off road/adventure ride (a-la Ewan & Charlie), then it's fine.

Once it's worn to simply ride on the road (usually a sunny Sunday to the local bike meet), it becomes a twat suit.

My all black, zip together 2-piece race style leathers complete with knee sliders (scuffed) might look twattish, but is NOT a twat suit

 

[cbutler]

What about a standard non-flashy BMW jacket and trousers? Got a jacket with the least number of bmw logos

 

[Fanum]

What about a standard non-flashy BMW jacket and trousers? Got a jacket with the least number of bmw logos

Textiles over the last ten years have come on leaps and bounds......I don't put much faith in test results and I honestly haven't seen any comparing leather v textiles in abrasion resistance etc, but I'd be really surprised if the better textile suits came out any worse than leather riding kit anymore.

Once you get past a certain level of protection (sliding down a road on your arse for example) at a certain speed, the next sticking point (pun not intended ) will be an armco stanchion, or a lamp post or some other form of roadside furniture.

NOTHING short of a high abrasion 12 foot Zorb ball will save you if you hit something like that.

For the last year, I've been commuting in Crater work jeans, decent work boots and a Rukka jacket............the work jeans are designed to be used in heavy industrial workshops and I know from experience that they take a lot of punishment.......I doubt they'd last for as many metres sliding as decent leather or a 'proper' pair of bike trews, but I can ride in them, wear another pair of trousers under if it's cold and I believe they'll give me more protection than many 'bike' trousers......up to, perhaps, the point where the roadside furniture comes into play, then it's game over anyway.

I have tried draggin' jeans and hood jeans, but I found that the lining made me sweat like a pig (do pigs actually sweat? ) and I was uncomfortable in them.

I have seen videos of draggin' jeans being, er, dragged, but what they don't show you is the heat build up......in the videos, the stunt rider rolls over and disperses the heat, but in a real 'off', that (IMO) doesn't often happen, so you might avoid road rash, but you'll still (maybe) get 2nd degree burns through friction.

Go with the best you can afford, balanced with a comfort factor.......there's no point in riding in plate armour of you can't see, can't move and it makes you so uncomfortable that you can't ride.

There's a balance somewhere, and sadly, only you can find that balance for you, your pockets and your self-preservation instincts

PS I am a total hypocrite on the subject too....I will not take the kids out on the bike unless they are 100% ATGATT......but then, that's what dads do

 

[cbutler]

Okay thanks, still looking around though.

 

[rce]

Do you have flexibility in the trousers you are wearing, if you do then thin cotton cargo trousers or the walking type trousers that are thin and light, I find I can wear them under my textiles with no problem.

 

[Delboy777]

For what its worth im ATGATT even if its only 100 yards down the road. You only have one skin mate.............look after it.
Ohh and yes its either my leathers or my "twat" suit, id rather look like a twat than loose my skin TBH

 

[cbutler]

I tried on a couple at Infinity, and then a pair from BMW. However I am not sure that I can easily find the right size. My legs are big (waist isn't an issue) and I'm afraid I will rip them getting on a bike.

Rukka apparently do bigger sizes, but Infinity didn't have one that was my size and not £88-million. Anyone know of a company that has father christmas size clothing?

 

[Mick-B]

Hood Jeans

OK, for what it's worth... solely from my own experience, nothing more:

I wear Hood jeans - British made, from Norfolk I believe. They're supplied as standard without armour but have Velcro/hook-link patches at knee and hip so that one can attach armour. Knox armour I have found to be very good, once you find the correct adhesive with which to attach the aforementioned Velcro/hook-link to the back of the armour.

As has been mentioned Hood will finish the jeans to the exact inside leg measurement you request. The Aramid/Kevlar linings are knee-length at the back and extend to at least boot-top at the front.

I've dropped bikes a few times over the years but fortunately they've been low speed events, sub-20mph.

On one of the occasions I made an unexpected meeting with tarmac (drizzle, a diesel spill and a roundabout with the slightest of adverse camber - could have been HGV tyre wear) I had knee armour but no hip armour. Hip hit tarmac and within hours I had vividly coloured bruising fully around my upper thigh. Fortunately no breaks but it was quite painful for a few weeks. Bought Knox hip armour after that - it's cheap as chips so no excuse for not having it... other than ignorance on my part! It does make you look a bit "hippy" - no, not a 1960's throw-back but more the bottom half of an "hour-glass" figure (now just need the boob-job; ooh er missus)

On another occasion I came down on my right knee - again low speed and no injury whatsoever but the poly-cotton outer of the jeans picked up a bit of a scuff - that was probably 7 years ago and the scuff hasn't developed into a hole as yet. To be honest the jeans are starting to look a bit tired but, at a guess, I've probably ridden 60,000 miles in them...

I ride throughout the year - other than snow/ice days - and I don't find them to be too hot or too cold for my 20 mile commute. Longer journeys in colder weather I'll raid my sailing / skiing box and put on thermal "long-johns" under them. If it's wet (that should be "when" rather than "if"), I have some RAF surplus Gortex overtrousers which are excellent - as are my Sidi Evo Black Rain boots which kept my feet nice and dry through 2012.

On really hot, humid days, well yes if you get stuck in traffic they can get sweaty (with the Olympic lanes in central London last summer the traffic got a bit congested and sometimes you'd get jammed, hot exhaust, full on sun - not pleasant) but otherwise, not too bad.

But if you value your body and don't fancy the potential of months of skin-grafts (possibly far worse - like a de-gloved leg which might be beyond even our most skilled surgeons) in the event of a long slide on the tarmac, I would not contemplate riding without that sort of protection - armour to protect those bones near the surface and leather or kevlar type material to keep the skin on and the road out.

If you hit the scenery (trees, streetlights, roadsigns, armco, etc), well frankly you're fekked... as I think Fanum suggested, maybe a zorbing suit might work but I'm not sure if you'd get on the bike!

 

[Mick-B]

Woah thanks for all the help never had this much from other owners club forums...

I have literally zero bike clothing - do bike trousers (non-leather) have any sort of armour? I am fairly sure they have knee, but up the leg or in the shins?

I am tempted to go for over trousers, as they will be waterproof and jeans are not(?)

Yep - ask a question here and you'll be swamped with advice. Some of it is clearly from the terminally insane but you'll recognise our "care in the community" contributors

ps - I meant to include above the link to Hood Jeans site: http://www.hoodjeans.co.uk/