View Full Version : Lower Body Protection... What Do You Use?


kkim
June 10th, 2009, 10:49 AM
No... this is not a planned pregnancy thread. :p

Lately, I've noticed a lot of threads of people crashing and though they were wearing gear, they often times neglected to have any substantial pieces of riding pants to lessen the damage to their legs/knees.

I have a 1 piece Aerostich riding suit, so I'm fully covered, but there are times that I'd prefer to ride with a riding jacket but don't do so because I lack a good pair of riding pants.

It appears a proper pair of riding pants is one of the last items purchased, when in fact it should be purchased at the same time one gets any of their other riding gear... truly a most under rated garment in person's safety gear list.

So, the purpose of this thread is twofold...

~If you can recommend a good pair of riding pants that you use, please pass it on as I'm looking for a pair. :)

or

~If you have crashed and were not wearing riding pants or even if you were and had injuries, please share so others can learn how important having lower body protection really is. If you think a pair of riding pants is not needed, please share your views, too.

Snake
June 10th, 2009, 10:55 AM
If someone could recommend a pair of riding pants that go over your jeans please include that as well. I would like to be able to take them off when I go inside a restourant while touring.

Alex
June 10th, 2009, 11:15 AM
I wear textile pants on just about every ride on the street, and wear 1-piece leathers on the track. The only time I may not be in full gear is if I'm heading 1/4 mile down the street to the gas station, and even that probably happens 3 or 4 times/year max. Sue me. :)

But, riding pants won't save your life. IMO, the only safety gear that really makes a difference in terms of life or death in a street accident is the helmet. Every other piece of gear can play a part to help minimize injuries, and the lack of the gear can certainly exacerbate injuries, but leg and knee protection or the lack of it won't save you or kill you. Maybe you bang up your knee pretty badly and gear would have helped. Maybe you get some awful road rash and some great scars to go along with it. But it won't kill you. So if people choose to go without? I'm not terribly concerned. They are the ones who may or may not have a bit more physical therapy or other medical issues to deal with based on their choice of gear.

Given the following two extremes, rider with only helmet who has diligently worked on their riding skills to the point that they've gone hundreds of thousands of miles with zero single-vehicle motorcycle accidents, or ATGATT rider with top-rated head-to-toe safety gear that has put their bike down 3 times in < 10k miles in single-vehicle accidents, my own opinion is the first rider is better & safer motorcyclist. Perhaps in a perfect world, everyone would strive to attain that first rider's skills and also be ATGATT, but it isn't a perfect world. And if it were a perfect world, perhaps we could lobby for no roadway problems like oil/ice/gravel or clueless cars violating our right of way. :thumbup:

gizmogamez
June 10th, 2009, 11:29 AM
I use Scorpion Exo riding pants. they were about $170 CDN+tax, they breath well and IF I really take my time putting them on I can manage them over a pair of jeans without it being to unconfortable. They are very light but have nice protection in them and were rated very high for textile pants.
Scorpion also makes an XDR (or some other 3 letter model of pants) that are touring pants. they have very nice protection in them, have removable liners for rain and wind and such, and are also designed to go over pants. I was really impressed when I tried them on. you really feel like you are well protected.

Momaru
June 10th, 2009, 11:38 AM
I'm one of those slackards that didn't buy riding pants yet, but I'm using Icon Field Gear knee/shin guards. So add me to the list of 'looking for recommendations'

M-Oorb
June 10th, 2009, 11:40 AM
I rock a suit of armor every time I cruise ;)

No but seriously...I wear a set of joe rocket pants that have hip pads and armor on the knees and shins. They are textile/mesh so with the vents open they breath nicely(we all like that :)) and they also have a removable rain liner in them which is a must for florida...if you want more info lemme know :)
Posted via Mobile Device

BlueTyke
June 10th, 2009, 11:57 AM
I crashed going 5mph wearing jeans. I did an accidental stoppie to avoid hitting a van that turned in front of me. I flew over the handlebars and landed on the parkinglot grit. Some how in flight I tore my jeans because it was just above my right knee that was torn. I have, what I believe to be, a handle bar imprint on my thigh. It was a giant burise but the print of the handlebar has not gone away. I was wearing helmet, gloves, and jacket but thought ah it's just to the store.

And the Van didn't even stop. I had 10 witnesses see it. Luckily I walked away brused and that was all. Tyke just needed her blinker popped back in and has a little farring rash.

That is what decided me on that. I love my skin. I think I look pretty good and I would like to keep it that way.

As for protective pants, Kelly, sorry can't help you there :)

For the ladies though..I wear...

Leather:
2006 Joe Rocket Trixies

Textiles:
Franklin Thomas (Not sure if there are any specific types I don't wear them often)

PitBull
June 10th, 2009, 12:18 PM
I crashed the first day of my MSF class. I didn't have on riding pants because I had never ridden before and didn't realize the importance. I was only going about 15mph wearing jeans with long underwear underneath (it was very cold that day). When I went down, both layers of clothing were ripped, I had a pretty big area of road rash on my knee, and I took a pretty hard hit to the area. My knee was very swollen and 3 1/2 months later I still have problems with my knee.

I now wear Joe Rocket Cleo mesh overpants with knee armor every time I ride. I live in Texas where the weather can be pretty hot and humid but after my spill I realize how important having the protection is. So, always use protection!

zail
June 10th, 2009, 12:27 PM
I've got three type of protective trousers:

Akito leathers with removeable hip and knee armour

Draggin Jeans combats with knitted aramid (kevlar) lining and no armour

Hood Jeans with woven aramid lining and Knox hip and knee armour.

I have come off twice wearing the leathers - once on a speed bump on campus when going to work, once on main road when I over braked for lights and I slid a very small way down the road on both occasions with minor abraisons to the leathers and minor bruises to me. When I broke my leg by dropping the bike on it as I was riding out of the garage I was wearing the leathers but had the armour out of them. When I asked the orthopedic consultant he wasn't convinced that the armour would have stopped me breaking my leg - he thought that the force of the bike hitting my tib and fib at the knee would not have been dissipated enough to stop the injury (and I'm not about to experiment!)

I have come off once wearing the Hood Jeans onto gravel - slight bruising to me, no visable mark on the jeans.

I always ride with one of the sets of trousers listed above - I never ride in ordinary jeans. When riding a long distance I generally choose the leathers. My thinking is that both the leathers and the aramid lined jeans will help in a slide down the road. I think that armour will help protect knees and hips from an impact with the road but will be of limited use in a heavy crash. I agree with Alex about lid being the most important life saving kit on a bike and at the end of the day people need to make their own choices about what they wear - I don't think I would like to see a situation where ATGATT was imposed.

paterick4o8
June 10th, 2009, 01:38 PM
shorts and flip flops usually work well I heard, no?

kkim
June 10th, 2009, 01:41 PM
shorts and flip flops usually work well I heard, no?

I think you posted in the wrong thread. here... http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=21482

paterick4o8
June 10th, 2009, 01:49 PM
I think you posted in the wrong thread. here... http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=21482

haha I knew you were gonna reply with that :squid: link

CodE-E
June 10th, 2009, 02:00 PM
I bought my first motorcycle trousers and boots last weekend. Went with some textile pants which have hip and knee protectors (no sliders, though :p). I sweat easily in those pants, so I don't wear jeans under them, and so I don't wear them on my regular 15 minute commute to work, only when I go out for longer rides.

Btw, is it true that leather is more breathable than textile? Or do both have more breathable and less breathable products?

IlBLisSlI
June 10th, 2009, 02:08 PM
shorts and flip flops usually work well I heard, no?

typically they are only effective when paired with a corona tank top. please see the ninja faq for details.
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Corona_Tank_Top:_Safer_Than_Leather

Red'09250
June 10th, 2009, 02:27 PM
I ride with Icon victory pants when i'm not commuting to work
http://rideicon.com/showImage.jsp?class_id=7869&image_type=fullsize&rank=100
they're denim with "aramid reinforced" knees and hips and expandable sections just over the knees and in the crotch.

i wanted something that looked like normal pants, but offered more protection and didn't hike up on me when riding. these do both, but they're way too baggy for my tastes. i look like a gang-banger when i'm just walking around in these things. they also flap around in the breeze when i'm riding which can get annoying. if they made straight-fit pants like this i'd buy them in a heartbeat, but i guess i'll have to settle for the loose-fit (by which i mean baggy-as-hell-fit)

paterick4o8
June 10th, 2009, 02:38 PM
Ok so I've fallen down in jeans before from a stop light, making a left. I was too newb and dumb to think about cold tires + the ground being moist from mist + and the cold asphalt, as it was night at the time.

bike slid from right under me and I went down before I even knew it. my knees hurt the most as they hit first. surprisingly, this not being the first time I went down, this crash hurt me the most in terms of physical pain. when I got home to lift up my jean pant legs in the bathroom, I had rash.. a few layers of skin gone and it looked like how cheese pizza does.. something I've seen when I hurt myself rollerblading as a kid. The jeans never ripped tho, maybe because the moistness of the ground didn't give them enough friction, but that's my story. I wasn't doing a serious ride, just in the city street. What I learned was to make sure think about the ground surface and warm tires when I ride and not lean too much if things are cold and/or most on the ground.

jola
June 10th, 2009, 03:11 PM
I have Joe Rocket textile riding pants. I think they are part of the Ballistic Series, which doesn't really narrow it down if you know Joe Rocket, ha. I usually wear them over mesh shorts in the summer, since they are really overpants. I can only speak to their comfort since I haven't been down.

Elfling
June 10th, 2009, 03:20 PM
I bought my first motorcycle trousers and boots last weekend. Went with some textile pants which have hip and knee protectors (no sliders, though :p). I sweat easily in those pants, so I don't wear jeans under them, and so I don't wear them on my regular 15 minute commute to work, only when I go out for longer rides.

Btw, is it true that leather is more breathable than textile? Or do both have more breathable and less breathable products?

I feel more comfortable in the leather gear than the textile, even in Florida humidity. That said, for riding to work, my boyfriend has textile overpants since they crumple up better into a backpack for storing at work; he wears his leathers for any other trip.

sharky nrk
June 10th, 2009, 03:30 PM
i really need to get some riding pants - I have a two piece suit for aggressive riding but lack pants for every day jaunts. i do wear poly ripstop bdus w/ alpinestars knee pads. the poly/nylon should be more abrasive resistant than jeans and are double layered in knees and butt -

noche_caliente
June 10th, 2009, 03:57 PM
copied from my oops thread:
Didn't want to threadjack the fender mod post anymore, but thought sharing these pics might help a little for new riders who may sadly find themselves in a similar place of putting their bike back together...



Sadly, no. That was after my little incident.... the impact popped the can right off of the pipe :eek:

From another thread - here's the short version


And here's a really blurry pic of where it happened:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXI6gp0GKnI/AAAAAAAAAR0/sCgNgHycmq8/s800/scene.jpg
The leftmost red arrow is the fence post that I made friends with that day, the other two show where the gravel was, the yellow line shows the yellow line, and I'm not sure what the red line was, though between the red and yellow, you can see where the gravel was stripped to leave only tar. What was kind of humorous to me was that when we went to take that picture, my husband's car couldn't keep traction to get out of there either, and his tires spun and then grabbed pretty roughly....


That was in the repair stage - there are before pics here (http://picasaweb.google.com/furtiva250/Oops?authkey=ODy_bVRBsZ8&feat=directlink).

A couple of the better ones are below, along with some of the repaired pics.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIF7NcOsBI/AAAAAAAAALI/xcza7bKrBh0/s400/100_3313.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIGLmh2NiI/AAAAAAAAANM/Sd9C8KbsiX8/s400/100_3344.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIGS01RIxI/AAAAAAAAANw/UZ-l0xQPtAk/s400/100_3352.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIGbjn3lmI/AAAAAAAAAOo/s-ybLG1OeW8/s400/100_3462.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIGdbWZKtI/AAAAAAAAAOw/uE9GvEFKyUk/s400/100_3589%20copy.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIGd7HEfMI/AAAAAAAAAO4/kfCKy60Kx_A/s400/100_3588%20copy.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIGe6-o3NI/AAAAAAAAAPI/dH1QH0AxwW4/s400/100_3586%20copy.jpg


And we can't forget the damage to me :(

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIGaIDLynI/AAAAAAAAAOg/q7NXke9ub_4/s400/100_3380%20copy.jpg
(the swelling the day after)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIGZ0lBakI/AAAAAAAAAOY/KsqZoITMbho/s400/100_3415%20copy.jpg
(that one was 2 days later, shows the tone of the bruising a bit better though)

noche... not to add insult to injury, but could you comment on leg protection that you were wearing at the time of the "oops"? Glad to hear the knees have been recently given an improved prognosis that was previously diagnosed.

Don't mind at all - that's why I posted it up, so that folks could see and learn from it. I will likely copy the story over as well at some point in the future.

The gear I was wearing at the time can be seen here - this was a silly pic we took while waiting for the bike to finally come in...

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIyI_qK8AI/AAAAAAAAAQA/VF5Tt70NFkI/s400/100_3012%20%282%29.jpg

Which can all be found in the What's in your closet thread, along with more recent gear....

Pants
Joe Rocket Cleo
http://www.newenough.com/protective_...cle_pants.html

Pants were Joe Rocket Cleo - held up beautifully - only problem was that they didn't have any armor on the inside of my knee where it got hit. I still don't know if it was the fence or the bike that got me, I only know that a very large-force blow to the inside of my knee caused me to tear my LCL (the ligament on the outside of the knee - lateral collateral ligament) and my meniscus... the swelling is from that damage, the bruising is mostly from the impact. I honestly believe that it wold have been MUCH worse if I hadn't had the knee armor, as it helped quite a bit in keeping my knee where it should be - it wasn't until I was trying to remove my riding pants that I realized the extent of the damage. I had even tried to pick her up using the 'back-up' method, but as she was nearly upside down in a ditch, that didn't work!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIGFjrprgI/AAAAAAAAAMU/lhK0GLmeM9s/s800/100_3326.JPG

These two pics from New Enough show the armor in them:
http://www.newenough.com/image/path/7503/small/Default.jpg?1203996590
http://www.newenough.com/image/path/7504/small/Default.jpg?1203995024

The only scratch on my body came from the failure of the Scorpion Cool Hand Mesh gloves that I was wearing. Still love them for comfort, but not so much for protection.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXIynKcZvzI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/PbJOXCIqkEU/s800/DSCF3599.JPG

And here are more pictures of my injuries

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXI11IfkXeI/AAAAAAAAARc/g6B9bUiOKmE/s400/100_3433%20copy.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXI12rRhDQI/AAAAAAAAARk/JRRgmV25iVw/s400/100_3438.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXI13fHJtiI/AAAAAAAAARs/BcL6IjRRBBI/s400/100_3440.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXI10UvFdLI/AAAAAAAAARM/hiFx8S8Phfc/s400/100_3467%20copy.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXI106BHC1I/AAAAAAAAARU/mGDqRaF9NZY/s400/100_3470%20copy.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_DQskVeNT-_s/SXI10FtBPoI/AAAAAAAAARE/kgnIZcjjr30/s400/DSCF3591.JPG

I have since gotten a pair of Joe Rocket Ballistic textile pants that don't have the hip protection, but I think will do better than the mesh... possibly...
http://www.newenough.com/image/path/14572/small/Default.jpg?1204302136

http://www.newenough.com/protective_apparel/textile_jackets_and_pants/joe_rocket/ladies_ballistic_7_textile_motorcycle_pants.html

Purspeed
June 10th, 2009, 04:08 PM
I use Dainese leather pants with T-Pro armor all around everwhere. I use Frey-Daytona Security Boots.

Lower body is where most damage occurs, so I am serious about my gear.

I wear all leather, all of the time. I also add armor everwhere. Either Helimot or TPro, depending.

CC Cowboy
June 10th, 2009, 04:26 PM
Crashin sux

The only thing worse is getting flamed for what I wear.

No comment on gear (old school)!

Snake
June 10th, 2009, 04:43 PM
Crashin sux

The only thing worse is getting flamed for what I wear.

No comment on gear (old school)!

CC don't mean lack there of? lol.

Racer x
June 10th, 2009, 04:55 PM
I come from a background of bicycle racing . When a crash happens . the elbows and knees are where I have to scrub the gravel out . Let me tell you how much that hurts .
That is a bicycle . motorcycles go fast enough to make it so there is no skin to scrub gravel out of .
I ware full leather pants and SIDI boots And full leather jacket even on a scooter. People ask why I have on so much gear to ride . I say "It is not for riding it is for getting run over by a car."

CC Cowboy
June 10th, 2009, 05:09 PM
CC don't mean lack there of? lol.

Depends

Sometimes full gear, sometimes no gear (at all), sometimes some gear.

I do make my kids wear gear if that helps.

Redaeon
June 10th, 2009, 05:29 PM
I crashed going at a pretty good clip about 2 months ago. I was wearing Alpinestars youth Reflex knee/shin guards and jeans on that day...My helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots took a pretty good beating that day. My left knee/shin guard shifted during the crash, and I took the edge of the tank to the side of my knee. I was on crutches for 2 weeks, and had to go to physical therapy and get an mri..The ortho surgeon said I just had a serious sprain after the mri results came back...but for weeks I was freaked out because I was told at the ER that I may have torn something, and probably needed surgery. I was bruised from mid-thigh to mid-shin, and my knee was huge.
So, I definitely recommend wearing full knee/shin protection, and to make sure that they have a strap above the knee so that they do not shift in a crash. I also have since purchased another of the same bike (other one totaled), Scorpion Savannah pants, and EVS SC05 Knee/shin guards...but if it wasn't for my other knee guards, I would have rash.

Flashmonkey
June 10th, 2009, 07:39 PM
I'm still waiting for my scorpion riding pants....the ones with the integrated knee armor. Right now i'm just farting around with a pair of aramid reinforced ICON jeans....sometimes with IXON knee and shin protection...but not always. I haven't crashed yet, but I know I'm gonna be in for it if I dump the bike without the knee armor.

What I really want is that fancy cordura stuff that those BMW riders are tooling around in....yea baby...one day!

Strider
June 10th, 2009, 07:51 PM
Currently wearing Draggin' Jeans Classic with Kevlar lining, hip and knee armor ...
I HATE the idea of no protection at all but shorts or regular jeans.

Gonna get me a full body leather suit for the fall though :)

OldGuy
June 10th, 2009, 08:16 PM
Because I was cruising forums long before I bought my first bike I had already seen too many pictures of road rash. And like Racer X my bicycling days taught me about slow speed road rash. With those two factors in mind I had all the gear before I put a leg over my first bike.

I've been using the TourMaster Flex Pants for almost a year now in everything from 10 degree winters to 95 degree summers. And yea, at a long stop sign they get a little warm, but more from the heat off the bike than they ambient temperature. With the three layers (inner winter paints, inner rain paint, and cortex outer layer) you can customize them for just about any conditions. The full length zippers allow easy in and out with the boots on unless you have the liners in then - just take the foot wear off.

http://tourmaster.com/images/products/h_tf.jpg

NaughtyusMaximus
June 10th, 2009, 10:36 PM
I ordered a pair of Joe Rocket Alter Ego pants a bit over a week ago, still waiting for them to arrive: http://www.newenough.com/protective_apparel/convertible_textile_mesh_jackets_and_pants/joe_rocket/alter_ego_textile_mesh_motorcycle_overpants.html

P1NDLESK1N
June 11th, 2009, 12:47 AM
I ride with Icon victory pants when i'm not commuting to work
...
i wanted something that looked like normal pants, but offered more protection and didn't hike up on me when riding. these do both, but they're way too baggy for my tastes. i look like a gang-banger when i'm just walking around in these things. they also flap around in the breeze when i'm riding which can get annoying. if they made straight-fit pants like this i'd buy them in a heartbeat, but i guess i'll have to settle for the loose-fit (by which i mean baggy-as-hell-fit)

I picked up a pair of the Icon Insulated Denim (http://rideicon.com/product_details.jsp?category=1976&id=7870)

They feel a little more protective then just regular jeans, have an awesomely comfortable fleece-like removable lining, but I definitely agree that they are incredibly baggy.
No worries for me though, that's how us cool kids wear 'em. :thumbup:

edit: Now that I took another look at the pictures, the insulated look 5x bigger than the victory.

CodE-E
June 11th, 2009, 12:47 AM
I ride with Icon victory pants when i'm not commuting to work
http://rideicon.com/showImage.jsp?class_id=7869&image_type=fullsize&rank=100
they're denim with "aramid reinforced" knees and hips and expandable sections just over the knees and in the crotch.

i wanted something that looked like normal pants, but offered more protection and didn't hike up on me when riding. these do both, but they're way too baggy for my tastes. i look like a gang-banger when i'm just walking around in these things. they also flap around in the breeze when i'm riding which can get annoying. if they made straight-fit pants like this i'd buy them in a heartbeat, but i guess i'll have to settle for the loose-fit (by which i mean baggy-as-hell-fit)

If they look like normal (non-baggy) on you when you're standing upright, they'll might be too tight in some spots when you sit in riding position for long durations, which will probably be more of a pain in the a** than them looking baggy when you're walking around in them. For riding equipment, I'd focus on safety, comfort, and utility value first. If they look good, then that's a bonus; but don't buy stuff only because it looks good.

Jacksmeow
June 11th, 2009, 02:54 AM
I wear the Joe Rocket Cleo mesh pants, along with the new JR cleo jacket. I usually wear leather if it's under 80 degrees.

xTKx
June 11th, 2009, 06:57 AM
No riding pants for me (but after reading this thread I now know the importance of them). Instead I ALWAYS wear my Fox knee/shin guards and make sure they're strapped on tight....
Even though I'm wearing those now, I'll probably be looking for a new pair of riding pants pretty soon.

Cali619
June 11th, 2009, 07:16 AM
only use my alpine stars shin/knee gaurds when going on a spirited ride.

Elfling
June 11th, 2009, 07:24 AM
From what I understand though, if the guards aren't underneath pants, you risk them ripping right off with the first hit and then still hurting yourself from impact. And from my lowspeed lowside, you wouldn't BELIEVE the amount of scuffing/rash you can get even at 10 mph.

jola
June 11th, 2009, 07:27 AM
I ordered a pair of Joe Rocket Alter Ego pants a bit over a week ago, still waiting for them to arrive: http://www.newenough.com/protective_apparel/convertible_textile_mesh_jackets_and_pants/joe_rocket/alter_ego_textile_mesh_motorcycle_overpants.html
Yes! Those are what I have. I could not remember the name of them.

cwb48
June 11th, 2009, 07:31 AM
Alpinestars Bat pants, Tourmaster Solution boots. It gets hot when you have to stop, but it's OK when it's under 90 degrees and you're moving.

Chris

Cali619
June 11th, 2009, 07:34 AM
From what I understand though, if the guards aren't underneath pants, you risk them ripping right off with the first hit and then still hurting yourself from impact. And from my lowspeed lowside, you wouldn't BELIEVE the amount of scuffing/rash you can get even at 10 mph.

Wear em underneath pants, I wear baggy enough pants for em :thumbup:

TrueFaith
June 11th, 2009, 07:46 AM
Scorpion Savannah pants, and EVS SC05 Knee/shin guards...but if it wasn't for my other knee guards, I would have rash.

I also wear EVS knee guards. The problem with riding pants is that the knee armor moves around too much while on the bike. It only takes a second to throw on the EVS knee guards and they are much more secure and protective than the "floating" knee armor in riding pants. I barely know I'm wearing them, but they offer much better protection. I also have a pair of THOR Force knee guards, which are really well made and comfy, but they don't go on as quick and they're not as comfy as the cheaper EMS knee guards.

tjkamper
June 11th, 2009, 07:55 AM
I have Scorpion Exo pants. I don't remember the model name. Zip out linner makes them wind/water proof and nice and warm in the cold. They are mesh so I don't even know I have them on when the linner is out.

Redaeon
June 11th, 2009, 07:56 AM
I also wear EVS knee guards. The problem with riding pants is that the knee armor moves around too much while on the bike. It only takes a second to throw on the EVS knee guards and they are much more secure and protective than the "floating" knee armor in riding pants. I barely know I'm wearing them, but they offer much better protection. I also have a pair of THOR Force knee guards, which are really well made and comfy, but they don't go on as quick and they're not as comfy as the cheaper EMS knee guards.


Yeah, I will never trust pants knee armor because they never line up completely when I wear them, and they will move if I crash in them..The EVS's are great:thumbup:

Nemy
June 11th, 2009, 08:36 AM
I have the draggin (kevlar-reinforced) jeans with sas-tech knee armor but fortunately I haven't crash tested them yet. For day-to-day riding, though, I usually just wear regular jeans and riding boots. I think I'm shifting to ATGATT though

camaroz1985
June 11th, 2009, 09:18 AM
Because I was cruising forums long before I bought my first bike I had already seen too many pictures of road rash. And like Racer X my bicycling days taught me about slow speed road rash. With those two factors in mind I had all the gear before I put a leg over my first bike.

I've been using the TourMaster Flex Pants for almost a year now in everything from 10 degree winters to 95 degree summers. And yea, at a long stop sign they get a little warm, but more from the heat off the bike than they ambient temperature. With the three layers (inner winter paints, inner rain paint, and cortex outer layer) you can customize them for just about any conditions. The full length zippers allow easy in and out with the boots on unless you have the liners in then - just take the foot wear off.

http://tourmaster.com/images/products/h_tf.jpg

Don, I have the same pants. Only had them about 3 months but they are great. I replaced TourMaster Caliber pants with these. The Caliber were just too warm to wear in the summer.

xTKx
June 11th, 2009, 02:51 PM
From what I understand though, if the guards aren't underneath pants, you risk them ripping right off with the first hit and then still hurting yourself from impact. And from my lowspeed lowside, you wouldn't BELIEVE the amount of scuffing/rash you can get even at 10 mph.

Very true.
I've worn shorts with them only a couple of times. I rode to the lake last weekend in full gear but had my swim shorts and my knee/shin guards on.
I'd say a good 90% of the time I ride I have jeans and my guards on.

Cedilla
June 11th, 2009, 03:52 PM
Ive been wearing no lower body protection at all, Im looking at getting some riding jeans and some boots though. I do wear a Scorpion EXO400 helmet, a Scorpion Hat trick jacket, and Joe Rocket phoenix gloves. I do not recomend the Phoenix gloves, ive only had them for a week and the stitching where the mesh meets the leather on the top of my right thumb is already coming apart.
My scorpion gear is great though and I will more than likely buy more stuff from them.
http://www.newenough.com/image/path/7944/small/07Exo400TribalRed.jpg?1203995146http://www.newenough.com/image/path/5807/small/Default.jpg?1203996606http://www.newenough.com/image/path/12671/small/red.jpg?1203996260

noche_caliente
June 11th, 2009, 04:02 PM
Chris - just beware of their cool hand mesh gloves - see my post above

Cedilla
June 11th, 2009, 04:30 PM
When I go for my break in service at the dealer in a couple of days im gonna see if I can exchange the gloves, im a little nervous about the stitching coming out.

kkim
June 11th, 2009, 04:40 PM
You should consider doing the 600 mile service yourself and with the money you save buy the best gloves you can find.

noche_caliente
June 11th, 2009, 05:48 PM
When I go for my break in service at the dealer in a couple of days im gonna see if I can exchange the gloves, im a little nervous about the stitching coming out.

You should consider doing the 600 mile service yourself and with the money you save buy the best gloves you can find.

:whathesaid: http://www.ninjette.org/wiki/600_mile_service

OldGuy
June 11th, 2009, 08:56 PM
Don, I have the same pants. Only had them about 3 months but they are great. I replaced TourMaster Caliber pants with these. The Caliber were just too warm to wear in the summer.

I agree Ryan and I don't feel like any of the armor won't be where it needs to be. There is plenty of adjustment "inside" the pants.

smcbride11
June 11th, 2009, 09:05 PM
~If you have crashed and were not wearing riding pants or even if you were and had injuries, please share so others can learn how important having lower body protection really is. If you think a pair of riding pants is not needed, please share your views, too.

Back in November, I got complacent and let my front wheel wash out on me in a nice slow right hand turn. I was on my way to the gas station to put the 'jette away for the winter, so it definitely fit into most people's "edge cases".

Anyway, I made the turn at ~15ish and lowsided - wearing a leather jacket, gloves, boots, helmet and :o jeans :o.

Crap, did it hurt. It was 34* F at the time, which didn't help the whole pain (or traction) scenario, but I got a grapefruit size bruise on my right hip and some rash roughly the size of a deck of cards around my knee. No medical attention, no big deal - but it felt like when you were a kid and got a rug burn. I'm old enough now that I don't like pain, and it really got me thinking about riding pants. Healed up in about a week and a half, but holy jeez - I didn't think that an impact that slow would do that much damage. I can't imagine what 60 would feel like in just jeans.

As far as my "gear", there's a slight abrasion along a seam of the jacket that no one's seen (even my girlfriend, who would probably steal my keys if she found out I crashed) and my jeans weren't damaged at all - they just had a black mark on them that came out in the wash.

EDIT: My next purchase is definitely armored pants - I'm thinking either A* A-10 or Dainese Drake Air, but I'm having trouble finding them in person and hate the idea of online returns.

Re-EDIT: I'd disagree with the folks up above that call the Icon jeans riding pants... Immediately after my drop I bought a pair of Recon and Victory jeans, and while they both work great as overpants (as they're so baggy that my normal pant size actually works as overpants) they only offer kevlar knee protection. They're baggy enough that I don't trust them to stay put in a crash, and there's zero hip protection - not kevlar nor armor.

gitoy
June 12th, 2009, 01:06 AM
Alpinestars Bat pants, Tourmaster Solution boots. It gets hot when you have to stop, but it's OK when it's under 90 degrees and you're moving.

Chris

hey chris, i wear my bat sport pants and alpinestar plus boots everytime i ride, and they are comfortable and not hot at all here in los angeles...maybe it is because i live close to the beach

haven't gone down yet in 52,000 miles, almost all of those in the twisties and canyons, but i am sure they are protective

cwb48
June 12th, 2009, 11:22 AM
haven't gone down yet in 52,000 miles, almost all of those in the twisties and canyons, but i am sure they are protective
I haven't been down on mine either (not 52,000, but maybe half of that), but I'm sure they will provide good protection. I know that I feel a lot more secure when I'm wearing all the stuff.

Chris

addy126
June 12th, 2009, 11:45 PM
Wear Icon's Field Armor Knee and Shin Protection under army ripstop cargos. These BDU's are double covered knees and butt and scuff from a slide rather than rip. The ripstop is definately cooler in the Texas heat. Sometimes Icon Strongarm jeans. The pads are low profile and never noticed under any type of pant. Always wear my Teknic Freestyle boots or Harley Dipsticks for foot protection.

Kurosaki
June 13th, 2009, 09:42 AM
When I started, I just had joe rocket jeans with icon armor under them.

Bought some leather A* pants about a month later.

Now I just have my 1pc teknic suit.



I feel naked riding the bike in anything less than moo moo hide all over my body.

demp
June 17th, 2009, 05:35 AM
shorts and flip flops usually work well I heard, no?

shorts, flip flops, and no shirt* (saw that the other day on a gsxr)

capt_bugaloo
June 17th, 2009, 12:08 PM
I have a pair of textile riding overpants. They are great - but I only bother wearing them when riding on the open road.
The majority of my riding is short trips or spur of the moment: a 15 minute commute across town, a 10 minute ride to the local mall, a quick 5 minute jaunt down the ocean road to get an ice cream cone, etc. For rides like that, it's easy to grab my helmet, jacket, gloves, and even boots, but I don't bother with the overpants.
When I leave town and head out on the highway, though, the overpants are put to use.

tapdiggy
June 18th, 2009, 02:50 AM
Mil-spec cotton ripstop BDU pants. These are the only kind of pants (and shorts) I wear to do anything. I've dropped my bike wearing them, (not trying to sound proud of crashing btw) and these pants held up and kept the skin on my knees. There were burns on my knees from the pants themselves tho so maybe this post is moot.

BTW: the shorts never see the bike.

Anthony_marr
June 18th, 2009, 09:57 PM
Mine is a Joe Rocket "Alter Ego". Very well padded on the hip, with knee protection, has a removable water-proof liner and unzippable air vents. The material seems skid-proof, but I don't particularly want to test it.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x70/AnthonyMarr/Pic3.jpg

tapdiggy
June 19th, 2009, 01:29 AM
http://www.gussetjeans.com/defender_inside_out/
These are likely my next gear purchase. I worked in a textile mill where kevlar was woven. It is the best for abrasion/cut resistance. Also doesn't transfer heat from friction much.