Riding jeans

(Page 3 of 3)

July/August 2009
By Motorcycle Classics Staff 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

ATGATT vs. Reality
I’m going to be honest: While some people can stick to the mantra of ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time), I just can’t do it. Yes, I care about my safety, and very rarely anymore do I even care how dorky I look suited up like a spaceman in full gear. Better safe than sorry, right? Well, sure, sometimes.

RELATED CONTENT

When I tour, I have no problem wearing a full set of gear. It’s worth the extra time of putting everything on when I plan to be on a bike all day, especially traveling at highway speeds. But if you’ve ever ridden across the middle of Kansas in August, you know just how warm it can get and how uncomfortable a set of nice, safe leather riding pants can be. I should invest in a pair of mesh riding pants with good ventilation, but I haven’t, and so what happens is I wear jeans. Dumb? Yup. I also live two miles from the office, and it often seems like too much effort to put on all my gear for a four-minute ride. On those days I ride in with a helmet, a jacket and gloves, but no overpants — just jeans or khakis. Dumb? Yup.

There’s an old saying that the only gear that protects you is the gear you actually wear, and that’s where jeans with added protection come into play. Several of the pairs of jeans featured here are comfortable and normal looking, and while they aren’t as safe as good leather pants, they provide more protection than your average Levi’s. And while Editor Backus and I are both skeptical about how safe any of these riding jeans really are, they’ve got to be safer than pants without special linings in terms of abrasion resistance. So if you’re heading to work (if you can wear jeans to work), out to run a couple of quick errands or even on tour and you know you have no intention of putting on your overpants before you leave, would it be smarter to put on a pair of these jeans instead of a normal pair of Levi’s? Yup.
— Landon Hall

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

  • Phil Miner 6/11/2009 7:30:00 AM

    Consider Bohn Armor Pants as an alternative--they fit under any pant, provide additional warmth and can be taken off upon arrival. Very comfortable and readily adjustable.

  • Phil Miner 6/11/2009 7:27:57 AM

    As an alternative---Bohn Adventure Pants--they fit under jeans, provide additional warmth and can be removed when one gets to their destination. Very comfortable.

  • Phil Miner 6/11/2009 7:27:41 AM

    As an alternative---Bohn Adventure Pants--they fit under jeans, provide additional warmth and can be removed when one gets to their destination. Very comfortable.

Add Your Comment

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Motorcycle Classics readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Motorcycle Classics?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Save $5 when you subscribe today!
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
 
The sound and the fury: celebrate the machines that changed the world! Subscribe to Motorcycle Classics today!

Motorcycle Classics is America's premier magazine for collectors and enthusiasts, dreamers and restorers, newcomers and life long motorheads who love the sound and the beauty of classic bikes. Every issue  delivers exciting and evocative articles and photographs of the most brilliant, unusual and popular motorcycles ever made!

Save Even More Money with our RALLY-RATE plan!

Pay now with a credit card and take advantage of our RALLY-RATE automatic renewal savings plan. You save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Motorcycle Classics for only $24.95 (USA only).

Or, Bill Me Later and I'll pay just $29.95 for a one year subscription!