Rookie needs advice on riding pants

[1tinindian]

Pants are one of the last pieces of "motorcycle spec" gear I have yet to buy and need to ask...do you size them to go on as an "over" pant, or are they worn AS the pant?
I would think that wearing them over jeans would get hot if riding a great distance.

I know the choices include leather and textile, and prices vary widely, but give me an idea what you wear, how you wear it, and how well it has performed for you.

Thanks,

Leon

[Dan Filetti]

Pants are one of the last pieces of "motorcycle spec" gear I have yet to buy and need to ask...do you size them to go on as an "over" pant, or are they worn AS the pant?

Unless it's chilly out, I wear mine AS pants -nothing but jockey shorts underneath...

I have the Joe Rocket (Blaster?) textile pants these are lined.  I would think you'd want lined pants for such a setup.

Dan  

[E Double]

I have the Olympia Ranger 2 pants, which I wear when the days temps aren't going to be over say 70, 75 degrees. They're waterproof, so I don't need to carry my rain gear like I do when in my summer kit. I purchased the same size as I wear in jeans, because you couldn't pay me enough to ride with my street/work clothes under my gear.  There is enough room underneath to wear jeans or khakis, as they come with a liner that is basically a pair of pants.  I typically wear under armor heat gear full length bottoms or patagonia capilene beneath, or one of my merino wool baselayers when the temps drop.  

In the summer I wear my BMW venting machine pants.  I got them on closeout from a BMW dealer, so they're a little big on me-more like an overpant.  I use Deluth Trading company suspenders on them and there is enough adjustment in the side adjusters that they fit without fear of them coming off in a get off.  I wear under armor heat gear full length bottoms because it helps regulate my temp, plus the knee armor pockets are irritating if I only wear shorts.  Never mind how manky rinding gear gets in hot weather with repeated wears over bare skin.

I've never found riding in street clothes comfortable in the least;  The seams are in the wrong places, they typically aren't articulated to be comfortable when on a bike, and they typically don't regulate temps as well as technical undergarments and bike specific gear does.  Even if you commute to work, what's the chance that there won't be a bathroom to change into your street kit?  Pretty slim, which is why I just toss my street clothes in my top or side cases when I'm off the bike for extended periods. 

Buy the gear that works best for you when you're on the bike.  Short of full leathers it takes seconds to pull on or off when off the bike.

[markmartin]

I use  the Olympia Men's Airglide 3 Mesh Tech Over Pant and love 'em.  Full length zippers up the side of the leg makes for easy on and easy off .  I use them all the time--every ride -- over jeans.  Great for going to work too.  I've used them for 3 seasons and they are holding up very well--still look like new.  They are vented so they are fairly cool in the summer , yet keep my legs warm enough on cool mornings without having to use the (water - proof- or at least - resistant)  liner.  If it gets that hot outside, I wear short pants under them.


They also make a woman's version if your significant other likes to ride. My wife has the women's version and wears them over her dress pants or jeans, as we commute to work together most decent weather days or just out on weekend rides.

They use Codura at the seat/back & side of thigh and knees, have armoured knee pads and foam hip pads.

I ordered the same waist size that I wear in pants.

The bottom of the pant is made in such a way that it can be hemmed if they are too long.

ATGATT

Mark