Armoured Jeans unforeseen benefits

[bigsheep_imp]

I recently acquired a pair of Joe Rocket Mission Moto pants.

I bought them at the Toronto Motorcycle show. I bought them because most of my jeans are so old/worn I don't think they'd last very long in a slide. Also I bought most of my pants at old Navy and they don't have the thickest, sturdiest denim to begin with.

The jeans fit and look pretty good. They don't have weird hem lines any where to indicated they are anything more than regular jeans and the knee protectors are removable. The knee armour isn't overly obvious either when it's in.

First, piece of mind is nice, I feel better about riding knowing there is some kevlar woven in the fabric to keep my skin relatively safe. If I do go for a tumble or a slide I would much rather have these than the cut off jogging shorts I saw some guy on a CBR1000 wearing!!

The main reason I bought these pants was protection, but the unforeseen benefits are first, the stretch material in the pants make getting on and off the bike much easier. My older jeans would stop giving at some point and these pants stretch to make it easier to get my leg up and over. Also they are easier for riding in, if you ever need to move around the tank these jeans stretch to accommodate that.

The other benefit is wearing knee pads keeps you warmer! They are like mini fairings for your legs. In Canada sometimes I'm riding in 5 or 6 degrees Celsius and the armour keeps that cold wind off my legs to a noticeable degree.

I would recommend!

[the Ferret]

hmm they must be Canada only. Just googled them and it appears they are a Joe Rocket Canada item.

How was the sizing?

[bigsheep_imp]

My normal jean size in these fits the way most other companies do Levis/Old Navy etc... They were only available in 32" inseam which I normally would have to take in a bit, but since I wear them with my boots the extra length doesn't get walked on. If I needed jeans in a pinch, I would take the knee pads out and go, they look as good as any of my other jeans. But I save them for riding only, being more expensive I don't want to put every day wear and tear on them. Not that they're that expensive, I just don't spend a lot on my regular everyday blue jeans. All the other Joe Rocket models have weird patches or stitching on the knees which I don't really like the look of.

[jimgl353_imp]

+1 on the thermal protection. my joe rocket alter ego pants keep me warm right on down to mid 40's no problem

[bigsheep_imp]

5 C = 41 f. Any colder than that and I don't enjoy myself.

[Nortoon_imp]

Cabela's have a flannel lined relaxed fit jean that is great for cold weather riding.
I was able to get a 34 inch inseam, two inches longer than I normally wear.
That keeps the cold wind from coming up my shins when seated on the bike.

I had to import them from the U.S.A.
You can buy them in Florida or California, but not Canada.
Go figure?

[coliban_imp]

I was driving yesterday morning at about 4-5 degree (40f) on the autobahn for about 1,5 hours and was wearing such a kevlar jeans, which is until now my only bike trouser (vanucci) from our local store (owned by Warren Buffet). I had long underpants, it was a little bit cold, i was driving at about 80-85 mph, but not too cold. Maybe the next time at this temperature, i either need a second underpants or i buy a trouser for cold weather.

[bigsheep_imp]

I have some wind breaker/rain pants for golf that I have slipped over my long underwear then jeans for three layers of protection. The wind resistant layer over top of the jeans keeps a lot of wind out and heat in.

I went on a three day trip with only a gym bag bungeed to the back seat and two very small leather throw over bags on my old bike. I didn't have the space to bring two jackets but I knew I would face cold and hot conditions based on time of day. I chose my mesh armoured jacket over my leather. I didn't even bother with the liner that came with the jacket which seemed to lose heat over 50km/hr. I brought a think long sleeve cotton shirt, and addidas clima shell golf windbreaker to wear under my mesh jacket. It was fantastic, the shell broke the breeze and the shirt kept me warm on the cold lake mornings and when the temperature heated up I took off the shell and the thick shirt and has just a t-shirt under my mesh jacket. I'm glad I didn't have to do that whole trip under a thick cowhide!

[coliban_imp]

@bigsheep, i also use my golf-underwear for bike riding in low temperature.
In this way golf and motorbike riding are a little bit the same. When we are at 8 degrees celsius on a golf course 18 holes for 5 hours, we get very cold in the wind, so it is important to have the correct clothes, they have to be warm and at the same time light, otherwise we could´t make one golfswing (it is still not the same as with only one sweatshirt in the summer).