Even though your favourite pants may be comfortable when riding a motorcycle, they will not necessarily protect you in case of altercations. This is where different types of motorcycle pants become useful. From cruiser pants to adventure pants and rider jeans, there is a variety of motorbike pants for riders, each with different features to ensure more comfort and durability.
Different Types of Motorcycle Pants
Motorbike enthusiasts are often seen wearing a regular pair of jeans or pants along with all the other essential pieces of rider gear. Though it may be comfortable to put on your casual jeans, it will not keep you protected in case of altercations.
Remember that the lower part of your body is as important as the upper part. While it is important to wear helmets, gloves and jackets, the importance of motorbike pants cannot be undermined. Let’s go through different types of motorcycle pants in detail.
Cruising Motorcycle Pants
Evident from its name, cruiser motorcycle pants are common among cruiser motorbike riders. These styles of motorcycle pants are common among casual riders who prefer comfort with safety. Cruiser motorcycle pants are boxy in shape and offer a comfortable, relaxing fit.
Cruiser pants can be made from leather, textile or a combination of both materials. Cruiser leather motorcycle pants offer more abrasion resistance, whereas textile motorcycle pants are more waterproof. Typically, cruiser motorbike pants have four pockets, but some styles offer extra pockets.
Moreover, you can easily make a style statement pairing a cruising type of motorcycle jacket with such types of motorbike pants.
Adventure Motorcycle Pants
Adventure motorcycle pants are incredibly versatile and equally capable of coping with the various conditions adventure motorcycle riders encounter. Adventure motorbike pants offer comfort and durability to withstand different weather conditions and terrains. These pants also offer mobility and flexibility to meet the active requirements of adventure motorcycle riders.
Moreover, adventure motorcycle pants have stretch panels in key areas, including the seat area and the knee. Such pants also have vents and mesh panels to ensure the air moves through and keep the rider’s body temperature cool on tough terrains. Adventure motorcycle pants also have the most pockets.
Riding Jeans
Riding motorcycle jeans are for casual riders who prefer comfort over anything else. However, riding jeans offer adequate levels of abrasion resistance. Abrasion resistance materials like Kevlar are used in riding jeans along with denim. Moreover, since these jeans are meant to be worn both on and off the motorcycle, they are stylish and have stretch panels located strategically to prevent the jean from bunching up when you are riding the motorcycle.
Racing Motorcycle Pants
Naturally, racing motorcycle pants are for professional riders. Therefore, these pants need to be sturdy, they should be capable of withstanding high-speed impacts and speed limits. That is why, most racing motorcycle pants are made of thick leather. Case in point: the leather material offers more abrasion resistance and can tolerate high speeds and high-speed slides much better when compared with textile.
Another important thing about racing types of motorcycle pants is that they need to fit right. The snug fit is necessary because jeans with extra baggy material can easily catch the wind and disrupt the rider’s aerodynamics – it is dangerous.
Then, the pre-curved, snug fit helps keep the motorbike rider’s legs in a tuck position, both on the motorcycle and off the motorbike in case of a crash. Moreover, the snug fit helps prevent the legs of the pants from riding up during a slide, making up for more safety.
Chaps
Chaps is a new classic piece of motorcycle gear. They are motorcycle fashion-friendly and offer comfort. Another reason for their popularity is that riders can wear them on top of their regular jeans or pants. Quality chaps are usually made from thick, high-quality leather, and they come with long side zippers to make it easy to take them on and off over your regular or motorcycle boots.
Chaps are great when it comes to protecting motorcycle riders. The heavy leather used in chaps usually works well to protect the motorbike rider from engine and exhaust heat. Moreover, chaps also protect the rider’s legs from road dirt, debris, wind and light road spray. In terms of mobility and movement of air, the open seat and crotch makes everything easy and comfortable.
Armour and Padding Motorcycle Pants
Motorcycle pants with armour and padding are gaining popularity, thanks to improvements in technology. Many motorcycle manufacturers are now making pants with internal armour that is slim, flexible and modest. This type of armour is usually found on the knee or hip areas; the high impact body areas for maximum protection.
Foam padding is also used for impact protection by a number of motorcycle pant manufacturers as they are less bulky and more pliable. That said, foam is only suitable for low speed riding, but it is unacceptable for aggressive riding.
Armour and padding types of motorcycle pants often have hard plastic armour on the outside of the knee area. They are usually referred to as knee sliders. When cornering, knee sliders on motorcycle race pants allow riders to safely put their knee down on the road in an extreme lean angle. Usually riders wear motorcycle gloves with such types of motorbike pants.
Over Pants
Another type of motorcycle pants is the over pants. Evident from the name, over pants are worn over normal pants. Naturally, not all riders feel comfortable wearing over pants. That said, these loose fit pants are suitable for low speed touring riders.
One of the biggest advantages of these types of motorcycle pants is that they are waterproof. Waterproof motorcycle pants eliminate the rider’s need to put on rain pants that will be another layer and build up the heat and reduce mobility for motorcycle riders.
Heat Resistant Panels
Riders on cruisers, adventure touring motorbikes, and other motorcycles without fairings, generally have their legs exposed to extreme heat coming from the motor and exhaust. Much of the textile material used to make motorcycle pants are prone to melting and burning when exposed to high heat.
This is why many motorcycle pants geared towards such different types of motorbike riding styles come with heat resistant panels. Incorporated in the lower inseams, the best type of heat resistant panels are the ones that are made from a thick, high quality leather. Others make use of armoured heat resistant textiles. Regardless of the material, both will keep your legs protected against the high intensity heat coming from a motorcycle engine and exhaust.
ADV/Dual Sport motorbike riders also benefit from high quality heat panels pants. Case in point: the panels can be used to grip the motorcycle with their knees when going for off road riding.
That is all about different types of motorcycle pants. Moreover, if you’ve brought all the gear but are in search of a ride, go through the different types of motorcycles and determine the one you prefer.
When you finally decide to buy your ride, go through these used motorcycles for sale in the UAE and have your pick.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more on motorcycle and car gear.
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