Pants Recommendations on comfortable riding pants

ZoTToZ

ZoTToZ

Joined
Mar 23, 2024
Messages
3
Age
58
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
Bike
'08 ST1300
I'm graduating from weekend morning rides to longer, further trips. With that said, I am in good shape for all my gear (most upgraded recently) except my pants.

To this point, it's been regular jeans but I can't ignore the risk now that the rides are longer. It would be great to have a multi-season solution but I'm more concerned with comfort (especially in hot weather) than I am with cost. As I don't have millions, (remember, I'm the guy riding in regular jeans :cry:) any budget-conscious suggestions would be appreciated!
 
ZoTToZ said:
the risk now that the rides are longer.
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If it makes you feel any better, the risk is always the same. I see you're in PA, what size are you? I have an older pair of Joe Rocket mesh pants for summer with light padding. I wore them for a few years and was always happy in the heat. I'll let them go really cheap and may even deliver.

Priority by injury I believe goes, helmet, gloves, boots, jacket, pants.
 
I use Bull-it breathable armoured jeans, not wearing the (knee, hip) armour though. They have some kind of fiber (not kevlar) that resists abrasion (there's a time rating in there that's industry average). Wore them in 90 deg weather, it's not like wearing shorts but passable. Feels good to have them on when I get a stone in the shin from traffic ahead. Sensible pricing as well.
 
Dave beat me to it, and not for the first time.

I have used MotorcycleGear.com for years and years. Look for gear reviews, such as on Revzilla.com and then look online. McGear dot com also has helpful humans to talk to about whatever you are looking for.

Besides our own For Sale section, the Flea Market on ADVrider always (like, ALWAYS) has a lot of riding gear including britches, mostly used but some new stuff as well.

This is the time of year for mesh gear, at least where I am. You'll have a lot to sort through.
 
I have the Aerostich AD1 pants. I wear only LD underwear or tights under them. The feel great and offer great protection. I can walk around in them just fine too, but the knee pads do look a bit odd, but then so does a person carrying around a motorcycle helmet...

Rob
 
+1 for the Aerostich AD 1 pants. I've had mine for at least 8 years and they look like it too :D. I still like them though. My Roadcrafter jacket was manufactured in 1991 and it is still waterproof. Buy quality once or buy cheap several times.
Mike
 
I have a 21 year old pair of Aerostitch Darien pants (Jacket also). They've held up well and I recently replaced some velcro that keeps the pads in place. While I don't ride as much as I used to I have worn them year-round here in SC. They're a bit expensive but I don't feel comfortable without them. Good luck.
 
dduelin said:
Edit to add when one does begin to ride further and longer it is wise to avoid cotton or denim. It’s harder to avoid skin irritation or rashes ie. “monkey butt” when the material retains moisture against the skin.
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Without doubt! I suffered on a 600 mile ride a couple years ago while wearing typical khaki type cargo pants, was cursing my seat for nearly the whole trip. Turned out it was just those pants getting damp and acting like an abrasive. I bought some mesh/cordura pants and a few months later did a 2100 mile ride without those same issues.
 
Funny, I was just thinking of asking something similar about pants. I have a couple of pairs of Klim Fifty 1 jeans (different size waist as my weight fluctuated) that I mostly wear. I also have a pair of Olympia armored mesh overpants that I almost never wear because I bought a size too large (36 if anyone is interested) and a pair of RevIt armored overpants that don't flow air. The Klim jeans fit me great and come in long sizes so they don't ride over my boots when seated, they are definitely warm in summer, but it's not terrible. Biggest issue is after a couple of days out west, I'd like to wash them, which isn't always possible and/or dry to use the next day. No experience when it's humid.. When it starts to rain or on cool mornings, I add a rain pant. When I plan for cold weather, I wear the RevIt overpants (no armor) over my Klim jeans.

I'm presently eyeing up a pair of Aerostitch AD-1 pants in tan. Per the rep I spoke to, my size is most likely 34 if I used them as overpants, but 32 if I plan to use them as pants with shorts or a long base layer. I seldom wish I could remove my pants, so I'm thinking of long 32s and rotating a couple pairs of base layers like lightweight sweatpants or something. Just mentioning size as they make them larger than actual if you use them as overpants.
 
I suggest the OP visit a few m/c dealers in your area, see what they have on the racks in your price range, try them on, sit on some bikes in the shop with them on, make notes of what feels good with the brief try on, then look up reviews of those pants.

Spend as much as you can afford though, as you consider the value of your skin to the cost of the pants.

Another big PLUS 1 on wearing only LD riding shorts under the pants. Seams in underwear, across the butt or upper thighs, create pressure points.

ldcomfort.com

Men's Shorts - LDComfort

THE ANSWER TO RIDING COMFORTSuperior moisture wicking. Common sense design. Seamless seating area.Temperature regulation. Extremely durable undergarment! USA made.
ldcomfort.com ldcomfort.com
 
Bush said:
I suggest the OP visit a few m/c dealers in your area, see what they have on the racks in your price range, try them on, sit on some bikes in the shop with them on, make notes of what feels good with the brief try on, then look up reviews of those pants.

Spend as much as you can afford though, as you consider the value of your skin to the cost of the pants.

Another big PLUS 1 on wearing only LD riding shorts under the pants. Seams in underwear, across the butt or upper thighs, create pressure points.

ldcomfort.com

Men's Shorts - LDComfort

THE ANSWER TO RIDING COMFORTSuperior moisture wicking. Common sense design. Seamless seating area.Temperature regulation. Extremely durable undergarment! USA made.
ldcomfort.com ldcomfort.com
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An economical alternative to LDC is men’s Jockey Infinite Cool boxer briefs or midways. I bought 5 pair in 2007 when I started IBA riding and they are the only underwear I wear when riding anything from short day rides to Saddle Sores. Similar fabrication and seamless construction.
 
Bush said:
I suggest the OP visit a few m/c dealers in your area, see what they have on the racks.....
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I doubt I could find a place within 100 miles that would have any selection of quality riding pants in stock.
The only places that might have something would be a BMW or HD dealer....then of course it would be there own brand.
Consider yourself very lucky if it doesn't apply to you.
 
+1 to the LDC stuff or some spanx type layer. I wear spandex boxers under lite weight merino wool thermals and a heavy weight wool thermal over a wicking layer up top. All of that is under a Aerostich Roadcrafter R3 suit. I wear this whether it's 55F or 115F. Once it hits triple digits grab a bag of ice.
 
dduelin said:
An economical alternative to LDC is men’s Jockey Infinite Cool boxer briefs or midways.
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I'm looking at the 8" long ones. I'd like your opinion on sizing and fit, please.

I wear a 38-40 waist, but that's between L and XL sizes on the sizing chart.

Would you suggest the snugness of the large or the looseness of the extra-large?

l36-38"
xl40-42"
 
scootac said:
I doubt I could find a place within 100 miles that would have any selection of quality riding pants in stock.
The only places that might have something would be a BMW or HD dealer....then of course it would be there own brand.
Consider yourself very lucky if it doesn't apply to you.
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Well, certainly the market size in one's local area would be a factor on that and I do live in the Vancouver area of BC, so I must be very lucky then, as the local Honda, multi brand dealer here does carry a wide assortment. Bought my Klim Induction jacket there a few years ago. Top drawer stuff.

Bought a multi season Revit jacket and pants (which I still use) many years ago at a BMW dealer in the Seattle area, so they don't just offer their own brands. Harley may be the exception to that, of course, but I never go there for anything, as it is sure to be overpriced.
 
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