Best Motorcycle Riding Jeans

[video transcript]

Best Motorcycle Riding Jeans of 2016

In this video/article :

Klim’s K Fifty 1

First up is the cream of the crop – Klim’s K Fifty 1 . This strikes the best balance between safety, comfort and style and in that sense, it’s my #1 choice.

On the safety front, we have D3O viscoelastic padding on the knees and hips. This stuff is soft against your body, but turns rigid against big impacts. Very clever, very comfortable, very safe. And this tailbone piece is Poron XRD; it has huge impact absorption properties while still being breathable. Plus, it’s more comfortable to sit on than D3O, so that’s probably why Klim used it for the butt bone.

Still looking at safety, we have Kevlar sliding zones all around the seat, the thighs and the knees. That’s about the most protection you’ll get from a riding jean. But Klim also infused the exterior denim with CORDURA because … well … because it’s Klim. After that there’s just the mesh comfort liner, so you don’t have to feel all those panels and pads.

The K Fifty 1 comes in light and dark blue, this is the former, and both washes have the classic whisker pattern. It’s a typical five pocket design – two in the front, two in the back, plus one hidden change pocket. The change pocket is absolutely massive though and I’m not sure why. I’m 6”3, I wear 33-inch jeans and this size 32 fits okay. Spot-on at the waist, but a little short at the ankle, especially in the riding position. If I were to do it again, I’d get the 32-Tall option.

For a full suit of armour, I’m surprised by how little it shows. You’d scarcely recognize that this were a riding jean and even from in here, they feel about as comfortable as regular jeans. Maybe that’s why they cost 400 bucks.

Icon Overlord

Now , I can get a similar level of protection – for a lot less money – from the Icon Overlord . This pant is just north of 200 dollars.

As you can see, we have the same D3O knee protectors. And although it might look different, the abrasion protection is also similar to the Klim. Around the knees and seat we have an aramid layer, which differs from Kevlar by a registered trademark and not much else. And while Klim added Cordura to the denim, Icon simply added more denim . This is 14oz stuff, which is a fair bit sturdier than most fashion pants.

All that to say, the Overlord tumbles well. I’d probably rather go for a long slide in the K Fifty 1, but not by much.

One safety downside is that I have no hip armour in the Overlord. But these rigid TPU knee sliders are an upside, so it kind of equals out.

I will say that the Overlord isn’t as comfortable to walk in, largely thanks to these hard parts. But with the stretch panelling above the knee, it’s fine in the riding position. Until it gets hot, that is. There’s no mesh liner in the Overlord so in the summer it’s a bit itchy and sweaty against the skin.

Fitment-wise, the Overlord is bang-on at the waist but kinda weird everywhere else. It’s narrow at the upper thigh – almost like a slim fit – but then it goes super wide below the knee. That works great for wearing the cuff over motorcycle boots, but it also means I look like a Bell-Bottom hippie when I’m off the bike. I’m not a big fan of the bright stitching either. Add the plastic knee sliders to the mix, and even my grandmother wouldn’t mistake this for a regular pair of jeans.

I hate to sound grumpy, but there are a couple more problems to mention. One – the knee sliders might scuff up your gas tank, depending on the riding position. And two – a bunch of dye comes off this pant during the first few washes. Even when you wear it, you might notice the bottom of your shirt turning blue.

Now, the Overlord and the K Fifty 1 were good safety options. But what if I care more about blending in?

Scorpion Covert

Scorpion thinks they have the answer, and they call it the Covert . Of all my top picks, this one looks the most like a regular pant. With this black wash version, I could even dress it up with a collared shirt and call it semi-formal.

The Covert Jean is also the most comfortable option on my list, and the cheapest at 160 bucks. So what gives?

Well, armouring. See these pockets for knee and hip protectors? They’re empty. On the plus side, I do get Kevlar panelling from the waist down and 14oz denim everywhere else. Plus a mesh liner to keep it comfy. Just, no armour panels off the factory line.

So the Covert slides well, but it bumps like crap.

Fitment-wise, I normally wear size 33 jeans, and this 34 is just a little roomy. The length is a 32 inseam no matter which waist I order, and it works pretty well on my 6”3 frame. Good off the bike, and maybe a smidge short in the saddle. If I put some knee armouring into this guy, my ankles would definitely be feeling the breeze.

I should mention that there’s a “Pro” version of this pant, which comes with Cordura denim and reflective accents on the cuff. But it costs 60 dollars more so it’s really not worth the jump in price.

Now all the pants we’ve seen have had a standard fit. But as a sport rider, can I do better?

Alpinestars’ Riffs Denim Pants

Yes! If I have 370 dollars to spend then Alpinestars’ Riffs Denim Pants are way better for sport bikes.

See all the panels here? They form the same articulated fit that you’d see on an A-stars sport pant. The same goes for the pockets – they’re zippered and angled like a typical riding bottom – two at the front, two at the back. We get accordion stretch panelling above the knee, a zippered air intake at each thigh, and a zippered hem for getting a tight fit over sport boots.

Safety is pretty standard. CE-approved knee and hip armour, aramid panels on the seat, hip and knee, and 13oz denim everywhere else.

Now this is an Alpinestars product, so you know fitment is a shot in the dark. I’m 6”3, I wear size 33 jeans, and this 34 is way too big at the waist. It feels like a 36. The length is fine though, both on and off the bike. My main complaint is that the knee armour is super wide, so you can definitely tell that these are riding pants. For the same reason, they’re also a bit uncomfortable to walk in.

If you want a similar pant that looks and feels better off the bike, check out the Dainese D1 Evo for 60 dollars less. It’s a good pant, but nowhere near as technical in my opinion. When it comes to the actual riding of a sportbike , it’s the A-stars Riffs all day long.

Icon Insulated Denim Pant

To close with a weather option, check out the Icon Insulated Denim Pant.

At a casual glance, there’s nothing special here. Just a relaxed fit, 14oz denim jean with some D3O knee armour. You get aramid slide protection in the knees, but nothing on the seat which is kinda stupid. Most motorcyclists slide on their bums.

Flip the pant inside out, however, and you’ll see why I included it. This is a full-length removable thermal liner. And Icon must have made it out of unicorn fur, because it’s probably the softest and most comfortable liner I’ve ever felt. Warm, too.

Before you run out and buy this, however, let me give a couple warnings. For one, it’s essentially an Icon Hooligan pant with an insulated liner and an extra 30 dollars on the price tag. So if you already own a pair of long johns, just wear them under the Hooligan and save yourself thirty bucks. Also beware that – once you take the thermal liner out – this pant isn’t comfy. No mesh liner means I feel every inch of the rough denim.

Fitment-wise, the Icon Insulated pant runs a bit small at the waist. I normally wear size 33 jeans, but this size 34 is quite snug. The length is good for my 6”3 frame, though, whether I’m walking or riding. And unlike that previous Icon Overlord, I don’t have any weird Bell Bottom action at the cuff. It’s baggy, but normal.

Best Motorcycle Riding Jeans