Commuting gear choice (jeans)

[Sentox]

So, I'm on a limited budget at present, but I want to add some protection for commuting. Wearing my leathers for daytime commuting is just too impractical for me, so I find myself weighing up two choices: buy some kevlar jeans, or keep using regular jeans with something like Knox cross lite knee protectors underneath. Looking for opinions on what's preferable in a commuting scenario: road rash protection or impact protection?

[bogan]

At the end of the day its for you to weight up the impracticality with the risk. But I've had an off with jeans doing bout 50 on a GN250 (so not a heavy bike) tore the knee on the jeans and got a bit of a scar. I still commute with jeans.

[Phreak]

'Rhino' brand jeans on TradeMe for $160 is a pretty good deal, I reckon... Kevlar lined with hip and knee armour... Seriously considering getting some myself! But yeah, I'm in the same boat, riding with normal jeans at the moment... Draggin's are too expensive for me!

[p.dath]

At the end of the day its for you to weight up the impracticality with the risk. But I've had an off with jeans doing bout 50 on a GN250 (so not a heavy bike) tore the knee on the jeans and got a bit of a scar. I still commute with jeans.

+1. You need to consider what kinds of accidents you are worried about. Typically you need to consider impact protection (caused by hitting something - often after a slide) and abrasion resistance (caused by the slide itself).

If it is any help, the two most common accidents are being hit by car, followed by loosing it on a corner.

[blackdog]

a decent pair of cordura pants easily slip over normal jeans, more protection, and for fairly good quality are still cheaper than draggins

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Helmets-clothing-footwear/Pants/auction-286289662.htm

[Sentox]

+1. You need to consider what kinds of accidents you are worried about. Typically you need to consider impact protection (caused by hitting something - often after a slide) and abrasion resistance (caused by the slide itself).

If it is any help, the two most common accidents are being hit by car, followed by loosing it on a corner.

I've experienced the second type: off'd at about 70kph into a stony ditch, not the asphalt, so I got away with various scrapes and a puncture in my leg. It seems to me that scraping off one's skin on the road is still preferable to smashing your kneecap...


a decent pair of cordura pants easily slip over normal jeans, more protection, and for fairly good quality are still cheaper than draggins

Hmmm, I hadn't actually thought about cordura. I'd have to detach myself from the "cool" look of jeans, though. Cool is of little benefit when tar is being dug out of your flesh, I guess.

[blackdog]

Hmmm, I hadn't actually thought about cordura. I'd have to detach myself from the "cool" look of jeans, though. Cool is of little benefit when tar is being dug out of your flesh, I guess.

:lol: actually a nice set of matching black corduras can look freakn cool

[p.dath]

I've experienced the second type: off'd at about 70kph into a stony ditch, not the asphalt, so I got away with various scrapes and a puncture in my leg. It seems to me that scraping off one's skin on the road is still preferable to smashing your kneecap...

Search these forums for "gravel rash". At 100km/h and ordinary jeans you can be facing a recovery time of up to 6 months. Those who have experienced say it is far worse than braking bones (don't know about knee cap .. :) ). You can expect to loose 5mm of flesh for every 1s of time you spend sliding on tar seal with no protection. Ordinary jeans take a "nanosecond" to wear through.

But once again, its a matter of choosing what you want protection from. It is impossible to give yourself 100% protection, and different people have different recovery times.

[SPP]

I’ve only been rashed up once on a bicycle and it’s not very nice as P.Dath says. The course chip on our roads tears rather than rubs off the skin.

An over pant with armour is a good one. They may not stop breakage if you crash hard but they’ll stop your knee caps from getting ripped open in a ‘medium’ spill. Those Rhino pants could be worth a look as well.

[firefighter]

two choices: buy some kevlar jeans, or keep using regular jeans with something like Knox cross lite knee protectors underneath.

Why either or? I wear riding jeans which I brought on special for $140 with these http://www.motomail.co.nz/eStore/Style/DJARKNEEG.aspx

Considering the amount of wear it's actually very economical.......The idea of smashing my knees or slowly grinding them off does'nt appeal....and works out at the price of one pair of draggins. Just watch trademe until something comes up, or, for your own sake, buy from overseas. I know it's taboo on here to suggest that but you have to put your own safety before someone elses profit.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

Why either or? I wear riding jeans which I brought on special for $140 with these http://www.motomail.co.nz/eStore/Style/DJARKNEEG.aspx

Considering the amount of wear it's actually very economical.......The idea of smashing my knees or slowly grinding them off does'nt appeal....and works out at the price of one pair of draggins. Just watch trademe until something comes up, or, for your own sake, buy from overseas. I know it's taboo on here to suggest that but you have to put your own safety before someone elses profit.

Cheers firefighter, didn't know that these were available.

I wear draggins for commuting, now planning on getting a set of these to compliment them.

For the OP: Only criticism I heard on kevlar jeans is that the NZ coarse road surface (chip'n'seal) wears them out quickly on a slide (all the draggin jeans demo vids are done on smooth asphalt). They can also move around but as long as you wear them with a good belt (to stop them moving on the hip) and proper motorbike boots I think they are a good alternative to cordura.

Nothing beats leather though - but not always a practical option.

[Spearfish]

slip on padding moves around once it starts to dig in unless it on real tight, bit like loosing gloves if the wrist strap is left loose.

[davereid]

What size are ya ? I've got about half a dozen pairs of "Neo" cordura pants still in the defunct scooter shop. If your size is in there you can have a pair for koha. You might as well have em, scooter rider never bought 'em.

[Sentox]

What size are ya ? I've got about half a dozen pairs of "Neo" cordura pants still in the defunct scooter shop. If your size is in there you can have a pair for koha. You might as well have em, scooter rider never bought 'em.

I'm such a white boy I had to get google to define koha for me. I like the definition a lot... obviously I'd pay for shipping at the very least.

Most of my pants are about a 32" waist.

Edit: or I could pay attention to your location and realise you're not so far away :p

[ESXB0Y]

I guess it also depends on what you need to be wearing when you get off your bike at the other end. I live in my Shift kevlar jeans with the Draggin knox knee armour underneath with my riding boots for when I cna be casual, but for when I need to be smart I have cordura overpants with armour so I can wear suit trousers underneath.

[Quasievil]

or keep using regular jeans with something like Knox cross lite knee protectors underneath.

The only Armour to wear in your jeans to guarantee the armour staying in place in a crash (including the Dragging KNOX armour jeans) is the KNOX Cross Lite Knee guards

As per this video

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0tjXRdK1CEs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0tjXRdK1CEs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

You can buy them here, we have a small order due any day of them.

You can order them here
http://www.qmoto.co.nz/products/knox-armour/knox-cross-lite-knee-protector

$149 so they are cheap as

[davereid]

I'm away until the end of the week, so I'll have a look then.

[CookMySock]

a decent pair of cordura pants easily slip over normal jeans, more protection, and for fairly good quality are still cheaper than draggins

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Helmets-clothing-footwear/Pants/auction-286289662.htmAnd they are far warmer - suitable for winter.

Just get the cordura.

Steve

[Sentox]

I'm away until the end of the week, so I'll have a look then.

Thanks! Much appreciated :)

[Urano]

Ordinary jeans take a "nanosecond" to wear through.

a big quote.
jeans would be annihilated in half a second, so think at what you're searchin for.

i've been commuting in jeans often: i hadn't felt safe, but driving with usual circumspection and at SLOW speed (40-50 MAXIMUM) you can maybe accept the higher risk.
in case of crash in front of a car, flying above it mean that in the instant you touch the ground you are probably at 30-35 kmh, and you'll stop quite quickly.
the problem in those cases is more "where you stop in"... so, keeping clear the assumption above (NOT MORE THAN 40-50), i'd be more concerned about impact.

anyway, obviously, the more the best. so if you can afford a kevlar jeans pair, well... take it. :niceone:

[Dodgyiti]

a decent pair of cordura pants easily slip over normal jeans, more protection, and for fairly good quality are still cheaper than draggins

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Helmets-clothing-footwear/Pants/auction-286289662.htm

Yep, got some cordura pants, fully waterproof and with armour for $120. Bargin. Commuting means getting wet...

I read some test results on jeans vs road rash, they 'recon .4 of a second before skin on a new pair of jeans and that goes down the more worn they are, not worth it.

[imdying]

Woven kevlar is quite easy to get, it wouldn't take too long to sew up an entire kevlar liner with a little padding, for a set of jeans. Some cursory stiching through out would keep it located without making it too difficult to move the liner to the next set.

Anyone have any pics of the internals of existing kevlar jeans?

[Quasievil]

Woven kevlar is quite easy to get, it wouldn't take too long to sew up an entire kevlar liner with a little padding, for a set of jeans. Some cursory stiching through out would keep it located without making it too difficult to move the liner to the next set.

Anyone have any pics of the internals of existing kevlar jeans?

The Denium it self (that holds it all together or at least tries to) is usually thicker i.e. a 16 Oz or at least a 12 oz. The normal denium ex say hallensteins is thin as fuck.

[shrub]

I use kevlar jeans.

I rode in all conditions for many, many years in nothing more than 2 pairs of jeans - you had your good jeans underneath and your "reggies" on the outside that were caked in oil and grease (old Brit bikes) and you NEVER washed them. I had a few offs and lost a bit of skin here and there, but nothing major. And we rode pretty fast, and before anyone makes comments about performance of old Brits, they could actually hussle along, and in the early 80s I moved to Jap bikes for a few years (I wanted to experience this thing called "reliability" for myself), and still rode in jeans on them.

I wear cordura riding pants and leather pants, but only when I'm riding out on the open road because I figure my kevlar jeans will probably be fine at commuting speeds.

[peasea]

I use kevlar jeans.

I rode in all conditions for many, many years in nothing more than 2 pairs of jeans - you had your good jeans underneath and your "reggies" on the outside that were caked in oil and grease (old Brit bikes) and you NEVER washed them. I had a few offs and lost a bit of skin here and there, but nothing major. And we rode pretty fast, and before anyone makes comments about performance of old Brits, they could actually hussle along, and in the early 80s I moved to Jap bikes for a few years (I wanted to experience this thing called "reliability" for myself), and still rode in jeans on them.

Me too, they're called 'originals' and I still have mine.

You're right about the old Brits, we used to tweak the crap out of 'em and gave many a Jap bike rider a good run for his money. (For a while.)

[shrub]

Me too, they're called 'originals' and I still have mine.

You're right about the old Brits, we used to tweak the crap out of 'em and gave many a Jap bike rider a good run for his money. (For a while.)

Still have em - I'm imprfessed your leather and your originals (the crew I mixed with mostly called them riggies) were treasured, but my leather got cut off me by an ambulance driver (I was unconcious, so I couldn't object) and my originals/riggies disappeared and were probably thrown out by the hospital staff - I was in a coma for a fair while and don't remember most of the 2 months I was in hospital.

My old Bonnie could outrun anything Japanese through the corners. On the straights the Japs could pull me in, but come the corners.... The only bikes that I knew I had no chance against were the Italians.

[firefighter]

My old Bonnie could outrun anything Japanese through the corners. On the straights the Japs could pull me in, but come the corners.... The only bikes that I knew I had no chance against were the Italians.

Which decade was this?

[shrub]

Which decade was this?

Late 70s to early 80s. Back when Jap bikes had hinged frames. In 83 after my big accident I moved to a CB750F and loved the reliability and smoothness, but by Jesus the thing was scary in the corners, and that big disc brake was pretty well hopeless. After a hard ride it would be blue.

[peasea]

Late 70s to early 80s. Back when Jap bikes had hinged frames. In 83 after my big accident I moved to a CB750F and loved the reliability and smoothness, but by Jesus the thing was scary in the corners, and that big disc brake was pretty well hopeless. After a hard ride it would be blue.

Give me a well-adjusted Twin Leader any day.

I still have my leather jacket too, but it fits me not.
I didn't know leather could shrink so much.

[shrub]

Give me a well-adjusted Twin Leader any day.

I still have my leather jacket too, but it fits me not.
I didn't know leather could shrink so much.

Yeah, at least twin leaders slowed you down. But I could park my Honda outside the pub, I didn't need to keep it in my bedroom and nothing ever fell off.

[peasea]

Yeah, at least twin leaders slowed you down. But I could park my Honda outside the pub, I didn't need to keep it in my bedroom and nothing ever fell off.

I must admit, very little fell my Trumpy but you're right about the theft aspect. Chains galore, dogs, padlocks, geez. I even used to keep a close eye on the rear view mirror on the way home just to make sure I wasn't being followed. Paranoia, grrr. Good times though and I'm still in touch with a few of the old crew, we had a bit of a reunion at Easter in Wgtn, that was humour. Grey hair and big tums...

[shrub]

I must admit, very little fell my Trumpy but you're right about the theft aspect. Chains galore, dogs, padlocks, geez. I even used to keep a close eye on the rear view mirror on the way home just to make sure I wasn't being followed. Paranoia, grrr. Good times though and I'm still in touch with a few of the old crew, we had a bit of a reunion at Easter in Wgtn, that was humour. Grey hair and big tums...

Mine was getting reliable when I had my big off, but it took a lot of work to get it there. And yeah, I got followed a couple of times so just kept on riding until they got sick of following me. One of the criteria to any flat was getting the bike into the house - and the lounge wasn't enough, it had to be my bedroom and the first thing you did was drill a couple of holes in the floor and loop a chain through them so your bike was chained to the floor.

You're right though, they were good times. Owning a bike, especially a Brit meant something in those days and while there were pubs I'd never go to, there were a few pubs that were always guaranteed a friendly welcome and the parties were always good. I don't know where any of the old crew are these days, wouldn't mind catching up, but that was a long time ago.

[rwh]

Woven kevlar is quite easy to get, it wouldn't take too long to sew up an entire kevlar liner with a little padding, for a set of jeans.

Where do you get it from? And do you know the price? Is it the kind of fabric that would work ok for making the whole pair of jeans out of, rather than just the liner?

Richard

[shrub]

Where do you get it from? And do you know the price? Is it the kind of fabric that would work ok for making the whole pair of jeans out of, rather than just the liner?

Richard

http://www.texspec.co.nz/specialty-fabrics.php

[rwh]

http://www.texspec.co.nz/specialty-fabrics.php

Cheers.

Richard

[peasea]

Mine was getting reliable when I had my big off, but it took a lot of work to get it there. And yeah, I got followed a couple of times so just kept on riding until they got sick of following me. One of the criteria to any flat was getting the bike into the house - and the lounge wasn't enough, it had to be my bedroom and the first thing you did was drill a couple of holes in the floor and loop a chain through them so your bike was chained to the floor.

You're right though, they were good times. Owning a bike, especially a Brit meant something in those days and while there were pubs I'd never go to, there were a few pubs that were always guaranteed a friendly welcome and the parties were always good. I don't know where any of the old crew are these days, wouldn't mind catching up, but that was a long time ago.

Ahh, the old chain through the floor trick eh? Well, that didn't work for two of my mates whose bikes were chained together and through the floor. They came home to find the floor chainsawed out! No shit. Woulda been 78/79, they lost a Saint and a T150, neighbours heard nothing. I managed to track down the T150 engine through a covert operation but the Saint was never seen again. One of the perp's later died from some physical condition. Poetic justice I reckon.

If you're serious about finding old mates it's not that hard to find people if you try.

Good to trade notes, cheers.