Riding in jeans? [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

R6_kid

21st May 2008, 18:51

Quasi Sliderz, Draggins, Shift... Just Jeans/Jeans West or even Hallensteins?

Head down to your local shop and pickup some Moto-X knee armour.

I bought a set of Fox Knee+Shin armour from Cycletreads in Auckland for $30, (unfortunately my knees are already kinda rooted from previous road accidents) but I've been wearing these for the last few days and have found them to be both comfortable and unobtrusive, you generally can't tell im wearing them.

Remember that kevlar jeans will only give you protection from abbrasion, bruises heal - chipped bone does to but it hurts like hell - get some knee armour and you'll be better off either way.

325rocket

21st May 2008, 19:02

any chance you can post a pic. the ones in my leathers are a bit big so if i could fit these in it would be cool

skelstar

21st May 2008, 20:47

Yeah I did my first 2000km trip around the South Island in armour like you mention. Good stuff!

R6_kid

21st May 2008, 22:42

dubshack

21st May 2008, 23:46

I started wearing these 25 years ago after I broke my leg and had plates inserted. They worked great. Now it's full leathers only though.

R6_kid

21st May 2008, 23:48

Yeh unfortunately I can't get away with full leathers everywhere i ride, so jeans are the usual for me and i find these pads really good.

motorbyclist

22nd May 2008, 01:08

i've seen chrislost to do this on a few rides... wore them under his draggins due to the holes

seems like a good idea

BANZAI

22nd May 2008, 02:00

Howbout wear them on top of draggin?

Mine's are skinny type design so it was kinda hard to fit the pad I tried.

rat biker 08

22nd May 2008, 06:16

where can i get them in pram or welli. will most bike shops have them and what price.

Zuki Bandit

22nd May 2008, 07:41

Good idea! Might just do that. My Tecknic jeans lasted only lasted about 6 months before the kevlar area on the knees started to separate at the joins! Not happy:(

sinned

22nd May 2008, 08:18

Mine are similar to this
http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/content/catalogueViewEntry.aspx?profilePK=all&entryPK=2759

click on 'off road limb protection' for more of the same... prices vary considerably depending on how advanced you go.

Those knee protectors look good.
What a hopeless website: can't go back to the previous page - end up back at the cat index, added item to basket and nowhere to view to purchase - guess I have to register??. So I will give TSS a call to see if they have in stock and then go buy from a shop.

R6_kid

22nd May 2008, 10:24

Yep, all bike shops will have something similar for sure. It's just motorcross leg armour.

Up to you whether you wear them over top of course, i prefer to have them under as it doesnt make my whole leg sweaty.

dave46nz

22nd May 2008, 12:06

Whats a few broken bones!!!

TygerTung

22nd May 2008, 12:19

Yeah I do this, tend to wear them under as if I wear them over they tend to shift around a bit.

If you are wearing just normal jeans I would recomend wearing two pairs, as at 100k, jeans will last .7 seconds, so two pairs should last 1.4 seconds. Therefore if riding around town they should last 2.8 seconds, and you probably would have stopped by then!

avgas

22nd May 2008, 12:23

Sounds good - will go get a set this weekend

chubby

22nd May 2008, 13:19

R6.. what jeans are you wearing them under? I looked at a few and wondered if they'd fit under Quasi's?

Has anyone tried the draggen knee protectors? They seem slimer and more wearable but no padding so may become sweaty????

BANZAI

22nd May 2008, 14:22

I had a look at inner draggin pads today, but I thought if I don't mind how I look those outer pads for Moto-X is cheaper and could be stronger????

Drdaggin pads are $40

Moto-X pad for kids are $30, kids one is big enough for me to cover my knee and bit of shin :p

jrandom

22nd May 2008, 14:40

I agree re. the knee armour. I'll get myself some shortly to wear under my Draggins.

I binned in them on Tuesday, they worked well, although I got a bit of a graze on my left knee where the kevlar dragged between it and the tarmac (the lining on the Draggins is actually quite abrasive).

Knee armour would have meant that I got away unscathed.

NOMIS

22nd May 2008, 14:41

I find wearing them u get sweaty as hell where the straps are and get real un comfortable, I prefer just wearing textile pants with built in armor.

HungusMaximist

22nd May 2008, 15:53

I am hard, I just wear jeans around the city...

Radar

22nd May 2008, 16:12

Knee armour would have meant that I got away unscathed.

A couple of months ago I was with my mate who binned on a corner, but he was wearing MX knee guards under his jeans and was OK. The jeans were ripped at one knee so he probably would have been in a bad way without the knee guards. The next day I bought some for $35 and wear them on every ride. They do get sweaty on a hot day but they are easy to take off if you have to walk around after parking your bike.

Shop around - I paid an extra $5 for knee guards with a better hinge / flexible section so they feel better when walking.

jrandom

22nd May 2008, 16:16

I am hard, I just wear jeans around the city...

I destroyed a pair of Levis in three months that way. They just fell apart around the arse from being sat on, moving around on the bike seat, etc. Picked them up one day and there was a great big rip through the fabric for no good reason.

That's one of the main advantages of Draggins, IMHO - the Kevlar lining throughout the arse and under the legs etc holds them in one piece through a lot of wear and tear. Even if you never crash, you'll save money over time by riding in a $250 pair of Draggins instead of $100 pairs of normal jeans.

BANZAI

22nd May 2008, 20:51

I destroyed a pair of Levis in three months that way. They just fell apart around the arse from being sat on, moving around on the bike seat, etc. Picked them up one day and there was a great big rip through the fabric for no good reason.

That's one of the main advantages of Draggins, IMHO - the Kevlar lining throughout the arse and under the legs etc holds them in one piece through a lot of wear and tear. Even if you never crash, you'll save money over time by riding in a $250 pair of Draggins instead of $100 pairs of normal jeans.

I got my draggin for $130 so it's even better :laugh:

motorbyclist

23rd May 2008, 00:32

where can i get them in pram or welli. will most bike shops have them and what price.

i'm pretty sure over the years i've seen stuff ranging from $30 to $600 or more for full knee braces

I destroyed a pair of Levis in three months that way. They just fell apart around the arse from being sat on, moving around on the bike seat, etc. Picked them up one day and there was a great big rip through the fabric for no good reason.

That's one of the main advantages of Draggins, IMHO - the Kevlar lining throughout the arse and under the legs etc holds them in one piece through a lot of wear and tear. Even if you never crash, you'll save money over time by riding in a $250 pair of Draggins instead of $100 pairs of normal jeans.

weird, i nearly always wear normal jeans on my 20 minute twisties-suburb-motorway-city commute and back again and they're all fine, just a little faded over the years

only ripped jeans i have from motorbikes is when by 400cc dirtbike decided to kick back one day while i was wearing shoes - foot slipped off and kickstart ran up the inside of the inside of my calf :pinch:

TOTO

23rd May 2008, 11:01

chubby

23rd May 2008, 11:03

Damn you guys.... you got me so paranoid (for all the right reasons) that i went out and brought some. Wanting them to fit under jeans and be walkable I tried on a few but settled for the 661's mainly as they were less bulky, the valcro fitted around the naked leg (some are designed for overtop so check the length before the valcro fits) and it had both above the knee and below the knee attachement. Some had no above the knee so they don't sit right if you start walking in them.

Draggin will supply a valcro buttoned knee pad that doesn't look like it has any padding on a phone in or email basis. no price known as yet.

chubby

23rd May 2008, 11:17

Draggin just got back to me. $nzd35. You can see them online and make your own mind up on them. They look like knee cap covers.

BANZAI

23rd May 2008, 22:54

Got pair of Knee armour for $20 at Wild West Honda today.

It's one of them that you gotta wear inside your jeans, but it's cheap and it seems there's not much option, so I just bought it.

Gotta get use to the feeling and find good position for it so that I can move my ancle eh...
Had few moments finding shifting hard :laugh: (gotta get used to my bike boots as well, was riding with Converse on till yesterday lol)

Firefight

24th May 2008, 05:15

www.lifestyle-imports.co.nz - Unbranded Kevlar Jeans with integrated armour. (bloody Perfect)

The guy also sells on trade me - nickname: Madmax5

His name is Rick Lussi ph: 09 233 4186 cell: 027 2787813

Highly recommended.

can also recomend this guy, plus he is located very close to one of the best bits of road in the country...22:Punk:

F/F

popelli

25th May 2008, 19:13

Some of the kevlar jeans actually have very little kevlar in them, draggin jans bascially have a patch on your bum and on your knees

I bought hood jeans and they are lined completely from below the knee upwards and have pockets for armour - same price as draggin jeans but a lot more protection for the same money

mbazza

25th May 2008, 23:09

I find wearing them u get sweaty as hell where the straps are and get real un comfortable, I prefer just wearing textile pants with built in armor.

What he/she said! So do I. Feel half naked in my Draggin Chinos. Cheers.
:eek:

FkNAmerican

26th May 2008, 07:01

There is always the option of two piece full leathers. They are a little more convenient then a one piece..........

The other option is to just get leather pants and go with a textile jacket like a Fieldsheer or joe rocket or something.......

When I had my off I was in that combo and I had zero injuries from the shoulders down. No road rash and no broken bones below my neck :). So the textile jacket/leather pants did the job......and I found the combo to be much cooler for summer riding too.

As far as jeans go its pretty much a crap shoot. I've been walking around in jeans and tripped and gone down on one knee and the damn knee split open right there.......didnt inspire confidence!!! At the very least if you're gonna go with jeans go with riding jeans that have kevlar lining.

chubby

26th May 2008, 08:10

Ok.. first runs in the weekend with the 661's. Easily fitted under the Quasis's. Also had some Kathmandu long johns underneath it all (hey it was a little nippy here in the weekend) and wet weathers. A little bit of sweating but none noticed while riding. No problems with riding nor walking. Felt very protected and the other advantage was they kept the wind away from the knee as well. They are now standard wear.

Good thread guys...

PS Remember the pads make your knee cap stand out about 30mm or so and if your at a cafe watch out for legroom at the table. oooops.. Hey, it didn't hurt.

Moki

26th May 2008, 22:29

Have a look at Icon Jeans. Excellent quality Aramid lined jeans. Rider's Direct Ebay store can get them to your door for around US$80-100 + 18.80pp

alanzs

27th May 2008, 18:08

I wear a two piece Aerostich suit or leather pants and assorted bike jacket all the time, every time. Dress for the crash, not for the ride and live to ride another day...

Ripperjon

27th May 2008, 19:53

Have a look at Icon Jeans. Excellent quality Aramid lined jeans. Rider's Direct Ebay store can get them to your door for around US$80-100 + 18.80pp

They are well made and look good. The ones i have only have kevlar lining in the knee area though. I think you can get some with more though. They are very comfortable. I wear them almost all the time at the moment.

As for kneepads, you should look at some snowboarding or mountain-biking knee-pads. You can get ones with spandex slip-on sheaths instead of velcro straps that can move around on impact and sit uncomfortable.

Dainese make some very good ones too.

Moki

27th May 2008, 21:27

They are well made and look good. The ones i have only have kevlar lining in the knee area though. I think you can get some with more though. They are very comfortable. I wear them almost all the time at the moment.

As for kneepads, you should look at some snowboarding or mountain-biking knee-pads. You can get ones with spandex slip-on sheaths instead of velcro straps that can move around on impact and sit uncomfortable.

Dainese make some very good ones too.

I particularly recommend the Superduty Heavyweight canvas cargos as well as the Recon Jeans. I have the Hooligan canvas and Strongarms as well, but they aren't as sturdy.