Non Bikey Bike gear

[Graham]

Im using the bike as much as possible at the mo to get some miles under my belt.

this includes going out to meetings or work etc.

at the mo i just have a pair of leather armoured trousers, a dienease (SP) jacket and some boots.

now im sure i look a bit if a tit wandering around the office in the leather with the boots on.

has anyone come across anything that offers suitable protection, that doesnt look too daft in a meeting...

These meetings are offten only an hour or so at the office and the office changes so keeping trousers at work and changing isnt really an option. The temptation is obviously not to bother and just wear trousers and shoes !!!! as I've seen many people do, but I dont want to go there. I like my skin..



The only thing i've seen so far are black draggin jeans, but the ones i saw didnt look that great either...



so on balance im looking for non bikey looking

Trousers
short boots
jacket..


all of which i can get away with in the office..





cheers


G

[toxgobbler]

Draggin jeans are handy, they do a combat trouser too. HG do some non bikey bike shoes too.

[sjtscott]

Textile gear with more suitable clothes for the office underneath, strangely this is what I do everyday. I just leave some shoes at work.

[N Dentressangle]

sjtscott said:

Textile gear with more suitable clothes for the office underneath, strangely this is what I do everyday. I just leave some shoes at work.

My strategy too. Works OK.

[PolarExpress]

Draggin cargo pants with armour is perfect. I removed the yellow Draggin patch on the outside so they are completely black and fit right in with work gear.

[steven182]

so you sit around at your desk in full leathers? haha would love to see that.

I just wear work clothes underneath and get changed when i get to work but as you said you change meeting places often.

[Tripps]

toxgobbler said:

Draggin jeans are handy, they do a combat trouser too. HG do some non bikey bike shoes too.

They also do Chinos which could be ideal for such situations, not seen them in the flesh though as yet.

I'm in the same situation where I'm currently consulting, though can get away with smart casual dress, I've got a pair of Dianese (sp?) shoes which just look like funky trainers really.

I've seen a scooter rider while training with a pair of work-style shoes that were proper armoured bike ones, so they are out there - might be worth checking a scooter shop as they have more options from what I've seen.

[RizzoTheRat]

A mate of mine wears black Draggin' jeans to work all the time. I've got a pair of the draggin' zipoffs (like the chinos but legs zip off to turn them in to shorts) but I wouldn't say they were really smart enough for work. I do as a couple of other above mentioned and wear textiles with my work gear underneith and either carry a pair of shoes or leave them in the office.

If you go for the draggin' chinos you might want to think about after market armour. The armour that comes with them velcos to the inside of the trousers, but as they're a loose fit it's free to move around so pretty much useless in a crash. I wear motorcross knee armour under them instead. Iv'e got knoxx crossguards but a mate's got dainese one that are bit more comfortable when walking around.

[cyberface]

I've got a similar predicament and have, in the past, relied on that superb motorcycling accessory - luck

Having used up all my luck I'm now keen to ensure I'm wearing proper gear whilst riding - but I'm not into the power-ranger thing and I know I'll use the bike a lot more if I don't have to wear hot and uncomfortable clothes all the time. Obviously safety should come ahead of inconvenience and in the past I've put the emphasis the wrong way.

So - these 'Draggin' products - only just heard about them, and a quick google to see their range looks almost too good to be true.

Has anyone here actually tested their abrasion resistance in real life - i.e. come off their bike at a speed where normal jeans would tear through and usually result in nasty gravel rash? And are the kevlar parts really as flexible as they say?

I have one of those retro-looking Dainese leather jackets which has armour in the elbows and shoulders - the elbow armour is very 'stiff' and can move around inside the lining, which can be annoying when off the bike (on the bike, my arms are in the right shape for the armour to be un-noticeable). That sort of armour would be irritating in trousers.

It seems like a silly question but, so far, I haven't crashed my bike. I'm assuming that if I'm hit by a car then broken bones will result, regardless of armour - but apart from defensive riding and observation, there's not much I can do about this risk. What is more likely is that I'll eventually make a mistake that I can't recover from, or hit diesel / ice etc. and fall off the bike. I'm pretty sure my jacket, gloves and boots will prevent injury (unless I hit the road hard enough to break a bone, regardless of armour, or I go down with the bike on top of me), but I don't have a proper trouser solution yet (because I've only just returned to biking).

Are these Draggin products really that good? It does seem almost too good to be true, a pair of normal feeling jeans that won't wear through if I slide down the road. Or, in the real world, do you really need solid armour? Obviously you're going to get hurt regardless if you come off your bike - just how effective are these kevlar reinforcements?

[RizzoTheRat]

The kevlar weave is a similar feel and thickness to a towel, and they have it lining the arse and knees, but not the whole of the trousers. Draggin's website has a video of thier boss getting towed down a runway on his arse, and supposedly doesn't wear through them. don't know anyone who's have a high speed spill but a couple of mates have had offs at 20-30mph and not even worn though the trousers to get to the kevlar. I'd still always wear knee armour though.

Giali, Hood and few others make similar products.

[robstvr]

Better than draggin stuff, but more pricey are:

http://esquad.fr/collection.php?collection=homme&a...

I've got a pair. Don't know where you are , but Gorgeous bikes on the King's road do them.

[Graemsay]

Vendramini do some boots that look like basketball boots, but offer some protection:

http://www.vendramini.com/dynamic/en/dettaglioprod...

They are also listed on the special offers page in red suede, but I think that they're sold out:

http://www.vendramini.com/dynamic/en/dettaglioprod...

I got recommended Hood Jeans as an alternative to Draggin:

http://www.hoodjeans.co.uk/

Lastly, some of Belstaff's biker jackets are more fashion friendly than other manufacturers. Grand Prix Legends have got a number of styles for sale on their website at half price:

http://www.grandprixlegends.com/MotoLegendsSite/M_...

[wendyg]

Small rucksack with office clothes in? I don't find it a problem

[Tripps]

I recall a few months back seeing a chap zip off some protective trousers and have a suit underneath, the trousers zipped (as I recall) the entire length on both sides. However I've not been able to find any in the shops, anyone ever see anything similar...?

[xspencex]

For commuting I wear the full textile gear, gortex for when it's wet (likley) and change into work clothers either at work or have them under the bike gear. But when I'm arsing about I wear BMW Summer II pants (like cargo pants but with armor), and a light jacket with armor.

If you wanted decent cut down boots, I know Puma have a pretty cool pair.