Wearing jeans on a bike
Discussion
I know it's hot (someone said it might even be Summer this week) but I'd never wear jeans on a Sports bike even in this weather. I know many people have and will do but what's your thoughts on it? Just the thought of soft denim on tarmac is not nice. I think this goes years back to a video I saw in school and talk of blue lines on the road leading up to an accident.
I know some might say "I'll never have an accident I'm too careful" but it often takes 2 to have an accident and the other person could cause it.
Just editing to add, posted this after seeing someone wearing jeans on a 600 this morning dodging in between traffic.
I know some might say "I'll never have an accident I'm too careful" but it often takes 2 to have an accident and the other person could cause it.
Just editing to add, posted this after seeing someone wearing jeans on a 600 this morning dodging in between traffic.
Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 25th June 09:54
I must admit to wearing jeans form time to time but only when going out for an evening ride or popping down the road.... leathers come out when going for a thrashing or ride out with a few mates! I'm not ashamed is just a preferance although do want to buy some of those 'kevlar jeans' good compromise maybe.
Least clothing I've generally seen (men) (in the states you regularly see girls in G strings/high heels on the pillion seat) wearing on a bike was back in the late 1980's down at the Bol D'Or 24h race at Paul Ricard circuit down in the south of france. The circuit is up on the top of a large mountain. You used to get guys on GPZ1000s, etc, coming up the mountain in shorts, flipflops, cig in mouth, and about 10 packs of beer bungeed onto the pillion seat (about 1 metre tall). They didn't used to hang around getting back up the hill... Amusing at the time, but looking back very scary 
The extent to which the spectators were nutters was further confirmed when the police used to put up catch netting to stop people flying over the edge of the road into the ravine below, and place straw bales, a la the TT, against all road furniture. I think they thought, we can't stop them, so let's stop them killing themselves at least!!!
I can't see it happening these days!
The extent to which the spectators were nutters was further confirmed when the police used to put up catch netting to stop people flying over the edge of the road into the ravine below, and place straw bales, a la the TT, against all road furniture. I think they thought, we can't stop them, so let's stop them killing themselves at least!!!
I can't see it happening these days!
We've had this before and I've always gone whole heartedly with the freedom of choice school of thought...
...however, driving home last night (the bike is broken) I went past a school and a woman rode out of the gates on a honda c90 step through in just a sleeveless top, shorts, flipflops and a lid and she was holding a bag of shopping in one hand on the bars. The thing that made me gasp was that perched behind her was a little boy wearing exactly the same sat on the pillion seat holding on to the belt loops on her shorts. He must have been three years old at most and his legs were barely long enough to go either side of the seat and the pillion footpegs were a distant dream for him. I know we used to do it and I know that the kid probably thought it was superb and I know she probably wasn't going that far and I know that I'll probably be told that we're too risk averse and I agree with all that but... but... but...
...however, driving home last night (the bike is broken) I went past a school and a woman rode out of the gates on a honda c90 step through in just a sleeveless top, shorts, flipflops and a lid and she was holding a bag of shopping in one hand on the bars. The thing that made me gasp was that perched behind her was a little boy wearing exactly the same sat on the pillion seat holding on to the belt loops on her shorts. He must have been three years old at most and his legs were barely long enough to go either side of the seat and the pillion footpegs were a distant dream for him. I know we used to do it and I know that the kid probably thought it was superb and I know she probably wasn't going that far and I know that I'll probably be told that we're too risk averse and I agree with all that but... but... but...
Again i think its personal preference.
When i had a 125 i'd worn shorts once or twice but it was only cos i was naive.
& when i had a 124 ped i had shorts on and was merely moving my bike from one end of the tarmac to the other (about 10-15mph) I was at footy training and they eeded to fit a car in the bigger space my bike was parked in.
Anyway in a gravel carpark i dropped the bike, i should of jumped out the way but as the bike was new ididnt want to scratch it.
It went down on my knee and i took all the skin off it.
I couldnt bend my knee for about 4-6weeks after as everytime i did the scabs would rip off!
I now have a 600 & at very least i wear a pair of jeans (if going to work) for the simple reason i never get about about 20mph! I do however wear armoured leather jacket gloves & certified helmet!
If i'm going on any roads above about 30 then i will put my armoured textile trousers on over jeans.
If its raining i wear full armoured textiles & if i'm going out for a long ride or over fast roads i wear full armoured leathers!
When i had a 125 i'd worn shorts once or twice but it was only cos i was naive.
& when i had a 124 ped i had shorts on and was merely moving my bike from one end of the tarmac to the other (about 10-15mph) I was at footy training and they eeded to fit a car in the bigger space my bike was parked in.
Anyway in a gravel carpark i dropped the bike, i should of jumped out the way but as the bike was new ididnt want to scratch it.
It went down on my knee and i took all the skin off it.
I couldnt bend my knee for about 4-6weeks after as everytime i did the scabs would rip off!
I now have a 600 & at very least i wear a pair of jeans (if going to work) for the simple reason i never get about about 20mph! I do however wear armoured leather jacket gloves & certified helmet!
If i'm going on any roads above about 30 then i will put my armoured textile trousers on over jeans.
If its raining i wear full armoured textiles & if i'm going out for a long ride or over fast roads i wear full armoured leathers!
I've got a pair of draggin jeans I will wear, but not when I am going for a nicely paced rideout.
I really should get the armour put in, but it feels way too uncomfortable tbh.
I'm almost tempted to just wear leather these days and just change if I'm going to be stood around for a while
I really should get the armour put in, but it feels way too uncomfortable tbh.
I'm almost tempted to just wear leather these days and just change if I'm going to be stood around for a while
I have two pairs of Draggin' jeans and prefer to wear them in this weather. They are kevlar lined and you insert hip and kneee armour (planet knox) with velcro on the back to hold it in place.
According to the promo video - where the MD of Draggin Inc gets dragged down a road by his ankles! - they are as good as leather but I do feel a little safer in leathers. Possibly because the leathers zip together but then it wouldnt be too difficult to sew in a zip around the top of the jeans.
I wouldnt risk normal denim jeans for even the shortest journey!
Mark
According to the promo video - where the MD of Draggin Inc gets dragged down a road by his ankles! - they are as good as leather but I do feel a little safer in leathers. Possibly because the leathers zip together but then it wouldnt be too difficult to sew in a zip around the top of the jeans.
I wouldnt risk normal denim jeans for even the shortest journey!
Mark
fergus said:
People often peddle the old 40mph crash on the way to the shops will hurt less than the 40mph crash on the open road argument....
As has already been said, it doesn't matter if you are Rossi if someone crashes into you!!!
A 40 mph crash is likely to hurt, whether you are fully dressed in leather and armour or jeans and T-shirt. You can not remove the risk by wearing specific clothing.As has already been said, it doesn't matter if you are Rossi if someone crashes into you!!!
This is all about risk assessment and each of us makes our own risk assessment regarding what to wear on a bike every time we ride. My frustration is what I perceive as the ‘holier than thou’ attitude that some bikers take when others ride whilst wearing less than they would. This is definitely one area where the only one who will suffer the consequences of a particular decision is the person making the decision thus they should be free to make that decision without being derided by others who don’t agree.
Personally, I will ride in jeans and T-shirt when I feel that the ambient temperature is hot enough that I risk over heating in my leathers. I feel I am more likely to have and accident that results from poor judgement due to overheating than I am to suffer injuries from wearing jeans. I tend not to ride as fast when wearing jeans, not for safety reasons, but because I don’t get the same ‘feel’ through the jeans as they tend to slip about the seat more.
I passed my DAS last year and had a month on the Gixer just wearing jeans, boots and an armoured jacket and felt fine. Then I got some leathers for christmas and wore them ever since.
Last week I moved house and the commute was literally 2 miles, so I just popped my jacket and boots on and it felt really strange not in a good way. Going into bends I found myself looking at the ground thinking "I hope we don't meet!" So I will not be doing that again, for the extra couple of minutes it takes to put the leathers on it saves been lying in a hospital bed with no skin on the legs!
Last week I moved house and the commute was literally 2 miles, so I just popped my jacket and boots on and it felt really strange not in a good way. Going into bends I found myself looking at the ground thinking "I hope we don't meet!" So I will not be doing that again, for the extra couple of minutes it takes to put the leathers on it saves been lying in a hospital bed with no skin on the legs!
Got jeans from this lot - they are very good. You buy the armour separately. Got mine a yr ago, think the lot came to just over £100. Leather trousers aren't my thing, although I know a one piece would give the best protection from sliding down the tarmac.
www.hoodjeans.co.uk
www.hoodjeans.co.uk
Each to their own.
When I used to go out in my leathers, I was protected... safe.. invincible...
Often Got my knee down.
Often went more than doubled the speed limit.
Often did massive and/or unsafe overtakes
Often didn't slow down for roundabouts.
Often did wheelies.
Often got so hot that my riding/concentration suffered
Last night, I went out on the R1 in Jeans (With boots, gloves,leather jacket etc)
Cruised around nicely near the speed limit. Didn't do anything risky.. got home with a smile on my face.
So, in my case, yes leathers will protect me a lot more in a crash (Jeans wear through in less than half a second!) But I am more likely to have that crash whilst wearing leathers because of the invincible feeling I get.
So, Each to their own and good luck to you all.
When I used to go out in my leathers, I was protected... safe.. invincible...
Often Got my knee down.
Often went more than doubled the speed limit.
Often did massive and/or unsafe overtakes
Often didn't slow down for roundabouts.
Often did wheelies.
Often got so hot that my riding/concentration suffered
Last night, I went out on the R1 in Jeans (With boots, gloves,leather jacket etc)
Cruised around nicely near the speed limit. Didn't do anything risky.. got home with a smile on my face.
So, in my case, yes leathers will protect me a lot more in a crash (Jeans wear through in less than half a second!) But I am more likely to have that crash whilst wearing leathers because of the invincible feeling I get.
So, Each to their own and good luck to you all.
If you go to the US,
You see plenty people riding around in shorts and t shirt, and no helmet.
Was in Miami last year and saw plenty of this... Just for cruising around. When they went on the highway, they were slightly safer.... a helmet! Same shorts and t shirt!
Saw the same in Greece! Although no helmet at any time!
Nick
You see plenty people riding around in shorts and t shirt, and no helmet.
Was in Miami last year and saw plenty of this... Just for cruising around. When they went on the highway, they were slightly safer.... a helmet! Same shorts and t shirt!
Saw the same in Greece! Although no helmet at any time!
Nick
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