GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

When I picked up my m/c, the sales guy recommended against getting riding pants at the same time...his reasoning was that if you're already going to be uncomfortable on the motorcycle, you don't want to compound that with being uncomfortable in new gear.  Right or wrong, my thought was that if a salesperson was going to recommend I -not- buy something, he probably had a good reason.  I took his advice and just picked up a helmet, gloves, and a jacket, and wore jeans and sturdy leather boots I already owned.  I wasn't going to be riding aggressively or riding in the rain, so I figured it was a reasonable compromise, but was always aware that I wasn't adequately protected.

Now it's been a couple of weeks and I'm almost through the initial break-in.  This will ultimately result in more spiritied riding and commuting (at least until the weather here precludes it)...so that changes the scenario for me, and that means bottom-half gear, so...

Has anyone had bad experiences with specific pants that I should avoid?  How do people feel about overpants vs. non?  How important is it that the pants mate with the jacket? (I assume different manufacturer's pants/jackets don't zip together, and also that any pant from one manuf. will connect to any of their jackets).  I've noticed that some come in waist sizes by the inch, where others come in S/M/L, what's your experience been with fit?  Overpants and business-casual office wear: too hot?  Walking around in m/c pants:  uncomfortable?

I have done the obligatory search through the site (there is a lot of info there!), it seems that a lot of folks here wear Joe Rocket Ballistic's...any commentary on these?  I've got a JR Meteor 5.0 jacket--I probably tried on every jacket in the shop (twice) before going with it, and so far I'm satisfied--so I'm leaning toward going with pants that connect to the jacket, provided the fit works for me.

Obviously I need to go try on a bunch, I'm just hoping for some guidance to help select one vs. another.  I'm thinking I might get both overpants and non, since that may be useful to handle different situations (i.e., when I'm just riding around vs. when I'm going somewhere), so any thoughts would be helpful.

I crashed in the icon denium, they suck.  Next time I'll be in leather.  I also got a good rash on my hip between the jacket and pants so I recommend pants that jip to the jacket.  I learned my lesson the hard way on proper pants.

Tell me where that sales guy who recommended delaying getting riding pants and wearing jeans is.  I want to put him on jeans on the back of my bike, get on the freeway, and push him off.  See if he recommends that again.

That's the most bullsheeot thing I've ever heard.

Go to a motorcycle store and try pants on.  Fit is the most important thing; armor does you no good if it's not positioned properly on you, and even leather will tear if it's bunched up and twisted from not fitting right.

Leather is best.  Good textile can be adequate.

If you do get textile, don't get anything less than 500 denier if you're going to wear them as overpants, and don't get anything less than 1000 denier if you're going to wear them without jeans underneath. Zip is a must if you're doing spirited riding, even if it's only an 8-inch zip. It would be a good idea for commuting, too.

Edit: Also, if you hadn't ridden before without pants, how would you know you would be uncomfortable with them? Ask the person who talked to you, that.

I bought a pair of ballistic joe rocket over-pants and I found them to be uncomfortably bulky.  Plus, as base as it is to be concerned with this, I looked like I was going skiing.  I then looked at some alpinestars leather pants.  I tried both the bat pants and their track pants.  I wanted the bat pants (cheaper) but they didn't have my size so I bought the track pants.  My only complaint is that I'm 6' tall so my legs are pretty cramped on the GS and the extensive knee/shin armor can put uncomfortable pressure on my knees if I don't adjust it properly.  Besides that I couldn't be happier with them... I did have to buy taller boots though, the pants are pretty short (only go to about 3-4" above my ankle.  Make sure the pants are a tight fit... they'll break in and loose fitting clothing can actually harm you more (armor can get twisted around, etc).  Also, don't worry about jacket/pant compatibility.  Almost every company provides the other end of the zipper attachment so you can sew it onto your jacket and zip their pants together with whatever you have.

I'm 6-foot-5 and have a 36-inch inseam, so my pants choices are limited. I have a pair of Draggin Jeans that are long enough and very comfortable. I'm interested in some First Gear pants since they come in long lengths, too.

I'd also like to get some Draggin Jeans of Australia chino pants to wear to work.

QuoteAlso, if you hadn't ridden before without pants, how would you know you would be uncomfortable with them? Ask the person who talked to you, that.

I wore jeans for the MSF course, but you're abolutely right...I wouldn't know.  Thus, my thought was to take the advice of others that have more experience than myself.  

QuoteThat's the most bullsheeot thing I've ever heard.

Of course, bad advice is worse than no advice at all.  I have a history of not heeding other people's advice (usually to my own detriment :) ).  The good news is:  no damage done (yet...I still don't have complete gear).  My next ride will most likely be to the happy gear store, but it's equally possible that I'll take the car (more likely if I think I'm going to have a lot to cart back).  

wrt the rest of the comments:  Thanks, I'll take all the advice I can get (no one here would give bad advice, right? :P ).  I suppose the good news is that I'm not tall (5' 9"), so that seems to mitigate some issues.

To summarize:
* Fit is critical:  Not loose, armor in correct locations
* At least 500/1000 denier or Leather
* Zip is important, but "compatibility" is less of an issue (I'm sure my tailor will look at me sideways, though)
* Icon denim == inadequate protection
* Not everyone that offers advice offers -good- advice...

:)  Thanks.

BAH!!!  Pants are only for people that like legs.

:P

I wear jeans...  So WTF do I know? :dunno:

Yeah, I get flak about jeans too... but I have yet to see a problem with them :D It's just me, I guess. Then again... I am buying Roadstergal's leather pants. (A friend pointed out that I would do anything to get into a girl's pants. Harr harr.)

The http://www.motoport.com/saveyourhide.pdf guide is pretty usefull.  It gives you the strength of various materials.

The main advantage I see of textile over cowass (ignoring me being a veggy for a sec) is simple maintainance. If you don't care for your leathers, they wont work as expected. They dry out and crack. Nylon, however, doesn't need such care. BUT, most nylon is crap. (Gortex, coretex, yadda is all basically nylon).

Thanks for the link!  I'm hanging on to that.

Ja, I do have textile for weather that's too hot, too cold, or too wet for leather.  It rains enough here that I like to have a full set of waterproof gear.

I'm veggie, too, but I consider one set of leathers to save my hide to be less of an offense than a lifetime of hamburger to provide protein I can get elsewhere.

I bet your leathers don't taste as good. :lol:

Quote from: Roadstergal
I'm veggie, too, but I consider one set of leathers to save my hide to be less of an offense than a lifetime of hamburger to provide protein I can get elsewhere.

Actual picture of "Roadstergal":




Dave  ;)  ;)  ;)

I thought this was her:

(http://projet.perle.free.fr/Cd/couverture/152.jpg)

(http://conversatron.com/askees/fatty.jpg)

ARRR UMMM NUMMM NUMM!!

An image from the Conversatron?  Jesus, Christ, you're as big a geek as I am.

(http://www.geocities.com/iotaomega/Consumer_Whore.jpg)

For the love of God and all that is Holy!  My ANUS is BLEEDING!

i ONLY wear leathers.

when i was learning i crashed -- tore open my jeans, 20+ stitches to my shin  :oops:

I have Joe Rocket Blaster leathers pants to go with my JR jacket.  Unless it's over 85 deg F, I think they're pretty comfortable.  Since I can't use my bike to commute, I'm not worried about walking into the office looking like "Mad Max."  

One caution on buying pants -- if you're looking for the jacket and pants to zip together, make sure you take your jacket with you to try them on.  Many of the different brands are incompatible.

For me:

I have this thing about constant riding. I am turning back into a person who would sell his car. (Thank god you can ride in LA year round almost.. (got stuck in rain last night man did that suck! Ask Pantablo it rained like a mother all night....))

Back on topic... I like the leathers and all. I find many of them to be MAD uncomfortable #1 and #2 they can be really gaudy. Since I do hella riding.. well.. I do not feel like looking like a moron. Instead I opted to pick up some alpinestars shin/knee protectors. They fit under my pants and I can take them off and stick them in my bag when I get somewhere, or I can just leave them on.. most people can not tell that I am wearing them. (Unless you wear Magnum PI crotch buldge jeans...and if that is your thing then .. well.. ok then.. thats your thing.) I wear those about town, and I never travel the freeways or exceed 30-45mph. Do not get me wrong. 30-45mph hurts like hell, I can tell you that for sure.  

Any other time.. I have leather for that, but those are times when I will not be just putting to the movies, out to dinner, or 3 blocks to the coffee shop.

Risk management and containment is my job. You analyze the risk, and come up with an acceptable level comparing all facets.

30-45mph is acceptable risk to me with the level of gear that I wear. A (snell/dot BARE MINIMUM) approved helmet, high quality leather or kevlar gloves, high quality properly fitting leather jacket, leather boots and knee protectors under my jeans.

No matter what you do in life, there is always unknown. You can only prevent to the best of your abilities the things that you can control or are previously aware of, and make sure that all your bases are covered. That is why I check my chain and sprockets every time I leave my house, give the bike a look over after anything that could have possibly caused ANY damage, and at least subtract a couple months from the maint schedule. If I am unsure of something, then I would just rather spend the $50-$500 and change it. I think my limbs and possibly life is worth the $500.

The other post about tires got me wondering WTF because if you are at all uncomfortable and unsure about something that important, then in my opinion, CHANGE IT.  

That is only my opinion though.

If you ride on that, then you have then accepted the risk and it becomes part of your over all equation. That guy with his lady friend that rides without gear has accepted that variable into her equation. You can suggest that people do things, but you can not tell them. In the end people are just people and will do what they will do.