To ride a motorcycle is to accept that you might be in an accident someday. It’s an inherent risk of riding, and it’s part of what makes it so thrilling. When your bike decides to take you for a bumpy ride, the only thing to protect you is the safety gear, including a pair of armored pants.

After helmets, a pair of pants with proper protection is possibly the most crucial part of motorcycle safety gear. You might think you’re a hotshot who can rock on skinny jeans or capris.

Well, I’m sure you can, but that won’t protect you in the event of an accident. Even a minor crash can cause a significant injury when you don’t have proper protection for your lower body.

A Comparison Between Motorcycle Armored Pants and Regular Jeans

Are you one of those riders who splurge on an expensive helmet and jacket but forget about protecting your lower half? It’s time to rethink your priorities.

Let’s compare motorcycle armored pants and regular jeans so you can see why proper riding pants are a must-have for any rider.

The importance of lower body protection

While head and spinal injuries may be the most severe, a serious hip or knee injury is no laughing matter. That’s why good riding pants come with knee padding and pockets for armor to protect those sensitive areas in the event of a crash. Trust us, a small piece of armor padding can save months or even years of recovery.

Abrasion resistance: regular jeans vs riding jeans

Did you know that a pair of normal jeans will only last 0.6 seconds when sliding on the road? Compared to the abrasion resistance of a proper pair of riding jeans, it’s not even close. Even a low-speed slide can shred regular denim jeans like paper and result in nasty road rash. Ouch!

Comfort and style

We get it, not everyone is a fan of leather pants or full-body racing suits. Fortunately, riding pants have come a long way, and you can find gear that offers solid protection without sacrificing style and comfort. Advances in technology allow for pants that look just like regular jeans and won’t be uncomfortable, even on longer rides.

Price point

We know that riding gear can be expensive, but it’s worth it when you consider the potential cost of medical bills and lost income due to an injury. While a good pair of riding pants may cost more than your average pair of jeans, the added protection is well worth the investment.

6 Reasons to Wear Armored Pants

Armored pants are made of resilient material and have protective attachments at critical points. You can feel safe knowing that you’re not going to get road rash or cuts and scrapes if you fly off your hog and onto the asphalt.

We’ll give you five reasons why armored pants are the way to go:

1. Best lower body protection

The number one reason you should always wear armored pants when riding a motorcycle is to protect yourself in case of an accident.

When there’s a car collision, the people inside the car have seat belts and airbags for protection. Motorcyclists have nothing but their skin and bones to protect them from injury.

By wearing armored pants with reinforced knee and hip padding, you’ll be able to stay protected if you’re involved in a severe accident.

A hard-packed dirt trail can be hiding a variety of things that you don’t want to crash into, like rocks, stumps, or even the occasional gopher hole.

Even if you’re an experienced rider ripping on trails for years without crashing even once, riding with armored pants will ensure you stay protected in case of a crash.

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2. Superior comfort

Some armored pants offer extra padding in all the right places, including the waistband and knee area. It makes them extremely comfortable while also offering additional protection when needed most.

If you’re worried about riding in hot weather, there are armored summer pants too. They have all kinds of mesh ventilation to comfort you in high temperatures.

Many of these pants feature ventilation systems that can be opened or closed depending on the weather, and the materials used are specifically chosen to allow for maximum airflow.

3. Prevent skin cuts and scratches

When your bike goes down on the road and slides on its side, the odds are pretty good that your shins, knees, or butt will get scraped by asphalt or whatever else is on the ground.

Even if you don’t hit the pavement hard enough to break something, there’s still a chance you’ll get some gnarly road rash.

Armored pants give that sensitive skin some much-needed protection. When you’re wearing armor over your joints, you’re protecting your skin from scrapes that could take months to heal.

Also, these pants are made of abrasion and heat-resistant textiles, which means that if you do happen to drop your bike and your leg comes in contact with the hot exhaust pipe, you won’t be left with a nasty burn.

4. Protection from flying debris

But that’s not all. When you’re on a motorcycle, you’re exposed to all kinds of flying debris like bugs, stones, and other random items that might get thrown up by other vehicles. And let’s face it, getting hit in the leg with a rock isn’t exactly a pleasant experience.

However, if you’re wearing impact-resistant pants, the impact of those projectiles will be significantly minimized, and your legs will be spared from potential bruises and cuts.

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5. Save your medical bills

You may think that protective gear costs too much money. But it’s much more expensive to pay medical bills after an accident than to buy some protective accessories and outfits.

Getting injured on the trail is no joke, as it can cost thousands of dollars in hospital bills.

There’s a reason motorcycle riders are known for having insurance. With all those moving parts, motorcycles are a risky business. Wearing armor is like having an insurance policy; it reduces the risk of serious injury, which could cost you thousands of dollars for surgeries and other treatments.

6. You can still look cool

Armored pants come in all sorts of styles and cuts, from slim to loose-fitting. They also come in various colors, so you can find some that fit your style perfectly. These pants are a great way to make a statement about yourself and your riding style without saying a word.

Plus, they’re versatile enough to wear on and off the bike, so you don’t have to worry about changing pants every time you hop off your ride.

Lower Extremity Injuries from Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcycle crashes are a serious concern for riders, and one of the most common types of injuries sustained in such crashes are lower extremity injuries. These injuries can lead to costly medical treatment, long-term disability, and even permanent impairment.

However, some studies shed light on the prevalence of these injuries and how they can be prevented with proper gear such as armored pants.

The study findings

The study aimed to characterize lower extremity injuries in a group of 700 motorcycle riders in crashes in Los Angeles County.

Lower extremity injuries were diagnosed in 301 (56%) of non-fatally injured and in 75 (46%) of fatally injured riders. Fractures were the most common lower extremity injury and were diagnosed in 52% and 42% of riders with nonfatal and fatal injuries, respectively.

Over a third of all fractures were to the tibia or fibula. Drivers and passengers did not differ in their risk for lower extremity injuries. Multiple-vehicle collisions resulted in a higher risk of lower extremity injuries than did single-vehicle collisions.

The highest risk for lower extremity fractures was observed among riders in broadside collisions in which another vehicle struck the motorcycle.

Another group of researchers also found lower limb injuries the most common (55.5%) among motorcycle accident victims in a 2010 study.

The importance of proper gear

The severity of these lower-limb injuries can be reduced by wearing proper gear such as armored pants. Good riding pants come with knee padding and pockets for armor, so you can protect those sensitive lower areas in a crash.

If worse comes to worst, and unfortunately it probably will, a small piece of armor padding can save months or years of recovery.

A proper pair of riding jeans offers exceptionally high abrasion resistance. On the other hand, even a low-speed slide can shred regular denim jeans like paper and result in nasty road rash.

So, next time you hit the road on your motorcycle, don’t forget to suit up with proper gear to protect yourself from lower-body injuries.

The Bottom Line

Armored pants are a necessary piece of gear when riding a motorcycle. They protect against impacts in a crash and prevent serious injuries. If you are thinking of buying motorcycle pants, consider investing in a pair of armored pants. They are available in various styles, so it’s easy to find a pair that offers comfort and fits well. Be sure to wear these pants every time you hit the road.

FAQs about Motorcycle Armored Pants