Denim jeans while riding.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

I've been riding about 40 years albeit off and on depending on availability of equipment.

All I've ever worn was jeans and they have done quite well exept for the occaisional road rashed knee or burns from the friction of sliding.

My worst roadrash was on my forearms from holding the rest of my upper body off the pavement since wearing a jacket is NOT always feasible due to weather conditions.

my 1 1/2 cents worth

[Ivan]

I can personally attest to denim having at least some amount more abrasion resistance than I had thought. When I went down, I was thrown, and slid and rolled and slid and hurt and rolled and slid...you get the picture.

Total distance was a about 200 feet from impsct. I have no idea how much was airborne, but I do remember sliding on my left hip doing a slow 1/4 roll to my left side before stopping, and the jeans didn't have any holes in them, there were wear marks in various places, but nothing clear through.

As a matter of fact, the only road rash I endured was on my right elbow and a bit on my right shoulder. I think next time someone uses a stif bristle brush on me to dig out gravel, they better buy me a few stiff drinks first. It was excrusciating, in addition to being all busted up.

So, if I had unlimited funds, I would dress like RoboCop when I ride, but until then, I do the best with what I can afford, and figure I willl just hurt if something happens again.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Sometimes.. if nobody is around. At other times though, I may go the t-shirt, regular shorts, and sandals option.... since my legs obviously need some sunshine anyway.







At least I had eye protection?? lol.


Tod

"I'm Dead Sexehhh".... thinks Todd...

(Quote taken from the now infamous 'Fat Bastard' character.)

Yeah, Tod.... those legs are smokin' hot! "Yeah, Baby!"

[crazy steve]

Yeah, I've seen this one, but there used to be another 'test' like this on the net only that guy went further. He added a few rocks to the sand (to simulate knees/elbows) and dragged the jeans on a few more types of road surfaces including chip seal. He also drug a pair of old leather pants for a comparision. Again, the jeans did quite well and actually looked better cosmetically than the leather at the end, although both ended up with some holes. My only beef with these tests is they both used new jeans, and we all know that jeans wear after continuous use/washing. If you have an old, comfortable pair you like to wear, they may not be the best choice for riding.

I was also told by somebody that leather is a better choice because if you do end up with bits ground into you, your body is better able to absorb the small particles with less chance of infection. That may be be true, maybe not....

With that said, denim (of the 'work pants' type) is my choice for riding pants as I find leather just too hot and heavy.

'78E original owner

[Guy_b_g]

I went down (low side) at about 60mph once on a turn with some fine gravel strewn about.

I didn't slide more than 10-15 feet on the pavement before I ended up in the ditch.

It wore a hole about 3" in diameter on the side of my knee through the denim, but barely scratched me.

It never wore a hole through the elbow of my leather jacket, but it was close.

I barely got a scratch or a bruise.

I think a lot depends on the texture of the asphalt or concrete, and whether it is clean of gravel etc. or not. I've seen rain grooves in Georgia that would be like sliding on a cheese grater.

That said, I sometimes wear regular jeans for short rides, Kevlar reinforced jeans for longer rides, and leather in the cold.

I saw what happened to my Mom and her husband years ago when they went down on some spilled diesel on an on ramp wearing shorts, t-shirts and helmets, they still have scars, and it was a very painful experience getting cleaned up and changing bandages for a week or two.

[madmax-im]

Once in a while i will wear blue jeans but not often...Like Andreas is saying..I feel anything less than a leather or textile armored riding suit makes me feel a lot more vulnerable...and I dont give a stink about how hot this stuff is supposed to make you feel...there are mesh armored gear for the summer thats actually more comfortable than denim..Road rash is quite painful so a little swet in good gear is an easy trade off...for me ....YMMV

[Ivan]

Would there be anything wrong with buying replacement armor and just fitting it to the inside of your favorite pair of jeans? Seems armor replacements are fairly inexpensive.

[DGXSER]

I wear denim jeans and leather boots that cover my ankles, and a leather "bomber" type jacket with my full face helmet.

I figure that the denim will protect as good as most things against the abrasion (yes, I believe that test data). I also figure that if the impact force is strong enough to break bones and such I doubt there is anyhting that will absorb that force or displace it across a big enough area to keep the bone from breaking. JMO

[dpotter58]

Tod, dude, you are even uglier than I remember. I instantly regreted putting on my reading glasses... Should have grabbed my shades.

Like you, I am guilty of riding in shorts most of the summer. I did slide down the road in a pair of levis and a sweatshirt a while back. Wore through the elbow of the shirt and burnished the leg of the jeans.

Better of in riding gear but I like the feel of the air while riding. I'm sure one day I'll pay.

ps. see ya in the spring
dp

[motoman]

Levis's worked

at least till the adrenaline wore off. I wasn't dressed like Tod in the picture, but may as well been when I went down on the ST1100 two summers ago, fortunately avoiding the T-bone. Was one of those quick runs down to the truck tire shop(bout 3miles). I'm sure this is beginning to to sound SO familiar. No helmet, long sleeves rolled up, jeans, slip-on boots runnin between 45-50mph on a posted 50mph four lane. Driver pulled out of a side street, hoping to shoot the gap across the lanes, failing to see me, who had vehicles in both lanes directly behind me. When driver saw me, she slammed brakes on stopping pependicular square in the driving lane where I was. I saw her coming out and was heavy on the front brake short of a 'stoppie'. Realizing I was gonna have to add a bit of rear brake to avoid a collision did so, thinking at the time to avoid some leg damage(by this time was a bit sideways) I raised my left leg up off bike like I was getting off and let off brakes to maybe some sort of control. Of course, now we have a high side in progress. Apparently, releasing brakes threw bike into a bit forward motion missing the car, but capapulted me some 132ft. doing two flips in the air before hitting pavement. I was knocked out at that point, but a witness behind me watched the whole wreck. I remember setting up on the road thinking where the bike was as I could still hear it sliding. Looked up and saw it still sliding down ahead of me and seeing it flop to other side and ground on it a while. It went 325ft. Those Levis's were new at the time and now have one small scuff mark on the shin area. My body had road rash on the knees, hips and of course back of fore arms hands and knuckles, even with gloves on. Pants survived even thogh I took some bad road rash on parts of my legs, etc. Had a few stitches in my head, a dislocated shoulder and concussion. Do not care to repeat and was very, very fortunate. Even after some fourty years of riding street, trail and motocross that was the first ever going down on pavement. It has raised my awareness level even that much more. The motocross racing,which I haven't done since 2004 at age 52 I'm sure has played a part in avoiding alot of close calls and kept the bike upright. The forces in motion are alot different when on a 700+ lb. bike than compared to a 215lb. motocross bike and cosequently way harder to make it do what you want when it gets crossed up. I would'nt even think of climbing on my motocrosser without all the gear. Now I won't get on my touring bikes without it, no mater if its two miles or a thousand. life's too short guys and gals.......ATGATT......most who ride knows what that stands for....just my 2cents and worth every penny!

[Geezer]

The Dickies 1/2 cotton 1/2 polyester work jeans wear like iron and will hold together so long as they don't catch on something and tear. They're not a good replacement for leather pants but not bad for about 30 bucks.

Geezer

[motorhead]

Over 40 years of riding and I usually wear jeans .If it's cold i'll wear a leather jacket and maybe chaps.I've been down more than once and do have a couple of scars.I won't ride in shorts ,but that's about my only won't.

[oseaghdha]

I always have big boy pants on when I ride.

99% jeans, I recenly got overpants for when I ride to work in my dockers.
Only have had a couple of uncommanded dismounts, but I noticed I have been rashed up without tearing the denim.

I don't think proper gear will scuff you up that way.
But, jeans are certainly preferable to naked legs or wearing your jammies.

[Wildkat]

Can't afford the armored pants yet... but at least have the padded jacket now (it matches the padded cell nicely, thank you very much)
The only time I ever went down hard, I was luckily wearing jeans and long johns (which gave just a bit more padding upon impact)... I slid through an intersection (behind my bike) and came out with a minor amount of friction rash on my hip...

My ego was hurt a lot more than my body thanks to those jeans...
(having gone down in front of my ex husband's place of employment... while he and his new wife were looking out the window... on what would have been our 4th anniversary )

[Wildkat]

I always have big boy pants on when I ride.

WooHoo! I'll bet those diapers were getting to be quite a chore...
lol

But, jeans are certainly preferable to ... wearing your jammies.

Oh well carp! I guess I'd best go change then...