The most common motorbike injury is soft tissue damage to the legs. Riding in easy wear motorbike or scooter pants is worth the search and money.
01 - Protective pants
As important as jackets
Protective pants work in three ways. They shield skin when sliding across asphalt, guard against cuts and gashes on impact, and reduce the risk of burns from the engine and exhaust pipe. Standard denim jeans last 0.6 seconds in contact with road surface, compared to the four seconds minimum in CE approved pants.
02 - Top grade pants
Abrasion alert
Like jackets, top grade pants now come in textile fabrics as well as leathers. Know how to spot quality materials to get the abrasion protection you’re expecting. These Aussie-designed specialist jeans have earned Level 2 CE approval for their protection. Look for CE approval when shopping for any motorcycle pants.
As the body responsible for the promotion of accident prevention and safety in the use of transport, the TAC makes every effort to ensure that its road safety publications contain information and material that is factually accurate. It has come to the TAC’s attention that information on Holeshot men's pants in the “Abrasion Alert” section may have led consumers to believe the product is not endorsed with CE Approval. The TAC has retracted the information and unreservedly apologises to Draggin Jeans ( www.dragginjeans.net) and its customers for any confusion and inconvenience caused by the error.
03 - Big panels of materials
Designed to protect
Big panels of materials, are best. Seams can split or burst under crash conditions, which are the most common reasons for gear failing CE testing. Beware of straps or external pockets which can tear or snag on the road. Avoid buttons, buckles or studs, which add to soft tissue injury on impact.
04 - Impact protectors
Shield the hips and knees
Impact protectors for vulnerable hips and knees are effective if the guards stay in place. Knee guards can drift to the outside of the knee. Straps holding the protectors in place can be good as long as they aren’t too tight or reduce blood flow. Amongst off-road riders, knee guards are just as common as neck braces.
05 - Strongly fastened
Keep pants up
Hipsters or elasticised waistbands are risky because they can get pulled down by sliding across a road. Ankle straps prevent pants from riding up if they fasten on the inside of your ankles so the fastening doesn’t tear off in a crash. Stretch panels and ventilating mesh are best in the inside leg, not on thighs, hips or exposed areas.
06 - Visibility
Colour combination
Combining colours is a no cost trick. Like helmets and jackets, the colour of your pants can increase the likelihood that drivers will see you approaching from more angles. However, it is less critical to have lighter coloured pants if your jacket and helmet are highly visible. Some sets of high quality matching jacket and pants feature sections in light colours.
CE approved pants meet the minimum requirement to last for four seconds or more when in contact with a road surface at 28 km per hour. When shopping, look for the CE approval number EN 13595 on labelling and ask to see the pants’ CE test results.
Buying Guide
Worth every cent, motorcycle pants have their work cut out. They shield skin from grating across asphalt, guard against cuts and gashes on impact, and reduce the risk of burns from the engine and exhaust pipe. CE approved pants offer 4 seconds of abrasion protection when sliding across the road and will be marked with code EN 13595.
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01 Bang for your buck
European “CE” standards are a useful guide when judging motorcycle pants made here or outside Europe, where EU standards are not applied.
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02 All the gear all the time
It’s worth the hunt to buy pants that are comfortable in your riding position. Some lighter weight textiles are now as effective as leather.
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03 The sandpaper factor
CE approved pants will state the number of seconds they will last when sliding along asphalt. Know what your pants can withstand in a crash.
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04 Recognise good design
Be wary of common design flaws, including low cut pants and fasteners in high impact areas. Good designs require very few seams and joins.
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05 Guard the knees
On road or off-road, give your hips and knees protection from injuries that can stop you from riding in the future.
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06 The final check
Make sure you can sit on your bike easily, walk around freely and crouch down without constraint.
A real rider’s story
