Spendy but worth it?

[gocytocis]

...the mistake we often make, is thinking we have time.

If I read you right, you're saying that delaying a safety gear purchase to comparison shop has its own risks. I agree with this & it's also why I have a closet full of gear that isn't my first colour choice, or perhaps fits a little strange in areas.

Regardless, I think you're wise to insist on trying them on first; in my experience, motorcycling jeans seem to have some pretty wacky sizing conventions that have little relation to street jeans sizing...

[Zombie Master]

...the mistake we often make, is thinking we have time.

If I read you right, you're saying that delaying a safety gear purchase to comparison shop has its own risks. I agree with this & it's also why I have a closet full of gear that isn't my first colour choice, or perhaps fits a little strange in areas.

Regardless, I think you're wise to insist on trying them on first; in my experience, motorcycling jeans seem to have some pretty wacky sizing conventions that have little relation to street jeans sizing...

One drawback of living in Canada is that returning products in the States is slow and expensive. Since I'm going to be in the area I can avoid the shipping charges and I will know if they fit. Folks think you can buy anything on-line, and you can but it may not work for you. Being comfortable and safe-er when riding is important. Being comfortable and not distracted by your gear is also a safety factor. The best compliment I can give to gear, or even a bike, is that I didn't notice it.

[gocytocis]

...Being comfortable and not distracted by your gear is also a safety factor...

Agreed. Also, frankly a performance factor too. The less obtrusive your safety gear, the better you'll be able to sense what the bike's doing & provide appropriate input.

The best compliment I can give to gear, or even a bike, is that I didn't notice it.

I agree with respect to gear, but I like my bikes to have assertive personalities.

[Rob]

You guys are making these sound more affordable all the time!
And I have the advantage of being within travel distance of Philadelphia.

[gocytocis]

You guys are making these sound more affordable all the time!

Haha, well, they’re certainly still above my tax bracket. As I mentioned in my first post in this thread, I am in the market myself for jeans that are protective enough for short trips around town, but these jeans cost almost as much as my full leathers so I’ll have to continue my search.

In the meantime, I wear a pair of Tru-Spec Cordura long underwear under my jeans. They’re made from a 4 oz weight fabric with a 60/40 cotton/Cordura blend. They claim to be ~3x more abrasion-resistant than 100% cotton, so if a typical pair of Levis is made from 12 oz denim, the Cordura underlayer should theoretically be the equivalent of wearing a second pair of jeans, at least with respect to abrasion. Therefore, if a typical pair of jeans is good for ~5’ of asphalt abrasion (according to Cycle Mag article "Abrasion Testing: Torn in the USA"), a pair of jeans with a pair of Cordura long underwear should be good for a total of ~10’.

Would I show up for a track-day dressed like this? Absolutely not. Indeed, I stick to urban roads with speed limits of only 50km/h (30mph) wearing this combo, so there’s still some risk of road rash, but much less-so than if I were wearing just jeans. The added other benefits of the Cordura underwear are that they breath well, and they are fire-resistant (which I suppose could be of some practical use if one of my aged braided fuel lines were ever to split!).

[enigmaT120]

I wouldn't care what I wore if it was just in town. I bicycle (down hills, anyway) at over 35 mph in shorts, on pavement. But I never ride my motorcycle in town, or not just in town.

[Zombie Master]

Indeed, I stick to urban roads with speed limits of only 50km/h (30mph) wearing this combo.

How does one limit their speed to 30mph? That is incomprehensible for me on two wheels Even if I'm pedaling.

[gocytocis]

How does one limit their speed to 30mph? That is incomprehensible for me on two wheels

Haha, I hear you, but I’ve got several thoughts on that:
- I’m a new father with a sense of responsibility to arrive home at the end of each ride. This has greatly tamed my riding style & speed.
- I have other bikes, other wardrobes, & other roads to choose from, when I want to go fast. The /5’s front drum brake is its limiting factor for me. I’m happy to ride it like a pussy.
- I’ve already had my share of speeding tickets & court appearances. I now weigh the rewards of speeding against the risks of getting caught, rather than just speeding for its own sake.
- All I said was that I merely stick to roads with limits of 30mph, not that I necessarily adhere to those limits.

[Zombie Master]

Well I went to Revzilla and tried on the Rokker jeans. The pair they had was a good fit in the waist but way too long. They claim the the material is more abrasion resistant than any Cordura product. The pant material seemed very lightweight, way lighter than the BMW City pants, and not as cool looking or comfy to me. One thing that is a problem is that the knee armor is not adjustable. So if you are lucky you might have the knee armor in the right place. The BMW pants have and adjustment system that worked for me. It would be so nice to have armored, waterproof breathable jean riding pants, but it's not here yet.
I picked up a pair of winter gloves:

http://heldbikegear.blogspot.ca/2013/11 ... -warm.html