[CQ7String]

What are you folks wearing for hot weather riding? I stopped by Cycles 128 today to pick up some boots, and tried on a pair of JR Ballistic 5 overpants. They're really not-very-good. The liner feels like you're wearing a snowsuit and there's no real venting to speak of.

I'm on the hunt for some good vented, armored summer pants that I can try on locally. G&G up in Salisbury (where I got my bike) doesn't stock pants, and the whole Dragger-denim thing isn't armored enough for what I'm looking for.

[schleppy]

A couple years back I had some JR Phoenix pants. They were great. I don't think they'd fair too well in a crash though.

[CQ7String]

That's my big concern. I spent so many squidly days with JC back in the day, now that I've taken up biking again safety gear is priority one for me. I'm lucky to have skin on my legs with all the stupid shit we used to do. :\

[chrisc]

Dragin' Jeans and Icon Leg Field Armor?

[Benyen Soljax]

ive heard good things about kevlar jeans, but they dont have any padding. theyll just allow you to escape without much rash.

[snakeyes]

I got these and love them:

Fieldsheer Titanium Air 2 Pants - Motorcycle Superstore

Wearing shorts underneath they are very comfortable and my legs get plenty of ventilation. Great if I'm just riding or if I'm meeting some people at the park and want to hang in shorts.

[DucDave]

I have a variety of options including Draggin Jeans and Joe Rocket Perforated Leathers that zip to the jacket...

That and my yellowish ballistic one piece from Olympia...

[Cheese-GSXR]

I picked up some Joe Rocket Alter Ego pants recently but I haven't gotten them really hot yet. They've got padding in the knees and hips plus some zip off panels that might ventilate fairly well. If I crash I want to be wearing my perf'd leather pants though...

[spicy]

i've got rev'it dakar's. i bought them new in late 05, i think, but the new models of them are only black (mine are light tan and grey).

the color has a surprising amount of effect on it, particularly if you're not moving on bright days in summer. they were actually considerably cooler than the normal jeans i had previously been wearing.

they've got removable cold weather/rain liners, and the inside is pretty similar to the light mesh that you find in swim trunks. they're armored and have silver reflectors on the sides, and are styled kinda like cargo pants (two big lower thigh pockets on the sides (where the reflectors are), with zippered vents at the front part of each pocket (basically it faces straight forward while you're riding and is as outboard as possible so you get substantial flow when you're moving without having the fairings block the breeze).

they're part of a matching 2-piece i have. they're pretty solid, as long as you're moving, and you can stay reasonably comfortable in them just wearing athletic shorts and boxers underneath in probably up to 85* or so, and i really REALLY hate the heat. much hotter than that, and i don't ride, so i can't really attest to how they perform in the 90s.

the color really does have a significant impact on how much energy they'll absorb, so if you don't mind getting light colored ones (which will almost assuredly not match any bike), i'd say get the lightest you can find.

[Bhavesh]

check the bigger motorcycle stores (vansons outlet, brocketon cycle, etc.) and wear any brand of perforated leather pants

I picked up a $60 pair of Teknic pants and perforation makes ALL the difference in hot weather, while armored leather keeps your protected, god forbid you go down

[Stoneman]

Originally Posted by CQ7String

What are you folks wearing for hot weather riding? I stopped by Cycles 128 today to pick up some boots, and tried on a pair of JR Ballistic 5 overpants. They're really not-very-good. The liner feels like you're wearing a snowsuit and there's no real venting to speak of.

That's my biggest complaint with my Ballistics. That liner also makes it impossible to move around if you try to wear shorts under 'em - ya just kinda stick to the inside of 'em. They're great in cooler weather though, when it warrants wearing something long-legged under 'em...

[CQ7String]

I ended up ordering a set of Joe Rocket Alter Ego's through newenough.com. I'm built like an engineer (translation: I have a beer gut ) and the sizing is a little weird - the legs will most likely be too long and I'll probably need to get them tailored.

I'll post up how they are once they come in. Thanks very much for all the suggestions guys, if they end up sucking I'll be back in this thread trying other things. Those Rev'it's look great, and if I wasn't such an impulse-buyer kind of guy I'd probably be getting a set.

[Cheese-GSXR]

Originally Posted by CQ7String

the legs will most likely be too long and I'll probably need to get them tailored.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. I'm a shrimp and I always order my riding pants "tall" because of the riding position. The Alter Ego's have a Velcro adjustment at the ankle so you can cinch them up around your boot and they won't drag when you're walking around off the bike. The adjustable knee pads help a lot if you're short wearing long pants too.

[Benyen Soljax]

Originally Posted by spicy

i've got rev'it dakar's. i bought them new in late 05, i think, but the new models of them are only black (mine are light tan and grey).

the color has a surprising amount of effect on it, particularly if you're not moving on bright days in summer. they were actually considerably cooler than the normal jeans i had previously been wearing.

they've got removable cold weather/rain liners, and the inside is pretty similar to the light mesh that you find in swim trunks. they're armored and have silver reflectors on the sides, and are styled kinda like cargo pants (two big lower thigh pockets on the sides (where the reflectors are), with zippered vents at the front part of each pocket (basically it faces straight forward while you're riding and is as outboard as possible so you get substantial flow when you're moving without having the fairings block the breeze).

they're part of a matching 2-piece i have. they're pretty solid, as long as you're moving, and you can stay reasonably comfortable in them just wearing athletic shorts and boxers underneath in probably up to 85* or so, and i really REALLY hate the heat. much hotter than that, and i don't ride, so i can't really attest to how they perform in the 90s.

the color really does have a significant impact on how much energy they'll absorb, so if you don't mind getting light colored ones (which will almost assuredly not match any bike), i'd say get the lightest you can find.

ive been looking around and not many people make white-ish pants. seems kinda silly now that i think about it. where did you buy those rev'its and about how much were they?

might as well forget about white leather pants for guys too. bummer.

[spicy]

i got them from motomarket a while ago. they were pretty expensive (probably cuz it's motomarket, but they're a great group of folks so i don't mind supporting the local business), i think $300-350ish or so, but well worth it because of how versatile they are -- literally a 3.5-season set of pants, although sometimes in the summer it gets a little too toasty, but then it's just time to ride at night .

[cambelloni]

Originally Posted by snakeyes

I got these and love them:

Fieldsheer Titanium Air 2 Pants - Motorcycle Superstore

Wearing shorts underneath they are very comfortable and my legs get plenty of ventilation. Great if I'm just riding or if I'm meeting some people at the park and want to hang in shorts.

I have these as well and they are great. Good price too.

[rockymt21]

How well do Carhartt's hold up in a crash? I've got loads of them. I know they aren't intended to be used for motorcycle riding, but I figure after buying a bike, helmet, jacket, gloves etc.... Pants is the last thing I want to buy.

[selltekk]

Buy a perforated 2 piece suit. If you go down, you will be glad you did.

[97BladeRider]

Originally Posted by rockymt21

How well do Carhartt's hold up in a crash? I've got loads of them. I know they aren't intended to be used for motorcycle riding, but I figure after buying a bike, helmet, jacket, gloves etc.... Pants is the last thing I want to buy.

Probably a little longer than jeans will, but not much longer.

[Cheese-GSXR]

Originally Posted by rockymt21

How well do Carhartt's hold up in a crash? I've got loads of them. I know they aren't intended to be used for motorcycle riding, but I figure after buying a bike, helmet, jacket, gloves etc.... Pants is the last thing I want to buy.

Interesting that you think somehow you'll balance on your head, torso and gloves in a crash without your lower body touching the pavement. Possible I suppose, but probably very unlikely.

Here's a little exercise for you:

Stand up from your chair, put your hands in front of your chest and fall over sideways. I'll bet you've now got a bruise on your knee and your hip. These are the spots that are probably going to hit first in a low-side crash. Now get a running start, bounce off the chair and huck your body in any direction you wish. I'll bet you've now got bruises on your shoulder, knee, hip and maybe even your head. These are the spots that are probably going to hit first during a high-side crash.

If you'd like to protect the spots that bruised you're going to want armor or padding in those spots (knees & hips) since other materials aren't going to offer impact protection. After the initial strike of the pavement gear is more about skin conservation. As you asphalt surf down the street, leather will hold up the best and others not so well.

Everybody makes their own personal choices about how much they're willing to risk when they ride. Ride your own ride ...

[rockymt21]

Originally Posted by Cheese-GSXR

Interesting that you think somehow you'll balance on your head, torso and gloves in a crash without your lower body touching the pavement.

This is exactly my plan. Just like the wrestling midget that skids on his head.