Let's talk pants

[BJ_CT]

I thought boots and shorts were back in fashion.

 
Well... at least their not running shorts.

[face33]

Awesome information! Thanks everyone.

I live in Knoxville, TN - Anyone know of a superstore in Atlanta or somewhere near me that carries a bunch of these items? I want to try on every pant that's been suggested! Very interested in the BMW lightweight padded cargos that convert to shorts. And the Motoports?! Wow, you can customize them to spec - cool!
I have a Cycle Gear nearby, and I like the service/staff there . . . but,,, I'm from LA, and we had SUPERSTORES there.

Check my purple hip out on CDA forum if you wanna see how well jeans work in an impact...I'm padding up!

Awesome Forum!

[COGnosticator]

The Olympia Stealth is a one-piece vented suit that works well.  Much quicker and easier than separate pants and jacket.

   I just sold my Stealth after one ride.  I like being able to take off my jacket and lay it over my electronics to hide them.  Then if I need to take the pants off, two full length zippers and the front snap and I am outta them.  I had trouble with my shoulders when trying to put on or take off the top part of the stealth, the suit would "hang" on my broad shoulder 

but to each his own

[Fred H.]

Awesome information! Thanks everyone.

I live in Knoxville, TN - Anyone know of a superstore in Atlanta or somewhere near me that carries a bunch of these items? I want to try on every pant that's been suggested! Very interested in the BMW lightweight padded cargos that convert to shorts. And the Motoports?! Wow, you can customize them to spec - cool!
I have a Cycle Gear nearby, and I like the service/staff there . . . but,,, I'm from LA, and we had SUPERSTORES there.

Check my purple hip out on CDA forum if you wanna see how well jeans work in an impact...I'm padding up!

Awesome Forum!

My experience with Cycle Gear has been that they never carry any of the brand I'm interested in looking at. I'd be very surprised if you find Olympia, Tourmaster, or Joe Rocket pants there, and those the main three I'd be interested in looking at.

Some dealerships may have them, but it's a pig in a poke. Good luck finding ones to try on for size.

[steveWFL]

suggestion: don't fool around with generic closeout brands. in knoxville go visit the beemer stealership and get th real stuff for a dollar more. these guys are great www.destinationmotorcycles.com

by the way a bunch of us are meeting in andrews, nc on saturday the 7th if you're interested in riding some curves. i'll give you the hotel info for Sat. night too

[face33]

Hey! Thanks for the invite. Please forward along the info. I am opening a restaurant Sep 1st, so I might not get a lot of riding in until fall - but I would certainly put it on my calendar and give it my best.

Are you in Tampa? How do you know about desperation motordorks?!?! I do like the BMW pants; but I passed on a Triumph there to get my Connie. . . and quit Bimmers altogether. . . Guess I can still go buy apparel! I just know they ask me what my BMW is every time I take it there - know nothing about the new bikes - and Albert Haynesworth is running around redlining the gaskets out of the demo S1000RR in front of bars all over Knoxville - bad rep over there.

BTW: I bought my bike in St.Pete @ Powersports

I was gonna PM you, but maybe some other folks would like to know about your mtn ride -

[C1xRider]

I just bought a pair of Tour Master Venture Air riding pants (2 weeks ago).  I already had the matching coat, and love it.  The mesh pants come with 2 removable inner liners, 1 for rain, the other for warmth.  You can use either, both, or neither.  The mesh breaths very well, and you can wear light weight shorts under them.  The legs have zippers that allow putting them on and off over your boots.  The knee pad height is also adjustable.

They come in black or silver.  If I lived in a hot climate, I would opt for the silver.  The black will absorb solar energy, and there's no mesh around the knees.

I figured this gives the most flexibility for all riding weather and conditions one might encounter if on a long road trip.  So far, I'm very happy with them.

[sreinschmidt]

Draggin Jeans for me. I also have a pair of Joe Rocket mesh pants which I rarely wear. I agree that the draggin jeans are not the best protection but draggin jeans on your butt is way better protections then super armored pants hanging in the closet.

[C1xRider]

Why leave them in the closet?  That's what saddle bags are for! 

[face33]

steveWFL, I was looking forward to hearing about your mountain ride. I wonder if I bad mouthed your friends at Destination and ticked you off. Hope not. Sorry if I did. I have been meaning to vent a bit though - and you brought their name up out of nowhere!

They have really let me down a few times - and if I lived in a city with a good dealer I wouldn't have discovered the joys of the Kawi Connie!!

[Tactical_Mik]

Tour master flex here.  Two things, find somewhere locally that has the pants you want to buy so you can figure out what size you actually need.  Only came in black at the time/or still and I would have liked to have a lighter color.  They flow good air though, quilted liner for cold and rain shell.  I have never had much in way of protective clothing so I didn't have any experience with sizing.  There wasn't/isn't a place locally that had any of the products I wished to compare so what I ended up with, although functional, has entirely too much room around the waist/rear and hips.  Aside from that the pants work well.

[face33]

As much as I prefer internet shopping to retail shopping - moto gear companies' sizing is all over the place. I like winter gear bigger, so as to fit over my pants and coat, and summer gear more fitted. I loved my Nolan N102 helmet so much that I ordered a N103 as soon as I could - and it doesn't fit at all. I got an XL just to relieve pain, and now it's too big to be comfortable. Noisy too. So even within the same company you can't really order off the internet.

Makes me miss LA. I bought a helmet from one of the big retailers in LA because I felt bad about going in there for years and trying stuff on, then ordering it online cheaper! You can go into a store in LA and try on almost everything out there....