Winter riding pants, what do you use?

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 1:52 pm

I would like to do some cold, but dry, riding this year. I have a pretty good leather jacket, but I'm not sure its right for real cold weather. I have a modular helmet that can keep the cold out well enough. But my only riding pants are reinforced jeans with vents to keep them extra cool.

There are so many choices I had no idea where to start, so I figured Id ask what you guys use.

Over pants, or the only pair? Leather or fabric? Should I get a full one piece suit?

I know I want it to have armor (my jacket has back, shoulder, and elbow), but I don't want to look like I belong on a Goldwing (not that I dont like wings).

Any advice?

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:04 pm

I recently took a ride to Big Bear mountain in the San Bernardino forest for October fest. Had a family emergency and had to high tail it home in the middle of the night. A cold night. When I set off it was only 21 degrees.

Ive got a pair of nylon over pants I used to carry when I snow skied for when it got really really cold. They roll up into their own back pocket and easily store in my tank or tail bag. Ive found them online anywhere from 30 to 230 bucks, so shop...I mean really shop.

I got mine from a ski shop, cheap. Ive seen them at outdoor shops too. Mine arent insulated at all, but they keep 90-95% of the wind out, so they dont really need to be. If I were to purposely take off on an icy day, ideally I'd get some of those insulated jeans with the flannel inside and throw the goretex on the outside and be confident that I could ride through cold that would force me to choke the engine to make it run, comfortably. Ive got just an inexpensive Joe Rocket textile jacket, but with a fleece sweater beneath...its toasty. Wink

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:01 pm

I wear Tour Master Transition Series 3 jacket and Tour Master Caliper pants. They work fine for me down to freezing temps and I did do a 350 mile ride a couple weeks ago to swap bikes with my son with a departing temp of 24F. Body/legs were fine but if I didn't have heated grips I would have been in trouble.

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:13 pm

I wear ski pants. Water proof, wind proof and can wear over jeans. But they don't have any road protection... Also they are cheap. If I were going to go on a long ride I would probably invest in a pair with the protective gear.

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:15 pm

Cordura Pants with a thin layer of of long underwear
will keep your legs plenty warm.

Lots of manufacturers out there, here's an example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROAD-GEAR-MOTORCYCLE-PANTS-WITH-REISSA-CORDURA-MATERIAL-/380769811733?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&var=&hash=item58a7a63d15&vxp=mtr

I find that with a full face helmet, windproof pants and jacket, good gloves (HELD Steve Classics)
and my Gerbing electric vest plugged in, I'm comfortable down to 35 F.

Trying like hell to ride each and every month of the year, even if it's only once.

Have fun,

Toonces

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:20 pm

Cordura Pants with a thin layer of of long underwear
will keep your legs plenty warm.

Lots of manufacturers out there, here's an example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROAD-GEAR-MOTORCYCLE-PANTS-WITH-REISSA-CORDURA-MATERIAL-/380769811733?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&var=&hash=item58a7a63d15&vxp=mtr

I find that with a full face helmet, windproof pants and jacket, good gloves (HELD Steve Classics)
and my Gerbing electric vest plugged in, I'm comfortable down to 35 F.

Trying like hell to ride each and every month of the year, even if it's only once.

Have fun,

Toonces

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:53 pm

I wear joe rocket ballistic pants, padded hips and knees. They have a zip in rain liner, so they are not water proof, just water resistant. I wear them all year round because they provide protection and match the rest of my gear. I wear shorts most of the year under these, and I wear thermals under them when it's below 50 degrees. When it gets below 40F i wear my heated pants from First Gear. They are good down to 10F which is as cold as I've ridden.

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:22 pm

I wear Aerostitch Arborwear. These are 14oz double walled, water repellant canvas pants with knee pads. Very warm.

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:40 pm

It depends what temperature you want to ride in!
I like to do the odd ride in winter too, if it's above freezing and the roads are not covered in salt.

The first thing I'd recommend is a neck warmer - really cheap and effective, and you can pull them over your nose and mouth too.
Second would we a set of winter gloves or a set of inner gloves - again the latter should be really cheap.
Next step is a choice of cheap & cheerful, but wind proof or full on winter gear.
So a pair of waterproof over trousers will keep the wind out of your jeans, but won't keep out the cold below about 50f or 8C for us Brits. You could get a matching top such as http://www.getgeared.co.uk/alpinestars_rainwear_quick_seal_out_2-piece_set_black?sc=19&category=165 or go for a one-piece, which keeps the heat in better.
These have the advantage of slipping over your existing gear, and also they are easily removed if it does warm up.
You could also get wind proof base layers - http://www.getgeared.co.uk/s.nl/sc.7/category./.f?search=Edz
Last but not least is the full Cordura set up. More expensive than the slip on nylon gear, but thicker, more protection (knees & hips) and a zip out thermal lining. Good for riding in temperatures down to freezing (with the lining out) and below (with the lining in).

I have all of the above, and a good weather app on my iPhone so that I can work out which gear to wear. Most of the time now, I wear my cordura year year-round, as all the waterproof and thermal linings can zip out, and the temperature doesn't get much above 70 here in England!!

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:20 pm

Kilamongaro first gear jacket with first layer ski underwear called second skin turtle neck then flannel shirt. Bottom half starts off with ski underwear again second skin then wind pants by rev it then jeans and that's it. With winter gloves alpine-star full face with a wool gator around neck. It keeps me warm for about 50 miles at about 25f for the ride to and from work.

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:56 pm

Have you ever experienced snowmobile pants.

When I thin k winter, I think severe cold.

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:50 am

nathanhouse wrote:

I wear ski pants. Water proof, wind proof and can wear over jeans. But they don't have any road protection... Also they are cheap. If I were going to go on a long ride I would probably invest in a pair with the protective gear.

+1

JT in Texas

MB-5 Joined: Aug 24, 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Cape Coral

Wouldn't that be too hot?It was 86 here yesterday.

Ron

MB-5 Joined: Aug 24, 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Cape Coral

Wouldn't that be too hot?It was 86 here yesterday.

Ron

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 2:58 am

Ah, Greenboro - sorta southern...

...I bit.

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 3:23 am

Interesting that most of you guys don't use actual motorcycle pants, I got some over pants and they kept me warm in 50 degree weather without the liners.

I needed some glove liners, and after a while my jacket got cold soaked and wasnt doing anything, so if I wanted to go down the highway I'm going to need something better...

Also my helmet leaks a bit at the bottom of the visor.

So legs are warm, now I need some better other stuff...

Thanks for the help

Red CB1100F Joined: Jul 19, 2010 Posts: 6420 Location: Ct

On the harely I wear quilted work pants, long johns and leather chaps.

On the CBF I wear the same, minus the chaps. Cool

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 5:50 am

ctluba wrote:

On the harely I wear quilted work pants, long johns and leather chaps.

On the CBF I wear the same, minus the chaps. Cool

Now you've started it.

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 12:22 am

kenc42 wrote:

....I got some over pants and they kept me warm in 50 degree weather without the liners.

thx113 wrote:

ctluba wrote:

On the harely I wear quilted work pants, long johns and leather chaps.

On the CBF I wear the same, minus the chaps. Cool

Now you've started it.

I think it started earlier....