Textile Motorcycle Trousers

Some motorcyclists have a near religious commitment to leather as the only material that is appropriate for a motorcycle trouser. Frankly, such people are out of date, and don't understand modern motorcycle wear. Leather may look good, and it has certain anti-abrasion qualities. But leather motorbike trousers are invariably worn close to the skin, and so are not warm to wear. Leather also absorbs water, and so is useless when it rains. A modern textile trouser with armour and a good quality anti-abrasion backing material will be every bit as protective as a leather trouser if you come off the bike. But a textile trouser with a waterproof membrane will be much more waterproof. And as most textile trousers have a thermal liner of some description, they’ll keep you much warmer too. In the summer, you will want air vents to allow fresh air to flow through to the skin, and almost no leather trousers offer this facility. So, if your main concern is how small your bum looks, or if you want to pretend you’re a Moto GP racer, go for leather.  But for most riders on most bikes, in most riding conditions, a textile motorcycle trouser will make much more sense.

The best motorcycle trousers for any biker will depend on where and when they ride. For the commuter or long distance tourer then perhaps a Rukka pant might be the right choice. For the adventure rider there will be a Klim pant that is suitable. 

In the modern world, many bikers will ride in most conditions in motorcycle jeans. These days they can offer great abrasion resistance, are comfortable and easy to wear.