Hunting for the ultimate bike-friendly jeans

Jeans have become so pervasive that it is easy to forget that, not too long ago, they were considered totally unprofessional and inappropriate in the work and business worlds. Fortunately, that has changed, to a certain extent, and, in most spaces, depending on what you dress them with, jeans qualify as smart casual business attire.

I have always loved jeans and can wear them in any conditions. I have walked through a snow-draped forest in the north of Sweden in jeans (with long johns underneath) and I have been in the heat of Accra in jeans. They have been an integral part of my wardrobe, the cuts, styles and colours evolving over the years. I cringe at my boot cut jean days and have, gradually, shifted to a more straight-leg, slightly tapered look.

Aesthetics and design are important to me and, yes, there is vanity attached to this, which has made acquiring motorcycle riding gear difficult. Most of the standard gear leans towards safety and functionality, and works well for breakfast runs, dirt exploration and touring, but, when it comes to commuting, feels cumbersome and bulky.

So, I have been looking for the perfect riding jeans that are comfortable both on and off the bike and look good. Other than jeans made by manufacturers like BMW Motorrad and Triumph, and Alpinestars has a decent pair in the Copper 2 rang, I haven’t really found what I am looking for so, in casting the net further afield, I have come up with a wish list, which I need to narrow down and budget for.

Crave For Ride SKULL

UK-based Crave For Ride bills their SKULL motorcycle jeans as the “world’s strongest denim” made from Armalith, which is a combination of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and cotton. This makes the jeans abrasion-resistant, in a single layer of fabric, and is said to hold up in a 20m road slide.

The handmade jeans have a “regular retro rocker fit” and come with six pockets (three back, one inseam and two front), cuffed pant legs and knee protector pockets. They also have a space invaders skull on the back pockets, which, if you knew my predisposition to skulls, explains their appeal to me.

Resurgence Café Racer Jeans

These come in either slim straight or a skinny fit, with bottom turn-ups, and are made of stretch selvedge denim with a Pekev lining, made from the world’s toughest polymer said to have the highest breaking point for yarn. It also comes with thin D3O protectors for the knees and hips, for impact. They have that Café Racer aesthetic about them and come in blue or black.

Fuel Motorcycles

I can’t choose between Fuel’s “Greasy” Denim Pants and the Sergeant 2 Waxed, though the Denim Pants look more at home on the streets and in the office than the Sergeant 2. They are made of 14oz denim mixed with DuPont Kevlar fibre, which is a strong, durable, heat-resistant yet lightweight fibre, and come with knee and hip protectors. A vintage design that tapers at the bottom, even the stitching on the back pockets has been thought through and was intended to look like curved roads.

The Sergeant 2 consists of waxed denim and Fuel’s 3Core fabric, which is light, strong, UV resistant, bi-stretch and abrasion resistant. They have adjustable knee protections and also come with the knee and hip protectors, as well as double stitching of the seams. You can get them in Black, Waxed, Sahara and Colonial. Don’t know about the name of the last one, which is essentially white. The Sahara is dope, though.

REV’IT Jackson 2 SK

A skinny fit in a washed black, these jeans are made from 13oz Cordura denim, which is abrasion resistant and tough. To increase safety, they are also triple needle stitched, particularly in parts of the jeans where there is risk of their coming apart in a fall. They also have ultra-thin armour to protect the knees and hips, two back pockets and two front pockets.