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Cruiser
Posts: 104
Corona, CA | Our winters here in So Cal aren't bad but when riding in full over pants it gets a little bulky and warm after awhile.
I have seen a lot more non Harley rider wearing chaps. Are they really effective or is it just for the bad a$$ pirate look ?
Tom |
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Cruiser
Posts: 164
Quad Cities, IL | Living in the Midwest, I wear chaps with some regularity in spring, early fall when it isn't cold enough to want my fully lined riding pants. I also sometimes wear them on longer hauls. Although my chaps don't have armor (like my riding pants) they do offer another layer of skin if I were to lay 'er down. That said, I really like and notice the extra protection against wind and cold assuming we aren't talking about sub freezing weather like my ride early today. I like chaps too because they pack up easily in my saddlebag and I always have them for cooler evenings, etc.
A reasonable investment in my book but I also know they make some nice textile riding pants with liner options and armor. It becomes a preference thing. But sometimes it's ok to want to look like a bad ars pirate. ARGH! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | I have worn them for 30+ YEARS - and not on a HD. They are very effective when it's cool - and can even protect from the heat - but I normally wear them in the colder days. Easy to put on, store easily. Co-Pilot looks a lot sexier in hers than I do.... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 196
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Visionary
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Rancho Cucamonga, CA | I have some insulated chaps from my harley days. They worked real well in the cold, but they were bulkier than the regular one's. They always meant making a stop to strip when the day warmed up. I guess it's better than wearing thick pants and not being able to strip, but know I'm looking into plug-in pants so when it starts warming up, you can tun them off, or visa versa. |
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Tourer
Posts: 415
| Chaps are a great compromise from thick pants. Plus nothing bloks the wind like leather.
I like my two piece chaps. Zip them up then loop around your belt. Roll them up when done, take up very little room. |
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | Spring and Fall |
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | They not only look "bitchin" but protect the crap out of you!! Beyond that I need the wind off my legs when riding "Hotrod" when you leave and it's 26 degrees and need to put 150+ miles on to make the appointment in Tomahawk with the dealer. I do have a major comment, you have to "want to do this to begin with" to make it happen. We have had rain and thawing here in WI. and I want to ride both bikes but need to find out how much "salt" residue is still on the road??? Wat too much!!!
As always....
Ride hard, ride fast, but above all - ride safe......
Wildman |
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Tourer
Posts: 520
Simi Valley, CA | Wore them this weekend riding here in So Cal. Only when temps dip do I wear them, or on long trips for protection. |
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | WAY TOO MUCH!!!! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | I own a pair of the uninsulated type which I bought one day when the weather turned ugly on me and they were the only alternative to riding wet and cold.
I will admit to being a big fan of the "style", but there are usually valid reasons for stuff sticking around virtually unchanged for years and years, even if we think it looks funny.
Chaps are surprisingly effective at keeping you warm and add the abrasion protection of a leather jacket to your legs. When you don't want the added protection/insulation, they're easy to shed and they roll up into a relatively small space, so all in all I think they're a pretty valid and useful piece of motorcycle gear. Are they the best option for everyone? Probably not, but they were about the same price as a pair of jeans and the waist is adjustable so its a pretty good long term investment unlike a pair of leather pants. |
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New user
Posts: 4
| Any time the temps go below 60 I find it much more comfortable to ride with them. I would wear them above 60 to to keep my pant legs from flapping so much but it's just too hot. And I gotta admit, I don't much care for dressing like a pirate, but I do dig the ladies wearing them!
Edited by iabob 2011-01-02 9:59 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 266
Hartland, , WI | #57 - 2011-01-02 7:30 PM
Chaps are a great compromise from thick pants. Plus nothing bloks the wind like leather.
I like my two piece chaps. Zip them up then loop around your belt. Roll them up when done, take up very little room.
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Cruiser
Posts: 169
Iowa | I wear them in cooler weather and on longer trips for protection. They do great keeping the wind of as well as bugs and road grime. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 238
SF Bay Area | I wear several types.. on hot days, I wear these, custom made (in black) with kevlar inside panels, mesh backs. They actually keep my legs cooler on a hot day, and I can hold my leg against the R heatshield when stopped. These roll up into a small space and live in my saddlebag.
http://www.coloradochaps.com/motorcycle_chaps.html
On cold days I often wear full leather chaps, a lot cheaper (and more fun) than a skin graft.
On really cold days (40's in Calif) I wear insulated riding pants, with CE armor, water membrane. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Another good target thread to help folks that don't know, know that the more skin you wear, the less skin you'll tear if you lay 'er down. Being frugal, uh, cheap, leather is the way to go for motorcycle gear and a leather jacket and chaps are found at a great price compared to all the other armor found on the market today. I will admit that I'm not a 100% wearer of gear, but it does give me piece of mind when I do wear it and it is always in the saddle bag if I'm not wearing. I do pity the folk though that takes fashion over function when it comes to protection, argh!
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-01-03 4:43 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| I prefer leather over pants. They are around $100 at Amazon. I have the zippers on both sides style with satin lining makes them easy to get on and off. They have really deep pockets. Plus my crotch doesn't get cold. O.o |
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Tourer
Posts: 411
Dallas, Texas | I wear chaps for cold weather rides or other special occasions. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
Tucson , AZ | If you ride in weather in the 30's you will wish you had them. Make a world of difference. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | Over 50 deg I don't use chaps. 35-50 Deg ill use chap's 15-35 Deg ill use ski paints. Below 15Deg ill use ski paints with chaps over them. There are a lot of different kinds of chaps. I have insulated chaps. They are very thick with a liner inside. Here is a picture of what they look like.
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | iluvink - 2011-01-03 7:46 AM
I wear chaps for cold weather rides or other special occasions.
I never thought cold weather rides were special occasions, they are the norm here in Va from late November through March-April. But I guess in Dallas they would be a special occassion.  |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 9
| I wear them in the Winter in Alabama. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | team5150 - 2011-01-02 4:37 PM Our winters here in So Cal aren't bad but when riding in full over pants it gets a little bulky and warm after awhile. I have seen a lot more non Harley rider wearing chaps. Are they really effective or is it just for the bad a$$ pirate look ? Tom Here's a photo of Co-Pilot & me in January 2008 - just before I took delivery of the SPCSHP - we were off on a winter ride on 'CLYDE' - my custom 1100 Virago. It's easy to see from the picture that there is no "bad a$$ pirate" look involved - just comfort, safety and warmth !
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Cruiser
Posts: 173
Prescott Valley, AZ | I wear my chaps during the cooler/cold months while the co-pilot wears them year round for protection for the flying rocks etc. She got tagged by one rock last year that made a small cut on her lower leg even with the chaps on! So aside fro riding in Phoenix in the summer (which is really rare as it is in fact hot as Hell) she wears te chaps all the time. |
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | I used to wear chaps all the time, but one day decided to drop the coin on leather riding pants, and I don't think I've worn the chaps since. But I digress... If you are just looking for something to keep on the bike for when the temp dips, or when you expect to be pelted by bugs or bigger (those things in Virginia that make all the noise come to mind) then chaps are great. I'm an AGAT (all gear all the time) guy, and frankly don't care what other people think about what I'm wearing. I nice set of chaps with zippers or snaps on the side so you can get in/out of them easily can really make what would normally be a uncomfortable ride... very comfortable. |
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Who wears chaps ?
