Chaps vs. Leather Pants
Banned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 12,594
Likes: 9
From: Bama
Spare me the "chaps are gay" responses. I know, ever since the Village People, it's hard to get that stigma out of your mind. For the younger crowd (and guys like me with 3 sons in their 20's), Mr. Slave on "South Park" has helped perpetuate that stereotype. You can also keep the "leather is safer than denim" speeches too. I get it (the jeans in my sig pic are Kevlar lined).
But I do have a serious question as winter approaches (and I do NOT want to park the bike in the garage until spring). I have read lots of the threads described above and the discussions are always the benefits of chaps vs. no chaps. I have searched the forum (so I don't need that suggestion either) but I have not been able to find any discussions contrasting chaps vs. leather pants or overpants. Homophobia aside (OK, maybe not entirely), I like the looks of pants better and wonder why no one talks about those options.
But I do have a serious question as winter approaches (and I do NOT want to park the bike in the garage until spring). I have read lots of the threads described above and the discussions are always the benefits of chaps vs. no chaps. I have searched the forum (so I don't need that suggestion either) but I have not been able to find any discussions contrasting chaps vs. leather pants or overpants. Homophobia aside (OK, maybe not entirely), I like the looks of pants better and wonder why no one talks about those options.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 525
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From: Stoughton,MA
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,393
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From: The real N.CA (not S.F. Bay Area)
I have chaps and leather jeans. The leather jeans provide more protection and don't make any difference getting on and off the bike. It's a toss up what I'll wear on what day. I really don't care if someone thinks I look gay. Never had anyone with enough huevos in their BVD's to come up and say it to my face.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,361
Likes: 117
From: auckland,new zealand
i ride my bike pretty much year around,
on weekends and puttin around i were jeans!however as i take my bike to work and i am on the road at 5.30 in the morning i wear leather pants, keep me warm in the morning and if i get caught in rain,leather will keep me reasonably dry for about 25 mins,enough time to get home,or to work, if that happens wearing assless chaps the butt off your jeans will be soaked thru in 2 minutes!!
chaps are for cowboys,if you wore chaps in nz or oz you would get laughed out of town!
leathers are basicaly for protection right? so that would suggest to me chaps would only do half the job if you went down, probably better off with kevlar jeans then chaps for more protection
leather pants will give you full protection, warmth, and rain proof for half hour! but get hot in summer!
on weekends and puttin around i were jeans!however as i take my bike to work and i am on the road at 5.30 in the morning i wear leather pants, keep me warm in the morning and if i get caught in rain,leather will keep me reasonably dry for about 25 mins,enough time to get home,or to work, if that happens wearing assless chaps the butt off your jeans will be soaked thru in 2 minutes!!
chaps are for cowboys,if you wore chaps in nz or oz you would get laughed out of town!
leathers are basicaly for protection right? so that would suggest to me chaps would only do half the job if you went down, probably better off with kevlar jeans then chaps for more protection
leather pants will give you full protection, warmth, and rain proof for half hour! but get hot in summer!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
A lot of things I relate to gay and am careful where I say it.Chaps might be gay down South but a word of advise don't make that statement in the cooler climates.You might not like the come back once your cage was done being rattled.The wife and I carry our chaps and cold weather gear most of the time.Our nights cool off during riding season sometimes it's a good feeling knowing the leather is close by.Seeing a fine looking lady in leather pants,it's a damn wonder we don't have a house full of little ones running around.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 8
Depends on the look you are going for.
...or....
Sorry, had to do it.
Okay seriously, now that I got that out of my system...
Leather pants are just that, pants. When you get off the bike, you are wearing them wherever you go. Chaps can be taken off and stuck in a set of bags, as stated. Also, chaps are typically a lot thicker, and when added to denim jeans underneath can provide more protection. All in all, do what you feel the most comfortable in.
...or....
Sorry, had to do it.
Okay seriously, now that I got that out of my system...
Leather pants are just that, pants. When you get off the bike, you are wearing them wherever you go. Chaps can be taken off and stuck in a set of bags, as stated. Also, chaps are typically a lot thicker, and when added to denim jeans underneath can provide more protection. All in all, do what you feel the most comfortable in.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,808
Likes: 3
Leather pants are just that, pants. When you get off the bike, you are wearing them wherever you go. Chaps can be taken off and stuck in a set of bags, as stated.
I have chaps from FC. Top knotch quality, but the worst waste of money. I should have just gotten their leather overpants. Why? Because I value my *** and genitals.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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There's a company that makes bib overalls out of leather already:
http://www.stonelakeleatherworks.com/
Seems to me like a WOM though, when textile would be MUCH better in the cold, IMO
http://www.stonelakeleatherworks.com/
Seems to me like a WOM though, when textile would be MUCH better in the cold, IMO
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 5
From: Hudson Valley, NY
Leather pants actually cover the areas of your lower body that will take the majority of the road rash (hips and ***). Chaps are more convenient to take on and off but are not nearly as good protection from the road. This is all really common sense, I'm not telling anyone anything they wouldn't already know just by looking at the two side by side.