Chaps vs. Leather Pants
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
Chaps vs. Leather Pants
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.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Chaps are the way to go,leather gets very warm when temps start to rise.The wife and I wore all leather for a while,back to chaps only way to regulate the heat.Nothing sweeter than seeing a fine looking woman in leather pants.Just thinking about it makes the blood flow in one diRECTION!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 522
From: USA
Chaps can be good for wind protection/ warmth. They fold easy into saddle bags and you can change out of them without an indecency ticket.
Leather pants offer alot of crash protection plus the above chap wind/warm reference. Bulky if folded. Can be twice the cost of chaps or more. No Village references.
Leather pants offer alot of crash protection plus the above chap wind/warm reference. Bulky if folded. Can be twice the cost of chaps or more. No Village references.
Last edited by Kenny94945; Sep 4, 2011 at 09:16 AM. Reason: pselling
CHAPS...because I like the look (yep, I said it - while making the "Y" in YMCA), they keep me warm enough in colder weather (MD riding -not far from you), and they offer good protection. They do take a second or two to put on - at my age the leg buttons are tougher to get at sometimes - but that doesn't really bother me. Definitely nice to be able to take them off when heading into a restaurant/store.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 765
Likes: 13
From: Bremen, GA
I have Chaps & Over Pants. I prefer the over pants to the chaps. They just seem more comfortable, they have pockets I can get to and I think they are easier to get on & off and I can take them off without getting a ticket.
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I wear chaps when the weather gets cool..When the weather gets really nasty cold I wear leather pants with suspenders,which is very comfortable..I would like to make a pair of bib overalls out of leather..I think that would be the most functional..Never really cared much about fashion when it comes to stayin warm..
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Chaps. But don't buy cheap ones. If they are 40 bucks, they are cheap ones. Good chaps really will keep you warm and not flap around at 70mph. They fold up nice even in small saddlebags.
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