Wear This, Not That: Pants

In this 2nd installment of Wear This Not That, let's talk a little bit about what kind of women's motorcycle pants you should wear....

What's wrong with such an innocent pair of snow pants? They're warm, waterproof... and so cozy!

And that's about all they will offer you in the event of a crash; they may keep you warm and dry while you're cursing yourself for not buying real riding pants. I'm sorry to break this to you, but that's exactly what you need to prepare for. So why isn't a toasty pair of snow / ski pants good enough to ride in?

As you can see, these pants (and anything not motorcycle specific) refuse to cooperate should you separate from your vehicle. And although we try our best to keep ourselves attached to our beloved motorcycles, it doesn't always end up that way. I'm not even talking about going 60-70mph. You can do plenty of damage to your body by just crossing the street and tripping off the sidewalk. I can't tell you how many times I've hurt my back just stepping off the curb weird, or trying to avoid falling on my dog so I end up with a bruised knee because I chose to hit the ground instead. Now add some speed into the mix and you have a really good chance of getting injured.

Two crucial points of impact are your hips and knees. If you accidentally trip while walking across your living room, I can guarantee that if you hit the ground these two points will make contact with the grand. Oh and probably the palm of your hands (so that's why you need gloves). But that's going to be the next installment. As far as this one, those two points need some protection so your bones don't take the full impact of that fall.

Additionally, these kinds of pants are for falling down on soft, powdery piles of snow. Not pavement. And pavement is not going to be nice when they start rubbing against the ground. None of your snow/ski wear is designed to stay together in the case of an accident, or hold up if there's any friction between you and the ground. The last thing you want is your flesh to make contact with pavement.

And we can't forget about fit! Something you won't be doing while skiing is sitting. Well, if you're doing things the right way of course. :-) Riding pants are designed for maximum comfort in the seated position. That means the back side should be higher rise and cover you well above your hips, towards your waist. There's no pulling from the hips to the knees, no bunching fabric behind the knees.

But motorcycle specific riding pants, such as these beautiful Rev'it Factor 3 Women's pants have even more creature comforts built in. See those small folds above the knees? Those are there to maintain comfort while you bend your knees over your feet pegs. The front is a slightly lower rise than the back. There's even a small stretch panel on the lower back so it won't pull when you sit. And every piece of fabric on these pants are cut out for riding positions. Lots of sitting!

If you're thinking about riding pants (and I hope you all are, no matter what you're riding), remember that motorcycling requires the same technical features as any other sport. And more importantly, the added safety and protection that you simply won't find in any other piece of technical gear.

In case you missed the first installment of Wear This Not That, Check It Out!

New Rev'it Women's Motorcycle Gear for 2015

 

For Spring 2015, Rev'it is bringing us a lot of new women's gear including a really stylish retro inspired jacket, sport touring textile pants and a follow up to my favorite riding pants that every woman should have in her gear closet. 

Marryl Evo Leather / Textile Pants

$379.99. If you've searched my blog for Rev'it Marryl pants, you know how fantastic their pants look and fit. If not, here are a few pics to get you up to speed:

I haven't seen the Marryl Evos in person, but I'm confident they will have an amazing fit like the Gear 2's I'm wearing above. Wearing mixed textile/leather pants are the best compromise for hot and cool weather. I wear them with every jacket I own regardless of brand/style or color. I think these will look similar to the Gear 2s since they're also a blend of leather and textile but with a sportier, tapered leg so you can wear them in your boots if you choose to. But they're not for a specific kind of bike. They're for anyone who wants an incredible leather pant with protection and function along with a really great fit.

You might be wondering, well are these going to offer enough protection since they have less leather? My answer is yes, because the leather is exactly where you need them for abrasion: down the leg, full back except behind the knees, hip, knees and the rest of the leg. The stretch panels are strategically placed for breathability and comfort.

Something else that may be difficult is the price point. I want to point out that they offer both hip and knee armor. But not just any armor. Tryonic at the Hip, and Seesoft at the Knees.  Really *great* body armor, not just the cheap stuff.

If you've been looking for really great street leathers that fit beautifully regardless of the type of bike you ride, look no further!

Factor 3 Textile Pants

$229.99. The Factor 3 pants are a lightweight touring textile pant, with a fully integrated waterproof membrane (not removable). They also come with a removable thermal liner making them a great 3 season pant for wet and cold weather. As with almost all Rev'it pants, these are going to be available in short and long sizes! And to give you an idea of what kind of fit these will probably have, these are 2 Rev'it textile pants that I've worn:

I'm hoping the Factors will fit more like a Sand pant, but I've yet to see them in person.

Bellecour Leather Jacket

$479.99. The Bellecour is a retro inspired casual leather jacket which will be available in black or brown. I'm loving the off centered zipper in front.

Allure Evo Leather Jacket

$469.99. The Allure Evo leather jacket is the matching top to the Marryl Evo pants above. The last version of this jacket definitely ran a bit slim with longer sleeves. I saw a sample last year and if I recall correctly, it has a nice regular fit. Not too loose not too slim. We should have a few in the Revzilla Boutique before Summer, so if you're in the area, give us a call or check inventory online.

Antibes Gloves

Image TBD

$99.99. For a simple short leather glove, the Antibes will be available in black or dark brown. The cuffs are somewhat in the middle, not quite the wrist but not halfway up. A very simple, casual leather glove. Since they don't offer palm sliders and full wrist coverage, I would categorize these as city gloves and not enough protection for highway/touring.

Revit's Spring 2015 line will be available to purchase from dealers around April 2015. So hurry on over to Revzilla.com, pick the size you're waiting for and enter your email address in the yellow box. You'll get an email as soon as they're available to order from us.

More Pinterest Boards: Plus Size, Racing Gear

 

More boards and more pins are up at Pinterest.com/GearChic.

You don't have to be a member, the boards are available for anyone on the interwebs to see! I've got more boards by size / fit and updated boards with new gear including racing gear, plus size gear, long and lean gear and more.

Ride Report, Bike Review and Pants!

Last week I went home to see my family for Christmas. Of course, I had to carve out some time to go riding on some of my favorite roads! Luckily, a wonderful friend of mine had this gorgeous little lady for me to ride up to Bodega Bay. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, except that I now know a Ducati Monster isn't really in my future :)

First off, I have to say that a Monster is a really really great motorcycle. And I can definitely see why many people love them so much, especially as first or second bikes. However, after having ridden many different bikes with really really great suspension, performance and handling it's very difficult for me rank this bike near the top of my favorites.

I thought the height and weight were nice, certainly a lower ride than what I'm used to on my SV650 and the Speed Triple. However, after having ridden the (Triumph) Speed Triple, I can definitely say that I want a Triumph of my own. But the STreet Triple, the smaller and more compact version of the Speed. The main reason is the suspension!

So this is where I'm coming from, having ridden an amazing bike with superior handling especially on the front end. I would definitely recommend a Monster to anyone moving up from 500-600cc or looking for a mid size twin over a mid size inline 4. I certainly enjoy my twin very much. But I'm tired of stock suspensions that aren't adjustable so saving up for a used Street Triple R is my current plan for next Spring.

As far as the Monster, I would have to say it's a much better version of the SV with a little more power, ABS, nicer wheels and a few other bells and whistles. But for me it just doesn't compare to what a Triumph has to offer, so unless it had an upgraded suspension you don't find me looking for one anytime soon.

However, what I would recommend is riding these two roads!

The big yellow highway is 1, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The white road is the Panoramic Highway which takes you to Muir Woods. It's one of the most perfect, twisty roads that I love love love to ride. Something I can't find anywhere near the state of Pennsylvania. Perhaps down to West Virginia but I still need to find it. Le sigh....

I also wanted to mention the pants my friend Aleks and I are wearing. Unfortunately those exact models are discontinued (Rev'it Marryl and Gear Pants). However, the latest version is the Gear 2 pant, which I reviewed a couple seasons ago here. There's a reason why Rev'it is my favorite brand, and it's because they know how to put us in gear that fits and looks great!

(my friend's Triumph Speed Triple on the right and my borrowed Monster on the left)

Happy Riding, and don't forget to Gear Up!

PS, If you live in the Bay Area, you owe it to yourself to ride these roads, asap. You just have no idea how much I miss them.