Leather Chaps

[blowndodge]

Do you ride with them?

I'm thinking about getting a pair and I'm not sure whats out there thats good and/or styles that are comfortable.

some show zipper sides that look like they would rub the bike seat.

Just want some feedback from those that have them and what to look for and look out for

thanks,

[radco]

Yea I wear leather Chaps with my THONG http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif!!!! I stnad up TRAFFIC STOPs and I do not have TAIL GATERS ::) My Chaps have the side zipper,, The zipper is on the outside of the leg AWAY from the seat so no problem!!! I ride w/chaps 90% of the time,, May save my skinny butt :).... The lined ones will be next ,as they layer a bit more insulation,, NEVER had Chaps till 04. I will ALLWAYs have them now,, In COLD weather THEY HELP BIG TIME in keeping alot of the CHILL off the legs,,I think they extend the riding season for us up North http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif... So to me they are WORTH and if you like they come in PINK http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif as well!!!!!.. There is a set of Ride pants that LOOk like Blue Jeans,, I think kevlar or something,, YOU get the skid protection with a Jean look,, about 100$ + My 2 cents....Rich

[cactusjack]

I have a pair, the zipper is on the outside of the leg, no danger to seats/tanks/etc. I've put mine away until fall, it's too hot to wear them where I'm at. Mine are fairly thick leather and they are lined with a satin-like material, which makes them easier to move in, as your jeans don't stick to the leather, and it prevents the leather dye from leaching into your pants.

[blowndodge]

CJ do you wear chaps in the summer? i know you live close to hell so the summers are brutal. In so cal the weather get to 100 in the summer frequently. I'm just thinking about protection to clothing and my skin. I wonder if I would broil with chaps on in the summer.

[dantama]

With black leather anything you'll broil in the summer. I wear my leather jacket till about 80 degrees. Even at that temp, being stopped at red lights gets too hot.

I have a pair of Kevlar reinforced jeans for summer, and a mesh armored jacket.

[rickyboy]

Hey Dan,
Did you buy your Kevlar jeans and mesh jacket from
bohn-armored ? Which mesh jacket do you have?

http://www.bohn-armored-pants.com/catalog/?prod=BGLA-01

I've been looking at a couple of different jackets available there. I can get away with leather here in Vancouver in the summer but after my "run - in " with a deer a few yrs. back I won't ride without a leather jacket. I don't care how frick'in hot it gets. I'm planning a ride down to the Grand Canyon, Route 66 area this summer so I'll be getting some "summer armor" to wear under a shirt or light jacket.

[ringadingh]

I dont wear chaps, but I do have a pair of leather jeans that I wear on cooler days and early morning rides. I never really cared for the look of chaps. I would feel like a displaced rodeo clown in them.

[oldbiker]

Would'nt ride when it's cool without them.

[cactusjack]

CJ do you wear chaps in the summer? i know you live close to hell so the summers are brutal. In so cal the weather get to 100 in the summer frequently. I'm just thinking about protection to clothing and my skin. I wonder if I would broil with chaps on in the summer.

Honestly, I've never tried them in the summer, but do the math - Heavy black leather chaps in (I'll be conservative here) 110 degrees. My gas tank gets so hot I can't touch it with my bare hands on my ride home at 4:00pm. Those chaps would be miserably hot. I'm willing to take one for the team and wear them on a nice hot day, all in the name of research, though.

I realize most people probably wear them year-round for protection. I wear them in the winter for warmth.

[oledawg]

::)I wear them when its cold,they do the trick,and they are easy to take off & store in Saddlebag. There is also a great difference in quality out there. Good quality chaps are gonna cost over $100. Speaking for myself, I really don't like wearing them,but they are the lesser of all but Textile Over pants for walking around. And I chose the chaps because of the easy on & off factor. When it hits 75% I'm only wearing Jeans, I just need that comfort factor.Jackets are a different thing, I will suffer through some heat for protection,as I've been hit with debris tooooo many times. And it hurts. If you get Chaps spend the extra $ for good quality lined ones and you'll never regret it. ;) http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[mikesth]

::)I wear them when its cold,they do the trick, When it hits 75% I'm only wearing Jeans,


+1 - don't like them, but wear them when its cold

They don't get too hot if you're movin. I wear them most the time even in hot temps

Get these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/EXL-119-NEW-MENS-WOMENS-LEATHER-MOTORCYCLE-CHAP-PANTS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713Q2em153Q2el12 62QQcategoryZ34354QQihZ020QQitemZ300212213443QQtcZ photo) I got them for my wife. They look better in real life than they do in the pic + they're cheap, probably won't find a cheaper price 100% leather.

Nice heavy duty zipper that zips on the outside, thick leather heavy snaps at the bottom.

[misunderstood]

I too wear them until it gets too warm and then it's just jeans.

[fish]

31 bucks!!! can't go wrong

A while back we were talking about textile chaps. I bought a pair and they fit good, hopefully sunday I get to give them a good ride.

[VulcanE]

The wife and I have the insulated chaps, and we wear them when it gets to about 55 degrees and cooler (the wife stops riding with me when it gets down to 45 degrees). We wear them for warmth, don't wear them when it gets hot. Below say 40 degrees, I start wearing my Firstgear 1 pc. thermol suit. That thing is really nice. Down into the mid 20's all you need underneath is just a shirt and pants.

[hollywood]

I have a pair of half chaps that I wear in the summer. They only cover up to the knee. They fit around your leg with a zipper in the back. They really help in protection from bugs and flying rocks, etc. If you buy some get the thickest leather you can - the thin leather tends to fall and bunch up after a while. I'll look for the website and post it later.
I also have reg chaps for when it's cold - which isn't too often here in the Texas Tropics

[mrfuni]

Mine came from www.leatherup.com (http://www.leatherup.com)
Nice chaps, well made, great price, but I haven't had the opportunity to use them yet. Summer is here in South Florida...

[misunderstood]

cyclesportsleather.tripod.com Jay a member from the VR. Great prices and unbeatable customer service. Gift for mentioning you're from this sight.

[cactusjack]

I bought my chaps from Joeta's Leathers (http://www.joetasleather.com/), who has a couple of locations in the valley. The advantage was that I had no clue what I was doing and they fitted them to me. You want the chaps to be fairly snug around the thighs, because they will stretch in time.

[socwkbiker]

I got a pair that look like those on Ebay from Yukon Leather. They have insulation that can be removed so they're better for warm weather. I wear chaps everytime I ride to work to protect dress pants and shoes.

[beezer]

I have a pair of half chaps that I wear in the summer. They only cover up to the knee. They fit around your leg with a zipper in the back. They really help in protection from bugs and flying rocks, etc. If you buy some get the thickest leather you can - the thin leather tends to fall and bunch up after a while. I'll look for the website and post it later.
I also have reg chaps for when it's cold - which isn't too often here in the Texas Tropics

Those are called gaiters.

[misunderstood]

[quote:a6tu3aeh]I have a pair of half chaps that I wear in the summer. They only cover up to the knee. They fit around your leg with a zipper in the back. They really help in protection from bugs and flying rocks, etc. If you buy some get the thickest leather you can - the thin leather tends to fall and bunch up after a while. I'll look for the website and post it later.
I also have reg chaps for when it's cold - which isn't too often here in the Texas Tropics

Those are called gaiters.[/quote:a6tu3aeh]

Not to be confused with neck gaitors. ;)

[cactusjack]

[quote:579y1m4i]

Those are called gaiters.

Not to be confused with neck gaitors. ;)[/quote:579y1m4i]

...or alley gators. (sorry, couldn't pass that one up)

[beezer]

[quote:ipk5hf0g]

Not to be confused with neck gaitors. ;)

...or alley gators. (sorry, couldn't pass that one up)[/quote:ipk5hf0g]

good point you guys brought up there

Naders Raiders wear gaiters

[dogdoc]

I ride in colder weather with them. Bought them from Fox Creek leathers off the east coast. Great people to do business with. Excellent thick supple leather, heavy duty zippers outside with flap to hide it, snaps at the foot, full adjustable too. lifetime warranty!! About $175 :-)

[redeye]

"You want the chaps to be fairly snug around the thighs, because they will stretch in time. "

Sizing varies greatly from company to company. The most important measurement is around the thigh over your riding pants or jeans. You have to try them on to get the right size. I bought 4 pairs off E-Bay before I got the right size. SOLD the extras on Craig's list. The fit has to be snug when you first buy as they will stretch. -Rich

[coacha]

I have chaps and wear them when it is cold in the mornings. I don't think I'll wear them much more this year tilll November or December here in Florida. I'm thinking of getting a pear of Dragon Jeans though for protection.

[buck]

Stopped after 15 minutes yesterday in the mountains and put mine on for warmth. Always wear them on the freeway. They are a pain to take on/off everytime you stop for coffee but they look too goofy to wear in a restaurant, especially when folks don't know your riding a motorcycle.

[cactusjack]

Stopped after 15 minutes yesterday in the mountains and put mine on for warmth. Always wear them on the freeway. They are a pain to take on/off everytime you stop for coffee but they look too goofy to wear in a restaurant, especially when folks don't know your riding a motorcycle.

It seems to me that wearing chaps, people would assume you're on a bike, unless the Village People happen to be in town.

[lonewolf]

wear mine all the time. i have my shredded ones in the closet, to remind me that " cow hide is stronger than my hide " !!!

People always know I'm riding a motorcycle when I walk into a restaurant, because I have a helmet in my hand. I usually won't leave it on the bike.

OTOH, I've been riding over 35 years now, and have never owned a pair of chaps, and I've ridden in all kinds of weather. I do have a pair of nylon/leather/semi-armored overpants that I wear in bad weather, but they make my a$$ look fat.

I might just buy myself some chaps some day. They make you a$$ look smaller, right? Right?

[redeye]

"I might just buy myself some chaps some day. They make you a$$ look smaller, right? Right?"

My wife says so, plus it gives you something EXTRA in front, if you know what I mean. She's always asking me to take the chaps off in the bedroom.

Well, yeah.... ::)

Yer scratching her with the buckle!

[rlfaubion]

I've heard from two different guys that chaps keep them cooler in the heat. They noted how the heat from the engine is deflected by the chaps. I don't think it would have the same affect in traffic with stop and go action, but maybe on the highway on a hot day it could make sense. I have not worn mine in the heat. Winter only, but I'll be trying them out in the desert next month.

[cactusjack]

I plan to try mine here once it "warms up." I wouldn't mind the protection, just don't want to roast wearing them. I was on a ride last month and got stung by "something" on my right leg, just above my boot at about 60mph.

[Top Cat]

People always know I'm riding a motorcycle when I walk into a restaurant, because I have a helmet in my hand. I usually won't leave it on the bike
You do know the Nomad has helmet locks, right ;)

I know, & I've used them. I just would hate to have some sidewalk commando to "mess" with my helmet. Also, you'd get busted in an instant for not wearing one around here, and I just don't want to chance it disappearing. Old-age paranoia, I suppose.... ::)

[macmac]

I wear chaps most of the time, and have outside along the thigh zippers. When I get hot I unzip them so far as I like, and leave the 4 snaps set...

For sure these will make night riding warmer. Mine are lined with some black fu fu cloth, so they slip on my jeans, and don't bind much.

I like I can go some place and stand in the open to remove them, not quite what leather pants can do. I got a buddy who wear leather pants and he is way over heated most of the time stopped.

Cadd last time I wore my chapps and looked for my ass I couldn't find it! I didn't leave it in Cal did I?

[papat]

Get a pair of mesh lined leather chaps you will be surprised. They can get hot when in town just cruising but not out on the road. Also helps with the bugs that may want to dive bomb. Ck with Chilhowee Leather http://www.chilhowee.net/ Chaps & Bags http://www.chapsandbags.com/