Let’s talk trousers, specifically Textile Motorcycle trousers. I’m old enough, and have enough scars, to only ride in proper gear these days. I’m one of the Old gits who’d like to stop every rider I see in Shorts and/or T Shirt and explain to them the result of bare skin hitting Tarmac at even 10mph let alone 30. And as for the guys on bigger bikes on motorways dressed the same way, I hope they are with Bupa for a good plastic surgeon. I wouldn’t want to ride in normal jeans these days either. My last ‘Off’ a couple of years ago at only @25mph ruined a pair of decent proper bike textile trousers with padding etc, but my skin was all intact. Apart from the 10 stitch gash down my shin which the nurse said must have been from an impact as there wasn’t a mark in that spot on my trousers. I currently have a pair of IXS Textile trousers to go with my Navigator Jacket. They fit well, have a removeable thermal lining, have been tested in the rain. They and the Jacket are obviously more suited to my Multistrada than my 999 or 1000SS, but I use them on all 3. However, I’ve not been out on any of my bikes in the last week or so as even with the Thermal lining removed and all the air vent zips open they are just too hot. As well as the additional padding on the hips and Knee armour they feel padded all over, and I sweat heavily in them. I’m stuck unfortunately, due to other commitments I can only ride between @11.00hrs to 16.00hrs on Fridays, then during the day over the weekend. Early morning and late evening rides when it’s cooler are really difficult to accommodate. My Navigator jacket is great with all 3 linings removed and the air vents open, it’s just the trousers stopping me riding. Also, I would love to be able to put a pair of bike trousers on over a pair of shorts so I could strip down to shorts when I get where I’m going and throw my bike gear in the Panniers. Nobody want to see me strip down to my pants in a car park. As I only really want to do that in the summer, with the linings removed I’m assuming that by going up one size I should be able to get a pair of shorts underneath. Do I have other options? Is there a pair of decent Textile trousers with removable linings I can use in the summer without sweating heavily? .
I have Rokker and John Doe single layer bike jeans. If Rokker hadn't stopped doing a worn black jean rather than just full black I would have bought those in preference to the John Doe ones (wanted choice of blue and black jeans). I have also just bought an Knox Urbane Pro MK3 mesh vest and optional chest protector along with their over-jacket, this comes with a puffa jacket detachable inner. Makes for an all temperature top outfit. The vest being the always worn part offers decent protection. The over-jacket claims to be showerproof rather than full on waterproof. I've yet to test this in anger in the rain but as a wind-stopper when it's cooler it works well. I also bought the Urbane Pro MK2 Trousers but prefer the denim style jeans and haven't worn these, they're new with tags still attached (M/34W and decent leg length, I'm 33/34 inseam). They have mesh at thigh and shin with Knox armour at knees and hips. Will be selling these on here before ebay for around £180 imminently as I can't see me wearing them. Also have a Klim Marrakesh jacket that, despite being similar in concept to the Urbane Pro vest, I can't quite part with. A great warm weather jacket, my partner also has one and we both swore by them on a trip to Sth of France and Corsica in 2022.
I ride in Knox in these days, yesterday a 11 hour ride out and they were comfortable. Men’s Urbane Pro® Trousers MK2 – Short Leg - Knox Worn in conjunction with their Urban Pro Shirt with a lightweight cycling jacket over the top until it got warm enough to take a layer off. I find traditional motorcycle textile jackets too bulky and too many pockets making them ugly.
Thanks Both The Knox ones look like a good bet, how would they be if you got caught out in a shower? I could be interested in these Bumpkin. The size chart in your link suggests the M is a 32W and the L a 34W. I definitely need a 34 Waist. .
Spidi Vent Pro Being what they are, partially mesh trousers, they'd leak like a proverbial sieve. I have Scott over-trousers and jacket for when it rains. If it's warm and you can see that it's just a shower then they'd dry out pretty quickly. Returned from tour to Dolomites a couple of weeks ago; the Urbane vest was great for that though I was wearing bike jeans (as I said these are, aside from trying on, brand new). It rained heavily one afternoon in Italy, Scott jacket and trousers over just the Knox vest and jeans worked superbly. With the rain the temperature dropped from low 30's to mid/low 20's and I was perfectly comfortable. On one of the return days in the lower French Alps we did encounter a shower, we just carried on, I got a bit wet in what must have been no more than 10 minutes of light rain, but with the airflow, once on the far side of the shower, I dried out quickly. It's always something of a gamble on that, once you're soaked through it's too late to stop and do the over-suit thing. Unless I can actually see it's going to be brief I'll stop. Yes, I pre-ordered a range of warm weather kit valued at over £3k, a couple of sizes of each garment and went to the Bristol store to try them on, in the case of these trousers the Large were too loose. These days I'm definitely a 34W in street clothes, sometimes these are a bit tight, obvs they do vary, but I'm living in a state of denial... The Urbane trousers are snug but have a bit of give. I've just tried them again and they're comfortably snug. I will say that they seem to be not as 'transparent' to air flow as the vest. Sure in the mesh panels they will be (front of shins and thighs and back of leg from heel to half way up the back of the thigh). The knees have the armour and a tough nylon material, this same material is used on the upper thigh and waist area. Like all Knox kit the build quality is very good and details such as zippers, pockets, belt loops and waist adjusters all well executed and thoughtfully designed. I tried the new version of the Klim Marrakesh trousers, an improvement but the Konx were a far better fit. Also as well as the other Knox stuff I had both the Spidi Vent Pro and Rev'it Ignition 4 H2O Leather jacket and trousers to try. These leathers were trying to do everything at once (waterproof, thermal and protection), protection might have been better but frankly too bulky, warm and complicated. IMHO, once you've tried, and appreciated, layering working for you in hot climates there's no turning back. Yes, it's a pain to have to stop for rain, or when it stops, but overall comfort over a trip wins for me. Happy to send and accept them back at your cost for postage on the return if you want to try them on in the comfort of your own home. I do ask that, if you need to, you return them in the same condition and don't ride the bike in them or take the labels off though.
I have the Knox jacket which I throw any old shirt over but the trousers look a little too sex offender for my liking, if you put a pair of loose cargo trousers over the top then that would work better for me.
If you're taking specifically about the Spidi kit I had to get them to order that in from Italy. Delivered directly to me at home. Wasn't a good fit and far too complicated with multiple layers. Despite them getting the suit ordered direct from Italy, in fact one jacket and two trousers, it was all returned for a full refund at the time of trying on the other kit in-store that they got into Bristol at my request. It's likely either been returned to a central warehouse or even back to Spidi.
