If you ride a Harley-Davidson or any other cruiser motorcycle for that matter, you really should try to have a pair of the best cruiser motorcycle pants or jeans covering your lower body.
Too many cruiser motorcycle riders go out there with their regular Levis or Lee jeans on. Covering yourself in standard denim isn’t effective. In this very scientific test, denim lasted only three seconds in a simulated crash.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best options out there for cruiser motorcycle pants, so you don’t have to sort through too many crappy pairs. The following pairs of pants and jeans are the ones you should buy.
1. REAX Alta Mesh Pants
Built for the warmer months of the year with plenty of ventilation throughout the pants, The REAX Alta Pants (there’s also an Alta jacket) are one of the best pairs of pants no matter where or how you ride. They feature a 100 percent poly 600D durable mesh with 980D ballistic material. There’s also CE Level 2 knee armor, pockets for hip armor, reinforcements in the thighs and knees, a moisture-wicking mesh liner, adjustment at the waist, hand pockets, zippered cuffs with a heat-resistant cover, YKK zippers, and a two-year warranty.
Check it out at Amazon
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
Check it out at J&P Cycles
2. Street & Steel Oakland Jeans
Do you want something that looks a lot more like a traditional pair of denim jeans? Then you should think about the Street & Steel Oakland Jeans. Built with 12-ounce stretch denim with a seamless knee design, these jeans offer a simple but effective package. They are heat and tear-resistant aramid-reinforced through the seat and in the hips and knees. There’s also removable and adjustable CE knee protection.
Check it out at Amazon
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
Check it out at J&P Cycles
3. Riding Culture Chinos
I know chinos are more of a business casual style and not necessarily what you might think of when you ride your Harley, but I still wear my chinos on my cruiser, so I think they work, especially the Riding Culture Chinos. The pants feature a highly-abrasion-resistant material (80% Cotton, 13% Polyamide, 6% Dyneema, 1% Elastane), and pockets for protection at the knees and hips. They also have four pockets.
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
4. REV’IT! Detroit Jeans
If the chinos aren’t your thing, but you like a stylish fit, the REV’IT! Detroit Jeans are the jeans for you. They offer Cordura denim, Seesmart CE-level 1 protection at knees and hips, double layered with PWR|shield, laminated reflection, a tapered fit, and slit pockets.
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
5. Olympia Airglide 6 Pants
You might see these and say that they aren’t for cruisers, but I quite simply disagree, especially if you’re the kind of cruiser rider who likes to ride long distances. The Olympia Airglide 6 Pants feature an outer shell constructed in 1000 denier Cordura fabric with Ballistic Airflow mesh panels, waterproof over or under rain pants, 1000 denier pre-curved knee panels, two 20cm zip pockets, and elasticized accordion panels on waist, sides, and bottom for maximum comfort. These are some killer pants.
Check it out at Amazon
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
6. Klim K Fifty 2 Jeans
If you’re a fan of Klim, but don’t like the Switchback pants shown above, I’d suggest the Klim K Fifty 2 Jeans. They offer a simple straight-cut, five-pocket design. The jeans have Cordura denim and nylon construction with D3O EVO knee and hip armor. The knee armor pockets are adjustable and there’s a YKK zipper, Poron XRDA tailbone pad, and DuPont Kevlar panels.
Check it out at Amazon
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
Check it out at J&P Cycles
7. REV’IT! Ignition 3 Pants
The REV’IT! Ignition 3 Pants are a mix of the leather riding pants we all know, and the mesh riding pants we all love. You get excellent abrasion resistance from Monaco Performace cowhide leather and breathability from the Dynax mesh and 500D stretch textile material. There’s also a detachable waterproofing layer, CE level 2 protection at the knees, CE level 1 protection at the hips, and special safety seams. Add to that adjustment straps, ventilation panels, pockets, and stretch panels and you have some of the best motorcycle pants out there.
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
8. First Manufacturing Smarty Pants
Just want some seriously good leather motorcycle pants? The First Manufacturing Smarty Pants are it. They have a jeans style with stretch panels where you need them, and the classic leather construction helps keep you safe. There are two front pockets and two back pockets and the knees feature a pre-curved design for extra comfort when riding.
Check it out at Amazon
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
9. Icon Contra 2 Leather Overpants
Another great option is the Icon Contra 2 Leather Overpants. A little too sporty for some riders, I find these to be an excellent option for cruiser riders. These pants feature premium leather and textile construction. They have D3O knee and hip armor, an inseam zipper that makes them easy to take on and off, and reflective accents. They will look good on any bike.
Check it out at Amazon
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
10. Street & Steel Heavy Duty Chaps
Okay, I know these aren’t really riding pants, and I’ll likely do an article on chaps in general at some point, but if you want to keep wearing your regular jeans but get some more protection, chaps can be nice. The Street & Steel Heavy Duty Chaps are a great option. they feature a full-length side zipper that makes putting them on super easy. They also have snaps at the bottom of the legs so you can wear them with any boots. There’s an adjustable buckle at the waist and a removable liner for winter use.
Check it out at Amazon
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Cycle Gear
Check it out at J&P Cycles
