RST Kevlar Jeans - Review http://www.bikechatter.net/media/reviews/photos/thumbnail/320x320s/70/1f/3a/1097_c9d88ce0700945a2b3c208d16a14db28-1329923314.jpg Hot

Many riders are now choosing to ride in motorcycle specific Kevlar jeans for convenience and styling, Steve donned a set from RST and hit the road for a sunny afternoon ride - with a little stop off at Silverstone.

Initial Thoughts

The RST Kevlar jean is a great casual style jean with the benefit of having all the features you need in terms of comfort and protection while out on two wheels and great looks for when you are parked up. The specification includes fully CE certified RST Contour Plus knee armour with a hip armour pocket if hip armour is required and this is something that is lacking in pretty much all other brands who expect you to shell out extra money for armour if required.

Construction

When I first put them on I was really pleased with how well they fitted, I was expecting something a little bit more obtrusive in a fully protective jean and not something that could easily pass as a regular pair of denim jeans, they have adjustable knee pads and I was able to adjust them to my height effortlessly. I decided to wear them for a day out to Silverstone as I didn’t fancy wearing leathers in the heat of the day or having to put my cordura trousers over my normal jeans and lug them around at the end, this sums up perfectly the aimed market for this type of protective gear - those that want to ride relatively short distances without having to go all out in terms of leather or textile gear. 

After a 50 mile ride I was really pleased with they felt and how they had performed, they were totally unrestrictive in riding position and although it was actually a scorching day and I stayed 100% comfortable as I continued to wear them as regular jeans - something our Editor Leigh cannot say as he was stuck in his race leathers.

I did find the knee pads became slightly annoying as the day wore on, however, it wasn’t enough to put me off wearing them. My only real criticism is that they don’t breath very well and even while riding the wind was not getting through particularly well leading to sweaty legs quite quickly, you kind of expect the additional thickness of the kevlar lining to impede ventilation a little but this was more than I had anticipated. All in all, the good points out weighed the bad and hasn’t put me off wearing them in fact I would recommend them as stylish alternative to leathers and would rate them very nicely.

Price wise is the real forte of the RST Kevlar Jeans, typically you can expect to pay £100-130 for a well specc'ed set of riding jeans and then add another £10-15 for the additional armour if it has provision for it (a lot don't - its worth checking), with these offerings from RST you have a good overall specification for just shy of £80, a real bargain! What's more, they come in ladies sizing and fitment too

- Outer: Brushed denim fabric
- 60% Kevlar and 40% Polyester
- Removeable RST ‘Contour’ plus CE approved armour to knees
- Hip armour pocket
- 2 Front pockets
- Change pocket to front
- 2 rear pockets
-Mens 1453
-Mens short leg 1454
-Ladies 1456