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I took a 30 mph lowside a few years ago, when a truck pulled out in front of me without looking, signalling or warning. I was wearing draggin jeans without padded armour underneath(something I rarely did- usually wore good leathers or armoured textile), Sidi boots, a Shoei helmet and a First Gear armoured, textile jacket. After evading the truck that forced me left into the double yellow centerline on a blind two lane curve, while trying to smoothly brake and reduce speed a bit, I lost the front and went down on my left side. After separating from the bike, which slid about three times the distance I did and remained right on top of the double yellow lines, I slid feet first about 30 feet, did several backward rolls, during which I watched for oncoming traffic at each rotation, and came to a stop inside the oncoming lane. I was able to get up and quickly move to the bike, shut it off, pick it up and get off the road. I was fortunate that no traffic had been coming the other way.
The draggin jeans apparently prevented road rash to my hip/buttocks areas but did not protect my knees at all. They abraided through on both knees and the left knee suffered both road rash, where the denim tore through just below the liner, as well as a burned area, apparently from the kevlar liner which created a deep, "carpet burn" type injury. That injury left a permanent scar of about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. The jeans of course did not prevent bruises, and those were pretty extensive too, although they did heal well. The jeans of course were destroyed, as was the jacket, helmet and even the boots(left one had a hole burned all the way through the toe area). All other equipment did its job extremely well but, as expected, was no longer usuable. The jacket with temperfoam armour worked as advertised. I did have two broken(dislocated) ribs on the left side and significantly sprained left ankle and wrenched shoulder.
I provide all this detail to describe the forces imparted in this type of (unfortunately) too common riding accident. Although I was traveling the speed limit and the other driver was found at fault, that doesn't help your body heal any better.
Personally, I never liked the idea of jeans, including draggin' jeans, particularly without any armour underneath. I was not wearing my Bohn armour underneath that day. If I had been, I might have avoided more of the injuries and especially the permanent scar to my knee. In any event, I would not recommend riding in jeans, whether reinforced or not, and I never do so any longer. For the price you will pay to have the jeans and an armoured layer underneath, you could easily get a good leather garment that will survive more than one fall, or a good textile garment that may only get you through one go down- but will have served you well in that regard.
I think many riders don't appreciate how vulnerable your lower body is, while typically investing in upper body protection. But, if you think about it, you might as well invest the money, and time, to dress your entire body properly. You won't regret it.
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