Triumphrat

Baltobonneville · 03-17-2008

I ordered a pair of regular-fit Draggin' Jeans and the optional knee armor. I don't like to buy mail order clothing because I'm not sure about the fit, but the jeans are right on my size.

It's comfortable and they only way it's different is that the extra layer of kevlar cloth makes it feel slightly thicker, but hardly noticeable. The kevlar is like soft cloth, there's no "armor" feeling to it. There are no styling weirdnesses, it's a straightforward pair of jeans.

The knee armor ($20) is a velcro attachment to the inside of the pants. I'm not sure how effective it would be because the pants are not a tight fit; I have visions of the armor just rolling out of the way. I'll be trying it out this riding season, soon in other words!

Pauljo · 03-17-2008

I have 2 pair of Draggin' Jeans. No optional knee armor. They offer better abrasion resistance than regular jeans. They aren't utimate protection. They earn their keep because I'll wear them fairly often when I wouldn't wear leathers or other more serious riding pants. Off the bike, most folks can't tell them from regular jeans.

I think if you want knee armor with those jeans, get the kind that attaches directly to your leg. I doubt that the velcro attachment scheme is going to work very well.

A quick "Google" pulled this up:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/motorcycle-shin-guards/

MVP44 · 03-17-2008

I wear the Bohn Adventure pants with armor under the draggin jeans - The combination of the two I feel protects me more than adequately.

Here is the link

http://www.actionstation.com/bohnsection/

Ken M1 · 03-18-2008

I agree that the armor will not be very effective in a crash. It will slide and roll out of the way. However the same can be said about almost any armored pants except skin tight leather track pants (and who wears those??). Strap on knee armor will provide you with a split second more before it, too, slided out of the way (crash at 40mph + and NO armor will stay put). With almost all street pants, best you can hope for is that the amor will absorb initial impact and leather (or abrasion resistant material) will save your skin in a slide. Any armor you wear (except for the skin tight leathers racers wear) will move after a split second impact. I, personally, just wear strap-on KNOX Cross Knee protectors (infinitely adjustable for us skinny guys) and jeans that I covered knees with 1050 Ballistic Nylon over ($25 per yard, well worth it). If I want more, I put on some leather pants. Anything more is wasting you money as it will protect you NO better. Just my .02

That is...unless you want to walk into your destination looking like Robin Hood wearing Leather tights!

innominate · 03-20-2008

1680 denier for $13/yrd.http://www.rockywoods.com/ballistic_nylon.htm never really thought of adding my own abrasion protection to my pants. gotta look into that. thx ken

i wear draggin's too. bought the knee prot but don't use them for the same reason of i dont think they'll stay in place in event of a get off.

FrankBlack · 03-20-2008

Hi Marty. I wear Draggin Jeans Cargo pants but I bought separate knee armour that I velcro'd inside which wraps around the knee better. I also wear regular jeans underneath them, for what it's worth. If nothing else it keeps me warmer. I tried the knox strap-on armour and to be honest I found it a real pain to put on and remove, and very uncomfortable to wear because it cut off my circulation!

Like everything else, I see Draggin jeans as a compromise - better than ordinary jeans but not as good as track leathers, which I just wouldn't wear anyway. In the end I don't want to dress like an astronaut when I use my motorcycle and so I live with my vulnerability by being as vigilant and careful as I can be: kind of the reverse of that phenomenon whereby - allegedly - drivers become more reckless when they have side-impact bars, airbags and so forth, because they feel 'safer'.

BudDaytonRat · 03-20-2008

I have the Draggin Jeans and the Cortech version of Draggin Jeans. The Cortech has knee armor protection. I like them both and feel it is better protection than denim jeans. A fellow Joe's RAT Pack member took a concrete slide a few weeks ago. He had a helmet, jacket with protective armor, boots and Triumph jeans with kelvar protection. He walked away with a few bumps and bruises. So I would say this type of protection is good.