The rise of casual and urban-style motorcycle clothing shows no signs of abating, indeed its popularity is increasing as it encompasses more sectors of the motorcycle world. Even sports bike and touring riders are ditching the traditional leathers and heavy textiles, instead plumping for an outfit they can wear to the shops as well as on a ride out.
Italian brand Acerbis is also venturing beyond its traditional boundaries: having started as a maker of replacement plastics for motocross machinery, it has grown over the last 50 years to produce a huge range of off-road parts, accessories and specialist clothing, and in recent years has added a more contemporary line of “casual” motorcycle apparel.
The Pro-Road jeans are part of that latter line – unless you spy the tell-tale outline of the knee armour you may never realise that these are AA-rated jeans, not a regular pair from a high street store.
They’re made from 12oz denim fabric that uses Cordura NYCO, a combination of cotton and nylon 6/6, which was originally developed for military combat uniforms. The result is a mid-weight pair of jeans with a decent amount of stretch to the material. One of the plus points is that, so far, the material hasn’t ‘polished up’, unlike some other motorcycle jeans which, after a while, develop a shine you can almost see your reflection in. Whether the matt finish lasts longer-term remains to be seen, but it’s a good start.
The style follows the traditional five-pocket layout, with an Acerbis-branded leather jacron and buttons. The fit is slim – not baggy and flapping in the breeze, but not so tight you can’t bend your knees without creaking. They’re comfortable for all-day wear, and it is easy to forget that they are not just regular jeans. The single layer construction means they’re also not too hot, a boon in the recent heatwaves, when they have been teamed with ventilated jacket and gloves.
The ImpacTec CE level 1 knee and hip protectors are ultra-slim at just 5mm thick, and flexible enough to not interfere with movement. They are solid, with not even a nod to ventilation, so some riders may prefer something with a few air vents. The knee armour can be fine-tuned for height by swapping it between the three pockets in the liner.
Overall, a resilient, comfortable pair of biking jeans that look so normal they could be everyday wear, even for non-biking activities. Perfect for the gent (or lady) who values a low-key look.
The Pro-Road jeans come in men’s sizes T28-T40, and ladies’ sizes T25-T33, both in indigo blue for an SRP of £139.95.
Acerbis; 01582 491076; [email protected]