Are you choosing style over safety when hitting the road?

Women’s motorcycle leggings among the lowest performing protective gear

Motorcycle crashes can range from dangerous to deadly, and the protective riding gear you’re wearing has a direct impact on where you’ll fall on that scale. Because when it’s you versus the road, the road will always win.

THE TRUE COST OF WOMEN’S RIDING FASHION VS FUNCTION

There’s no question that leggings and jeggings are a comfort lover’s dream (with bonus points for pockets). And when you’re both on and off your bike, their flexibility and body shaping fit add to their appeal, but at a cost.

8 of 10 women’s motorcycle leggings & jeggings performed poorly during MotoCAP testing and below what MotoCAP recommends, with 7 of 10 brands scoring only half a star for protection. Here’s what was discovered.

POOR ABRASION RESISTANCE

Abrasion injuries are one of the most common in a motorcycle crash with scrapes, cuts, and grazes of all shapes and sizes. Of the 10 brands in women’s protective leggings and jeggings tested by MotoCAP, 8 of the 10 had low scores in abrasion resistance. This means the leggings are wearing through before you’ve finished sliding and your skin is shredded by the road. Further, of the brands that opted for higher resistance materials, the protective fabrics didn’t cover all the high-risk abrasion areas such as knees, sides of the legs and backside.

SUBSTANDARD SEAMS AND BURST RESISTANCE

Seam strength can be the only thing standing between you and potentially life-changing injuries during a motorcycle crash if your gear’s burst resistance isn’t up to scratch. MotoCAP testing revealed that the seam strength and burst resistance of 8 of the women’s protective leggings and jeggings evaluated were either marginal or poor. Flimsy fabrics and shoddy seams with gaps between layers, dropped stitches, and single row stitching all contribute to the likelihood of bursting on impact and leaving you exposed to the unforgiving road surface.

INADEQUATE IMPACT PROTECTION

When you hit the ground, you don’t hit it running. One of the first areas to bear the brunt on impact can often be the hips or knees, making impact protection in your safety gear critical. 7 of 10 women’s motorcycle protective leggings and jeggings tested by MotoCAP scored poorly on impact protection, with these brands offering no hip impact protection whatsoever. Impact injuries on the lower extremities are no joke. They can result in broken bones, complex injuries, extensive and painful recoveries, limited mobility, and soft tissue damage without the right protection.

THE VERDICT ON WOMEN’S MOTORCYCLE LEGGINGS & JEGGINGS

With motorcycle clothing sold in Australia not required to comply with any minimum standard of protection, choosing the right riding gear can be fraught with danger.  

The rigorous testing conducted by MotoCAP on 10 different brands of women’s motorcycle protective leggings and jeggings sold in Australia has unveiled the dangerously low protection levels these garments offer up.

No enforceable standards on protective motorcycle clothing means that riders may be unknowingly choosing style over safety are forced to rely on marketing spin and online reviews to make their purchase decisions.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR RIDING GEAR WISELY

Choosing high quality protective riding gear and dodging the poor performers involves digging deeper into the types of materials, seam quality, and impact protection levels in each garment. MotoCAP conducts independent scientific testing of gear sold in Australia and New Zealand to provide consumers star ratings on the performance of motorcycle jackets, pants and gloves. It is recommended to have at least 2-star garments for city riding, and 3 or more-star garments for open road riding to help reduce the risk of injuries in the event of a crash. 

MotoCAP can help you find the best performing products. In the case of women’s leggings, the options pictured below are the safest, providing two-star protection and making them suitable for urban riding.

 

Choose the right gear for your ride at https://www.motocap.com.au/   

Testing for MotoCAP is conducted by Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials on behalf of the MotoCAP member organisations. Watch more here.