Roadskin Taranis Elite Ladies | Just like a pair of jeans, but with top level protection

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British motorcycling-clothing manufacturer Roadskin traditionally only used to make men’s motorcycle wear, but more recently, they have branched out to make kit for women too. With leggings and jeans on offer, women have a new brand to choose from on the market, and with many highly rated for safety, and highly rated for general use, the brand has become more popular over the past few years, and these Taranis Elite ladies motorcycle jeans are only helping them to cement their brand on the motorcycling clothing market.

How comfortable are the Roadskin Taranis Elite?

All in all, they feel just like a pair of jeans – what more could you ask for on the bike? The only issue I had is despite the jeans fitting on the leg and bum, my shape meant it wasn’t the most comfortable on the waist initially.

I think a lot of us have that pair of jeans which require a little bit of wearing after they’ve been washed to get them comfortable again, and as long as I made sure to pull them up to my waist rather than my stomach then they fit great – but every shape is different and many reviews say that they fit them perfectly no matter what.

But once you’ve worn them in a touch, the slightly stretchy material makes you forget that you’re wearing a pair of motorcycle jeans, on and off the bike, and the single layer means they aren’t hot or heavy. Compared to the standard armour, the Rheon knee armour isn’t bulky or infringing, so you don’t look ridiculous walking around at your destination either.

Are the Roadskin Taranis Elite practical?

The pockets are deep and useful, you can actually fit a set of bike keys and your phone in them (thank goodness) and the back pockets are similarly designed. They are easy to get on and off even in warm weather, and as they feel just like a normal pair of jeans, you can easily go about your business both on and off the bike.

Do the Roadskin Taranis Elite look good?

The slim to straight leg cut is flattering, and very on trend too. But there’s no denying that a good pair of jeans is a staple for your wardrobe, and this pair is no exception. Easy to throw on, not baggy in the wrong places and a simplistic design that is timeless. In essence they look great. There is also a choice of two different colours (ditto with the male option) so you can get something that suits you.

Are the Roadskin Taranis Elite good quality?

After 2000 miles of motorways and B roads alike, these jeans still haven’t broken a sweat. They’ve been bundled into motorcycle panniers, and shoved under riding waterproofs, but the seams are still intact, the material looks fresh, and the hems aren’t showing any signs of wear just yet.

Protection and CE ratings on the Roadskin Taranis Elite

Boasted as AAA rated, you can’t get any more protective motorcycling kit by official standards. With Kevlar fibres woven into the fabric, they’ve got you covered for abrasion, and come with level 2 armour in the knees and hips.

With triple stitching on the seams, it’s impressive that they can be so protective while only being single layered, but when it comes to riding in confidence, these jeans have got you sorted.

Are the Roadskin Taranis Elite good value?

At £179.99 this isn’t the cheapest pair of jeans you’ll get on the motorcycling market, there is no denying that. But for brands like Oxford, whose jeans are at the £100 mark, and Bull-it which are around £130, their jeans at that price point may not be able to boast a AAA safety rating as of yet. So, although the Taranis jeans are a bit pricier, they are safer too.

At around the same price point you’re looking at brands like Richa, and the higher end of Bull-it’s offering, so take a look at what suits you best.

Roadskin Taranis Elite – the final verdict

Motorcycling jeans have been a must-have in my wardrobe ever since I’ve been riding, but I’ve always been worried about their ability to do their job should the worst happen. But these Roadskin Taranis jeans have a AAA rating, comfortable and thin Rheon armour certified to Level 2, so I can ride in confidence.

The best bit is that despite only being single layer jeans and having such a good rating due to it’s Kevlar-weaved fabric, they fit well, are stretchy and don’t gape in all the wrong places which I’ve experienced with biking jeans before. On or off the bike, they look great, and I can spend the day in them even in the height of summer (although we haven’t had much of one of those this year.)

The only issue I’ve had is a little discomfort as there isn’t much give in the waistband after a big meal and had to pull them up to ensure they sit on my waist rather than my stomach, but every shape is different, and for the most part they have been comfortable and faultless. Even after 2000 miles, plenty of cramming into panniers, and shoving under waterproofs, they look like they’ve only been out on the road a handful of times, and I imagine that they will be a go-to pair of jeans for the next few years at least.

Because of that, and the cracking safety result, they’re probably worth the £179.99 outlay. Yes, it’s pricey, but if you don’t have to buy a pair of jeans for the next couple of years, I think its worth it.

How MCN tests riding jeans

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our riding jeans to destruction; we use them exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

We assess jeans based on several factors – it’s not just the CE safety rating, but how they look, feel and function, both on and off the bike. We’ll comment on fastenings, fabric quality, fit vs high street brands, waterproofing, their weight and of course their price against their rivals in the marketplace.

If you can’t see a review against a pair of jeans on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested them yet. These jeans will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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