Best summer motorcycle trousers | These heat wave heroes will keep you cool as a cucumber

Published: 31 August 2023 Updated: 17 June 2024

While multi-season textile jackets, with various detachable linings and waterproof membranes, are now commonplace, finding a pair of the best summer motorcycle trousers with plenty of ventilation options for summer isn’t always as easy.

In weather-blighted Britain, we’re more usually concerned about finding the right warm biking gear to keep us snug in cold temperatures and in winter, getting the right gear to help us keep cool in the heat of summer is also important.

Yes, you can go the whole hog and opt for some all-season trousers, but if you only want some lightweight motorcycle trousers use you’ll likely be paying over the odds for features you don’t need.

So if you want summer-specific textile motorcycle pants, there are basically two ways you can go – for lightweight designs with plenty of ventilation or for those with easily breathable mesh liners – or both!

A more limited choice doesn’t mean you’re restricted in style. You can get lightweight summer motorcycle trousers in a traditional touring style, more fitted sports style, ‘adventure’ style or more leisure-looking traditional jean or cargo-pant style – there are also ones in both men’s and women’s cuts.

With all, you should check out the ventilation and type of design carefully, suss out the level of protection offered – being cool and stylish shouldn’t mean skimping on safety – work out how practical they are for the type of riding you do (some are more multi-season by offering detachable thermal liners) as well as assessing their style and value. Here’s our pick of the best. The rest, if you want to stay cool – is up to you!

MCN’s top summer trousers

Bull-it Covert Evo Jeans

Best summer jeans

Price: £89.99 (was £189.99)

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Previous version tested by Michael Neeves for two and a half years, over 10,000 miles - "This is the second time I’ve reviewed these Bull-it riding jeans. The first was in 2020 after wearing them during a summer of road testing.

"I loved them then and they’ve stood the test of time so well over the last two years they deserve shouting about again. Firstly, they look great – so much so I always have a regular trickle of readers asking what they are and whether or not they’re ‘normal’ jeans.

"They’ve retained their deep blue colour after all this time and countless washes, which has gone a long way to making them still look like new. There’s a bit of fading here and there, especially where my knees rub on fuel tanks and from the seats of hundreds of test bikes, but they look all the better for the patina.

"Jeans are always a hit and miss fit at the best of times, but these are a perfect fit and reach the end of my lanky legs (32 Regular Long). The denim, belt loops, zip and button are still in A1 condition and the seams all intact, despite constant use.

"I’ve worn them on three, week-long, big-mile riding holidays, countless new bike launches and for general riding. They’re the perfect balance between being weighty, warm and reassuring on the bike and light enough to wear off it.

"They’re lined with a moisture-wicking mesh material, but I always wear thermals or summer undersuits beneath riding kit anyway, for extra warmth in the winter and to prevent sticky legs in the heat. Regardless of the temperature, they’re always comfortable and they’ve proved to be showerproof, too.

"Pockets are nice and deep, so there’s no risk of keys, change and phones falling out, either. After a lifetime of wearing leathers, it can sometimes seem strange to wear riding jeans.
"I’ve never crashed in them, but they promise to offer top-drawer protection. They’re CE- approved, with the Covec denim giving them top-level AAA CE abrasion resistance, and the removable hip and knee armour is CE Level 2 rated.

"The knee pads stay in exactly the right place for me on the bike – sometimes they can ride up onto your thigh if you’ve got long legs. Bull-it have now come out with the updated Covert Evo with a few improvements, including new knee armour pockets to keep the padding more secure and denim that loses its stretch less over time.

"I’ve also tried these and they’re equally excellent, but the differences are subtle. Nearly £200 for a pair of riding jeans isn’t exactly loose change but judging by how mine have fared over the past few years, they’ll last a lifetime."

Quality

5.0
Value

5.0

CE Rating	AAA
Armour	Level 1, knee and hip

Richa Colorado

Best versatile summer trousers

Price: £169.99

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Ladies fit version tested by Saffron Wilson for 5 months, 2,419 miles - "These Richa trousers do what it says on the label. Waterproof, comfortable and warm. Although as you can imagine, I didn’t ride much with the detachable thermo liner as it worked too well, but the D30 knee protectors were comfortable even on the cruiser, and the ventilation zippers were ideal for wet but humid conditions. The other zip pockets were an ideal size for a phone, so they are practical overall too.

"I had a small issue with the leg length that resulted in wet ankles on the odd occasion, but taller boots should help out here. The fit was also bit snug if you needed to throw them on over jeans in sudden rain, nevertheless, they still worked which is a bonus as that’s not what they were designed for. So, there’s nothing to forgive really.

"I like the subdued styling, and the contra glide tech fit was effective at stopping saddle slip without making the trousers too bulky meaning you could easily wear them to walk around in once you hop off the bike. Although the zip-attachment to Richa jackets is a nifty feature, I did forget to detach the jacket more than once, but I’m definitely to blame for that one!"

Quality

5.0
Value

5.0

CE Rating	A
Armour	D3O, knee

Resurgence Pekev Cafe Racer Jeans

Best alternative summer jeans

Price: £196.00 (was £245.00)

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Rated by the team at RiDE magazine, the Resurgence Pekev Cafe Racer jeans are a stylish and protective alternative to the Bull-it lineup.

They come AAA rated for abrasion resistance, and they performed admirably during testing - the RiDE team couldn't break past the innermost lining with their testing methods, no matter how many times they tried.

They're made out of 80% Pekev fabric; an advanced textile that is claimed to offer higher levels of abrasion resistance, while remaining lightweight and flexible. It's also designed to help regulate temperature, and to look stylish too.

They come with D3O IP Ghost level 1 armour, supplied at the knees and hips. The D3O moulds to your body shape much better than traditional armour will, and is much better ventilating, but it's still noticeable when riding.

Overall the Resurgence Pekev Cafe Racer jeans make for a highly protective and comfortable pair of riding jeans, without sacrificing on looks. The D3O armour is a nice touch for adding more comfort to your safety gear, and their abrasion resistance is hard to beat. They only fall short on price, weighing in considerably more than some of the competition. But if you can stretch your budget for them, these will serve you well for many years worth of summer riding, and potentially beyond.

CE Rating	AAA
Armour	D3O Ghost level 1, knee and hip

CE Rating	AA
Armour	D3O Ghost level 1, knee and hip

Are regular jeans okay for summer motorcycle riding?

Although they may look tough on the surface, regular jeans aren’t strong enough to protect you in the event of a motorcycle crash. Even during a low speed slide in a pair of denim jeans, the road will eat them up in less than a second, leaving you up a creek with no paddle in sight.

By contrast, motorcycle jeans are much stronger. They’re made by mixing the denim with other, tougher materials, which earns them rated abrasion resistance. They can also feature impact armour, and extra abrasion resistant linings, for a higher rated level of safety.

This combination of safety features will help significantly reduce the risk of injury, should you be involved in a crash. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good pair of motorcycle jeans, and compared to a pair of denim jeans it’s absolutely no contest which is safest.

What to consider when buying summer motorcycle trousers

Summer motorcycle trousers are all about keeping you cool and protected while you ride, and there’s a number of things to look out for that will help with this. Consider the construction material, as it should be breathable enough to let air flow through the garment, while still offering a good level of protection.

Speaking of which, you’ll also want to consider any rated protection, such as impact and abrasion resistance. It’s more difficult to make a summer garment safe, as there’s often less material and more openings for ventilation sake, but there’s no reason you can’t get a good level of protection from summer motorcycle trousers without boiling on the saddle.

Consider how the trousers will fit on you, perhaps with and without some lightweight base layers, and if you’re unsure then make sure to try before you commit to them. Trousers won’t be comfortable or safe if they don’t fit properly, and some trousers will fit bigger or smaller than their size might indicate.

You may also want to consider style, and there’s all kinds of summer kit out there for any style you can think of. Think about what will match your bike, the style you like, and what will match with your summer jacket and summer gloves.

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