MCN's guide to women's motorcycle trousers, from jeans to textiles - written by our expert ladies

Getting women’s motorcycle kit that fits properly can prove tricky and this is definitely the case with women’s motorcycle trousers.

Some people may simply ride in regular jeans or trousers. The law in the UK only states the requirement for a motorcycle helmet, but it is definitely advised to wear proper protective kit. The popular saying ‘dress for the slide, not ride’ sums this up perfectly.

What to look for when buying women’s motorcycle trousers

For the most part, a pair of motorcycle trousers are the same for men and women, with one big difference: the cut. How they fit is key to having a comfortable ride, not to mention how distracting and unsafe it can be if your clothes don’t fit as they should. Men’s trousers don’t generally allow for the wider hips, thighs and smaller waists that women generally have. So buying kit that is made specifically for ladies is a good idea. This way you can also get gear that is made to be more flattering to the female shape too, and who doesn’t like to feel good in their clothing?

Safety and protection

Safety is obviously a big thing to look at, as with any item of motorcycle riding kit. Look for the CE rating – ideally you want AAA, the most protective, or AA which is one step down. An A rating is OK for city riding, offering a lower protective ability, but we recommend getting the highest rating you can afford and that fit your needs. It’s worth noting that some of the most protective jeans aren’t the comfiest, though, so it’s a balance. The best advice is to try them on and find some that work for you.

What riding do you do?

What will you be using them for? Are you a fair weather rider who likes a sunny jaunt to a lovely pub or the beach for fish and chips? If so then you probably don’t require too many additional features, so fit and looks may be your only real priorities. So perhaps a pair of riding jeans or motorcycle leggings would fit the bill.

If however you plan to commute or go on tours, then you probably want a more practical pair of trousers, offering waterproofing, thermal linings and multiple pockets. In this case you will be best off looking at textile trousers as they are most likely to offer the versatility that you are require.

Our favourite motorcycle trousers for ladies

Textile and adventure

The more adaptable trousers tend to be those made from textile fabrics and with adventure and touring in mind. These will often offer thermal liners and waterproofing along with a slightly looser fit to allow for additional thermals or base layers, while providing a little space to move. Waist adjusters are another really handy feature that you tend to find on this type of trouser, allowing you to adjust the fit to be most comfortable for you.

Jeans

Motorcycle jeans are probably the most popular type of riding trouser, I’m fairly sure that almost every rider will have a pair in their wardrobe. They look casual and cool and fit more like regular clothes. The improvements in protective fabric technology has also allowed them to provide genuinely good safety too, with some versions boasting AAA CE ratings.

Leggings

Similar to riding jeans, leggings have made an appearance as a more relaxed and comfortable option for riders. Made from stretchy materials and offering a snug fit, they are a great option for the more relaxed ride.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to get the matching trousers to my jacket?

No, not necessarily, it is easier and probably looks nicest if you have the matching set of textiles make a suit but as long as you check that any connection zips are the same, there is no reason why you can’t choose an entirely different jacket to your trousers. Choose whichever combination works best for the way you ride and your personal taste.

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 fit should I be looking for with my trousers?

It depends on what style of trousers you are buying, but all trousers should be comfortable, so loose enough to allow movement but not restrictive, and tight enough that there is minimum excess of fabric to catch on the bike, flap in the wind or ruck up and become distracting. Consider if you want the trouser legs to go over motorcycle boots or tuck into them.

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How MCN tests women’s motorcycle trousers

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles in order to provide you with opinions and evaluations you can trust, alongside news of the most significant developments in motorcycling safety gear. We want you to stay safe, enjoy your riding and hopefully look great while doing so! 

We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions.

That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on. To make it onto this list, women’s motorcycle trousers must have been worn for hundreds or thousands of miles by our team of experienced female testers, show no major flaws, and meet modern safety standards as well as offering decent value for money. 

Each of our expert reviewers tests their jeans and leggings for a variety of things, both subjective and objective. Factors assessed include the level of safety rating, what armour is fitted, how breathable they are, do they look good and do they have any additional features like waterproofing.

However, we also assess how they fit, what sizes and lengths are available, if they are true to size, their perceived quality, how we feel wearing them and how comfortable they are both on and off the bike.

We cover thousands of miles in these trousers and regularly compare them with one another in the office, so collectively we’ve built the sort of knowledge base you can trust.

If you can’t see a review against a pair of motorcycle trousers on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested them yet. These 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.

Here’s a brief run-down of the star rating system we use, and what each score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement. It might be lacking safety features, be poorly built or far too expensive to recommend.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A helmet with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

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

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