Textile motorcycle riding gear was once worn only by adventure-touring and off-road riders. Now these abrasion-resistant fabric jackets and pants are nearly as popular as leather gear among the mainstream street-riding population. Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen major advances in fabric versatility, as well as in style and sizing. You asked, and designers listened.
Gear Guide for Big Girls: Textile Jackets and Pants
When it comes to finding riding gear for the lower half of the body, women riders who are tall and/or curvy have the hardest time finding gear that fits. Thats because there is a very limited selection of styles available in larger sizes, unlike jackets, where there are more options available. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list with the most current sizing and prices to date of leather pants and chaps in womens sizes 14 up to 26, including tall.
Gear Guide for Big Girls: Leather Pants and Chaps
Even just a few years ago, a woman who was tall, large or curvy—or any combination of the three—had a difficult time finding riding gear that would fit well, protect and help her look good while riding a motorcycle. And if she wanted a choice of styles? Forget it. Like me, many women have stuffed themselves into mens gear for years just to be protected or ride in gear that just doesn’t fit quite right.
Gear Guide for Big Girls: Leather Jackets
Harley-Davidsons battery-powered heated riding gear has been out for a year now, and weve been busy testing it over all four seasons. Finally, an option for cold-weather riding that doesnt require having to remember to “unplug” yourself when you get off your bike. But how does warmth without wires stack up to the traditional non-battery-powered heated garments? Pamela Collins has the scoop.
PRODUCT REVIEW: Battery-Operated Heated Gear
In response to her customers telling her that her motorcycle riding jackets need more room in the bust Shelly Reiner, owner Girl Gear Apparel, redesigned her line of textile jackets to accommodate this need. Shelly says, “I am excited about the sizing because it is better suited to fit the chest and front of women. Some of my friends who only fit in mens jackets are able to fit into these sizes.”
Generously Sized Riding Jackets
When Yamaha invited me to test its new FZ6R last winter, naturally I began shopping for the right apparel coordinates to match the sizzling graphics on the sporty bodywork. The slimming style and feminine tribal graphics adorning SHIFTs Tempest SS womens motorcycle jacket looked like the perfect fit.
PRODUCT REVIEW: SHIFT Tempest SS Waterproof Jacket
I recently tested a pair of TCX Sunray Gore-Tex womens boots and reach for them now every time I hop on a motorcycle. The Sunray boots arent just smaller-sized mens boots. TCX engineers designed them specifically for a womans foot using a specially designed last, or foot shaped mold, that reproduces the differences in the instep, heel, and metatarsal zones naturally found in womens feet.
REVIEW: TCX Womens Sunray Gore-Tex Boots
As the long days and warm nights of summer quickly approach, women riders can gear up for the open road with new styles of boots, helmets and a jacket from Harley-Davidson. New riding gear technologies and performance enhancements combine to create a collection of footwear and apparel ready to be worn on your next road trip.
A Riding Jacket That Carries A Hydration Pack
If you keep up with the leather and textile jacket offerings from Harley-Davidson, youve heard of the FXRG line, the Motor Companys functional riding gear (thats what FXRG stand for). Ive worn both the FXRG leather jacket and pants and the textile riding outfit when they first came out and found them to be top notch in protection and comfort.
When looking for one jacket to achieve it all, then the Tour Master Trinity Series 2 Ladies Jacket deserves serious consideration. After nearly 5,000 miles of riding in this jacket, I have deemed it as multi-functional as a Swiss Army knife while offering styling that suits my feminine side.
PRODUCT REVIEW: Tour Master Trinity Series 2 Ladies Jacket