Gravitate Jeans, the brand name of a line of pants designed specifically for motorcycle riders, has been on the market since we first introduced them to you in 2011. During that time, the designers, Bruce and Margaret Meyer, riders themselves, have been tweaking and refining the fit and design, and even lowering the price to appeal to more women and men motorcyclists and passengers.
I found that Gravitate Jeans not only fit me well, but enhances my figure by hugging my curves and staying in place all day. I especially appreciate the wide range of sizes including jeans specifically cut for those larger sizes, which range from 14 to 24.
 |
 |
For many plus-sized riders like myself, finding jeans that fit well can be very difficult. To prove my dilemma I found an article on the web by the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. The reasons why women have such difficulty finding a good fit in plus-sized clothing is summarized here:
“This inconsistency in apparel sizing has caused much confusion for todays female consumers. The reason for this confusion can be attributed to many causes: the apparel industry relies on an outdated system to clothe todays women and there is no standardization of apparel sizes in the industry, the changing shape and size of the American consumers, and the practice of vanity sizing, and the downsizing of garment sizes to fit larger measurements.”
That said, I was pleased to see Gravitate Jeans not only offer plus sizes but clearly have worked hard to get the sizing right. I found the jeans fit true to size, which was a relief since ordering online meant I couldn’t try them on before buying. I ordered a size 14, consistent with my other jeans that fit well. Since I am only 4 feet, 11 inches with a 30 inch inseam, it is difficult to find any pants that fit my length as well.
Gravitate Jeans are offered only in 32 and 34-inch inseams. I ordered the 32, the shortest inseam available. As Iexpected, they were long on me. I will take them to a tailor to be hemmed so they fit lengthwise properly. For the review ride, I just cuffed them to the inside, as I didnt want to alter them before the review. If I were to wear heeled boots, as many riders do, they would fit perfectly.
Gravitate Jeans are made from a premium denim that has some stretch in it, making these jeans comfortable when moving around. The seams have reinforced stitching. The denim is a mix of 99 percent cotton and 1 percent spandex in the plus sizes, and 98 and 2 percent in regular sizes.
What makes these jeans a riding pant and how they’re different from your store-bought denim jeans is the “patented comfort panel,” a strip of material that is 97 percent cotton denim and 3 percent spandex running down the inside of each leg. This special design means the jeans hug hips and thighs without cutting into the skin.
When riding my motorcycle I noticed the higher rise in the back of the jeans (designed this way specifically for motorcycle riders), that helps keep the waistband at my waist throughout the day, and preventing my lower back from being exposed when leaning forward into the handlebars.
That signature stretchy comfort panel that runs the length of the legs keeps the jeans snug against my crotch and thigh, preventing the jeans from losing shape and sliding out of place. The result was a comfortable day in the saddle without me having to tug on my belt loops or adjust the seat of my pants. The jeans stayed in place all day on and off the bike.
The rise of the jeans falls at my waistline, and they stay snuggly there without cutting into my belly while seated. After I rode 200 miles on my motorcycle, the seat of the jeans hugged my bottom as if I had just pulled them on giving me the same great fit at the end of the day.
The styling is a boot cut with a standard five-pocket design. I washed the jeans in cold water, inside out, and tumbled dry on low. They conformed to my shape and fit beautifully within a few minutes after putting them on again.
The MOTO101 and MOTO102 Plus-Size Ladies Jeans sizes run from 14 through 24 with inseam options of 32 and 34 inches. They come in Indigo or Black, with a solid color patented comfort panel. These two plus-size styles are not available in white, or with skull or flame-printed panels as offered in the regular sized jeans. Sizing for the regular jeans runs from 4 to 16 with inseam options of 32 and 34 inches.
The two plus-size styles are $79.95, and the regular sizes are priced at $74.95.
 |
 |
I found Gravitate Jeans to be flattering to my plus-sized figure and very comfortable for riding. I think they are so attractive that I am wearing them even on days I’m not riding my motorcycle. Visit GravitateJeans.com to browse the entire collection and color combinations.
Here are some close-ups of the comfort panel colors and designs that are offered.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Related Articles
Review: Sliders Bella Jeans with Kevlar and Armor
Pros and Cons of Motorcycle Riding Jeans, Pants, and Chaps
Product Review with Video: Womens Motorcycle Riding Jeans
More Clothing Reviews
I am short and overweight—5 feet 3 inches and 199 pounds, most of which is in my butt, but my stomach is pretty full as well. I’m 54 years old.I bought these in a short, plus size 16. (size W16, L32)Standing, they fit with a big gap (fist-sized, 4 to 5 inches) in the back waist, which is the way most non-curvy pants fit. With a stretchy belt, they’re fine. Sitting on the bike they’re perfect. No plumber’s crack, and no digging into my stomach at the front. Also, the waistband doesn’t roll. I put my belt on so the buckle is off to the side, so that doesn’t dig either.The leg panels aren’t my favorite feature—after 4 hours of riding my inner thighs were a bit tender. Not chafed, but on an 8-hour ride, they probably would be.I too wish there were more belt loops. Also, a swatch of elastic in the back would be nice. I sew, so I may just add this myself.The length is perfect for me with a little cuff at the bottom.All in all, I’m very pleased with my Gravitate jeans and hope to be buying smaller sizes if the dieting goes well.
This is great feedback for riders who are shaped more like you! Thank you for sharing these details.
I love these jeans! Hubby and I bought a few pairs each at Laconia Bike Week in 2015. The owners are extremely nice people and the jeans are definitely high quality.
Love the jeans just wish they had more belt loops like mens jeans have. I hate when my belt rides above my jeans because there is only one loop in the center of the back and just two in the front that are too far apart.
Enjoyed the article and nice there is a lady friendly jean. I always wear my leather chaps over my jeans regardless of the weather conditions. The price seems reasonable although with the Canadian $ as it is, I won’t be ordering anytime soon. Thanks for the great review.
Once again, I miss out on a pair of pants because they don’t come in a 35/36-inch inseam.
Thanks for the review Sash. It’s always nice to hear how gear fits. I will definitely try these. Not having my jeans bunch up under my leathers will be nice and make for a much more comfortable long ride.
Like many readers, I also tend to hastily dismiss “gear” that is marketed toward motorcycle riders that has no safety element built-in. However, that said, I do ride often wearing regular blue jeans… only I wear motorcycle-specific overpants along with them. Overpants (such as the Joe Rocket Ballistic 7.0 pants shown here) have safety features like armor and are abrasion-resistant, but allow you to easily slip them off when you reach your destination. Having a comfortable pair of jeans on underneath them, such as these Gravitate Jeans, might make the ride much more pleasurable.
These would be perfect for me, if only they had Kevlar in them as I don’t typically ride with just jeans, unless it’s a super quick run for coffee or a spin around my block to charge the battery. And even then, I feel naked without my riding textiles, or my Kevlar riding jeans. I may simply purchase them just as a regular pair of jeans and see how they fit.
Great article. I will be considering a pair of these the next time I’m shopping for jeans. And I am one of those riders that wears jeans all the time for riding.
I am happy to read this review, as I want all types of riding gear, from safety to weather proof, to fashion. I will definitely check these out. Thank you for a comprehensive review of the jeans themselves.
Looks very interesting, but I wear a size 26 woman’s, but like to wear 28 when riding for the extra room. Your sizes do not go up that far. Really-plus-size girls ride as well!
Good article on fashion, but really nothing on safety … or was I missing something? I like to dress fashionable when I ride, but if my bike and I should go over, will the jeans provide any degree of protection? I currently wear tight, sexy jeans under a pair of biking pants. The biking pants provide a good degree of protection from road-burn as well as knee pads to help protect those very vulnerable, and important joints. And for a long stop, the biking pants are simple to remove so I can show off my tight jeans. Shouldn’t your articles include a safety element to them?
Thanks for your feedback. We have many articles on safe riding gear. I invite you to spend some time on our site perusing the hundreds of reviews we’ve done on gear that puts safety first, however, as we clearly stated in the review and that I will reiterate here, there are millions of motorcyclists who ride with blue jeans. It’s that simple. Safety conscious riders like yourself and others who have posted comments can share thoughts on the subject until the cows come home, but there is a large segment of riders, most cruiser and Harley folks, who simply prefer blue jeans. This review is aimed at that crowd. If you prefer to read reviews on gear that has a safety element, click on the link above that says Clothing Reviews and find the subject that most interests you.
These riding jeans look good and it’s nice that they fit women with fuller figures. However, should you go down and slide against pavement denim will shred along with your skin and flesh leaving your leg like it went through a meat grinder. Any emergency room RN can tell you how they’ll try to pick out debris and flush your wound however odds are good that the leg will become septic leading to an amputation to save your life. In conclusion, leather is the safest material to wear or at least a high denier Kevlar combination. You can expect to pay $500 to $2,500 for truly safe riding pants but how much are your legs worth? I speak from personal experience. I lost all but 7 3/4 inches of my leg. Forget looking pretty on your motorcycle if it means leaving yourself vulnerable in an accident. Remember safety, otherwise you may live to regret it if your lucky.
You are so right Donna, however the majority or riders do not wear Kevlar or abrasion resistant jeans of any kind, be it leather, textile, etc. They simply do not — and no amount of us preaching will change their minds. We try but can only share stories like yours. That said, if a rider is going to wear their regular blue jeans, these are an ideal alternative as they are much more comfortable — and that is the goal of this particular review, to compare them to regular jeans. We have plenty of articles and reviews on safe riding gear under the Clothing Reviews link that our readers have access to as well.