MottoWear City X Riding Jeans | MC TESTED

Finding the right riding jeans among the plethora of options is tricky, but here are a few features to keep in mind: armor (or at least the ability to add armor), extra abrasion resistance in the knees and seat, and a special cut for riding. This pair of MottoWear’s City X jeans checks all of these boxes and has held up well over the past six months.

Luckily they haven’t been tested in a crash, but they feel ready. Kevlar panels sewn into the seat, thigh, and knees add protection but are lined so the material isn’t rough on skin. Protection can be bolstered by adding the included SAS-TEC knee armor and/or Knox hip pads ($30), both of which attach via sizeable strips of Velcro that allow placement of the armor to suit preference. It might not sound like much, but being able to put the armor wherever suits your body type best is a huge plus.

Fit is comfortable, and the legs are long enough that they reach the ankle while riding, a key feature for both comfort and safety. Color-match stitching does well to hide the attachment points for the Kevlar lining, so to the untrained eye the City X appears a simple, nicely built pair of jeans. Sizing runs a little small, and MottoWear points out that sizing differs among the different models. While $130 is likely more than you would spend on a pair of jeans, these are many times better for riding than your 501s.

PRICE: $130
CONTACT: mottowear.us

Verdict: Expensive, but also comfortable, stylish, and they offer far more protection than 
standard denim.