Riding jeans are the most-skipped piece of kit, and the one new riders most regret skipping after their first low-speed spill. Ordinary denim offers almost no slide protection. Proper motorcycle jeans look the same off the bike but are built to keep your skin where it belongs. Here is what to look for and the honest picks, from budget to best.
What the ratings mean (30 seconds)
- Abrasion: EN 17092, AAA down to AA, A, B, C. For jeans, aim for AAA (the highest) if you can, AA as a solid budget step down. Anything lower is not really protective.
- Armour: CE Level 1 or Level 2 at the hips and knees. Level 2 is better, and most good jeans now include it as standard.
- Single-layer vs lined. Older armoured jeans used a separate aramid (Kevlar) lining, which is hot and stiff. Modern single-layer jeans weave the protective fibre into the denim itself: cooler, more comfortable, and the ones most people actually wear. That comfort matters, because the safest jeans are the ones you put on every time.
A real-world tip: check whether the armour is included or sold separately. The best-value jeans come with Level 2 protectors in the box.
The picks
Bull-it Covert Evo (around £100) — best value AAA
Hard to beat at the price. Built from Covec high-performance stretch denim, AAA-rated, and supplied with Level 2 hip and knee armour as standard. That combination of the top abrasion rating and included armour for around £100 makes these the easy first recommendation. Check price at Amazon UK →
Roadskin Tyrian (budget, AA) — the tighter-budget pick
A more affordable single-layer option from UK brand Roadskin. Made from 75% Cordura denim blended with polyester, nylon and Lycra, with triple-stitched seams and Level 2 armour included. It carries an AA rating rather than AAA, so a step down in abrasion, but a genuine, comfortable, properly-armoured jean for less. Check price at Amazon UK →
Roadskin Taranis Elite (around £180) — stretch further
If you can stretch the budget, the Taranis Elite is single-layer, AAA-rated, and comes with Level 2 Smoothways protectors (with an option to upgrade to excellent Rheon armour). Proof you do not need to spend designer money for top-tier protection. Check price at Amazon UK →
Spada Ronin (around £160) — the all-rounder
Single-layer jeans that look good on and off the bike, run cool to wear, carry EN 17092 AAA certification and come with Level 2 Type B armour as standard. A well-rounded choice from a UK brand. Check price at Amazon UK →
Which should you buy first?
For most new riders the Bull-it Covert Evo is the sweet spot: AAA protection and Level 2 armour for around £100. On a tighter budget, the Roadskin Tyrian gets you genuinely armoured for less. Avoid “fashion” biker jeans with no EN 17092 rating, because they look the part and protect like ordinary denim, which is to say barely at all. Prices move around, so check the live price before buying.
For the rest of your first kit, see the complete beginner motorcycle gear guide, and pair these with a properly armoured jacket.
More beginner guides: Complete beginner gear guide · Best budget jackets · Best budget gloves · What to wear for your CBT