ResuRgence Vintage BRown VoyageR PeKeV MotoRcycle Jeans
£240 | www.resurgencegear.net | 0203 5142413 | Tested by Luke Brackenbury
There’s no denying that £240 is a lot of money for a pair of jeans, but I’ve paid more for motorcycle trousers – textile and leather – and, as these are for that very purpose, there’s no point in comparing them with regular jeans. But I will anyway.
Most of us want to ride in jeans because it looks cool and it’s less hassle and faff when you get to wherever you are going. But we all knowthat regular jeans are only really protective when stumbling over from a drunken stupor, not for stepping off a moving motorcycle. Despite being well aware of this fact, I’ve ignored it for years. Well, saying that, I tried some armoured jeans a while back and, despite being my size, they looked awful and the protection wobbled around. What was the point?
I happened across the Resurgence range of protective jeans at a showin January. The first thing that caught my eye from the whole range – six styles, 13 colours, three fits and two cuts (even combats) was that they looked mega. The next thing I knowis I’mtouching them. And then I’m trying them on; they look good, fit amazing and are really comfortable.
The Voyager jeans are one of the most expensive Resurgence offers. Damn. But they’re fully lined with their own innovative material – Pekev – claimed to be over 200% stronger than Kevlar and holding the honour of the world’s highest abrasion rating for motorcycle jeans at 10.83 seconds. There’s also removable Knox armour in the knees and hips, and a cut to fit them over boots, with Velcro straps to hook under boots to stop them riding up.
Why I wanted them is because I fly a lot for work and always ride to the airport, trying to pack light. The Resurgence jeans have revolutionised these trips. They’re thick enough to be warm and I wear only a thin and foldable pair of waterproof trousers over the top if needed. When I arrive, I take out the armour. I can remove the hip protectors while wearing them, but have to take them off to get the knee guards out.
The first trip was a cold ride to Heathrow, through the hustle/hassle of security and on for five of the 11 hours of the flight to Thailand. Then back on for a full days riding in the Thai heat. No problems. The last mission was to Gatwick in the rain and I had the jeans on for four days solid in Austria – on the plane, in the hire car, in meetings and in the pub.
Hopefully I won’t have to properly test them, but they feel bulletproof. Also, you have to remember to tuck the Velcro strap firmly out of the way when you don’t want to hold them in place – people always tell me when I’mdragging it. I can see the strap being the first thing to wear away, though.
Comfy, protective, great fit, look good, proper armour, fully lined – I love them.