ONE YEAR REVIEW

IN-DEPTH TESTING OVER MONTHS AND MILES

Bull-it Bondi SR6 £129.99

I MAY HAVE started riding in jeans in the Eighties, but once I could afford leather I never looked back. Over the years, though, textile technology has caught up and the advent of armoured riding jeans with abrasion-resistant materials got me to give denim another go.

These Bull-it jeans don’t use Kevlar, a Dupont-trademarked material. Instead they use Covec, essentially the same kind of super-strong aramid material. These jeans are called SR6 because the makers claim they’ll offer six seconds of resistance to abrasion… you’re highly unlikely to slide for six seconds on the road, so they shouldn’t wear through.

The Covec material is woven into the denim rather than being an extra layer of cloth, lining some parts of the jeans but not others. They are heavier and warmer than normal jeans, but much less bulky and weighty than the kind lined with panels of Kevlar. They have a thermal liner which largely stop them getting itchy, though they are more comfy on the bike than in an office.

There are pockets for armour in the knees and hips – I have the CE Level 1 sets fitted (£22.50 each for hips and knees; there are now CE Level 2 knee protectors for £26.99). This is flexibly comfortable and barely noticeable. Indeed, one of the things I like is that they look like normal jeans even with the armour in. Best of all, the extra-long fitting is a 36in inside leg – which I need as I’m 6ft 5in. This means not only do the SR6S fit me properly but also, more importantly, keep the knee armour in the right place when my leg’s bent for riding.

The SR6’S final trick is their external coating. It’s not waterproof but is water

been caught in 20-minute summer showers and emerged with dry legs – though a proper wintery half-hour downpour did dampen my crotch. Ahem.

Over 6000 summery miles, these jeans have really impressed me. They’re wellcut, comfortable and practical. I haven’t crashed in them (and wouldn’t want to) but I trust the spec to make them a better bet than normal jeans – and surely that’s the idea with riding jeans. SW

Zip fly instead of buttons and sturdy buckle. Belt is the model’s own The SR6S are designed to accept CE Level 1 hip and Level 1 and 2 knee pads Quality looking items feature a leather patch for authentic jeans feel Thermal liner is comfortable and...