If there’s one thing that puts people off with motorcycle riding gear (apart from how expensive it can get!), it is that it’s cumbersome and makes you stand out in a crowd. The latter, in particular, can be problematic for people who want protection for the ride to work, but also want to blend in at the office.
This is where riding jeans come in, and the Viaterra Austin is an option that has been around for some time now. For 2025, not much has changed in terms of materials or protection, but the company has worked on improving the fit and look. Fit-wise, these jeans are now modelled around the ubiquitous Levi’s 501s, and that gives them a very ‘normal’ look. Happily, they just about fit over the tops of full length sporty riding boots, but you won’t be able to get them over more bulky off-road boots.
The use of very thin and flexible SasTec CE level 2 armour also greatly helps in keeping the subtle look without any large protrusions at the knees or hips. Most people would never know that you’re wearing a pair of armoured jeans just at a glance.
The fit is pleasantly ‘normal’ as well, and the Austin jeans are comfy for all-day use, be it sitting at a desk or even while walking around. There’s a traditional five-pocket design, and I also appreciate the fact that the pockets are deep, which gives you a sense of security over your phone/keys/wallet when riding.
There are just two reservations I have with these denims – one of them is a little personal to me, while the other is something everyone should consider. Starting with the former, I find that the fit doesn’t work so well when I’m riding a bike, because the knee armour doesn’t sit in the right position to offer maximum protection. Granted, at 6’1” and with a 35” inseam, I am at the tall end of the spectrum, but if you are a larger rider, this is something to know. Viaterra does provide two pockets for the knee armour, but even in its lowest position, I find that the armour sits too high up to provide ideal coverage of the knee and upper shin.
The second issue is that there is no abrasion-resistant lining used here. These denims are made of a blend of cotton, polyester and spandex, and while that is pleasantly comfortable, it won’t do much when sliding down the road. This is the tradeoff with riding denims - having an abrasion-resistant liner will make them thicker, heavier, hotter feeling and more expensive, but that is the sacrifice to make for actual protection. Ultimately, the supplied knee and hip armour make these vastly more protective than regular jeans, but at the same time, I wouldn’t use them for anything more than gentle urban riding.
While I would like to see a more technical pair of riding denims from Viaterra with a proper abrasion liner, the Austin is still something I would recommend for casual city riding – especially for those who don’t use any motorcycle-specific pants at all.
Where: www.viaterragear.com
Price: Rs 5,999
Gavin Rodrigues
Dinshaw Magol
