r/TwoXriders • u/EvidenceGold8033 • 2d ago
Female riders — what is the most annoying part of buying motorcycle gear?
I'm a relatively new rider and I've been thinking a lot about how much effort it takes to find gear that is protective, actually fits properly AND looks the way you want it to.
I'm exploring an idea around making this process easier for women riders, but before building anything I want to understand whether other women actually have the same problems.
I want to know: What's the most frustrating part of shopping for your riding gear?
For example: sizing between brands, fit, finding gear for your body shape, limited women's options, style, knowing what's actually protective, matching pieces together, price, buying online, etc.
I'd especially love to hear from people who have returned gear multiple times or spent ages researching before buying something.
Not selling anything.. I'm genuinely trying to understand the problem before I build something that nobody needs.
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u/KeepMeSweet 2d ago
That i want style and protection. I want to like the way I look while still expecting the same amount of pockets and pads as my masc gear. I find woman's gear is either hey girlie here's something cute, with no protection or youre going to look like an umpaloompa
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u/Migoreng_Pancit 2d ago
This! I want all the pockets! I want it functional and safe FIRST! It's only a bonus if it's cute, not the primary driver!
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u/suzettecocoa 2d ago
As a 5'8" woman, everything is too short — jacket sleeves and pants end above my ankles or wrists, and knee pads sit too high on my long thighs. I’ve tried men’s gear, but the overall shape of the garment is wrong for a woman’s body. If anyone knows of a brand that fits taller women while maintaining the highest standards of safety, please share.
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u/fullwizardry42 2d ago
Seconded! I’m 6’2 and 200 lbs. women’s gear doesn’t often fit me and my local store doesn’t have a huge selection. I wear a lot of men’s gear.
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u/suzettecocoa 2d ago
I can only imagine the challenge...at 5'8 I don't even consider myself that tall and nothing fits me
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u/cinnadeer 1d ago
I'm 5'8" as well and have a pair of the women's Trilobite Parado AAAA slim fit jeans size 28W 32L and the length is perfect. They have 2 different inseam sizes (regular and long). If you're purchasing online, just be aware that the waist sizing runs a tad small. Love the safety rating on these jeans and they're incredibly comfortable.
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u/No-Turnip-5417 2d ago
That I want gear that just fits! I'm tall so I've already lost most of the gear made for women right there. Don't want it in pink or black? Another 99% gone. Don't have large breasts or hips? Well with my height everyone expects me to be an XL for some reason.
I literally can't tighten my riding jacket enough, I fear it sliding off in a slide. I wish there were just better sizing charts and more selections
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u/AristocraticPallor 2d ago
I'm 5'10 and almost all the women's gear is too short in the legs and sleeves for me. The Italian leathers are not even on the radar for me as I am not slim despite losing quite a bit of weight. Currently I'm relying either on Pando Moto or Rebelhorn. Thank the gods for those.
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u/0nionskin 2d ago
"shrink it and pink it" doesn't suit all XX riders. Let's have some other colors or black without pink accents. Some of us aren't all that feminine but still need gear that fits right and make us feel confident. A range of styles and colors in sizes that fit ACTUAL people not models.
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u/BoysenberryNervous20 2d ago
Looks vs protection as everyone else is saying, but throw in the fact that women’s sizing is so inconsistent with gear too. What do you mean I still wear everything from a S to an XXL on the bike, and sometimes still from the same company?
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u/Migoreng_Pancit 2d ago
💯 Don't go the women's clothing route where everything from pants to tops come only in "S, M, & L" sizes. (Historically, women's clothes and sizes were an afterthought in the industry.) That's why I shopped men's jeans because they size by waist and inseam measurements. Our body types are so varied that sizes should reflect that!
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u/BoysenberryNervous20 2d ago
I tried that route but my thighs and my waist are in different time zones 😂 I’ve found a lot of gear is aimed towards slim, athletic body types and even at my thinnest, my hips and my waist wanted different size pants. I understand that having inventory in each size in multiple body types isn’t feasible because we don’t have enough rider saturation, but the lack of options is just another barrier to entry
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u/starfall_13 2d ago
The thing I struggle the most with is finding good riding pants for my size and shape. I’m 171cm/5’7” and 85kg. I went to a store that specialises in women’s gear and spent half the day trying on almost every pair of pants they stocked before finding something that worked. The problem that I kept running into was that either the leg length was too long and the knee armour sat on my shins, or they were far too loose in the waist even when tightened. And the one pair of pants I ended up with only attach to jackets with a compatible zip from the same brand, but alas the store did not have any jackets from that brand in my size for me to try on, so I got a different brand jacket…. And constantly worry that it will ride up and be useless in the event of a slide anyway
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u/little_blu_eyez 2d ago
It’s not a common thing for the average rider to actually attach their jackets. I don’t know of one person in real life who attaches their jacket.
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u/BlackCatFurry 2d ago
Gloves that feature same amount of protection than mens gloves. So full leather, pinky bridge, palm sliders and full gauntlets.
The fingers on the gloves are de-facto at least 1cm too long and my hands are womens xs in most gloves, so I can't get mens gloves either since they are too big even in smallest size.
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u/NinjaGrrl42 2d ago
My biggest problem is finding gear to try on. Cycle Gear is the only store close, and their selection is... meh. I did manage to find a jacket from the that I like, but their pants selection was dismal.
As much as I hate it, I've had to do mail order for pants. There have been a lot of returns.... Mens' pants don't fit right, obviously, and all the womens' pants i look at are tight, which makes me crazy. I can't stand it tight. And I don't have the mental energy to sift through it. I'm sure there is something but I'm tired. I do have a good pair of pants, not a great fit, but it's close.
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u/Popular-Mammoth-4416 1d ago
I feel like it's the same issues in terms of fit, sizing and brand variation as regular clothing but multiply by 100 and add protective factors :) echoing what others here have said in terms of finding things to physically try on. Being expected to have a higher waist to hip ratio than I do, and V shaped clothing, tight in the stomach, too big in the chest. Manufacturers still thinking women need lower level armour and abrasion resistance than men's jackets (why). Sometimes smaller sizing esp for good quality, more budget brands here in the UK. I'm 5ft 2in and 108 lbs with a small ribcage. I don't think I'm that small, a US 4-6, but sometimes the smallest size is a 4 and still too big, or you go down to a 2 and it's too tight in the stomach. Again.
Pink. An age old complaint. I want my gear to fit well and yes, look good, but I want no pink in any part of my life. No shade to you if you do, we all need options that we don't have rn.
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u/throwaway_acc_ABC 2d ago
The most annoying thing for me is my height. I’m 156cm with an 70cm inseam. I’m also 50kg so my options are REALLY limited! (Cant be arsed to convert to imperial so pls use google lol)
It’s mostly a matter of fitting clothes and figuring out what brand works for you!
Just go to a physical store and try on as much as possible and try the same things on in different sizes cuz you’ll be surprised how differently it can fit.
Also motorcycle gear is hella expensive! But you know what is even more expensive? Hospitals. So please don’t cheap out on it! Buy proper AA gear at the minimum but AAA is better!
If i find a piece that i like i usually save up for 2. One to use and another one to use when i need to wash or if the first one breaks.