Rider leggings get poor safety ratings

The world’s first motorcycle clothing safety ratings program, MotoCAP, has given just half a star each to three sets of rider leggings and mixed reviews on gloves, although they didn’t test many brands. For example these leggings from Ridezza are pretty good, but who is to say how may stars they would actually get.

MotoCAP launched in September with ratings for 10 leather jackets and 10 pairs of rider jeans.

Last month they added ratings for 10 textile jackets which rated lower than the leather jackets on safety.

MotoCAP has set a target of testing 10% of available jackets, pants and gloves in its first year of operation.

Leggings tested

So far, no women’s jackets or pants had been tested, but now they have tested three pairs of women’s leggings.

The Bull-It, Draggin and Oxford leggings rate just half a star for safety out of five.

The Draggin Stealthz leggings also rated half a star for comfort, while the Oxford Super Leggings rated three and a full five stars for the Bull-It Fury SP120 Lite Jeggings.

Click here for the full ratings for all pants.

Gloves tested

Finally gloves have been tested with a mixed range of results.

Ducati Corse C3 gloves received maximum protection ratings, while Macna Catch Mesh and DriRider Air Ride scored just one star.

No ratings were given for comfort.

Four stars went to Harley-Davidson Circuit waterproof and Alpinestars SP-2, three to Ixon RS Rallye HP and Five Gloves Sportcity and two stars to Dainese Mig C2.

Testing target

In October, a Transport for NSW spokesman told us leather pants are also being tested.

When MotoCAP was launched, the motorcycle clothing industry was not invited to pay for testing to guarantee independence.

So far, all rated clothing has been bought off the shelf using a random sampling process.

The ratings were not commissioned by the companies and the motorcycle gear was not supplied by the companies.

However, MotoCAP has invited companies to submit products for ratings and pay a low fee to cover testing.

Companies can voluntarily advertise their rating using the MotoCAP logo.

MotoCAP is a not-for-profit organisation in partnership with the following: from NSW – Transport for NSW, SIRA and the NRMA; from Victoria – VicRoads, TAC and RACV; from South Australia – DPTI, MAC and RAA; from Queensland – TMR and RACQ; from Western Australia – the Western Australian Road Safety Commission; plus the Australian Motorcycle Council and the New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation.

The Transport for NSW spokesperson says MotoCAP is designed to “reduce road trauma and injury severity for motorcyclists” by informing riders of their choices.

“It is hoped this will be achieved by raising consumer awareness of, and demand for, better protective clothing, and manufacturers and suppliers will respond to that demand,” he said.

“The MotoCAP rating system will be continually monitored and feedback will be considered to identify any improvements that can be made.”