Pants
The Jeans Question, or GET SOME PANTS!
Should you ride your motorcycle in jeans? Well, they provide about the same amount of protection as shorts.
In other words, they don't do anything.
The pavement grabs them and rips them - after that you're sliding on bare skin. Denim rips really really easily. Testing denim is really not fun.
This guy (pictured below) was in front of one of our members on a group ride and went down at about 30 mph. His mesh gloves wore through as soon as they touched the ground (you'll notice in the Gloves article that we recommend leather gloves), and he ended up losing a circle of skin on the knee about the size of a quarter and about 1/8" to 3/16" deep. He was able to finish up the ride, but was in pretty severe pain. Once he got home he ordered a pair of riding pants with CE armor and didnt get back on his bike until they came in. Regular jeans do absolutely nothing in a crash.
To find recommendations from fellow riders for specific gear models, go to Motorcycle Gear Review.
The following will give you an idea of what is available. Look for something with armor, CE preferably. You have lots of choices.
Joe Rocket Ballistic Pants
They are a little loose since they are overpants, but they are adjustable; they have a velcro "belt" that you tighten to fit your waist.
The pocket above the left knee is quite big and very convenient. The stiff pads at the knees should give good protection, and soft pads in the hip give some padding but don't restrict your mobility at all. Of course, you still have the abrasion resistance from the 110 ballistic nylon.
They are quite waterproof (though the crotch can leak in heavy rain, but so does an Aerostitch suit) and go over other clothing easily as they have zippers up the legs. They also will zip into Joe Rocket Blaster or Ballistic jackets. When wearing the whole outfit, you'll be ready for either a sunny day or a rainstorm. They're quite versatile.
Draggin Jeans
There are two Draggin Jeans companies; one in Australia and Fast Company, based in Hickory, NC (made in USA). According to the best information that a 30 minute search would provide, the US company is the original, and holds the US patent for the product. Both products seem to be equally well-made. It may come down to price and what you can find.
Testimonial: I have both the Draggin Jeans and Shirt. The shirt is 100 percent knit kevlar and the jeans have the same kevlar in the seat and knees. Kevlar is one of the best materials for abrasion resistance. Since most accidents occur at about 30 mph (Hurt Report) they should provide adequate protection from abrasion. They are well made and ideal for hot weather riding. I got mine from Competition Accessories and they take returns if you don't like them.
Note: You may want to consider the fact that most Draggin Jeans don't have any armor in them. It is an option, however, so make sure of what you want. They're a good idea if you like the jeans look, but you can most likely find a pair of mesh pants with better armor for the same price, or less.