Motorcycle over trousers are a thin shell you pull on over your riding trousers when the rain starts and take off again when it stops. If your everyday pair is not sold as waterproof, and none of ours is, they are the simplest way to keep your legs dry. Here is what over trousers do, whether you need a pair, how they should fit over your riding trousers and boots, and how to put them on without losing ten minutes at the roadside.
Motorcycle Over Trousers: What They Are and What They Do
Over trousers, also sold as overtrousers or rain pants, are a loose shell cut to go over a pair of riding trousers and a pair of boots. Their one job is to keep rain and spray off the layer underneath. Most have a zip or a wide opening at each ankle, so you can pull them on without taking your boots off.
They are not meant for all-day wear. You put them on at the first drops and take them off at your destination. A fully sealed layer also holds in heat and moisture, so it can feel warm on a mild day, which is why many riders wear a breathable pair every day and carry the shell for the wet.
Do You Need Motorcycle Over Trousers?
It depends on where and how you ride. A shell earns its place if any of these sound like you:
- You commute all year. You cannot choose your weather, and arriving with wet legs ruins the day.
- You tour or ride far from home. Forecasts change on a long route, and a packable shell takes little room.
- Your riding trousers are not sold as waterproof. Denim soaks up water, so jeans such as our Redback motorcycle jeans need a shell most. Technical fabric takes on less water but still lets steady rain in at seams and zips.
If you only ride in fair weather, you can probably skip them. None of our three pairs is sold as waterproof, and our guide to what motorcycle trousers are made of shows how each fabric handles water, so a shell is the plan for steady rain. Our guide to riding a motorcycle in the rain covers where water gets in and how to ride on a slick road.
How Over Trousers Should Fit Over Riding Trousers
The shell goes over everything below the waist, so size it for what is underneath. Try it on over your riding trousers and boots, sit down, and check three things:
- Room: you should be able to bend your knees and lift a foot to the peg without the fabric pulling tight across the thigh.
- Length: the hem should cover the top of your boots while you sit, with no bare shin. Wear the shell over the boot, not inside it, so water runs off the outside.
- Ankles: a zip or strap lets you close the opening over the boot instead of leaving a gap for spray.
The pair underneath matters too. Thigh flap pockets and vent panels add bulk, so empty the pockets and close the vents first. The RoadVault cargo trousers have zipped vents and adjustable ankle cuffs, which makes this quick. A slim ankle also stops the shell bunching, and the Sentinel's adjustable hem pulls in to give you one.
How to Put Them On and Keep the Wet Out
- Keep them within reach. A tank bag, top box or seat pocket works. At the bottom of a pannier they stay put until you are soaked, and our touring packing list for Europe shows what else belongs in the panniers.
- Put them on at the first drops, before your trousers are wet. A shell pulled over damp fabric traps the damp in.
- Sit on the bike, then close the ankles and the waist. Check the fit seated, not standing.
- Overlap your jacket. Let the jacket hang over the top of the shell, so rain runs down the outside and not into the waistband.
- Dry them afterwards. Shake them out and hang them up before folding, so they are ready next time.
Common Questions
Do motorcycle over trousers go over or under boots?
Over. The shell should cover the top of the boot so water runs off the outside rather than into it. A zip or strap at the ankle makes this easy to do with the boots already on.
Can you wear motorcycle over trousers over jeans?
Yes, that is what they are cut for. Denim soaks up water, so jeans gain the most from a shell. Choose a size with room for the pockets and the knees of the pair underneath.
Are motorcycle over trousers hot to wear?
A fully sealed shell holds in heat, so it can feel warm in mild rain. Put it on only when the wet starts, keep your vents closed underneath, and take it off when the rain clears.
From the range
Two pairs to wear under your rain layer
NORDRYK RoadVault — Cargo Motorcycle Trousers
4-way stretch, zipped vents and adjustable ankle cuffs, in black, army green or camo.
See the RoadVault →
NORDRYK Redback — Motorcycle Jeans
Stretch denim with a breathable mesh lining and three leg lengths, in black or blue.
See the Redback →