Short leg motorcycle trousers solve a problem most riders only notice when they try a pair on: the waist fits, but the hem pools over the boot or bunches around the ankle. Riding trousers are cut for a seated position, so a leg that is a few centimetres too long gets in the way more than it would on a walk. This guide covers what short leg really means, how to measure your inseam, which NORDRYK trousers suit a shorter leg and what to do if a pair still runs long.
Short Leg Motorcycle Trousers: What Short Really Means
There is no industry standard. One brand's short leg is another's regular, so the label matters less than the number underneath it: the inseam, measured in centimetres from the crotch seam to the hem. A short leg means a shorter inseam than the standard cut for that size. It matters most to riders whose legs are short for their height and to riders who are petite overall.
The riding position adds a second problem. With your knees bent and your feet on the pegs, the hem rides up and the fabric gathers behind the knee. A pair that touches the top of your boot while you stand can lift clear of it on the bike, while a pair that is too long bunches over the boot and can catch on a footpeg. Our guide to wearing trousers over boots or tucked in shows how a hem should sit once the length is right.
How to Measure Your Inseam for Riding Trousers
Do this in the boots you ride in, because boot height changes where the hem should land.
- Start with a pair that already fits. Lay it flat and measure from the crotch seam to the hem in centimetres.
- Check it seated. Sit on a chair with your knees bent at a right angle. The hem should still cover the top of your boot.
- Compare numbers, not labels. Match your measurement to the leg lengths in centimetres on the product page.
- Read the height column. Every NORDRYK size table lists waist and height. If they point to different sizes, let waist and thigh decide and fix the length separately.
Which NORDRYK Trousers Suit a Shorter Leg?
Only one model has a choice of length. The Redback motorcycle jeans come in 30 (76 cm), 32 (81 cm) and 34 (86 cm), so a short-legged rider can take the 30 and keep the waist size that fits, while the 34 suits taller riders. The size table starts at XS for riders of 160–168 cm and runs to 5XL.
The RoadVault cargo trousers and the Sentinel trousers are sold by size rather than leg length, so the height column does the work. RoadVault starts at XXS for 152–160 cm and XS for 158–166 cm, in women's and men's fits that share one table, and its adjustable ankle cuffs let you set how the hem sits over the boot. The Sentinel starts at S for 165–172 cm and has an adjustable hem (32–46 cm) that fits over any boot. Neither comes in a shorter leg, but both give you control at the boot. Our guide to women's motorcycle trousers covers the cut in more detail.
What to Do If a Pair Still Runs Long
A small excess is manageable. Work through these in order:
- Adjust the cuff or hem. Snugging it over the boot stops the leg bunching.
- Do not size down for length. A smaller size narrows the waist, seat and thigh too, for very little gain in length. Choose by waist and thigh, then deal with the length.
- Try a taller boot. A longer shaft takes up extra length, which is why the same trousers can look different with different boots.
- Take up the hem. If a pair fits everywhere else and you are keeping it, a tailor can shorten it. Mark the hem with your boots on and your knee bent, and leave a little extra.
Fabric changes how a hem sits too: stretch denim, Nyco and technical polyester all hang differently, and our guide to what motorcycle trousers are made of explains how.
Common Questions
What does short leg mean in motorcycle trousers?
It means a shorter inseam than the standard length for that size. Brands differ, so compare centimetres rather than the label. Among NORDRYK trousers the shortest is the Redback in length 30, an inseam of 76 cm.
Can I buy a smaller size to get a shorter leg?
Not as a rule. A smaller size narrows the waist and thigh at the same time for very little gain in length. Pick the size by waist and thigh, then use a length option, an adjustable cuff or hem, or a tailor.
How should the hem sit when I am on the bike?
It should still cover the top of your boot with your knee bent and your foot on the peg. If it rides up past the ankle, the leg is too short. If it bunches over the boot or catches on the footpeg, it is too long.
FIND YOUR FIT
Two models with a hem you can adjust
NORDRYK RoadVault
XXS to 4XL in women's and men's fits, with adjustable ankle cuffs.
See the RoadVault →