What are motorcycle trousers made of? Most riding trousers are cut from one of three fabrics: denim, a nylon-cotton blend called Nyco, or a technical polyester. Add a little stretch, a lining or a water-repellent finish and each one behaves very differently on a bike. The fabric decides how the trousers feel at a red light, how they cope with a shower and how long they take to dry afterwards. Here is what each material is, how it feels when you ride, and which NORDRYK trouser uses it.
What Are Motorcycle Trousers Made Of? The Three Fabrics Explained
Leather is the traditional riding material, but the NORDRYK range uses the other two families: denim and textile. Textile covers a nylon-cotton blend and a technical polyester, so you end up choosing between three different feels.
Stretch denim
Denim is cotton woven in a diagonal twill, the same cloth as everyday jeans. Riding versions add a little stretch so your knees and hips can bend. The NORDRYK Redback motorcycle jeans use stretch denim with a breathable mesh lining. They look like ordinary jeans and soften with wear.
Nyco (nylon and cotton)
Nyco is short for nylon-cotton. The NORDRYK Sentinel motorcycle trousers are made mainly from Nyco stretch: 50% nylon, 48% cotton and 2% elastane. Nylon adds lightness and quick drying, cotton keeps the feel soft rather than slick, and the elastane gives a little give. Our guide to tactical motorcycle trousers covers the cargo cut that goes with it.
Technical polyester
Polyester is a synthetic fibre that soaks up very little water, so it sheds splashes and dries fast. The NORDRYK RoadVault cargo trousers use a high-tensile technical polyester that is breathable and stretches in four directions, with zipped vent panels you can open on a warm day.
Stretch, Linings and Finishes: The Details Inside the Fabric
The base cloth is only half the story. Four details change how a trouser behaves once you are moving.
- Stretch. A little elastane, as in the Sentinel, or a four-way stretch weave, as in the RoadVault, lets the cloth move with your hips and knees when you sit.
- Mesh lining. The Redback's mesh layer lets air move between the denim and your leg. In high summer a jean is still a jean, so expect it to run warmer than the vented RoadVault.
- Vent panels. The RoadVault's zipped panels open for air and close again when the weather turns.
- DWR finish. DWR means durable water repellent, a coating that makes light rain bead and roll off. The Sentinel has one. It is a finish, not a membrane, and it wears down with washing.
If you want a light, breathable cloth with a water-repellent finish for changeable weather, the Nyco Sentinel is the one to look at.
How Each Fabric Feels on the Bike
A label tells you less than how a fabric behaves over a long ride. Here is how the three compare in use.
- Weight and warmth. Denim is the heaviest and warmest of the three. Nyco and technical polyester are lighter and breathe better, and the RoadVault's vents add more airflow.
- Rain and drying. Denim soaks up water and takes longest to dry. Nyco with a DWR finish beads off light rain, and polyester takes on very little water. None of the three is waterproof, so put a rain shell over the top for steady rain.
- Break-in. Denim softens and fades as you wear it. Nyco and polyester feel much the same from the first ride.
- Care. Denim likes a cool wash and air drying. Nyco and polyester are easier to wash, but any water-repellent finish needs topping up now and then. Our guide to storing motorcycle trousers over winter covers each fabric between seasons.
Which Fabric Suits the Way You Ride
Match the cloth to your riding, not to a label. For a daily commute with stops along the way, stretch denim reads as normal clothes off the bike. For changeable weather and cargo pockets, Nyco is the light all-rounder. For long days in the heat, vented technical polyester gives you the most airflow. Still deciding between denim and textile? Our motorcycle jeans vs textile trousers guide walks through the trade-offs.
Common Questions
Are motorcycle trousers made of leather?
Some are, and leather is the traditional material. NORDRYK trousers use denim and textile instead: stretch denim on the Redback, Nyco on the Sentinel and technical polyester on the RoadVault.
What is Nyco fabric?
Nyco is a blend of nylon and cotton. The Sentinel's Nyco stretch is 50% nylon, 48% cotton and 2% elastane, which makes a light, breathable cloth with a little give.
Are any of these fabrics waterproof?
No. Denim absorbs water, the Sentinel's Nyco has a DWR finish that beads off light rain and spray, and the RoadVault's polyester is water-resistant. For steady rain, wear a rain shell over the top.
FROM THE RANGE
Pick the fabric that fits your ride
NORDRYK RoadVault — Cargo Motorcycle Trousers
High-tensile polyester with 4-way stretch and zipped vent panels, in black, army green or camo.
See the RoadVault →
NORDRYK Redback — Motorcycle Jeans
Stretch denim with a breathable mesh lining, in black or blue.
See the Redback jeans →