Armoured Riding Jeans - The NEXT Generation is already with us!!

by Paul Burdass June 03, 2023

Who are Bull-It & What is so special about them & their riding jeans??

Since their formation over 13 years ago Bull-It set out to create a product that excels, a product built to ride. Over the years we’ve collaborated with a wide range of rider groups, developing and adapting our products to ensure our position as one of the front runners within the motorcycle industry.

In 2013,t hey set the benchmark for motorcycle safety. The Veloce, the first CE level 2 motorcycle jean on the market, delivering unparalleled safety.

Since then, we’ve gone on to assist organisations like the Fire department, Bike Safe Police teams, Superbike teams, Flat track, Long track, Speedway and Stunt riders to provide high performance protective solutions.

In 2017 Covec developed ‘Webtech’. The latest development in textile motorcycle protection. A high performance specially knitted synthetic material with impressive abrasive qualities, and low thermal conductivity.

Designed for the track, approved by the FIM, and used in selective bull-it products. Giving the rider race level performance for the street. In addition to ‘Webtech’ they developed their first single ‘Oneskin’ denim jean.

The Stealth range was ahead of its time, it Stealth range boasted AA performance in a single layer of denim. This development was made 2 years ahead of the new CE standard (17092)

By 2019 they further cemented our position as an industry leader, leading the way with both AA rated ‘Tactical’ and AAA rated ‘Covert’ jeans.

With these models available they are once again at the front of the line with innovation, being one of, if not the first to offer a full CE certified range under the newly introduced standard EN17092.

They keep their spot amongst the top names in the industry. With their products being technologically sound, they’ve focused on building the personality of our range. With lighter blues, darker blacks and individual patch designs our products stand above the rest in performance, comfort and style.

What is Covec™ & how does it compare with Aramid?

Covec™ offers certain advantages over more traditional materials like Aramids and a lot of advantages over Polyamide yarns (like Nylon) and Polyesters yarns.

Depending on the material you compare it with, Covec™ yarn has higher abrasion resistance, higher cut resistance, lower friction heat transfer and is more resistance to wear for prolonged performance.

The most important properties material used to manufacture riding jeans are:

PROLONGED PERFORMANCE:

The first of those properties are rigorous testing, Covec achieves current CE standard (17092) & did so when the legislation was only in draft form!

LOW FRICTION HEAT TRANSFER:

Materials need to provide low thermal conductivity and a high melting point, preventing additional consequential burns in a crash scenario.

Covec™ provides low thermal conductivity and a high melting point, preventing additional consequential burns in a crash scenario.

Some jeans use high thermal materials such as UHMWPE’s, Nylon, Polyester and Hi Abrasion Resistant Textiles with low melting points or high thermal conductivity, either way it can burn you or melt to your skin.

Clearly materials with high heat conductivity and low melting point are unsuitable in situations where heat is produced due to friction against abrasive road surfaces.

Any product may incorporate high performance fibres and yarns but its performance will be defined in certain circumstances by the lowest common denominator in any given situation.

CUT RESISTANCE:

Grit and glass on the road can be very sharp.

ABRASION RESISTANCE:

The longer a material protects when sliding over an abrasive surface, the better.

Stealth is tested against EN17092 to double AA standard (75KPH) all garment cover. SP120 LITE is tested to AAA standard (120KPH) in zonal protection. SP120 SR6 is tested to AAA standard (120KPH) in zonal protection.

The polymer in Covec yarn was tested by NASA as a replacement for Aramids in 2004: it was used for the MARS ROVER space missions providing impact and abrasion protection for the space craft.

Materials need to provide low thermal conductivity and a high melting point, preventing additional consequential burns in a crash scenario.

Covec™ provides low thermal conductivity and a high melting point, preventing additional consequential burns in a crash scenario. Some jeans use high thermal materials such as UHMWPE’s, Nylon, Polyester and Hi Abrasion Resistant Textiles with low melting points or high thermal conductivity, either way it can burn you or melt to your skin. Clearly materials with high heat conductivity and low melting point are unsuitable in situations where heat is produced due to friction against abrasive road surfaces. Any product may incorporate high performance fibres and yarns but its performance will be defined in certain circumstances by the lowest common denominator in any given situation.

COVEC™ HAS PROLONGED PERFORMANCE

When a material retains moisture it will become weaker over time, with chemicals often functioning as catalyst. Aramids for instance can retain up to 7% of moisture, while Covec™ can only retain 0.01% of moisture. Sweat is an acid between 3.3 and 5 pH, detergents are alkali between 9 and 11 pH, people use bleach for washing, grease and oils are on bikes, etc.

There are many chemicals that can come into contact with riders gear in daily life. Many of these chemicals can have a degenerating effect on polymers and some have a devastating effect. For instance, bleach destroys Aramids rapidly (1 to 2 washes), while Aramids have an overall good resistance to halogens, they are more severely attacked by acids.