Review by Buzz Buzzelli
[This Diamond Gusset Defender Motorcycle Jeans Review was originally published in American Rider magazine]
The Diamond Gusset Defender Reinforced Motorcycle Jean has the company’s traditional delta-shaped gusset in the crotch, along with a new feature: Kevlar abrasion panels across the seat and in the hip and knee areas. The extra gusset provides a little more room for comfort, and the reinforcing helps defend against abrasion in the event of a crash.
The jeans are made from 14.5-ounce pre-washed denim with a rust-colored stitching. All the materials and labor are sourced 100 percent in the U.S.A. The denim is sourced from Georgia; buttons, burrs, and the leather patch from Kentucky and Tennessee; pocketing from Mississippi; and they are sewn together in Mississippi. The original inventors and owners are located in Tennessee. Can’t get more “U.S.A.” than that!
The jeans have the typical pockets on the hips and front, and the coin pocket is located on the left side rather than the right, so it’s accessible while the rider’s right hand covers the front brake lever with both feet down. There’s also a cell-phone pocket on the right thigh, and a D-ring for hooking keys located above the right front pocket along the belt line, which has seven belt loops. Both cuffs have a Velcro-type closure for adjustment. The cuffs can be securely fastened around riding boots, or loosened for walking around.
I’ve been submitting the Defender Jeans to standard abuse for nearly a year now. This includes overnight rides, various photo sessions, Biketoberfest, the Laughlin River Run, casual wear around the office and the wash cycle four or five times. The pair I have, 32 waist and 34 length, fits loose enough for comfort, but not so loose that they looked like carpenter wear. They’ve proven to be more comfortable than ordinary jeans both on and off the bike. (For the record, I have not crash-tested them). I like these jeans for riding and for just hanging out; they have become my preferred riding pants.
Defender Reinforced Jeans are available in regular waist sizes 30 through 42 and lengthsof 29 to 34 inches. Larger sizes
are available from 44 through 60, and lengths to 36 inches. Custom sizes are also available. MSRP for regular sizes is $112.50. For more information contact Diamond Gusset Jeans, 888-8-GUSSET (848-7738), or visit www.gusset.com.
A True-life Diamond Gusset Testimonial: Published January 22,2010
LIVING PROOF
When Tom Pitton jammed on his brakes, he knew there were only two possibilities. He could either strike a fellow biker broadside with his motorcycle or lay the bike down and skid across the pavement.
Smashing into the other rider wasn’t an option, so Tom threw himself and his motorcycle down onto the roadway at 45 miles per hour. It was a terrifying moment for the 68-year-old, who was on a winter joy ride in Palm Springs, California.
“The whole pile of metal, plastic, and me came to a halt near the curb with my right leg pinned under the bike,” he recalls. “Then I felt the bike being picked up off of me. I took a quick assessment of my physical being and decided that all my parts were where they were suppose to be and that, sure enough, I did seem to be alive.”
Fortunately, Tom’s legs were protected by his American-made Diamond Gusset Defender Motorcycle Jeans. Specifically designed for motorcycle enthusiasts, these jeans have woven Kevlar sewn into three areas—the hips, knees and seat—to help protect riders from road rash in precisely this type of emergency situation.
“The Diamond Gusset Jeans did the job they were advertised to do,” said Tom. “It’s obvious that they are all scuffed up from the slide I took along my entire right side. It’s also obvious to me that the jeans your company produces helped save my life.”
The damage to the motorcycle totaled $2,000, and Tom sustained pavement burns on his right arm and shoulder that felt like they were on fire. But his legs were uninjured, thanks to a thick pair of boots and his Kevlar-reinforced jeans. This woven Kevlar layer not only protects against road rash but also helps prevent other serious injuries that can occur during a crash.
“My jeans had one hole in them, a small one below the right knee, but this hole did not go through to my leg. A Kevlar patch in this area stopped whatever was trying to puncture my leg from getting through,” said Tom.
A recent widower, Tom came out of retirement last year to join a friend in the RV repair business outside of Salt Lake City. They were in California over the winter doing “good Samaritan” work, installing automatic fire extinguishers on as many RVs as possible. Since the crash, Tom has become a loyal Diamond Gusset customer and proud owner of three pairs of Defender jeans.
“I cannot personally give a higher endorsement to a product intended for safety than to purchase it again after an accident,” said Tom. “The Defender jeans are a nicely styled, well-made product, and they will continue to be an important part of my safety equipment as I continue motorcycling.”
All Diamond Gusset Jeans are American-made and feature the company’s trademarked gusseted construction, which incorporates a “diamond” in the crotch of the jean, allowing for greater freedom of movement, comfort, and strength.
“With a resurgence in motorcycling not seen in two decades, the Kevlar reinforcement helps keep riders safe while the diamond gusset keeps them comfortable,” said David Hall, president and cofounder of Diamond Gusset Jeans.
“I survived a 45 MPH motorcycle accident,” Tom said. “I will be forever grateful to your company and the workers who produced my life-saving jeans.”
To contact Diamond Gusset Jeans call 888-8-GUSSET (848-7738), or visit www.gusset.com.
