PANDO MOTO goes pandemic (gear review)

Testing, testing 1, 2, 3!
A little while ago we received two sets of motorcycle jeans from PANDOMOTO. As the Lithuanian based manufacturers were so kind to send us a set for men as well as for women, BikeBrewers decided to get one of our female editors involved in the test.

For additional fun, we threw in an unboxing video too. In hindsight we now realize we should have let our lady rider present the unboxing and fit them on the spot, which would surely have given us even higher visibility. To make up for this we are including some stills.

Brand history
PANDO MOTO was born in the minds of passionate motorcyclists who couldn’t find a balance between looking good and feeling safe. So, they decided to just manufacture their own pants.
Starting in 2011, they have now evolved into a premium motorcycle clothing brand, fusing European design and engineering with smart, safe technology. In their own words: “We follow the creation process of our gear from top to bottom, to assure the quality level we guarantee to deliver. Being passionate about this industry and listening to all the two wheelers, riders, and Pando Aces, we can ensure that our high-performance protective gear does the hard work, so you can focus on what matters.”

International exposure increased dramatically after the company’s participation in the 2014 EICMA show in Milan. At the moment they are in over 22 markets worldwide and growing.

Back to basics
PANDOMOTO are about the quality of their design and the durability of the materials used. Nothing less, nothing more. No bells or whistles. No frills. They believe that simplicity is sophistication. More importantly the safety features of their apparel are weaved into the very fabric of their creations, “intelligently concealed with forward-thinking designs” as they put it.

Unwrapping the package got us all exited. The men’s jeans (STEEL BLACK 9 Motorcycle Jeans) breathe vintage style reminiscent of the sturdiness of the Lee 101 or the original Levi’s 501.

Having said that, the design, safety features or wearability of the PANDOMOTO jeans are light years away from these classical items that stem from the 19th century.
While those original jeans were made from pure cotton, woven into robust textile, the 21st century version features one single layer stretch denim with 25% Dyneema®. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is the secret that fuels this garment’s power.

Dyneema® is the world’s toughest fibre material. The manufacturer claims this stuff is 15 times stronger than steel, but still very lightweight.
The jeans were definitely not the lightest we have tested over the years, but not exceptionally heavy either. We’d rather describe it as ‘just right’. When testing jeans of other brands in lighter versions, we may have gotten slightly more comfort, but not the feeling of safety we experienced with the STEEL BLACK 9.
Two position knee armour and hip armour pockets protect you against the unthinkable.

Fighting gravity
We set out to do a review on the jeans from a riding perspective, how good they look when you are off the bike and wearing comfort.
Involuntarily we got to try out the durability and safety features too. Whilst on the road our editor took a nasty fall (his first horizontal experience in 36 years) which left him with a dented bike and ditto ego.

However, the STEEL BLACK 9-es did what they needed to do. In spite of the fact of the speed being just around 30 km/h and switching from 1st to 2nd gear in a bend in the road, the fall made him slide over more than 20 metres.
Besides a slightly twisted knee no harm at all was done. The jeans had hardly noticeable wear on the knee and seat sections. Needles to say we applaud the PANDOMOTO quality and the safety features applied. The apparel is tested to withstand speeds up to 70 km/h, so we assume our little mishap will be filed under the ‘wussy’ category.

If you end up kissing the tarmac you can rely on the lifetime warranty. In such occasions son not forget to send our friends in Vilnius your story and pictures to prove it to claim your bragging rights and a nice gift.

Let’s hear it for the girls
Fortunately the lady rider was far more lucky than the guy.
Not only did she land a pair of phenomenally looking women’s motorcycle jeans (LORICA KEV 01), she also managed to stay upright during the testing period.

Specifications
What do you get when you combine Skinny silhouette with 8oz waxed stretch denim? A great looking skinny fit jeans that are made of power-stretch fabric, which is durable, and timeless. Thick mid-layer lining made of DuPont™ with Kevlar® fibres guarantees a quality you can trust. Features Triple Flex knee armour and hip Armor pockets (armour is not included, but we recommend you include them in the purchase)

The noticeable lighter material compared to the men’s jeans will give you level A protection (up to speeds of 45 km/h).
Besides the magnificent design, hugging the female lines and doing justice to a well earned silhouette (“lots of training” she claims), our lady friend was very happy with the extra stretch panels in the back.

“This is truly well thought through” she beams. “Finally a pair of jeans that look great and are very comfortable to ride irrespective of the type of bike I find myself on. The knee protection is great and gives me an extra feeling of safety. Having seen you fall, I will get myself the hip protection too.” she grins.

Continuing: “I have used the jeans under different weather circumstances the past weeks. In hot weather they are comfortable and the material breathes really well. I find that utterly important, as many other brands I have tested seem to go for maximum safety, making there products often feel heavy and uncomfortable during longer rides in the sun.

Even though we have had a very nice summer we had a photo shoot planned on a day with somewhat uncertain weather conditions. We ended up riding for three hours in torrential rain! Hardly any suits will keep you dry in that kind of weather. The LORICA Kev 01 held up bravely and efficiently when the downpour started, but had to give in at a certain point. I forgive them, as even the best rain gear would have kept that kind of water out.”

Final countdown
BikeBrewers give the STEEL BLACK 9 as well as the LORICA KEV 01 the thumbs up.
The men get great vintage style with modern day technology when losing the battle against gravity, while the women can grace their legs with a pair of well designed waterproof jeans.

Specs
Men: STEEL BLACK 9
• Classic slim fit cut
• Dark navy color (almost black).
• Made of single layer stretch 25% Dyneema® 13 oz (15 times stronger than steel, 1800 protection).
• It has high heat conductivity, reflects the heat.
• CE officially approved PPE under EN 17092, level AA (speed 70 km/h).
• 2 position knee armor pockets.
• KNOX® Micro Lock CE approved (EN1621-1:2012) knee and hip armor INCLUDED.
• Reflective cuffs for safety ride.

Women: LORICA KEV 01
• Skinny fit (leggings). Middle waist.
• 8 oz heavy-duty power-stretch waxed denim.
• Protective DuPont™ Kevlar® lining reinforcement in high risk abrasion and impact zones.
• Fully CE approved – performance level A (45 km/h abrasion resistance) in accordance with prEN 17092.
• Free 17 Eur worth SAS-TEC TripleFlex CE (EN1621-1:2012) approved knee armor INCLUDED.
• SAS-TEC TripleFlex CE (EN1621-1:2012) approved hip armor – optional (not included).
• Extra stretch panels on the back.
• Embroidery in the front.
• YKK waterproof zipper on the fly.
• Reinforced with the chain stitches.

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Photo credits: Gijs Paradijs