How many people wear chaps for the cold, versus wearing them
for additional protection? Or both?

 

I always wear them, unless the temp hits 90+. They are comfortable if you are moving on the highway up to about 85-90 degrees. After that you have to take them off.

I have talked to many people in our HOG club that tell stories about how they prevented road rash. I was behind two bikes that crashed on a HOG run and saw the damage to the guy that had on only a T-shirt and jeans. It was at 30 mph and it was a nasty incident for the guy without protection.

My wife and I always wear our 1/2 helmets, or full helmets, full leather jackets, and chaps. Always, except when the temp is so high that it will make you sweat like a horse. Just my opinion.

On a recent trip to the Oregon Coast the temp was about 86 degrees on the way down. We departed from our motel at the coast at 10 am and it was high 40's low 50's. Within one hour heading back to the interior of Oregon the temp went back up to almost 90 degrees!

The chaps saved our bacon when the temp was about 50 degrees. Way too cold to ride without some additional protection other than just jeans.

 

Wear them when it's warm only to cover my work cloths from the bugs, wear them when it cools down for warmth. When it's really cold i go to FXRG leather pants.

 

cold weather only

 

Ditto!

 

Cold weather only. Usually too hot in Texas for chaps or jacket or helmet.

 

Firstgear overpants. Much warmer, more protection, and waterproof so you don't care if you get them wet.

 

Firstgear overpants here too, for warmeth and protection.

 

Mostly for cold weather. Or if I wear some pants I don't want want messed up.

 

Both, and shopping for the the firstgear pants... I'm just too cheap to pay retail