When it comes to motorcycle jackets, I’m a die-hard leather fan. You can’t beat the fit, feel, and smell of new leather. Not to mention its inherent protective qualities. But I’ve always been on the border when it comes to leather pants. The quality of textile pants has really escalated. They don’t require break-in time and are comfy out of the box. Jean-style riding pants with a Kevlar weave also provide a good balance of style and comfort. Besides, I don’t want to look like I’m heading to an audition for The Village People. Fortunately, Shift Racing sent over a pair of its Havoc Pants for testing which offer a happy medium between textile and full leather.
 
Shift's Havoc Pants are divided between 70% leather and 30% polyester/nylon blend. The leather is in the places you need it most, what I’ll call the ‘slide zones’ that includes the butt, sides, and knees. In back, the leather stretches over the glutes and hamstrings, a good-sized swath runs down both sides and it adds a layer of protection over the knees. The 30% that’s a textile blend is located predominately in the crotch and down the backs of the legs below your hamstring.

The Havoc pants fit true-to-size. I ordered a size 36, the same waist size I wear in jeans and they fit me just right. The mesh polyester liner is comfortable against bare skin. They are equipped with two Velcro tabs on the hips to tighten up the fit around the waist. The combination of a low-cut waistline and weighty leather means the pants will slide down on your hips though and belt loops would be a helpful addition.
 
I’ve been riding mostly in cold, wet Oregon weather, and the leather areas have kept me warm and dry with a little cold creeping in around my crotch through the thinner polyester/nylon blend material. Zippers down each leg allow the pants to slip easily over riding boots. At the bottom of the pants is a small Velcro fastener so you can tighten them up around your boot to minimize air creeping up your leg. There’s also a zipper on the back of the pants that connects to compatible Shift jackets to further seal riders off from the elements. On the flip side, I haven’t worn the pants in hot weather yet, but the black leather is going to attract heat and the only ventilation comes in the form of small perforations located behind the knees.

The 1.0-1.2mm premium grade leather is thick enough to provide decent protection from road rash. Besides its sturdy construction, Shift’s Havoc Pants also have removable CE-approved knee armor that is fairly thick but pliable. The knee guards sit a tad low when walking but situate perfectly when riding. Ribbing above the knees gives the pants ample flexibility in the riding position.
 
Storage-wise, the Shift Havoc pants come with three pockets. There are two zippered ones at the waist just over hand-deep and the cargo pocket on the side of the left leg is about wallet-size and also zips shut.

The all-black design and leather/textile combo are styled with machismo. The stitching is solid and overall the pants show little sign of wear after months of riding. Shift badging is minimal, with only a small ‘S’ logo on the right hip and the word ‘Shift’ embossed on the cargo pant on the left leg. A small strip of reflective piping runs down both the seams of both legs so riders aren’t completely invisible at night.
 
When I go riding now, the Shift Havoc Pants are the first pair I look for. Its multiple combinations - rugged construction and good looks, leather and textile, protection and comfort add up to a great pair of riding pants for $249.95. And I can wear them and look macho without having to sing ‘Macho, Macho Man’ when I ride. 

Shift Racing Havoc Pants - $249.95
Buy them now at our favorite place to shop, the Motorcycle Superstore.