Five of the best... motorcycle trousers for short legs

After 150 riders reviewed these adventure-touring textile jeans, they'd collected an average rating of 4.8. They’re the matching trousers for RST’s popular adventure jacket and they have a combined thermal/waterproof liner that can be taken out in one piece. They’re laden with vents for strong airflow and have knee armour that meets the higher Level 2 within CE. Waist sizes range from 30in to 44in and all of them have a short leg that’s 30in. They also have a respected Recommended tag from product magazine RiDE.

John Doe's Cargo XTM jeans combine AAA-rated protection with everyday comfort in a pair of cargo-style trousers. Owners who've left reviews consistently praise the fit options, premium materials, armour placement and the fact they’re comfortable enough to wear all day on and off the bike. An average rating of 4.9 from the first 46 reviews shows the strength of positive feeling. They're £219 at the time of writing, which owners do mention as a downside - but most say they're happy they splashed out. For riders who want protective trousers that don’t feel or look like motorcycle kit, these are a very popular choice.

The Bull-It Covert Evo Straight Covec Jeans are highly regarded by Sportsbikeshop customers as comfortable, protective and great value when on the long-term discount price of £99.99. Riders repeatedly praise the CE AAA protection, comfort from the stretch denim construction and practical everyday look that works both on and off the bike. Sizing tends to run slightly large according to customer feedback, so many suggest ordering a size down or taking advantage of our deliver-to-store service where you can try online before deciding whether to buy.

An average rating of 4.8 from the first 65 reviews shows how strong the feedback is for these slim-fitting denim jeans, which are lined at the seat, hips and knees with genuine Kevlar abrasion-resistant material. There’s knee armour to the basic Level 1 of CE, which is height-adjustable to get the right coverage, and pockets for optional hip armour (add £20). They’re available in blue or black and waist sizes 30in-44in, with all those sizes having 30in as the short leg option. Overall, they meet the basic A grade within the CE safety standard.

After 10 customer reviews, no-one has docked a star from their rating for Rukka's touring textile trousers. They have a polyamide outer fabric with a three-layer waterproof membrane laminated to it for top-line waterproofing and fast drying times. They're one of the few Rukka garments that do not run a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane - but that doesn't hamper the customer feedback at all. The Kemi trousers are well liked for delivering excellent comfort and dependable waterproofing without the stiffness often associated with laminated gear. The D3O armour gives good coverage in terms of both area and performance - the large protectors meet the higher Level 2 within CE. Overall, protection level is the basic A level. They’re not budget trousers, but reviewers conclude that quality, weather performance and armour coverage justify the price.