Motorcycle Gear for Short Riders: Sleeve, Leg Length and Knee Armor Placement

Short answer: with shorter legs, off-the-rack knee armor can sit on the shin instead of the knee, and sleeves can cover your knuckles. Check the fit seated on the bike, not standing in a shop. If the knee armor is not centered on the kneecap, or the cuff rides over your gloves, the gear is too long for you. Made-to-measure gear lets you set sleeve length, inseam and knee position.

The problem short riders face

Most motorcycle gear is cut for an average-height body. A short rider can match the chest and waist on the label and still find the sleeves long, the pants long in the leg and the torso too long for the seat. Because protective gear works only where it sits over a joint, a poor fit is more than a comfort issue.

Three areas matter most: the knees, the sleeves and the torso. They are easy to check, and each has a clear fix.

Knee armor: the seated test

Knee armor is shaped to cover the kneecap. When you stand, it hangs from the pocket and can look about right. When you sit with your knees bent on the pegs, the pocket rises and the armor moves relative to your leg. On a short leg, standard pants often leave the armor below the knee, over the top of the shin.

Try this:

1. Put the pants on and sit on the bike, or on a chair of similar height, with your feet where the pegs would be.
2. Look at the knee armor from above. The center should line up with the center of your kneecap.
3. If it sits on the shin, the pants are too long in the thigh or the pocket is set too low.

The armor must stay where it is while you ride. Our guide on where armor sits in a race suit shows each position and why it matters. EN 1621 is the standard for impact protectors; read the summary on a standards body page or ask the maker what each protector is certified to.

Pant length and hem

For riding pants, the hem should overlap the boot top without bunching, so wind does not get in and the leather does not pull up when your leg bends. If the hem is too long, it folds over the boot and stacks at the ankle. If it is too short, it rides up above the boot when you sit.

Shortening pants by hemming at the bottom does not move the knee armor. If the knee is set too low, the fix is in the thigh length, not the hem. That is a larger change and not always possible on leather. Leather Collection does not alter garments after delivery, so give your inseam, outseam and knee measurements when you order. For pants cut to your own measurements, see custom motorcycle pants, and use our leather pants size chart to take the right measurements.

Sleeve length and reach to the grips

Jacket sleeves should end at the wrist bone while your arms are forward at the grips. Standing, a sleeve that ends at the wrist will pull back as you reach and can expose the wrist. Standing with arms relaxed, a sleeve that looks right can be too long once your arms are bent forward, because the sleeve bunches at the elbow.

• Too long: cuffs cover the base of your gloves or fold over the knuckles, and extra leather bunches at the elbow.
• Too short: a gap shows between the cuff and glove when you reach forward.
• Right: the cuff overlaps the glove or the glove cuff overlaps the sleeve, with no gap at the grip.

For jacket proportions, see custom motorcycle jackets.

Suits and torso length

A one-piece suit has a fixed distance from shoulder to crotch. If the torso is too long for you, the suit sags at the crotch, pulls at the shoulders when you lean forward and moves the back protector off the spine. If it is too short, it pulls tight across the shoulders and chest.

Because the torso length is part of the suit's construction, it is difficult to alter after the fact. A two-piece, with a jacket and pants joined by a zip, gives more control, since each half can be sized separately. For one-piece suits, our race suit size guide explains the measurements, and custom race suits are cut from your own numbers.

Alter or custom?

Leather Collection does not offer alterations, so the table below is general guidance for a local leather specialist. Giving your measurements at order stage avoids the issue.

Needle holes in leather stay visible, so repeated changes show. If more than one measurement is wrong, ordering to measure is cleaner than altering a stock size.

Seat height and gear fit

Gear fit and bike choice go together. If you are short, a lower seat or a lowering kit helps you reach the ground, but it does not change your inseam or sleeve length. A bike that suits you and gear that fits you are separate decisions, and both are part of a good riding position. Check the gear fit on the bike you ride, seated, with your usual boots and gloves on.

Quick checklist for short riders

1. Sit on the bike with your boots on. Check the knee armor is centered on the kneecap.
2. Reach to the grips. Check the cuff meets the glove with no gap and no extra bunching.
3. Check the pant hem overlaps the boot top.
4. For a suit, lean forward and check the shoulders and crotch do not pull.
5. Check where the back protector sits relative to your spine.
6. Take every measurement before ordering and write them down, including inseam, sleeve and torso.

Our size chart lists the standard measurement rows, so you can see how far your numbers sit from the nearest row.

FAQs

Why do my knee guards sit too low?

Usually the pants are too long in the thigh for your leg, or the knee pocket is set for a taller rider. When you sit with knees bent, the armor slides toward the shin. Pants cut to your inseam and knee position fix it.

Can motorcycle pants be shortened?

The hem can often be shortened, but that does not move the knee armor. If the problem is the thigh length, hemming will not fix it. Leather Collection does not alter garments, so order to your measurements instead.

How long should motorcycle jacket sleeves be?

Check them with your arms forward as if holding the grips. The cuff should meet your gloves with no gap and no extra leather bunching at the elbow.

Do short riders need a different suit?

Often yes, because a one-piece suit has a fixed torso and leg length. A suit cut to your measurements, or a two-piece, gives better control.

Can I alter a leather race suit?

Some small alterations may be possible, but leather leaves permanent needle holes and structural changes can affect protection. Ask a leather specialist before you change a protective garment. Leather Collection does not alter garments after delivery.

What is a good inseam for custom pants?

There is no single figure. Measure from the crotch to the ankle bone, then ask the maker how they set length with boots on and the knee armor position seated.

If standard sizes keep landing wrong, order a custom race suit or custom motorcycle pants cut to your leg length.