Scorpion Drafter II Pants

We measured these pants and compared to Scorpion’s size chart below and we find the chart to be accurate. There are a couple things to keep in mind on the fit of a pant like this. First, you’ll want to measure yourself with a tape if you haven’t done so in a while. MANY jeans are “vanity sized” which means the jeans are bigger in the waist than they actually are to make you feel good, so if you choose a pant size here base solely on your jean size, you may wind up with pants that are tight. Second, motorcycle pants such as these fit a bit higher on your waist than ordinary jeans, so if you have a bit of a belly you’ll want to measure up a bit higher just below the navel where slacks usually ride for purposes of choosing a size.

Waist sizes listed are the approximate maximum waist size. The Velcro side adjustment straps will allow you to snug down the waist approximately 3” tighter. When in doubt, choose larger and make use of the adjustment straps since it doesn’t work the other way around. These pants don’t have long side zippers like you’d find in an over-pant design, but if you are are planning on using these pants over street clothes, we would recommend you do your waist measurement over the clothing you think you will wear under them.

Need help measuring? Get it here.

Scorpion’s Drafter II pants are new and are the successor to the original Drafter. The new version adds a removable wind liner and adds fabric pockets for the addition of optional hip armor.

The Drafter II pants are a great choice for summer. The shell is a full mesh so the wind can blow right through, but the weave is tight enough so that your undies won’t show through. For longer rides in really hot weather, mesh gear is actually more comfortable than no gear because they will keep the sun and wind off your skin. And of course they provide the protection you need for safety; the material is tough and will provide some abrasion protection in a fall and the knee armor will help with impact.

The overall fit is just about right for me. Not too tight and the legs are big enough to go over boots, but not too baggy. I personally recommend this style to be worn over underwear and not as an “over pant” (but they’d certainly work over shorts). We sell a lot of other products that have features to make them easy to use as over pants with long side zippers, etc. Anyway, for a jean style, these are a great choice.

The overall quality is great too. I especially like the button closure at the waist. It is heavy duty and it won’t pop open on you when bent over on a bike. The side waist adjusters are sturdy and should work great for adjustment and they hold their position. There are a couple pockets in front. They are a bit shallow and don’t have zippers or buttons for closure, but should hold larger items OK such as a wallet or phone. I guess in front is more secure than rear pockets and then you don’t have to sit on your stuff :). Also, with this new II version, there is a removable wind liner for the entire length of the pants. You can use the wind liner on cool summer mornings or maybe if you go over mountain passes. It will give enough block from the wind to make the Drafter II pants comfortable for the whole ride.

With this new Drafter II you get some enhancements to the armor setup. The knee armor pocket has a couple rows of Velcro so you can trap the armor in the pant at varying heights to fine tune its position to work with your own inseam. And the pants have pockets so you can add some hip armor if you like (see below). Overall I like this style and the price is very reasonable. :: Paul, 11-29-16