There’s a constant tug of war in motorcycling between looking cool and staying protected. Not too long ago, you had to choose: either you go full race-spec astronaut, or you gamble on fashion pieces that look good but feel sketchy the moment you twist the throttle.
Luckily, these days, lots of safety-certified gear takes styling cues from the world of fashion, especially in the neo-retro segment. One brand that does this exceptionally well is Pando Moto. Particularly, with the M65 jacket and Robby Slim Black jeans, two pieces of gear I've been using regularly for the past few months. On paper, the outfit looks retro and very old school. But out in the real world, it's clear that Pando Moto has managed to build something that feels intentional, cohesive, and properly protective all while looking the part.
Let’s start with the M65 jacket, because this thing sets the tone immediately. The silhouette is classic military field jacket. Straight cut, clean lines, no loud branding, no unnecessary graphics. It looks like something pulled from a 1960s army surplus rack, except it’s built for modern riding. The fit is what really sells it. It’s slim without being tight, tailored without restricting movement. On the bike, the shape makes sense. The arms fall naturally into riding position and the jacket doesn’t bunch awkwardly at the shoulders. Off the bike, it just looks like a well-fitted black jacket that happens to have a bit of edge.
Plus, it looks absolutely spot-on on neo-retro bikes like my Yamaha XSR900.
The styling details are subtle but thoughtful. The flap pockets give it that unmistakable M65 vibe, and they aren’t decorative either. They’re deep, usable, and actually practical. You can stash your phone, wallet, small camera, or whatever daily carry nonsense you refuse to leave at home. There are internal pockets too, which means you can leave the backpack behind for short city runs. It feels like a commuter’s jacket that just happens to look like a vintage icon.
Then there’s the weather angle, which matters a lot if you ride in unpredictable climates. The M65 is waterproof, and not in that “we hope it holds up” kind of way. It’s built with a proper membrane that keeps rain out when things get ugly. If you’ve ever been caught in a sudden downpour in Manila traffic, you know how quickly things go from sunny to biblical. Having that protection built in changes how confident you feel heading out the door.
At the same time, it doesn’t turn into a suffocating sauna the moment the sun comes back out. It’s not a mesh summer jacket, obviously, but for a waterproof textile piece, it breathes well enough to stay wearable in hot, humid conditions. You’ll still sweat in traffic. That’s unavoidable. But it’s manageable, and that balance between weather protection and comfort is harder to achieve than it sounds.
Protection-wise, this isn’t just aesthetic cosplay. The jacket comes with CE-rated armor in the shoulders and elbows, and there’s a dedicated pocket for a back protector. Add a CE Level 2 spine insert, and you’ve got a properly armored upper half that doesn’t look like it’s trying too hard. That’s the trick here. Nothing about it screams “technical gear,” but everything about it actually is.
Now pair that with the Robby Slim Black jeans, and the whole thing clicks. If the jacket is retro military cool, the jeans are pure stealth mode. At a glance, they look like clean, slim black denim. No visible reinforcement panels, no loud stitching, no exaggerated stretch zones. You could walk into a café or a casual meeting, and nobody would assume you’re wearing fully protective riding jeans. That’s the beauty of them.
The fit is modern and sharp. Slim, but not painted-on skinny. They taper nicely without feeling restrictive when you swing a leg over the bike. There’s enough stretch in the Cordura denim that you can move naturally, whether you’re tucked in slightly on a naked bike or just sitting upright on a commuter. They don’t flap at speed, and they don’t bunch awkwardly at the knees when you’re stopped. They just behave like well-cut jeans that happen to be built for impact and abrasion.
Underneath that clean exterior, though, they’re serious. The Robby Slim Black carries a CE Level AA rating, which means it’s not entry-level in terms of abrasion resistance. They come equipped with armor that’s flexible and low-profile, so you don’t feel like you’re walking around with plastic plates strapped to your legs. The armor molds well enough that you forget it’s there until you remember why it is. That’s what good protective gear should do. It should disappear until you need it. Knock on wood, you ever do.
A lot of riding gear feels like you need to peel it off the moment you arrive somewhere. It’s either too bulky, too loud, or too obviously technical. With the M65 and Robby Slim combo, you don’t feel that urgency. You can park, take your helmet off, and just exist. The outfit works as an outfit. If you’re into retro-themed looks like I am, it actually feels intentional. Black jacket, slim black jeans, boots, maybe a simple tee underneath. It’s cohesive. It looks styled, not hipster for the sake of being hipster.
And that’s where the value conversation gets interesting. Yes, there are cheaper jackets out there. Yes, there are cheaper riding jeans. But a lot of those options either compromise on safety certification or are way too specialized that they look totally off when you're not on the bike. On the other end of the spectrum, there are high-end boutique brands that absolutely crush the aesthetic, but they’ll charge you seriously premium money for it. Pando Moto sits in the premium segment, but you’re paying for real materials, real CE ratings, masterful tailoring, and a design language that doesn’t feel trend-chasing.
You’re not buying hype. You’re buying something you can wear daily, ride hard in, and not feel ridiculous when you step off the bike. That balance is rare. Most brands nail either the safety or the style. Very few consistently nail both without making one feel like an afterthought.
After spending time with this setup, what sticks with me most is how easy it is to live with. You don’t feel like you’re dressing up as a rider. You just feel like yourself, except protected. The jacket fits right, the jeans sit right, the armor stays in place, and the whole thing moves naturally with you. There’s a subtle, underrated confidence to that. No flash, no theatrics, just well-designed gear doing its job.
In a world full of loud graphics, overbuilt race replicas, and fashion-forward pieces that forget they’re supposed to save your skin, this retro-inspired combo feels refreshingly grounded. It proves you don’t have to look like a track-day extra to ride safe. You can care about style. You can care about fit. You can build a wardrobe that reflects your personality. And you can still take safety seriously.
That’s the win here. Not just that it looks good. Not just that it’s protective. But it refuses to make you choose between the two.
Source: Pando Moto
