Urban motorcycling has risen sharply in recent years. One of the obvious reasons is that motorcycles are more fuel-efficient and offer better maneuverability on congested city roads.
Besides, the prevalence of motorcycles in many urban and even rural settings is also due to health purposes. Many people are still conscious of social distancing post-COVID-19, thus choosing bikes over public transportation.
Unfortunately, motorcycles are more dangerous than driving a motor vehicle. There’s a high risk of crashing when cruising on twos compared to the four-wheel car experience.
According to one report by the NHTSA, a motorcyclist is 28 times more likely to die in traffic than people traveling in cars.
Getting the right motorcycle gear thus remains a priority for all urban riders to stay safe and fashionable on the road.
This article discusses everything you need to know about motorcycle gear for urban riders, plus some of the best picks I recommend you choose.
Let’s dive right in!
What Makes Motorcycle Gear Ideal for Urban Riding?
Riding a motorcycle in an urban setting is more challenging than in rural areas. You’ll have to maneuver through heavy traffic most of the time, making it a scary experience.
Any rider who frequents the urban jungle thus needs proper gear before hopping onto the city roads.
Here are the top reasons motorcycle gear would be ideal for urban riding.
Safety and Protection
Safety remains top of the list whether you intend to ride for leisure, as a sport, or as your daily commuter means of transport. Your safety begins with the basics such as gloves, helmet, boots, a sturdy leather jacket, and pants.
However, for an urban rider more exposed to the risk of a traffic collision, you may need to invest in more advanced gear:
- Buy sturdy riding pants with padded knees.
- Ensure you have your reflective jacket for clear visibility on the busy city roads.
- Get professional eyewear to protect your eyes from dusty urban conditions.
- A waterproof professional jacket and boots will keep you warm and protect you from getting wet on a rainy day.
Style and Comfort
Motorcycle gear designs have undergone a massive evolution. Riding gear is no longer the traditional safety equipment designed to protect you during a collision.
Modern riding gear is more fashionable, designed to make riders look good and paint motorcycling as an incredible sport. Of course, many urban riders are keen on combining style and function.
Take, for example, a leather chap that looks stylish on well-fitting pants while protecting your feet from the biting wind. A colorful tight-fitting jacket looks good on a runway but also keeps you more visible on the road.
Storage and Baggage
Many regular urban riders have items they carry almost every day. These may include work items, packed food, and a change of clothes, among other essential stuff they may need during the day.
All these items must fit in the limited storage space on the motorcycle.
Modern innovations have introduced high-quality waterproof backpacks that fit tightly, serving both as safety gear and storage. However, a backpack may only be suitable if you carry a few items.
Otherwise, a tank bag or a top box may be your best option if you move around with many items on your motorcycle.
Best Urban Motorcycle Gear You Can Buy Today
It’s estimated that more than 61 million units of electric scooters and motorcycles will be sold worldwide by 2028.
More motorcycles also mean more gear available to choose from. Fortunately, some brands are more reliable for safety and comfort than others, and plenty of competition in the industry is better for you.
Here are a few recommendations on the best urban motorcycle gear and accessories you’ll find on the market today.
1. Best Urban Motorcycle Gloves
Below is a review of the best gloves from both men’s and women’s riders’ categories.
Alpinestars Men’s Oscar Robinson Leather Gloves
The Alpines Men’s Oscar Robinson leather gloves are constructed from supple goats’ leather on the upper for a soft and luxurious feel. The gloves are abrasion-resistant for maximum protection on your hands during a crash.
The leather has tiny perforations for proper ventilation to keep your hands from sweating in hot climates.
The glove also features synthetic suede reinforcements from all sides for enhanced grip and durability.
What Makes Alpines Men’s Oscar Robinson Gloves Ideal for Urban Riding?
The Alpines Men’s Oscar Robinson gloves are made of material that meets modern safety standards. The bespoke metal Oscar badge near the wrist adds a luxurious feel and old-school flavor, perfect for a city rider.
Alpinestars Women’s Stella Copper Motorcycle Riding Glove
The Alpinestars Women’s Stella Copper gloves are CE-certified. They are very safe and environment-friendly. They are short and lightweight gloves optimized for women.
The wrist area has a hook and loop closure feature for a snug fit. The fingers have padding for enhanced protection and comfort.
These lovely gloves also feature synthetic suede at the palm, making them highly durable.
What Makes Alpinestars Women’s Stella Copper Gloves Ideal for Urban Riding?
Safety is paramount for any motorcycle gear you buy. The Alpinestars Women’s Stella Copper gloves feature all the essential safety features you’ll need in an ideal urban riding glove.
The gloves are lightweight and more flexible, providing good grip and control over the motorcycle. They are anatomically designed for women and feature a hook and loop mechanism to adjust based on the wearer’s wrist size.
2. Best Urban Motorcycle Helmets
No one wants to hop on a motorcycle as a rider or passenger without putting a helmet on. It’s one of the essential safety gears that’s also a legal requirement by the NHTSA.
Whether you choose an urban open-face helmet or a full-face, your ideal helmet for urban riding should be stylish and aesthetically pleasing without sacrificing safety.
Here are the best urban motorcycle helmets you may want to try.
Bell Unisex-Adult Off-Road Helmet
The Bell Unisex-Adult Off Road is a lightweight helmet with a polycarbonate shell construction complete with a MIPS energy management system.
The helmet is DOT approved and meets the FMVSS 218 safety standards. The removable interior makes the helmet easy to clean and dry.
What Makes Bell Unisex-Adult Off-Road Helmet Ideal for Urban Riding?
The Bell Unisex-Adult Off Road helmet is your go-to head protection gear, especially if you commute long distances in the city. The helmet features an ABS construction, which means less stress on your neck during long rides.
The adjustable Flying Bridge Visor has air intake vents for maximum air circulation and cooling. The helmet is also very classy, with a badass urban look.
ScorpionExo Covert Unisex-Adult Half-Size-Style Helmet
The ScorpionExo Covert is a unisex-adult helmet for street, touring, and sporting purposes. The helmet promises superior strength and style for an incredible urban motorcycling experience.
It features a 3-in-1 design, a drop-down sun visor, a removable rear sleeve, and a front mask for a half-size protection experience.
The ScorpionExo Covert has a soft interior lining and aero-tuned ventilation systems for enhanced comfort.
The helmet is multipurpose, and you can wear it on many different applications like on a street cruiser motorcycle and all-terrain motor vehicles and still look great.
What Makes ScorpionExo Covert Unisex-Adult Half-Size-Style Helmet Ideal for Urban Riding?
The ScorpionExo Covert is a unique half-size DOT FMVSS 218 Approved helmet with a high impact force dispersion for maximum head safety.
It’s lightweight, strong, and highly fashionable. The helmet also has a dark and clear visor for clear vision during the day and at night.
In a nutshell, the ScorpionExo is your ultimate choice for an urban motorcycle helmet that combines style, functionality, and safety.
3. Best Urban Motorcycle Boots
There’s a variety of urban motorcycle riding shoes to choose from. What works for you may depend on your style. While others prefer boots that rise high to the calf, others like to keep them at a moderate height.
Your ideal urban motorcycle boot should be waterproof, comfortable, slip-resistant, and durable.
Here are some of the best urban riding boots you may try out.
Alpinestars Men’s Belize Drystar Boot
Alpinestar Belize Drystar is a male boot that’s sometimes also worn by alpha females. These sports-touring boots incorporate advanced waterproof lining under the leather and an advanced micro-fiber chassis.
Alpinestar Belize is designed for comfort and flexibility on any challenging trail. It’s a low-cut boot with a lateral ankle closure suitable for a professional urban motorcycle racer.
What Makes Alpinestar Men Belize Drystar Boot Ideal for Urban Riding?
Alpinestar Mens’ Belize Drystar is a tough urban motorcycle rider’s favorite choice. The boot features a vulcanized rubber for a firm grip on the motorcycles’ foot pegs.
It’s a professional racing shoe with advanced motorcycling airbag protection. It’s also lightweight, at a paltry five pounds, making it more suitable for long commutes.
Harley-Davidson Footwear Women’s Keeler Motorcycle Boot
Harley-Davidson is a top brand in the motorcycling realm that produces quality motorcycles and bikers gear on a broader scale.
The Harley-Davidson Keeler Footwear for women is 100% leather upper and features a rubber sole and an outside zipper pocket for storing small items like keys and cards.
It’s a fashionable lace-up boot with a full grain leather upper, perfect for a weekend as it only weighs 1.5 pounds.
What Makes Harley-Davidson Women’s Keller Boots Ideal for Urban Riding?
Keelers are very stylish when paired with the right pants. If you plan to extend a long day at an evening party or a coffee date, you’ll not need to carry an extra pair to change.
100% leather upper construction and a rubber sole is a sure guarantee of many years of service. The heels are approximately 1.75″, which means little strain on your ankles.
4. Best Urban Motorcycle Jackets
The market offers a wide selection of men’s and women’s motorcycle jackets suited for different motorcycling applications. Whether you intend to use it for sporting or leisure, you’ll not lack what works for your unique circumstance.
Here’s an overview of the best urban motorcycle jackets you may want to consider.
Cargo Air Mesh Jacket
The Cargo Air Mesh is a men’s jacket made from exclusive Rhinomesh and 600D superior polyester. The construction design is abrasion resistant and lightweight at only 3.60 pounds.
The jacket includes a removable cargo storage bag for small items like keys and a can of water.
The elbows and shoulders feature CE Level 1 armor standardization for maximum protection during a collision. You can purchase an optional windproof hoodie separately and wear underneath or store it in your cargo bag for later use.
What Makes Cargo Air Mesh Jacket Ideal for Urban Riding?
The Cargo Air Mesh Men’s Jacket is true to size and allows waist and forearm adjustability for a snug fit.
The CE level 1 armor safety technology on shoulders, elbows, and back protector pocket will guarantee optimum protection from skin bruises if a crash occurs.
The jacket has two hand-warmer pockets, one chest pocket, and two internal pockets to store sensitive documents like your cards.
The Cargo Air Mesh is your ideal urban riding jacket if you want to protect yourself and look stylish on and off the bike.
Tanming Women’s Hooded Faux Leather Jacket
Tanming Women’s Hoody is a faux leather jacket with a zipper closure design. Its construction design focuses on balancing safety and style.
The slim pattern and the fashion rivet elements are included to display class and urban motorcycle riding as a fantastic sport. The jacket has a detachable cap design and slant pocket on the sides to keep your keys safe.
The perfect stitching design makes the Tanming Hooded Faux Leather Jacket a must-have piece for any woman trying to pull a stunning modern motorcycling look.
What Makes Tanming Women’s Hooded Faux Leather Jacket Ideal for Urban Riding?
Many urban women riders are obsessed with fashion when selecting motorcycling garments.
The Tanming Women’s Hooded Faux Leather jacket promises that without overlooking safety. The jacket is made from high-quality faux leather, which means your upper body is optimally protected from bruises in case of a crash.
5. Best Urban Motorcycle Pants
Motorcycling pants have undergone a massive evolution. Manufacturers include advanced protective elements in the pants while maintaining the distinctive look of khaki or jeans. These pants can be worn even when you’re not riding and still look good.
Here are our best picks you can try out today.
AITITIA Men’s Biker Zipper Deco Washed Straight Fit Jeans
The Aititia Men’s motorcycling straight-fit jeans pants are made from 98% cotton and 2% spandex and come in standard US sizes.
The pants have a unique design that feels comfortable and offers relaxed mobility even when you’re not on the saddle.
These pants can be paired with riding boots or flats and a nice t-shirt when not riding and still look great.
What Makes Aititia Men’s Biker Zipper Décor Washed Pants Ideal for Urban Riding?
Aititia men’s riding pants are designed for urban leisure riding in mind. They don’t include sophisticated knee padding to protect you from high-speed sports if a crash occurs. You may need to buy them separately if you intend to engage in high-speed riding.
They are more like the typical jeans you’ll pair with many shoes and jackets and still look stylish.
XINNI Motorcycle Riding Armor Pant
Xinni pants are unisex motorbike racing hip and leg protective garments preferred mostly by women.
These pants include great armored underwear made from breathable, elastic fabric. They offer a wide range of protection on your crotch, knees, hip, and tailbone, thanks to their excellent EVA shock-absorber foam and PE hard shell construction.
Xinni pants are suitable for intensive sporting applications like mountain biking and racing.
The pants are also easy to maintain. A gentle hand wash using cold water is enough to keep them sparkling for a city ride.
What Makes Xinni Motorcycle Riding Armor Pants Ideal for Urban Riding?
Xinni pants are designed to protect your lower body from the most intense applications during a collision in heavy urban traffic.
They’re true to size and come in many different sizes for both sexes. These pants are easy to clean and may not require a machine wash, even after a whole day of use. A gentle hand wash using cold water will keep them clean and in great shape for the next application.
6. Best Urban Motorcycle Backpacks
A backpack may seem the most insignificant piece of motorcycle gear, yet it remains as essential as other gear.
Motorcycle backpacks are no longer the ordinary storage equipment. Rather, they have been modified to be part of bodily protection equipment and fashion gears for urban riders.
Unlike regular packs, bike backpacks are tight-hugging and very fashionable. They are designed for storing small items like laptops, tablets, and iPads. They have multiple straps on the chest, shoulders, and waist for support and balance.
Below we sample some of the best urban motorcycle backpacks you may want to check out.
Alpinestars 25 Liter City Hunter Backpack
The Alpinestars City Hunter Backpack measures approximately 25 liters. The bag is made from lightweight 420D nylon and weighs 1.98 pounds. It has a laptop compartment, complete with a protective fleece sleeve.
The main compartment features an internal organizer, including cards and smartphone compartments with protective fleece sleeves.
What Makes Alpinestars 25 Liter City Hunter Backpack Ideal for Urban Riding?
Alpinestars 25 liter City Hunter is a unisex backpack suited for a working urban rider with a few items to carry.
A laptop compartment, an internal organizer, and two waterproof external pockets are enough for essential daily items like a personal computer, bank cards, and your phones.
KAKA Travel Backpack
The KAKA Travel backpack is a durable travel bag made from terylene oxford fabric. It’s an anti-theft, water-resistant pack with comfortable shoulder straps made from elastic and breathable materials.
The large-capacity backpack measures up to 35 liters in capacity. The laptop compartment alone measures approximately 18 X 11 X 6 inches.
The backpack can serve as your professional daily backpack for the computer, a college bookbag, a hiking bag, or even a weekend get-away backpack.
What Makes KAKA Travel Backpack Ideal for Urban Riding?
The KAKA Travel backpack is ideal for the urban rider who moves around with many items daily. Despite the wide load, this backpack has breathable shoulder and waist straps that’ll make you feel comfortable even if you load many things.
Conclusion
There’s no bargain about acquiring motorcycle gear and clothing whether you’re an urban or rural rider. However, what you wear is more crucial if you are an urban biker more exposed to crashes and collisions.
And while basic urban motorcycle gear and apparel will give you the needed protection, buying more advanced equipment makes more sense for an urban motorcycle rider.
Remember, motorcycles are no longer mere transportation vessels to help you beat the traffic. They offer riders an opportunity to showcase their sense of style, but you must stay safe on the road.
Therefore, as you shop for your urban motorcycle gear, go for classy and advanced gear that’ll give you a modern motorcycling vibe that combines style and function.
People Also Ask
There are thousands of urban motorcycle gear and clothing manufacturers. Picking what’s right for you can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for in good urban motorcycle gear.
Below we answer common questions people ask about urban motorcycle gear.
Who Makes the Best Motorcycle Clothing?
A lot goes into selecting the best motorcycle gear and clothing. While some people tend to focus more on durability and safety standards, an urban motorcycle rider wants motorcycle clothing that also looks stylish.
Alpinestars is one of the best motorcycle clothing manufacturers producing items like men’s and women’s clothing and leather riding shoes. The giant Italian leather company also makes some of the best leather gloves available today.
Do You Need a Motorcycle Jacket?
A motorcycle jacket is a crucial piece of gear no rider should operate without. Besides protecting you from the biting wind while cruising at higher speeds, your jacket should also be armored to protect your skin during a crash.
An ideal urban motorcycle jacket should also have colorful stripes for clear visibility on the road. A well-fitting biker’s jacket will give you the desired protection and keep you warm and stylish at the same time.
Are All Motorcycle Jackets Expensive?
The motorcycle gear manufacturing market is full of all kinds of jackets. There’s a wide array of gear with different safety and comfort levels. And while some of the most advanced motorcycle jackets are also the most expensive, there are affordable riding jackets that cost less than $100.
They may not be as stylish and advanced as their more expensive counterparts, but they will still protect you to some degree during a crash. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a motorcycle jacket and your budget.
See you on the road!
