Getting around the city by motorcycle or scooter is often a practical choice, but 70% of accidents occur in urban areas. In this guide, we look at how to choose the ideal technical gear for city riding to combine adequate protection with the comfort and discretion needed for everyday life:
Accident statistics and why you should always protect yourself
The impact of accidents in the city: what Italian statistics say
When it comes to motorcycle safety, many people think the real danger lies on highways and long trips. In fact, official Italian data from ISTAT and ACI on traffic in Italy tells a somewhat different story: most accidents occur in cities, where about 70% of incidents are concentrated.
The reason is simple: Heavy traffic, intersections, traffic lights, sudden maneuvers, and distractions make the city the environment where you are most likely to have an accident. It’s the classic scenario: a car doesn’t see the motorcycle and cuts across the road, a pedestrian suddenly steps out, or someone fails to keep a safe distance, often at seemingly low speed.
In other words: it is not the length of the trip that makes the difference, but the probability of impact. And that, in urban traffic, is simply higher.
Yet it is precisely in the city that many motorcycle riders let their guard down, forgoing technical clothing and protection because they think they “only have a short distance to cover.” It’s the wrong choice. Because while it is true that outside the city accidents are on average more serious, it is also true that in the city an accident is much more likely to actually happen. And even at relatively low speeds, a fall without protection can result in serious injuries. Protecting yourself at all times, no matter how long you travel, is the only effective strategy for safety in the city.
Differences between a casual garment and technical motorcycle gear: Certified protection
The crucial difference between a casual garment and urban motorcycle gear is that the latter is designed to protect. But how does it do this? Essentially, it comes down to two things:
- The use of fabrics, or leather, that are certified and abrasion-resistant according to EN17092 (here is our guide to motorcycle garment certifications)
- The incorporation of certified protectors at the shoulders and elbows, or hips and knees, per EN1621.
So why choose gear specifically for urban use?
The above are common elements in all motorcycle gear, including touring and sport styles, but in the case of city motorcycle jackets and pants, the goal is not maximum protection without compromise: it’s finding the right balance between protection and comfort for everyday use. That is why the fabrics are indeed certified, yet lighter and more flexible, and why in most cases the protectors are soft and extensively perforated to promote breathability.
The motorcycle airbag: maximum safety for the urban motorcycle rider
When it comes to motorcycle safety, the airbag now represents one of the most significant advances in recent decades. First conceived by Dainese more than 30 years ago and brought to debut in the World Championship in 2007, this system has progressively changed the way motorcycle riders think about protection.
The purpose of the airbag is simple: dramatically reduce the forces transmitted to the body on impact, protecting vital areas such as the chest and back.
What makes the motorcycle airbag a must for city riding?
- Effectiveness at low speeds: In urban traffic, made up of unexpected hazards, intersections, and sudden maneuvers, this kind of protection can make a real difference, even at low speeds.
- Smart and discreet protection: technology has evolved to increasingly lightweight, compact solutions suitable for everyday use. Today there are airbag systems designed specifically for road use, engineered to deploy before impact and provide effective protection without compromising comfort and practicality.
- Versatility: Compared with earlier generations, current systems are much more discreet and versatile, so much so that they can be used every day without changing your habits. Among them, Dainese Smart Air represents one of the most advanced solutions for urban use: a lightweight, foldable vest that works independently of the motorcycle, integrating D-air® technology developed in racing and optimized for road use. To find out more about how garments with the D-air® airbag work, here is our complete guide.
Which motorcycle helmet to choose if you ride in the city: open-face or modular?
The helmet is the only legally required device throughout Europe when riding a motorcycle, but not all helmets offer the same level of protection. The dilemma, especially in urban areas, is between an open-face helmet and a full-face or modular helmet.
- Open-face helmet: is widespread in the city: lightweight, well-ventilated, and practical in short trips, it is especially appreciated in warmer months and in heavy traffic. However, it leaves the most exposed and delicate part uncovered in case of impact even at low speeds: the face.
- Full-face helmet or modular: The full-face helmet provides the greatest possible coverage, while the modular helmet is often the most balanced option for urban use. It allows you to combine protection and practicality: can be used closed while riding and open when stopped, without having to sacrifice chinguard when needed.
City motorcycle jacket: invisible protection for everyday use
When riding a motorcycle or scooter in the city, the choice of jacket is not just an aesthetic question — it’s a crucial safety decision. Modern urban garments are designed to be ‘discreet’: they look like ordinary jackets, but they conceal technologies and solutions that make them protective and ready to face even adverse weather conditions.
Here's how to navigate by season and materials:
- Urban motorcycle jackets for winter and wet weather: they feature the cut and colors of a casual garment, but, like all motorcycle jackets, they are certified as abrasion-resistant and incorporate protectors at the shoulders and elbows, as well as a pocket for a back protector. To get around town by motorcycle or scooter in bad weather, get a waterproof jacket, preferably with a removable thermal lining, to use or not depending on the temperature.
- Summer Urban Motorcycle Jackets: For urban travel in warm weather, there are dedicated garments: short-cut jackets made entirely of perforated fabric. Airflow is ample even at low speeds, and although this is a true certified motorcycle jacket with protectors, it will keep you cooler than any lightweight cotton jacket or non-technical windbreaker.
- Mid-season motorcycle jackets. More possibilities open up: fabric motorcycle jacket or leather motorcycle jacket? Fabric jackets have the advantage of lighter overall weight and greater suppleness: ultimately, they are more practical. They may also feature a removable inner thermal layer. Urban leather jackets, however, boast an unmistakable style: They are often inspired by garments of the past and can become a distinctive piece even when you’re off the motorcycle. These are usually made from softer and more flexible leathers than those used for sportswear, precisely because they are designed for less strenuous use and at lower speeds.
Expert advice: regardless of the material or season, always check that the jacket has the correct fit. Protectors at the shoulders and elbows should remain stable and not shift out of position in a fall. A jacket that is too loose, no matter how technical, will not be able to protect you as effectively as a garment of the right size.
Which motorcycle gloves should you choose in the city?
Hands, it is known, are often the first to hit the ground in case of a slip. In a fall, the instinct is to put them forward: That’s why gloves are not an accessory but a necessity. Even at 20 km/h, abrasion damage can be severe.
Urban gloves must strike a balance between feel at the controls and protection: look for models with reinforcements on the knuckles and palm, preferably with touchscreen-compatible inserts to operate the smartphone or GPS when needed. Again, there are some for all seasons, ventilated or waterproof. a common feature is typically the short cut.
Technical city motorcycle pants
Don’t even think about having to walk around the office in heavy touring pants or, even less, leather sport pants. Urban technical pants can solve the conflict between safety and comfort:
- Anti-abrasion fabrics: use of woven fabric with abrasion- and cut-resistant aramid fiber, and stretchable to follow the shape of the leg when sitting in the saddle and in all other everyday situations.
- Pro-Shape Protections: aesthetically, they are indistinguishable from normal pants, but they incorporate soft, flexible protectors on the knees and hips that become imperceptible when worn for several hours, even while walking. There are different kinds, in denim or other fabrics.
Certified motorcycle footwear: safety at every stop
Last but not least, footwear. In fact, just think about how many times while riding you put your feet on the ground: at every traffic light, stop sign, traffic circle, not to mention emergency braking. All situations where your feet and ankles need the correct support. Needless to say, common canvas sneakers, combat boots, or uncertified ankle boots cannot provide the necessary protection when riding a motorcycle or scooter.
The choice of motorcycle footwear for city riding is wide:
- technical motorcycle sneakers, always at least ankle-high, available in leather, waterproof, or ventilated fabric.
- leather motorcycle boots and certified ankle boots in a variety of styles, to choose whichever best suits your taste.
What all technical motorcycle footwear shares is a sole that is crush-resistant laterally yet flexible longitudinally for walking comfort, and protectors at the key points: ankle bones, toe and heel. For a deeper dive into motorcycle footwear certifications, see our dedicated article.
Ultimately, getting around the city on a motorcycle or scooter does not mean sacrificing safety. Choosing certified garments designed for everyday use allows you to experience traffic with the peace of mind of someone who knows they are protected, without sacrificing their personal style.
