Finding the best sportbike isn’t easy, but once you do find the right sportbike for you, then you need to find yourself the best gear, including the best sportbike gloves. With thousands of options out there, it can be hard to know what to buy.
You need a pair of sportbike gloves that offer the protection you need that are designed specifically for the needs of a rider who throws a leg over a sportbike. These needs are a little different than those of a cruiser rider or a cafe rider. You need the best features and materials to help keep you safe and comfortable while you push the limits on both the road and the track.
Here’s a look at the best gloves out there right now for sportbike riders. These are the pairs that I’d be willing to spend my money on. There are 10 options I’ve showcased below, you should be able to find one that meets your needs.
1. Scorpion EXO Klaw II Gloves
The Scorpion EXO Klaw II Gloves are perfect for spring and summer riding but will be cold in the fall and winter. That said, they’re a fantastic two-season option. They feature goatskin leather, TPU molded knuckle protection, pre-curved fingers, TPR finger protection, ribbed knuckle expansion panels, a neoprene wrist panel, and a hook-and-loop closure system at the wrist.
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2. Dainese Full Metal 6 Gloves
The Dainese Full Metal 6 Gloves are no joke and should be atop just about any sportbike rider’s list of possible gloves. They feature goatskin leather, aramid fiber stitching, internal reinforcements with aramid fiver, an adjustable cuff, micro-injection reinforcement on the palm, micro-elastic inserts, pre-curved fingers, and a tightening strap at the cuff. The gloves also feature carbon fiber inserts on the back of the fingers, carbon fiber and titanium on the knuckles and back of the hand, and a strap on the pinky and ring finger to keep them from distorting in an accident. Overall, these are some of the best gloves out there, but they’re pricey, unlike the Firstgear option shown first.
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3. Sedici Niccolo Race Gloves
Looking for another great but extremely affordable option? The Sedici Niccolo Gloves are exactly what you’re looking for. They feature a full grain semi-aniline leather construction, perforations for airflow, molded lateral cuff protection, leather stretch paneling, pull-through strap for adjustment at the cuff, double cuff system, leather palm with termo-set molding sliders, and thermo-set molded finger protection. While these aren’t the most advanced gloves out there, for the money, they’re excellent.
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4. Alpinestars GP Pro R3 Gloves
Need some legit race-ready gloves? The Alpinestars GP Pro R3 Gloves are a good option for you. They feature a mix of cow and goat leather with kangaroo leather on the palm, a long cuff, hard knuckle protection, perforations for airflow, a finger bridge, a double closure system for security, accordion stretch panels in the fingers and back of the hand, thumb and palm reinforcement, TPU finger protection, soft padding protection on the fingertips, and ergonomic stretch insert on the palm. These gloves are CE-certified CAT II Level II and will make a good pair for any sportbike rider.
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5. Dainese Steel Pro Gloves
Some other top-quality gloves from Dainese are the Steel Pro Gloves. These aren’t cheap, but they’re worth every penny you’ll pay. The gloves have top-of-the-line features and construction. They include goatskin leather construction, composite inserts in stainless steel and thermoplastic resin on the knuckles and back of the hand, Dainese’s Distortion Control system on the little finger, thermoplastic resin inserts on the fingers, polyurethane on the palm, leather reinforcement in key areas including the palm, adjustable cuff strap with Velcro, micro-injection reinforcement, and pre-curved fingers.
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6. Alpinestars SP-8 v2 Gloves
The Alpinestars SP 8 V2 Gloves are sportbike rider gloves that are designed for the street but have a lot that you’d look for in track gloves. They feature full-grain leather construction, microfiber and PU grip insert, stretch insert between the thumb and palm, suede palm reinforcement, third and fourth finger bridge, polymer knuckle protector, EVA foam padding reinforcements in key areas, perforations for airflow, velcro at the wrist, pre-curved fingers, and touchscreen compatible index fingertips. Overall, these offer a lot of great things.
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7. Scorpion SGS MK II Gloves
Do you want a short cuff glove that still offers supreme protection? The Scorpion SGS MKII Gloves are for you. These gloves offer racetrack levels of protection without the large, full-gauntlet design. The gloves offer top-quality leather, carbon-reinforced TPU knuckle protector, Knox APA palm sliders, hard TPU finger protectors, Velcro wrist strap, embossed palm grip reinforcement, perforations on the back of the hand, pre-curved palm and fingers, and touchscreen compatible index fingers. These are some of the best short cuff gloves you’ll find for a sportbike rider.
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8. Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon v2 Gloves
Alpinestars hit it big with the first iteration of the SMX 2 Air Carbon Gloves, so the v2 (the second version), should be another hit. The company updated an already excellent package. These gloves feature a multi-panel leather and 3D mesh main shell, microfiber and PU grip insert, stretch panels between the palm and thumb, suede palm with reinforcement, carbon knuckle guard with EVA foam, 3D mesh finger and thumb surfaces, pre-curved fingers, neoprene wrist cuff plus velcro and TPR closure, touchscreen compatible index fingertips and thumbs, and stretch sidewalls.
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9. Dainese MIG C2 Gloves
As any rider who is at all plugged into the motorcycle gear world will know, Dainese makes amazing motorcycle gear and the Dainese MIG C2 Gloves are a perfect example. The gloves offer a cowhide leather construction with a synthetic palm that’s reinforced. There are also polyurethane inserts on the knuckles, pre-curved fingers, adjustable cuff straps, mesh fabric inserts, and soft protection inserts. They are CE Level 1 certified.
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10. Alpinestars SMX-1 Air v2 Gloves
The Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2 Gloves offer a whole heck of a lot for a good price if you want basic sport rider protection. The gloves feature a leather and mesh main construction with perforation and air mesh as well as advanced poly-blend reinforcements with foam padding. There are also synthetic suede reinforcements, hard polymer knuckle protection, stretch panels on the fingers, hook and loop grip wrist closure, and touchscreen-compatible fingertips for smartphone use. They’re CE-certified, too.
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Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at CycleGear
