As electric bikes fill city streets and bike paths, many riders face a growing dilemma: what gear should you wear?
Traditional cycling gear can be too light for today’s faster, heavier e-bikes, while full motorcycle gear often feels like overkill, especially for casual rides or commutes.
Striking the right balance matters. Protective gear should match the risks of your environment, the class of e-bike you ride, and what you’re realistically willing to wear. Below, we break down essential gear categories to help you find the sweet spot between bicycle minimalism and motorcycle-grade armor.
Risk Realities: Why E-Bike Riders Need to Rethink Safety
Class 3 e-bikes can reach speeds up to 28 mph with pedal assist and often share roads with cars and trucks. This exposure increases crash risk and injury severity compared to traditional bicycles.
Many riders still wear lightweight gear that doesn’t provide adequate protection at these speeds. On the flip side, full motorcycle armor can feel bulky and unnecessary for urban rides. The key is smart, practical protection you’ll actually use.
Helmet: The First Line of Defense
Your helmet is the most essential piece of protective gear, no matter what you ride. However, there is a noticeable difference between the average bicycle helmet and a motorcycle helmet. Bicycle helmets are built for lightweight comfort and lower-speed impacts, with open-air designs that prioritize ventilation.
On the other hand, motorcycle helmets are designed to protect riders during high-speed crashes, often at freeway velocities, and include full-face coverage, thicker shells, and integrated visors.
Research Spotlight
A 2022 study titled “Impact of Helmet-Wearing Policy on E-Bike Safety Riding Behavior” published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health examined helmet usage among 1,048 e-bike riders in Ningbo, China. It found a strong negative correlation between helmet usage and accident rates.
Riders who consistently wore helmets were significantly less likely to be involved in crashes. The study also emphasized that comfort and heat buildup were common reasons for helmet avoidance, suggesting that better helmet design is crucial to encouraging adoption.
For e-bike riders, using a motorcycle helmet may seem like a safe bet, but it comes with drawbacks. These helmets are heavier, which can lead to neck fatigue during city rides or stop-and-go commuting. More importantly, their ventilation systems are designed to work at high speeds. On an e-bike moving at 20 to 25 mph, the vents do not function effectively and can cause overheating.
On the flip side, traditional bicycle helmets do not offer the extended coverage or impact absorption needed for crashes at e-bike speeds. The ideal choice often lies in dual-certified helmets or models that meet regulated standards for e-bike use.
Our Take: Skip the motorcycle full-face helmet as you’ll just end up cooking in it. Opt for something more open like a dual sport helmet or just go with a regular MIPS bicycle helmet if you’re not looking to score style points.
Jacket: Lightweight Meets Protective
Motorcycle jackets are built for serious slides, with CE-rated armor and heavy-duty materials—but they can be hot, stiff, and impractical for quick errands. Cycling jackets offer climate control and flexibility, but virtually no protection during a crash.
E-bike riders should aim for abrasion resistance and padding at key injury points, in jackets that are still comfortable off the bike. Breathable mesh motorcycle jackets with removable armor or downhill mountain biking jackets strike a great balance.
Our Take: A breathable mesh jacket with CE rated armor will give you some measure of impact protection as ebike riders won’t need significant abrasion resistance.
Gloves: Protecting the Point of Impact
Hands are usually the first to hit the pavement during a fall. Motorcycle gloves offer armored knuckles, abrasion resistance, and wrist coverage, but can be bulky and reduce dexterity. That’s not ideal for navigating tight spaces or handling controls at lower speeds.
Cycling gloves are lighter and enhance grip but offer little to no protection during a crash. Look for gloves with reinforced palms, padded knuckles, and flexible materials that protect without compromising control.
Our Take: A basic pair of short-cuff gloves that provide grip and knuckle protection will suffice.
Pants: Abrasion Resistance Without Restriction
Cyclists often wear athletic gear designed for movement, not protection. Motorcyclists wear armored pants made of Kevlar or Cordura, sometimes with impact protection at the hips and knees.
These can be uncomfortable for e-bike riders who need to walk around after dismounting. The best option is commuter-friendly riding pants—jeans or trousers with hidden abrasion-resistant panels or low-profile armor. They look normal but provide real protection.
Our Take: Get a pair of MTB riding pants and pair it with armored knee pads.
Footwear: Stability, Grip, and Protection
Credit: Bike Rumor
Cycling shoes are lightweight and efficient for pedaling but offer almost no protection in a crash. Motorcycle boots are reinforced and rugged, but they’re often too stiff and heavy for casual use.
E-bike riders need supportive shoes with grippy soles, ankle protection, and some impact resistance—ideally in a sneaker or low-profile boot style. Look for water resistance and comfort for walking or errands after your ride.
Our Take: Motorcycle boots aren’t necessary due to the mechanics of a bike fall. Get something comfortable and call it a day.
Eye Protection: Don’t Ride Blind
Even at moderate speeds, your eyes are vulnerable to wind, bugs, dust, and sun glare. Cyclists often use wraparound sunglasses, but many models lack impact resistance. Motorcycle helmets often have visors, but these aren’t compatible with most e-bike helmets.
E-bike riders should look for shatter-resistant eyewear with UV protection and anti-fog coatings. Clear lenses work well for night riding, while tinted or photochromic lenses are great for daytime visibility.
Our Take: If you don’t want to wear a bicycle helmet but want more protection, consider checking out The Beam X Virgo’s cycling helmet for ebikes.
Legal Help After a Crash
Even the best gear can’t prevent every accident. E-bike crashes can raise complex legal issues. Is your case treated like a bicycle collision or a motor vehicle accident? Will insurance cover your damages?
That’s where experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyers come in. They specialize in the nuances of e-bike cases, helping injured riders navigate compensation, insurance disputes, and liability claims.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right gear as an e-bike rider isn’t about copying cyclists or motorcyclists. It’s about understanding your speed, environment, and comfort zone, then making informed decisions that match your ride.
If your e-bike hits 28 mph and you’re riding through traffic, shorts and a regular helmet probably won’t cut it. But you also don’t need full leather racing gear. The good news is that today’s gear market offers plenty of crossover solutions that mix comfort with safety.
Ride smart. Gear up accordingly. And enjoy the best of both worlds.