The Best Motorcycle T-Shirts (Review) in 2023 | Autance

What do you wear when you ride? Sure, you have all of the gear, but what about what’s under that? The perfect motorcycle t-shirt is the piece of clothing you need to complete your outfit. You can throw it on when you head out for a ride or wear it when you’re running errands.

Either way, you can express your love of riding and personal style with these uniquely styled tees. Check out these six options and find the perfect one to add to your closet.

Best Motorcycle T-Shirt

Best Motorcycle T-Shirts Buying Guide & FAQs

When it comes to buying a motorcycle t-shirt, you have a few options. You need to think about the style and cut of the shirt. This will help you find the right one for your body shape and comfort level.

Then consider who makes the shirt. Motorcycle-related brands understand the abuse your clothing goes through while riding. Those types of t-shirts are designed to last, will have stronger stitching, and will be made out of better quality fabric.

You also need to think about the shirt’s design. Do you want something edgy with skulls? Or maybe something retro would look cool while you ride your cafe racer. There are also sporty designs that are perfect for the sportbike rider.

Why You Need a Motorcycle T-Shirt

If you’re male, you technically don’t need to wear a shirt. However, wearing one is a lot more socially acceptable and will ensure that you’re allowed in public buildings once you stop riding. T-shirts are comfortable and an article of clothing you can wear by itself or under a protective jacket.

You could wear just a plain shirt, but that’s boring. A motorcycle t-shirt gives your outfit a bit of style and helps you look like a part of a broader community. It also shows your passion to others when you wear the shirt to activities outside of riding.

This will help you feel like you are part of the community. Those who ride will see your shirt and identify you as “one of them.” This can help you connect with other riders and broaden your social circle. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing a motorcycle manufacturer-branded shirt or just a moto-themed shirt from a popular industry-known brand.

• Wearing a shirt will protect you from the sun and wind.
• Show off your personal and moto style in a shirt that speaks to you.
• You can feel a sense of community in your motorcycle shirt.

Popular Types of Motorcycle T-Shirts

Most motorcycle tee shirts fall into one of three categories: They’re made by motorcycle manufacturers, industry-known companies, or are fashion shirts. One type of shirt isn’t automatically better than the others. The one you choose will depend on the look you seek.

Manufacturer-branded shirts tend to be the highest quality. You’ll find true biker-themed shirts from industry brands. They also take riding into account with subtle features that make them more comfortable to wear while riding. Fashion shirts can be hit or miss but will offer the most variety when it comes to designs. The downside is that they aren’t typically durable enough to wear while riding.

• Manufacturer-Branded Shirts

Some of the most common motorcycle t-shirts that you’ll see are from motorcycle manufacturers. While you can wear any motorcycle brand you want, it would be weird for you to wear a T-shirt with bold branding for one manufacturer while you ride another.

Most of these shirts have bold branding across the chest or back. Harley-Davidson is the most well-known for producing T-shirts. Its shirts feature motorcycle-themed designs that incorporate Harley branding in some way.

Other companies keep things simple by having the shirt feature just their logo. These shirts are simpler in design, but you become a walking billboard for that company.

• Industry-Branded Shirts

There are several brands that are well-known among riders that produce motorcycle apparel, gear, and parts. Some common ones are Hot Leathers, Icon, Milwaukee Leather, Alpinestars, or Speed and Strength.

These companies tend to tailor their items for a particular segment of riders. Icon and Alpinestars both make gear and apparel for sportbike riders. Hot Leathers and Milwaukee Leathers offer products that are better-suited for cruiser riders.

Some of the apparel you’ll find is branded, but most of it is designed and styled to bikers. You’ll commonly find designs featuring skulls, tribal symbols, gears, eagles, and wings.

• Fashion Shirts

Sometimes you’ll find a motorcycle-themed t-shirt while shopping. These shirts come from companies that are not known for producing biker-specific clothing. These shirts aren’t always accurate in their biker theme and tend to be generic bike designs.

You’ll commonly see a vintage motorcycle theme as well as screen printing that looks well-worn. Or you’ll find details in the design that look retro.

These shirts aren’t designed with riders in mind. That means that the cut of the shirt may not be conducive to riding. The materials and stitching may not withstand the abuse of riding.

What to Look for When Buying Motorcycle T-Shirts

When shopping for a new bike t-shirt, you should think about the sleeve length, fabric quality, and design. This will help you narrow down your options and find a shirt that fits your personal style.

Look for a shirt that will both fit you while you walk around and while you ride. This means you need to consider the sleeve length. You also need to think about fabric quality because your shirt will take more of a beating while you’re riding.

The design you choose is all about personal taste. If you aren’t into skulls, then you won’t pick a shirt that features them. Also, think about the type of bike you ride when picking a certain style of t-shirt.

• Sleeve Length

Decide what kind of sleeve length you need. You could opt for sleeveless and choose a tank top. This exposes your arms to the sun and wind and is the coolest option in hot weather.

Or you could choose a traditional short-sleeve t-shirt. Then it’s just a matter of buying the right size so that the short sleeves fit your arms the way you want.

A third option is a long-sleeve t-shirt. These shirts protect you from the wind and sun while you’re riding. Make sure the sleeves are long enough to reach your wrist when you extend your arms to grip the handlebars.

• Fabric Quality

Not all biker t-shirts use the same fabric, but the most common type is cotton. Check if it’s pre-shrunk. This will make a difference after the initial wash and dry. If the cotton isn’t pre-shrunk, it’s likely that your shirt won’t fit after its first trip through the dryer.

Another option is a cotton polyester blend. This is less breathable, but the fabric feels lighter and tends to have a better fit than all-cotton shirts.

Try to avoid 100-percent polyester fabric shirts. They do not breathe and will be quite hot while you’re riding. This could cause you to sweat more and become dehydrated faster.

High-quality fabric is durable, has a tight weave, and won’t fall apart while you’re wearing the shirt.

• Print Design

When thinking about the printed design, consider both the images and the typography. This is the font printed on the shirt. Some shirts only have a saying and no other design, which is typical of branded shirts.

Other shirts solely feature bold images in an intricate design. This could be a big picture across the front or back of the shirt.

Most commonly, you’ll find shirts that have a combination of both images and a saying. They feature a large image and then font around the image. Sometimes the font is branded while other times it’s random motorcycle-related phrases, such as “born to ride.”

Tips for Buying and Using Motorcycle T-Shirts

When it comes to finding the perfect motorcycle tee, you need to make sure it fits. The coolest shirt in the world is useless if you can’t put it on. Since there is no standard sizing, you should always check the size chart before you buy any shirt. If you’re in doubt, use a soft tape measure to confirm your measurements.

Once you find your size, check to see what the shirt is made out of. Some cotton shirts will shrink after you wash and dry them. This will transform a shirt that fits into one that doesn’t fit.

Finally, try to buy only high-quality shirts. This will ensure that they last. Otherwise, you’ll wear the shirt a handful of times, and it’ll start falling apart.

• Check the size chart.
• Watch out for shrinkage.
• Look for high-quality fabric and stitching.

Best Motorcycle T Shirts FAQs

Figuring out what to wear on your motorcycle doesn’t have to be a struggle. Throw on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, and you will be ready in a few minutes. A motorcycle t-shirt gives let’s people know about your personal sense of style.

A motorcycle-themed shirt can be a great addition to your closet both when you’re riding and when you’re not. Don’t be afraid to buy a few shirts in different styles so that you can change and layer as you see fit.

Our Top Pick

Our top pick is the Hot Leathers Men’s Ride Loud Be Hard Short Sleeve T-Shirt. This black graphic tee features bold typography. It’s also well-made and from a reputable motorcycle industry brand that you can trust. This is a shirt you can wear with pride while riding your loud bike.