Short cuff motorcycle gloves end at the wrist. They slip on and off fast, so they suit city riding with lots of stops. A good pair stays put because it has a wrist strap, a snug fit and protection on the palm and knuckles. Here is how a short cuff compares with a gauntlet, and what to check before you choose.
If you want to see the full range first, look at our . For a wider look at every glove type, read how to choose motorcycle gloves.
A short cuff motorcycle glove stops at the wrist bone or just past it. It does not reach up over the jacket sleeve like a gauntlet does. Riders also call it a "shorty" or a "short wrist" glove. All three names mean the same thing: a riding glove with a short cuff that closes around the wrist.
The cuff is the part of the glove past the hand. On a short glove, it is only a few finger widths long. It wraps the wrist and closes with a strap. Because there is so little material there, the glove feels light and lets the wrist bend freely.
A short cuff glove is still a riding glove. It should have a tough outer layer, padding or sliders on the palm, and some kind of knuckle protection. The short cuff changes how much of the arm it covers. It does not change what the hand part needs.
The main difference is coverage. A gauntlet has a long cuff that goes over the jacket sleeve. A short cuff ends at the wrist and sits under or just over the sleeve. That makes the short glove quicker to put on and less bulky, while the gauntlet covers more and blocks more wind.
| Point | Short cuff | Gauntlet |
|---|---|---|
| Cover over the jacket sleeve | Little or none. It ends at the wrist. | Yes. The long cuff goes over the sleeve. |
| Putting it on and off | Fast. One strap at the wrist. | Slower. Often two closures and a sleeve to tuck. |
| Bulk at the wrist | Low. The wrist bends with ease. | Higher. The cuff can feel stiff. |
| Wind at highway speed | Air can reach the gap at the sleeve. | The long cuff closes that gap. |
Neither style is right for every rider. Think about where you ride, how fast you go and what jacket you wear. Then pick the cuff that fits that use.
City riding means lots of short trips and lots of stops. You park, pay, check your phone and get back on. Short riding gloves come off and go back on in seconds. The short cuff also stays out of the way of a jacket sleeve, so you are not fighting two layers at every stop.
In slow traffic, you also move your hands a lot. You work the clutch, the brake and the throttle again and again. A short cuff leaves the wrist free to bend. Many riders find this feels more natural at low speed.
A short cuff can sit in two places. It can tuck under a snug jacket sleeve, or it can sit over a loose one. Try both with your own jacket. The goal is to leave no bare skin between the glove and the sleeve when your arms reach for the bars.
Check four things: how the glove closes at the wrist, what protects the palm and knuckles, what the leather is, and how it fits. A short cuff has less material to hold it on, so the closure and fit matter more than on a long glove. Here is what to look for in each area.
A short glove needs a strap that holds it firmly at the wrist. Our two short pairs use two closures. There is a Velcro strap across the wrist, plus a Velcro closure on the cuff. The strap pulls the glove tight. The cuff closure sets how snug the opening feels.
For background, EN 13594 is the European standard for motorcycle rider gloves. It has two levels, Level 1 and Level 2. One of its tests checks how easily a glove can be pulled off the hand. You can read a summary at the BSI page for EN 13594.
Look for sliders on the palm and padding over the knuckles. A slider is a hard, smooth plate. On our short gloves, TPU sliders sit on the palm, thumb and fingers. TPU is a tough, bendy plastic. The sliders are mounted on poly-foam, a soft foam layer under the plate.
The knuckles have integrated flexible protectors. They bend with your hand, so you can still grip the bars. A rubber protector on the back of the hand has air intakes and an exhaust port to let some air move through.
Short cuff leather motorcycle gloves are often made of cowhide. Ours use cowhide that is 0.8 to 0.9 mm thick. That is thin enough to feel the controls. Inside, there is an aramid (Kevlar) lining. Aramid is a strong fiber used in protective gear.
The area between the thumb and index finger gets the most rubbing on the grip. On our short gloves, that spot has an extra layer of leather. The seams use safety stitching with strong nylon thread.
A short glove should feel snug but not tight. Your fingertips should just touch the ends of the fingers. Our short pairs have a pre-curved palm and fingers. That means the glove is shaped like a hand holding a bar, so the leather does not bunch up when you ride.
Sizes run from XS to 3XL. Measure your hand and compare it with our size chart before you order. If you are between two sizes, try to test both.
A short cuff is made for the city. For track days or fast riding, many riders choose a race glove with more cover at the cuff. On long highway rides, a longer cuff also helps keep wind out of the sleeve. Pick the glove for the ride you do most often.
For the track, look at our . The have a foam padded cuff panel, an FST knuckle system with a dual density mold and TPU finger sliders. They close with double-check Velcro closures.
Riding mostly on hot days? Read our guide to summer motorcycle gloves with vents.
Two MotoSpeeds pairs are made with a short cuff. Both are unisex, both use 0.8 to 0.9 mm cowhide with an aramid lining, and both close with a Velcro wrist strap and a Velcro cuff. They differ in color. Two more city gloves in the same range are worth a look too.
No. A driving glove is a thin glove made for grip on a car steering wheel. It usually has no hard protection. A short wrist motorcycle glove has the same short cuff, but it adds riding parts. Our short pairs have TPU sliders on the palm, thumb and fingers, plus flexible knuckle protectors and a Velcro wrist strap.
Many use cowhide, a tough and common riding leather. Our two short cuff pairs use cowhide that is 0.8 to 0.9 mm thick. They have an aramid (Kevlar) lining inside, and an extra layer of leather between the thumb and index finger, where the grip rubs most.
Look for a secure wrist strap, sliders on the palm, knuckle protection and a snug fit. A second closure on the cuff helps you set how tight the opening feels. A pre-curved shape helps the glove sit well on the bars. Strong stitching at the seams also matters.
"Shorty" is a nickname for a glove with a short cuff. The cuff ends near the wrist bone instead of running up the forearm. Shorty motorcycle gloves are popular for city riding because they go on fast and feel light at the wrist.
Mostly, yes. A short cuff can tuck under a snug jacket sleeve or sit over a loose one. Put on your jacket and gloves, then reach for the bars. If you see bare skin at the wrist, try the other way, or choose a longer cuff for that jacket.