When a longtime motorcyclist and street bike apparel designer found himself with a broken pinky after a road mishap, he did what any sensible person would do: he started Ulterior Moto, his own glove company.

The aptly named Launch glove is the first product from Ulterior Moto, a premium offering born of an enthusiast’s passion. The Ulterior Moto Launch short-cuff motorcycle gloves are for sport riders who want the protection needed for aggressive street riding without the excesses that come with track gloves.

Protection

The first thing Ulterior Moto did was make sure your pinkies don’t end up the subject of an X-ray. The Launch gloves have a bridge that connects your ring and pinky fingers to prevent unnatural twisting of the pinky finger during a crash. While it’s not a new concept, it’s not a feature you usually find in short-cuff street gloves. Exclusive to the Launch gloves are two layers of protection for your pinky, plus a touch of unobtrusive hard armor for mid-pinky protection.

Armor was next on the to-do list, and the Launch gloves have hard plastic knuckle protection. The interior of the armor is ergonomically correct, as it does not interfere with your knuckles as you ride. Two pads on your palm help protect your thenar and hypothenar, with the former especially important for your always-vulnerable scaphoid bone. There is also a 4mm Impacton viscoelastic foam pad at the outer wrist to protect the ulna portion of your forearm bone from impact.

There are two levels of abrasion protection on the Launch gloves. Goatskin leather gets the ball rolling, as its densely packed grain gives it impressive strength relative to its lighter weight. Next up is an additional layer of protection provided by Superfabric.

Superfabric is a textile technology where tiny hard guard plates are bonded in a pattern onto a pliable base fabric. The small gaps between plates preserve flexibility while the plates themselves resist abrasion and cuts. In the case of the Launch gloves, the guard plates are made of ceramic. The result is extremely hard, abrasion-resistant nodes covering the surface, dramatically increasing resistance to abrasion and cuts, while the base fabric between plates still flexes and breathes normally. This is how Ulterior Moto can offer a warranty that promises, “If the Launch Glove is functionally damaged in an accident, we’ll replace it.” Not bad.

This all hints that the Launch gloves would score a CE Level 2 rating. However, they are US-only gloves, so Ulterior Moto has not gone through the expensive European CE rating and certification process. That would significantly increase the price of a pair of boutique-brand gloves that already run $155.

Comfort and Fit

While protection is essential, it doesn’t mean much if the gloves are not comfortable. Happily, the Launch gloves are transparent when riding. I had to actively think about them when testing, as they otherwise did not draw my attention. That’s the highest praise you can give any protective motorcycle apparel.

Accordion-stitched leather is deployed generously on the fingers, thumb, and back of the hand, so there’s plenty of flexibility. The interior is soft, without being bulky. You have plenty of grip feel, and the operation of switchgear and levers is unimpeded and intuitive. The index fingers and thumbs are touchscreen-friendly, thanks to capacitive material. Perforation keeps your hands from getting sweaty, even on warmer days.

I wear Large gloves, and the Ulterior Moto Launch gloves fit perfectly, without tightness in the fingers, and just the right length for each finger. As form-fitting gloves, they are tight going on, and it can be tricky to prevent the cinch strap from pulling through the buckle. That’s not an issue when putting on the first hand, but fishing the strap through the buckle is not easy with a gloved hand. I’d prefer a longer strap, so it doesn’t pull through. However, once on, the gloves are ultra-secure, so they’ll stay put when you need them.

Recommendation

When skilled and trained true believers make a product, it’s often destined for greatness. While the result may come at a price — $155 a pair in this case — it’s one that riders who appreciate high quality will happily pay. The Ulterior Moto Launch glove is designed for the aficionado who wants apparel that is good-looking, functional, and has an air of exclusivity.

Ulterior Moto Launch Gloves Fast Facts

• Sizes: S-3XL
• Materials: Goatskin leather and Superfabric
• Certifications: None
• Guarantee: Accident damage replacement

Ulterior Moto Launch Gloves Price: $155/pair MSRP

Ulterior Moto Launch Gloves Review Photo Gallery