I chose the Knox Ladies Urbane Pro Move Armoured Shirt when refreshing my riding kit to better suit the seasonal riding I do. It’s a short, close-fitting jacket that sits nicely at the hips and, worn by itself, is aimed at summer and warmer spring or autumn days.
What appealed to me was the idea of using it as a protective base that I could build around. Rather than having one bulky jacket containing all the layers, I can wear different base and mid-layers underneath, then add an airbag and possibly a waterproof shell over the top depending on the conditions.
After more than 2500 miles on my Honda CB750 Hornet, including 1800 miles through France, Germany and Switzerland during a heatwave, it has done exactly what I hoped it would.
Fit & comfort
The Urbane Pro Move is very fitted to the female shape, with a tapered waist and a slight flare around the hips. I’m broader across the shoulders and fairly flat-chested, and the shape works particularly well for me. There is also stretchier mesh around the chest to accommodate different body shapes.
I normally wear a size 12 in tops and motorcycle jackets, and a 12 is right for me here, so I find the sizing consistent with other kit I own.
It is noticeably snugger than the motorcycle jackets I’m used to, but that’s one of the reasons I chose it. The close fit means I can put whatever layers I want over it without starting with unnecessary bulk, and I’ve quickly become accustomed to the snugness.
The fabrics are very flexible, which makes the jacket comfortable both on and off the bike. The shoulder and elbow armour sits naturally, while I barely notice the back protector. The softer material around the sides and waist also gives enough stretch to cope with movement - or a particularly big lunch!
There are a few niggles. The collar has soft neoprene-style edging around most of it, but the mesh at the front can rub against my collarbone. I tend to alleviate that with a neck tube or high-neck base layer.
There are thumb loops too, but I don’t use them because I find they put uncomfortable pressure around my thumbs.
The belt loops that allow the jacket to connect to trousers also make sense from a safety point of view, but for the sort of riding I’ve been doing they’re too inconvenient when I’m constantly getting on and off the bike.
Hot weather performance
This is where the Urbane Pro Move really comes into its own. I’m not sure I could find another protective jacket with much more airflow. Most of the construction is mesh, with stronger materials concentrated around areas such as the shoulders, elbows and sides of the torso.
I’ve ridden through Europe in temperatures into the high 30s, experiencing heat beyond anything I’d previously ridden in. For me, its sweet spot is around 24-32°C. In those temperatures the airflow is excellent. Once temperatures rise much above 32°C, moving more hot air over your body only achieves so much, but I found another trick that worked well. I wore a Knox Dual Active base layer underneath and soaked it with water before setting off. The airflow through the Urbane Pro Move then helped cool me down, although it was so effective at flowing air that the base layer could be dry again within 20-30 minutes.
I definitely prefer wearing a base layer underneath anyway. When I tried the jacket directly against my skin in very hot weather, sweaty arms made taking it off awkward enough that the sleeves wanted to turn inside out with my arms.
The armour restricts some of the airflow compared with the mesh surrounding it. After soaking my base layer, the material underneath the armour stayed wet noticeably longer, and I sometimes needed to move or shrug my shoulders before I could feel airflow reaching those areas. Even so, the overall hot-weather performance is excellent.
Cold & wet weather performance
The Urbane Pro Move isn’t designed to provide insulation or waterproofing on its own, so I see it more as the protective foundation of a layering system when the weather changes.
That was part of the appeal for me from the beginning. I can wear thicker or thinner base layers underneath depending on temperature, add a mid-layer when I need warmth and put a waterproof outer shell over everything when rain protection is required.
That makes it more adaptable than its heavily vented appearance might suggest, though if you want a jacket that provides warmth and waterproofing on its own, this isn’t really what the Urbane Pro Move is about.
Protection
The jacket carries an overall AA rating and comes with CE Level 2 armour at the shoulders, elbows and back, which is an impressive level within the standard for something offering this much airflow.
The armour is also exceptionally comfortable. I’ve had other jackets where armour presses against a sensitive point on my elbow and becomes painful, but the protection here moves and flexes with me rather than creating pressure points.
The back protector is particularly impressive. It offers more coverage than some I’ve used, yet I barely notice it is there. The close fit of the shirt also seems to help keep all the armour securely positioned. I’ve never noticed any of it moving away from where it should be.
There is provision for optional chest armour as well, although I haven’t fitted it.
On many rides I have combined the Urbane Pro Move with an Alpinestars Stella Tech-Air 3 V2 airbag over the top. The two work very well together and the airbag adds another level of confidence for me. Naturally, putting an airbag over the mesh reduces some airflow through the chest, but that’s an inevitable compromise when adding another protective layer.
Overall, I think the jacket strikes an excellent balance between ventilation and protection.
Pockets & practicality
For something that looks so slim and uncomplicated, there is a surprising amount of storage.
There are two sizeable zipped pockets externally at the hips. Inside on the right are two large elasticated pockets plus a smaller pocket intended for earplugs.
That tiny earplug pocket has been more useful than I expected. I use Auritech plugs that normally live in a screw-top container, and on a trip involving lots of short stops it is much easier to drop the plugs straight into the little pocket than repeatedly open and close their container.
One of the larger internal pockets also contains a visor cloth attached to a clip. It’s a nice thought, although I regularly forget it’s there.
On the left there are another two large pockets, including one marked for a phone with a partial hook-and-loop closure. Knox say there is a sixth internal pocket, though so far I’ve yet to find it.
The jacket’s lack of bulk is another practical advantage. It works particularly well as part of a modular setup, allowing me to choose the layers that suit each ride rather than carrying them around inside one jacket regardless of whether I need them.
Durability
The Urbane Pro Move has stood up very well to more than 2500 miles of use.
Around 1800 of those miles came on my European trip, where the heat meant I was constantly taking the jacket off whenever I stopped and putting it back on again before setting off. Despite all that repetitive use, I haven’t noticed any meaningful wear.
It has also needed a wash after getting understandably hot and sweaty. I removed the armour, followed the care instructions and put it through a cold, delicate wash with non-biological detergent. It came out looking as good as new, and smelling much fresher.
Given the light, highly ventilated construction, I’m pleased by how well it has coped – and expect it to get plenty more use.
Final thoughts
I bought the Knox Urbane Pro Move with a very specific plan: I wanted a close-fitting protective layer for my European trip that could become the foundation of a flexible riding setup afterwards. It has done exactly that.
I can change the base layers underneath according to temperature, add a mid-layer when it gets colder, wear my airbag over the top and add a waterproof outer layer when necessary. That flexibility means I can build the right combination for the conditions rather than relying on one jacket to do everything.
Most importantly, it has been fantastic during genuinely hot weather. The combination of excellent airflow, a comfortable close fit and Level 2 armour gives me a balance of protection and ventilation that I would struggle to give up when temperatures climb.
There are small niggles – particularly the collar rubbing, thumb loops I don’t enjoy using and belt loops that don’t suit the way I ride – but none detract significantly from what the jacket does well.
For me, it has become an excellent addition to my riding wardrobe and feels like exactly the protective base layer I was looking for.
Knox Ladies Urbane Pro Move Armoured Shirt
