Motorcycle Armor Ratings Explained
Walk into most gear shops in North America and you'll see "CE certified" plastered across hang tags and product listings. But flip a jacket over and read the actual label — most people have no idea what they're looking at. CE Tested. CE Certified. CE Approved. CE Level 1. CE Level 2. Class AA. EN 17092. EN 1621-1. It starts to look like a regulatory alphabet soup. This guide cuts through it. We'll explain exactly what CE ratings mean, why the differences matter, and why MotoHut — shipping from Vancouver to riders across Canada, the US, and worldwide — carries only gear that takes this standard seriously.
What does CE actually mean?
CE stands for Conformité Européenne — French for "European Conformity." It's a certification mark that signals a product has been independently tested and meets the safety standards set by the European Union. You'll see CE marks on everything from children's toys to power tools. For motorcycle gear, it means something very specific: the product has been tested against strict European Norm (EN) standards that define exactly how protective equipment must perform under controlled, repeatable conditions.
For riders, the relevant standards are:
- EN 17092 — Governs the full garment (jackets, pants, suits): abrasion resistance, seam strength, and overall construction.
- EN 1621-1 — Limb protectors: shoulders, elbows, knees, hips.
- EN 1621-2 — Back protectors.
- EN 1621-3 — Chest protectors.
- EN 13594 — Gloves.
- EN 13634 — Boots/footwear.
The "EN" stands for European Norm. When a brand references a CE rating, they should be telling you which standard and which level applies to each zone of protection. If they're not, that's a red flag.
CE Tested vs. CE Certified vs. CE Approved — what's the difference?
This is where a lot of marketing language gets slippery. These three terms are not the same, and understanding the difference could be the difference between gear that protects you and gear that just looks like it does.
CE Tested
"CE Tested" means the product was put through CE testing procedures — but it does not necessarily mean it passed. A brand can say a product was CE tested and technically be telling the truth even if the product failed the standard. It's a meaningless claim on its own. Watch out for this one.
CE Certified
This is the real deal. CE Certified means the product was independently tested by an accredited third-party laboratory and passed the relevant European Norm standard. The certification is documented, traceable, and backed by an actual test report. When you see CE Certified on gear, you know it has hit at minimum the thresholds required by the EU. The label inside the garment should clearly show the EN standard number and the class or level achieved.
CE Approved
"CE Approved" is often used interchangeably with CE Certified, but it can be vague depending on who's using it. Some brands use "approved" to mean the same thing as certified — passed independent testing. Others use it loosely. The safest move: look past the marketing claim and go straight to the label on the gear. If it shows a specific EN standard and level, it's real. If it just says "CE Approved" with nothing else, push for more information.
Garment Classes: AAA to C — what the outer shell rating means
Under the EN 17092 standard, a full jacket or pant is classified by how well the outer material itself performs — not just the armor inside it. This is a separate rating from the armor, and covers abrasion resistance, seam strength, tear strength, and how well the garment holds together in a crash. There are five classes:
| Class | Protection Level | Typical Use | Armor Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | Highest — exceeds 7 seconds in Darmstadt abrasion test | Racing, track days, maximum protection | Level 1 or 2 at shoulders, elbows, knees mandatory |
| AA | High — excellent for most riding conditions | Sport, touring, daily riding | Level 1 or 2 armor mandatory |
| A | Baseline — minimum protection for street riding | Urban commuting, casual riding | Level 1 or 2 armor mandatory |
| B | No abrasion requirement — shell only, no impact zones | Paired with armored base layers | No armor required in garment |
| C | Lowest — holds armor in place only | Base layers / armor carriers | Armor required separately |
Most quality riding jeans and textile jackets aimed at street riders fall into Class A or AA. Premium gear from brands like REV'IT, Alpinestars, and Pando Moto typically targets AA or above. If a jacket doesn't specify its EN 17092 class, that's worth asking about.
Armor Levels: Level 1 vs. Level 2 — the impact protection inside
Separate from the garment class, every piece of certified armor inside a jacket or pant is rated Level 1 or Level 2 under EN 1621. This applies to shoulders, elbows, knees, hips (EN 1621-1), and back protectors (EN 1621-2). The difference is straightforward: Level 2 absorbs significantly more impact force.
| Rating | Max Transmitted Force (Limbs) | Max Transmitted Force (Back) | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | ≤ 20 kN | ≤ 9 kN | Higher impact absorption. Better for sport riding, higher speeds, track days. Often slightly thicker but modern materials like D3O and SAS-TEC keep them slim and flexible. |
| Level 1 | ≤ 35 kN | ≤ 18 kN | Good baseline protection. Sufficient for most street riding. Lighter and typically more flexible out of the box. |
Back protectors have their own additional requirements. Level 2 back protectors must also cover a larger surface area (full spine, sacrum, and shoulder blades — minimum 600 cm²) compared to Level 1's more limited coverage. If you're buying a jacket with a back protector pocket, check specifically what level the protector is — and whether it even comes with one or requires a separate purchase.
CE standards by gear category
CE certification isn't just for jackets and pants. Every category of protective gear has its own EN standard. Here's a quick breakdown:
Gloves — EN 13594
Glove certification evaluates abrasion resistance, seam strength, cut resistance, and knuckle impact protection. Level 1 gloves cover the basics; Level 2 requires mandatory knuckle armor and higher impact protection thresholds. For most riding, Level 1 certified gloves are adequate — Level 2 for sport or aggressive riding.
Boots — EN 13634
Boot certification tests abrasion resistance, cut resistance, sole rigidity, ankle impact protection, and heel energy absorption. As with armor, Level 1 is baseline and Level 2 provides enhanced protection. Level 2 boots are strongly recommended for touring and sport riding — ankle injuries are among the most common in motorcycle accidents.
Helmets — ECE 22.06
Helmets operate under a separate certification standard — ECE 22.06 (the current European standard) is considered the global benchmark. Brands like Schuberth, Shoei, AGV, and Bell all certify their helmets to ECE 22.06 or above. In Canada, helmets must meet FMVSS 218 (DOT) at minimum, but ECE-certified helmets offer significantly more rigorous testing protocols.
Why CE ratings matter in North America
In Europe, CE certification on motorcycle clothing is legally required under EU PPE regulations. In Canada and the US, it's not mandated for street use — which means the North American market is flooded with gear that looks protective but has never been independently tested.
This is a real problem. A jacket can be sold as "motorcycle gear" in Canada with no certification, no abrasion testing, and no independent verification of its armor. It can look aggressive, feel sturdy, and cost $400 — and offer next to no meaningful protection in a crash. The CE mark, specifically CE Certified with a visible EN standard, is the only objective, third-party verified benchmark available to North American riders right now.
At MotoHut, we made a deliberate decision early on: we only carry gear from brands that take CE certification seriously. That means brands whose products come with documented EN standards, clear garment class ratings, and armor that has been independently verified — not just claimed.
MotoHut's CE-rated picks
Every piece of gear below has been selected because it takes the CE standard seriously — not just a logo on a hang tag, but documented, class-specific protection you can verify on the label.
Not sure what CE rating is right for your riding?
We're based in Vancouver and know this gear inside out. Reach out and we'll help you find the right protection for how you ride — and ship it to you anywhere in Canada, the US, or worldwide.
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