Understanding CE Protection Levels for Motorcycle Armor

Motorcycle riding comes with real risks — impact, abrasion, and sudden accidents can turn a thrill into serious harm. That's why relying on protective gear with verified safety standards isn't optional; it's essential.

Across brands and models, CE-certified motorcycle armor ensures consistent protection, giving riders the confidence that their gear meets strict European safety benchmarks. In this guide, we break down what CE protection levels mean and how they help keep riders safe on every ride.

What Is CE Certification?

CE certification is a mandatory European Union (EU) marking that confirms a product meets strict health, safety, and environmental standards.

For motorcycle armor, CE certification ensures the gear has been independently tested and proven to protect against specific risks, such as impact forces, material degradation, and performance under varying temperatures. When a product carries the CE mark, it signals that it has passed standardized laboratory tests and meets clearly defined performance benchmarks.

This is especially critical for motorcycle armor, where failure can lead to serious injury. CE-certified armor must show reliable impact absorption, safe and durable materials, and, in some cases, resilience under high or low temperatures.

The benefits of CE certification extend well beyond legal compliance in the EU. Riders gain confidence knowing their gear offers tested and proven protection. For manufacturers and brands, CE certification ensures that products meet global safety expectations, making them more competitive in international markets.

Key CE Standards for Motorcycle Armor

CE certification spans multiple standards, each addressing specific protective needs. Below are the most relevant standards for motorcycle riders:

◆EN 1621: Impact Protection

EN 1621 is the central standard governing impact protection for motorcycle armor. Its purpose is to measure how much force is transmitted through the protector when subjected to sudden impacts, such as crashes or falls. This standard is divided into four specific parts, each addressing a particular area of the body:

• EN 1621-1 covers limb protectors, including elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee guards.
• EN 1621-2 applies to back and spine protectors, designed to shield the vertebrae and spinal column.
• EN 1621-3 focuses on chest protectors, offering frontal torso protection.
• EN 1621-4 covers airbag systems worn on the upper body, designed to deploy automatically during a crash.
  The testing protocol for EN 1621 involves subjecting protectors to a series of controlled drops at specific energy levels and then measuring the peak transmitted force, expressed in kilonewtons (kN). To achieve certification, the product must meet either Level 1 or Level 2 requirements, with Level 2 offering superior impact reduction.

◆Other CE Standards

While EN 1621 is the primary focus for impact armor, several other CE standards apply to full-body protection:

• EN 14021 is mainly used for chest panels in motocross or off-road body protectors, focusing on puncture resistance while maintaining rider flexibility.
• EN 13277-2 targets back protectors with additional rib and lower-back coverage.
• EN 13595 covers full garment sets such as jackets, pants, and one-piece suits, testing for tear strength, abrasion resistance, and seam durability.
• EN 13594 applies to motorcycle gloves, focusing on knuckle and palm impact protection.
• EN 13634 addresses motorcycle boots, assessing ankle protection, abrasion resistance, and cut resistance.
• EN 13688 sets general requirements for protective clothing, ensuring materials are non-toxic and skin-safe.

EN 1621: Level 1 vs. Level 2

EN 1621-certified motorcycle armor is divided into two performance levels, determined by how much impact force, measured in kilonewtons (kN), the protector allows through during a standardized test. This "K-value" reflects the peak force transmitted to the body in a crash.

1. Level 1 armor must keep the average transmitted force below 18 kN, with no single test point exceeding 24 kN. It offers solid protection for general road use and recreational riders, balancing safety with comfort and flexibility.

2. Level 2 armor, the higher standard, limits the average transmitted force to under 9 kN, with no single point exceeding 12 kN. This level provides enhanced impact absorption, making it ideal for high-risk environments, professional racing, or riders seeking the maximum available protection.
Choosing between Level 1 and Level 2 depends on riding conditions, risk tolerance, and comfort preferences, but both levels meet strict CE safety requirements.

"Tested" vs. "Certified" vs. "Approved" in CE Protection Levels

In the context of CE protection levels, tested means a product has undergone lab trials, with performance data recorded, but without formal regulatory status.

Certified means the product passed those tests and received an official certificate from a notified body, confirming it meets CE standards. This process includes not just lab testing but also factory audits and production reviews.

Approved indicates the product is certified and officially cleared for sale in Europe, bearing the CE mark. Approval confirms the product's compliance with both performance and legal requirements, ensuring it can be marketed as a CE-compliant protective product.

Decoding CE Markings on Motorcycle Armor

Understanding CE markings is key to knowing exactly what protection your motorcycle armor offers. Each symbol on the label provides specific, standardized information about the product's performance and certification.

Size & Fit

• Size & W–S Range (1): Indicates the suitable body size; W–S refers to waist-to-shoulder length.

Intended Use

• Motorcycle Icon (2): Confirms the gear is rated for motorcycle road use.
• Mix Icons (3): Shows additional approved uses, such as off-road riding or skiing.

Body Coverage

• Body Area Code (4): Identifies the protected zone, e.g., FB for full back, SE for shoulder, EL for elbow.

Protection Rating

• Protection Level (5): Displays whether the gear meets Level 1 or Level 2 requirements under EN 1621.

Environmental Testing

• High-Temperature (T+) (6): Optional; confirms performance after heat exposure. This test isn't mandatory for all CE armor, only for gear intended for hot-weather use—think desert tours, tropical climates or track kits that see sustained high friction heat
• Low-Temperature (T–) (7): Optional; confirms performance in cold conditions. Brands add T– certification when targeting cold-weather riding, winter touring or races held in sub-freezing environments, and some racing bodies actually require it in their technical regulations

Documentation & Compliance

• Manual Icon (8): Indicates that an instruction manual with certification details is included.
• Standard Number (9): Lists the specific EN standard and year (e.g., EN 1621-2:2014) the product complies with.

Final Takeaway

CE certification gives riders confidence that their gear meets strict safety and performance standards. It verifies impact protection, material strength, and durability under real-world conditions.

Phinomenal offers full-cycle support for CE-certified motorcycle armor — from design and prototyping to in-house testing and certification. With our lab capabilities and SGS-backed audits, we help clients accelerate time-to-market. Ready to launch your next certified product? Let's make it happen — contact us today.