CE Ratings by Piece: What the Marks on Your Jacket, Pants, Gloves and Boots Mean

Each type of riding gear is tested to its own European standard, so there is no single "CE rating." Jackets, pants and suits use EN 17092 and a class from AAA to C. Gloves use EN 13594, boots use EN 13634, and armor inserts are tested separately under EN 1621. This page puts those standards in one table, explains what each one tests, and covers what a CE mark does not prove. It belongs with our motorcycle riding gear guides; the home page lists every section.

Key takeaways

• Match the standard to the item: clothing EN 17092, gloves EN 13594, boots EN 13634, armor EN 1621.
• For clothing, the class (AAA, AA, A, B, C) describes the garment; the armor inside has its own label.
• A CE mark is the maker's declaration, supported by tests, and not a ranking or a promise about a crash.
• Read the edition year and the item named on the label, not the size of the sticker.

One table: which standard applies to which item

Jackets, pants and suits: EN 17092 classes

EN 17092 has six parts: part 1 gives the test methods and parts 2 to 6 set the requirements for classes AAA, AA, A, B and C. SATRA, the testing body, describes them like this:

In the abrasion test, removable liners come out first. The test simulates an average rider of 75 kg (165 lb) and 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) sliding on concrete, and a garment passes only if no hole of 5 mm (0.2 in) or more opens in the layer closest to the body. The standard also tests seams, tears, fit against the maker's size labelling, sleeve restraint and, for two-piece suits, the connection pulled at 100 N for 60 seconds.

A store explainer says AAA is the highest class and that class A has the least weight, which suits warm weather. An older standard, EN 13595, ran alongside EN 17092 until its planned withdrawal, in March 2023 at the latest.

Gloves, boots and armor

Gloves (EN 13594). The test covers impact abrasion, seam strength, ergonomics, cut and tear, and a restraint test of whether the glove could be pulled or thrown off the hand. Metal studs and buckles are allowed only outside the protective layer. A label is only part of the check: MotoCAP also advises a fastener on the inside of the wrist and having someone try to pull the fastened glove off.

Boots (EN 13634). The standard covers upper height, seam construction, the bond between upper and sole, sideways rigidity and abrasion and cut resistance of the upper. Shin and ankle impact protection, water penetration, fuel oil resistance, slip resistance and water vapour permeability are optional properties, tested only if the maker claims them. MotoCAP adds that CE marking does not fully assess ankle-twist protection.

Armor (EN 1621). Armor is tested separately from the garment, and the garment class says nothing about the armor inside. Limb protectors are EN 1621-1 and back protectors EN 1621-2. The label should list the part and the level. This page does not compare armor levels; the store's guide linked below explains them. If a pocket holds foam with no EN 1621-1 label, it may not give injury protection.

What a CE mark does not prove

• It is the maker's declaration. Under EU Regulation 2016/425 the manufacturer draws up the declaration of conformity and affixes the mark, and takes responsibility for compliance. The mark must be visible and legible and may be followed by a pictogram.
• A big "CE" label may refer to the armor only. A magazine author describes brands that put large CE-approved labels in garments that related to the armor, not the clothing, and others that cited unrelated standards. That was about the market before 2018, so check each label now.
• A class is a minimum test result, not a promise. The store's explainer says classes set minimum laboratory results and do not promise any outcome in a crash.
• Edition years differ between sources. One magazine lists EN 13634:2015 for boots, while SATRA lists EN 13634:2017. Read the edition as printed.
• Other regions differ. In the EU, motorcycle clothing is PPE and must be CE marked before sale; elsewhere, riders can still use the class on the label to compare garments. Gear without CE marks is not automatically unsafe, but then you rely on reputation and your own research.

Read a label in 60 seconds

1. Find the item's standard: EN 17092, EN 13594 or EN 13634.
2. For clothing, find the class letter or letters.
3. Find the armor line: EN 1621 part and level. If it is missing, the gear may not include tested impact protection.
4. Check the maker's details. The declaration of conformity must come with the product or be reachable at an address in the instructions.
5. If the label or product page states no class, ask the seller.

Where to go next

Fit decides whether tested armor sits where it should: see how motorcycle gear should fit as a set. For the habit behind a full kit, read ATGATT explained. For a per-piece buying checklist, see how to choose proper motorcycle riding gear. Our required motorcycle equipment guide covers what the law asks for.

For armor levels and a longer walk through the classes, see Leather Collection's guide to EN 17092 for everyday riders.

FAQ

What is AAA rated motorcycle gear?

AAA is the top class of EN 17092 for clothing. It requires impact protectors at the elbows, shoulders, knees and hips, and it has abrasion requirements. A store explainer calls it the highest class.

Is AA or AAA better for motorcycle gear?

AAA is the higher class, but both require protectors at elbows, shoulders, knees and hips. The store says higher classes can be heavier and hotter, so choose by how and where you ride.

Is a CE-marked jacket automatically a protective jacket?

Not by the mark alone. The mark is the maker's declaration, so look for the standard and class on the label and the armor line.