Motorcycle clothing is designed to provide a certain degree of protection and comfort for the rider, while not affecting the fun of riding. The design of motorcycle clothing must be able to provide precise protection against the risks that may occur in different riding activities. Since April 2018, the European Union has stipulated that all motorcycle clothing falls within the scope of PPE, which makes it mandatory for the motorcycle clothing to obtain CE certificate before it can be sold on the market, aiming to regulate the market and ensure consumer’s rights. In this article, we’ll run you through the basics of CE certification and compliance and what that means for you as a consumer, so you know what to look for when you’re out shopping for motorcycle garment, either online or in store.

  • What is CE certificate？

The letters ‘CE’ appear on many products traded on the extended Single Market in the European Economic Area (EEA). They signify that products sold in the EEA have been assessed to meet high safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. When you buy a new phone, a teddy bear, or a TV within the EEA, you can find the CE mark on them. CE marking also supports fair competition by holding all companies accountable to the same rules.

By affixing the CE marking to a product, a manufacturer declares that the product meets all the legal requirements for CE marking and can be sold throughout the EEA. This also applies to products made in other countries that are sold in the EEA.

There are two main benefits CE marking brings to businesses and consumers within the EEA:

Businesses know that products bearing the CE marking can be traded in the EEA without restrictions.

Consumers enjoy the same level of health, safety, and environmental protection throughout the entire EEA.

  • Two CE certification standards：EN13595 and EN17902

Anything deemed personal protective equipment (PPE) has always had to meet the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC, which was introduced fully implemented 30 June, 1994. In order to pass CE certification, PPE would need to be tested against a specific set of standards pertaining to its specific use. In order to coordinate criteria among European countries, EN 13595 was created which gave a tool for the testing of motorcycle apparel, however it was widely ignored by the motorcycle apparel industry as it only referred to the motorcycle clothing of professional use. Examples of professional riders include: someone who delivers letters, parcels, or other small freight; the transport of passengers by motorcycle; emergency medical treatment; or vehicle breakdown support. If you have to ride a motorcycle to perform your job, then your “clothing” needs to comply with EN 13595 in order to be CE certified. But since the bulk of motorcycle apparel was meant for – as many argued–leisure use, the standard was essentially ignored by the industry.

Since the industry widely ignored/overlooked the professional EN 13595 standard, that meant that a blind eye was also turned on the PPE Directive. Furthermore, there was no guarantee, or no science that would back up a claim, that the garment you were purchasing at a motorcycle apparel distributor for your personal/leisure use lived up to minimum safety requirements. Since April 2018, all motorcycle garments fall under the scope of the PPE regulation and should be tested at an official notified body under a strict set of standards to comply with the PPE regulation. A major impetus behind standard EN 17092 coming into play is to make sure riders actually get something protective when shopping for motorcycle clothing without any prior knowledge of materials, constructions, or test methods.

5 protection classes of motorcycle clothing in CE certification

Where EN 17092 differs from EN 13595 is that the EN 17092 standard is applied to PPE for leisure motorcycle use; commonly grouped into various genres such as sport, adventure, and urban riding. It is a different standard for a broader purpose. Without straying too far off “protective” theme, it now takes into consideration the wide application of motorcycle clothing in the various types of riding people will be using them for. In one word, it’s a fine balance between making sure safety is a top priority, but also that comfort, breathability, waterproofing, flexibility, and more is taken into consideration, all while offering the protection best suit to the riding style.

The EN 17092 standard defines both the material and construction requirements for motorcycle clothing and the ergonomic requirements for riding activities. There are a total of 5 protection classes, with the AAA class offering the highest level of protection and the A class the lowest. Classes B and C are considered as additional protection.

Class AAA: Typical examples of this class are one- or two-piece leather suits suitable for use on racetracks. These models have particularly high abrasion resistance, but offer low ergonomic flexibility. (The standard applied is EN 17092-2)

Class AA: Motorcycle clothing in this class is well suited for touring riders. This class protects against weather conditions and has a relatively high abrasion resistance. The driver’s ergonomics are less affected than with the AAA class. (The applied standard for this is EN 17092-3)

Class A: This class restricts the driver the least in his mobility. The clothing is light, well suited for leisure and city driving, but also provides the lowest abrasion protection. (The applied standard for this is EN 17092-4)

Class B: Clothing in this class does not provide impact protection, only abrasion protection. (The applicable standard is EN 17092-5)

Class C: This class includes protector ensembles which are held together with only one carrier made of mesh material and therefore only offer impact protection. (The applied standard for this is EN 17092-6)

Test items of motorcycle clothing specified in the EN17902 certification standard

  • Dimensional stability

If the manufacturer’s instructions of motorcycle clothing indicate that a garment can be washed or dry cleaned, the test procedure for dimensional change for washing of protective clothing material is to be carried out in accordance with EN 13688. Measurement of dimensional change is conducted according to ISO 5077. Changes in dimension due to cleaning of must not exceed ±5 percent. The purpose of it is to make sure the garment doesn’t shrink over time/washings, to ensure the correct fit, and to make sure the protectors in the motorcycle clothing stay in the proper location.

  • Impact energy absorption

Elbow, shoulder, knee and hip impact protectors are to be present in Class AAA and AA garments as a mandatory requirement, with the hip protectors being optional in Class A garments. EN 1621 impact protectors must be positioned in the garment so that they cover the appropriate body part, according to the relevant impact protector standard.

  • Impact abrasion resistance

This test simulates the stress that is placed on the protective garments when worn by an average rider (with a body mass of 75kg and a height of 1.75m), when sliding from variable initial speeds to standstill on a real concrete road surface.

All removable liners (for example, waterproof or thermal) are removed from the motorcycle clothing and the weakest combination(s) are tested. In one run, three specimens of the material(s) are mounted in holders in warp, weft and at 45 degrees. They are then attached to rotating arms positioned above a concrete tile. Once the desired speed has been reached, the specimens impact on the surface and come to a natural stop. If the specimens do not hole, the test is repeated a further two times. To pass, no holes with an opening of 5mm or more in any direction are to be present on the layer closest to the body.

  • Seam strength and structural closures

Each different seam type, zip fastener and protector pocket seam must be assessed for seam strength in accordance with the applicable zones as detailed in EN 17092-1:2020. Seams and structural closures are tested in accordance with EN 13594:2015.

  • Tear strength

For textile motorcycle clothing, three specimens are taken from the warp direction and three from the weft direction of each material forming the structurally strong layer and impact protector pockets. These are then tested in accordance with EN ISO 3377-2:2016. For leather garments, three specimens taken from both parallel and perpendicular directions are tested in accordance with EN ISO 4674-1:2016. Materials are evaluated individually and may not be tested as part of a combination.

  • Fit and ergonomics

Motorcycle clothing is to fit in accordance with the manufacturer’s size label and with the fit information supplied. The assessor must be able to carry out all the essential movements while wearing the garment, and all responses given by the assessor to the series of questions detailed in EN 17092-1:2020 must be positive.

Taian Bowins Garment Co., Ltd. focuses on the design, development and production of various motorcycle riding clothes. It is the OEM and ODM supplier for many European and American brands. Bowins has a deep understanding of the CE certification standards and requirements for motorcycle clothing. When designing clothing, it always regards the protection of motorcycle clothing as the top priority. It uses high-quality wear-resistant &tear-resistant fabrics and double stitching in some key patches. Bowins strictly controls the quality of products to ensure that every piece of motorcycle clothing it makes can pass the CE certification.