Protective gear standards, what "CE certified" means
Of all the protective gear standards, only the helmet has a federal standard.
Protective gear
The helmet is the one piece of riding gear with a mandatory federal standard behind it. Everything else a rider puts on, armored jacket, back protector, gloves, boots, goggles, has no equivalent federal rule in the United States; that does not mean the gear is untested.
A real, internationally recognized certification system exists for impact armor and abrasion-resistant apparel, it is just European in origin (CE marking) and voluntary here, a mandatory-versus-voluntary split like the one for the machine itself. Reading a hang tag correctly is the difference between gear that was tested to a stated performance level and gear wearing the word "armored" as marketing.
What CE marking on riding gear certifies
Two separate European standards cover the two things riding gear does: absorbing an impact, and resisting abrasion in a slide. Impact armor, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and back protectors, is tested under EN 1621, which measures the peak and mean force transmitted through the protector during a standardized impact and assigns a level. Level 1 allows more force through, Level 2 requires the protector to transmit meaningfully less.
A back protector carries its own part of the same standard family because back injuries behave differently from limb impacts and are tested separately. Apparel (jackets, pants and suits) is tested under a newer, separate standard, EN 17092; it covers abrasion resistance, seam strength and burst strength.
EN 17092 classifies garments as AAA, AA, A, B or C. SATRA’s test guidance distinguishes Class B, which has Class A abrasion protection without required impact protectors, from Class C protector garments, which have no minimum abrasion protection. These are different coverage claims, not simply five interchangeable jacket grades.
| Standard | What it tests | How it is graded |
|---|---|---|
| EN 1621 (armor) | Peak and mean force transmitted through impact protectors, limbs, back, chest | Level 1 or Level 2, Level 2 transmits less force through the protector |
| EN 17092 (apparel) | Abrasion resistance, seam strength and burst strength of the garment itself | Classes AAA, AA, A, B, C: decreasing abrasion coverage down the list |
The two are independent: a jacket can carry EN 17092 apparel certification, EN 1621 armor certification for the protectors sewn into it, both, or neither. A hang tag or product page that just says "CE certified" without naming which standard and which level or class is not telling you what was tested.
What to look for, by item
| Item | Standard on the tag | What to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Jacket and pants | EN 17092 | Check the declared class, protector coverage, fit and the riding venue’s equipment requirements. A class label alone does not approve a garment for every use. |
| Gloves | EN 13594:2015 | A glove marked to the standard, with the level stated |
| Boots | EN 13634:2017 | Level 2 is the better choice for touring and sport riding, because ankle injuries are among the most common in crashes |
| Shoulder, elbow, hip and knee armor | EN 1621-1:2012 | Level 2 transmits less force than Level 1 |
| Back protector | EN 1621-2:2014 | |
| Chest protector | EN 1621-3:2018 | Worn mainly by off-road and adventure riders; look for the standard number on the label |
Check each garment’s certification and coverage for the intended riding. A separate impact protector does not establish the abrasion rating of the jacket worn over it. Boots, gloves, garments and protectors have different standards and must be evaluated separately.
Eye protection, and a standard borrowed from a different job
- FMVSS 218 covers motorcycle helmet performance and labelling
- it does not establish a visor or goggle certification. Check the eye-protection product’s own marking and the state’s separate eye-protection rule.
What has no standard behind it at all
No federal standard exists. Some riding boots carry a CE motorcycle footwear certification (a separate standard from both apparel and armor above). Many do not, and "riding boot" alone describes a shape and a market, not a tested performance level.
The same situation as boots: a CE motorcycle glove certification exists and some gloves carry it. But there is no federal requirement, and plenty of gloves sold as riding gear carry no certification of any kind.
Entirely uncertified: comfort and heat-management equipment, not protective equipment, and no standard in this section applies to it.
None of this is a reason to skip gear that lacks a certification. A jacket with no CE mark still offers more abrasion protection than a t-shirt. Treat "armored" and "CE certified" as claims worth checking for the actual standard and level named.
References
- Manufacturer Motorcycle Armor Ratings Explained: EN 13634 boots, EN 13594 gloves, EN 1621-1, -2 and -3 protectors, EN 17092 clothing: MotorcycleGear.com.
- Manufacturer Motorcycle Armor Ratings Explained: Level 1 and Level 2 back protectors and boots: Motohut.
- Federal rule Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218: Motorcycle helmets: U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR), 49 CFR § 571.218.
- Jacket and pants
- EN 17092; Class AAA for track and high-speed street riding, AA for everyday street and touring, A for low-speed urban riding.
- Back protector
- EN 1621-2:2014; Level 2; it must also cover the full spine, sacrum and shoulder blades (at least 600 cm2), where Level 1 covers less.
Street and sport riders should take the top of each range. Adventure riders want the same jacket class with boots rated for walking as well as riding. Off-road riders rely mostly on separate armor, a chest protector and boots rated to EN 13634, because a dirt jacket is rarely certified.
Eye protection, and a standard borrowed from a different job
A full-face helmet's shield is tested as part of the helmet under the federal motorcycle helmet standard. Goggles worn with an open-face helmet or on an ATV or UTV are a separate product. Riders commonly rely on ANSI/ISEA Z87.1, the US standard for occupational and educational eye and face protection, as an informal proxy for quality; it is the certification printed on many goggles sold at powersports retailers.
Worth knowing plainly: Z87.1 is written for workplace and classroom eye protection and explicitly does not cover sports or recreational use. So a Z87.1 mark on a pair of riding goggles is a real, meaningful certification of impact resistance, just not one written with a motorcycle or ATV in mind. It is a reasonable signal in the absence of anything written specifically for riding, not a guarantee of fitness for that purpose.
What has no standard behind it at all
Safety questions
Is armored motorcycle gear required by law?
No: only the helmet has a mandatory federal standard in the United States (FMVSS 218). Armored jackets, back protectors, gloves and boots are entirely a personal choice with no federal requirement behind any of them. A genuine CE certification tells you the item was tested instead of just marketed as protective.
What is the difference between EN 1621 Level 1 and Level 2 armor?
- Both are tested under the same impact protocol
- The difference is how much force is allowed through to the wearer. Level 2 protectors are required to transmit meaningfully less peak and mean force than Level 1. The cost is generally thickness or less flexibility. That is a real tradeoff, not a marketing tier.
What does an EN 17092 class like AA or A mean on a jacket?
It grades the garment fabric's own abrasion resistance and construction, seam and burst strength, independent of any armor sewn into it. AAA is the highest abrasion protection, aimed at racing leathers; AA and A step down in coverage for touring and casual wear. B and C are lower tiers that trade away either abrasion coverage or impact-protector integration for a lighter, more casual garment.
Are riding goggles with an ANSI Z87.1 mark rated for motorcycle or ATV use?
The mark is real and certifies impact resistance. But Z87.1 is written for occupational and educational eye protection and explicitly excludes sports and recreational use. It functions as a reasonable proxy in the absence of a standard written specifically for riding. It is no guarantee of fitness for riding.
Do riding boots and gloves have their own certification?
A separate CE motorcycle footwear standard and a separate CE motorcycle glove standard both exist, and some products on the market carry them. But there is no federal requirement for either, and a large share of gear sold as riding boots or riding gloves carries no certification of any kind. Check the product, not the category, for testing.
Does a jacket need both armor and abrasion certification to be considered protective?
They are independent. A jacket can carry either, both, or neither. A jacket can be EN 17092-rated for abrasion resistance with no armor at all. Another can carry EN 1621-certified armor sewn into a shell with no independent abrasion rating of its own. Reading the hang tag for which specific certification is present is the only way to know what you have.
Is riding gear required for ATV or UTV riding, or only for motorcycles?
The same practical logic applies across all three, though the legal helmet mandate specifically is most consistently applied to motorcycles and, in many states, to youth ATV riders. An adult ATV or UTV rider is less likely to face a legal helmet requirement in many states than a motorcycle rider does. Protection needs do not change with the legal requirement.
An ATV or UTV rollover or ejection carries the same injury mechanisms armor and helmets are built to address.
Do certified gear standards expire or need to be replaced on a schedule?
Armor and abrasion-resistant materials degrade with impact, UV exposure and age even without a visible failure. Most manufacturers recommend replacing armor after a significant impact regardless of whether it looks damaged. The energy-absorbing foam can be compromised internally. There is no single universal replacement interval across all gear types; check the specific manufacturer's guidance for your item.
Is more expensive gear always more protective?
Not directly: price reflects material quality, brand, styling and features (venting, waterproofing, fit adjustment) as much as it reflects the underlying certification level. A lower-priced garment can carry the same EN 1621 Level 2 armor as a much more expensive one. Reading the actual certification on the hang tag tells you more about protection level than price does.
Can I add aftermarket armor to a jacket that did not come with any?
Many jackets are designed with pockets specifically sized for standard CE-certified armor inserts, making this a genuine and common upgrade. Check that the jacket has pockets at the shoulders, elbows and back before assuming aftermarket armor will fit. Buy inserts shaped for those pockets, not universal fit.
Does a DOT-only helmet with no additional certification meet the legal requirement?
Yes. FMVSS 218 (the DOT standard) is the federal requirement. A helmet meeting only that standard with no additional voluntary certification (like ECE or Snell) is fully legal everywhere a DOT-compliant helmet is required. Additional certifications represent a different, sometimes more rigorous testing protocol, not a step required to meet the baseline legal standard.
What is the single most commonly skipped piece of protective gear?
Riding gloves, by most safety-organization observation: hands are among the first body part to contact the ground in a fall reflex. Even a low-speed drop commonly produces real hand injury on an ungloved rider, yet gloves are frequently treated as optional in a way a helmet is not, especially for a short ride.
Where the figures and rules come from
Standard
Motorcyclists’ protective clothing against mechanical impact: limb, back and chest protectors : European Committee for Standardization (CEN), EN 1621-1, EN 1621-2:2014, EN 1621-3:2018.
Standard
Protective garments for motorcycle riders: abrasion, burst and seam strength classes AAA/AA/A/B/C : European Committee for Standardization (CEN), EN 17092:2020.
Manufacturer
Motorcycle Armor Ratings Explained: EN 13634 boots, EN 13594 gloves, EN 1621-1, -2 and -3 protectors, EN 17092 clothing : MotorcycleGear.com. Checked 2026-09-30. Rechecked annual.
- Standard
- Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices : American National Standards Institute / International Safety Equipment Association, ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2025; Federal rule; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218: Motorcycle helmets : U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR), 49 CFR § 571.218.
- Helmets and equipment law
- The one item of riding gear with a mandatory federal standard behind it.
- ATV and UTV safety standards
- The same mandatory-versus-voluntary split, applied to the machine instead of the rider.