THE BASICS
What CE & EN17092 Actually Mean
CE stands for Conformité Européenne — European Conformity. When a piece of motorcycle gear carries CE certification under EN17092, it has been independently tested against strict safety benchmarks for abrasion, tear, seam strength, and impact. It isn't a logo. It's proof.
EN17092 — The Standard
EN17092 is the international benchmark for motorcycle protective clothing, covering jackets, jeans, and one-piece suits. It replaced the older EN13595 standard in 2020. Testing is conducted by independent third-party labs — no brand can self-certify. Every test is documented and tied to a specific classification level.
PPE Regulation 2016/425
Since 2018, motorcycle clothing sold as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the UK and EU must comply with this regulation and carry CE certification. Gear sold without it cannot legally be classified as protective equipment in these markets — regardless of materials or construction claims.
Why USA & Canada Riders Care
CE certification isn't legally required in North America, but it's the most rigorous independent safety test available globally. Leading brands — including those sold at RevZilla, Cycle World, and major retailers — use CE certification as the credibility benchmark for quality gear, regardless of the market.
Kevlar vs CE Certification
Kevlar is a high-abrasion-resistance material — an excellent ingredient. CE certification tests the finished garment: seams, construction, abrasion panels, and armor placement together. A garment can use Kevlar without being CE certified. For full protection, both matter — the right materials AND verified construction.
EN17092 RATING CLASSES
Understanding CE Class A, AA & AAA
EN17092 defines five protection classes. The three most relevant for denim motorcycle gear are A, AA, and AAA. Each class is tested at a different impact velocity on a standardized Darmstadt test machine — simulating sliding on concrete at speed.
IMPACT ARMOR
CE Level 1 vs Level 2 Armor
The garment classification (A / AA / AAA) measures abrasion resistance. The armor level (Level 1 / Level 2) measures how much impact force is absorbed at your knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, and back. These are two separate, complementary ratings — both matter.
Level 2 armor is tested under EN 1621-1 and must limit the average transmitted impact force to 9 kN or below — absorbing twice the energy of Level 1. Thicker and more rigid, it's the standard for highway and touring riders.
- Recommended for highway and touring speeds
- Best for knee and hip protection on road gear
- Standard on performance jackets and jeans
Level 1 armor limits average transmitted force to 18 kN. Lighter, thinner, and easier to live with across a full day of riding. Well suited to urban and casual riding where you're not pushing highway speeds.
- Ideal for daily commuting and city riding
- Slimmer profile — more comfortable for all-day wear
- Available in all Denimotto garments
Armor zones covered: Knee protectors (EN 1621-1), hip protectors (EN 1621-1), shoulder protectors (EN 1621-1), elbow protectors (EN 1621-1), and back protectors (EN 1621-2). Back protectors have their own standard and must cover a larger area to achieve Level 2 certification.
The TESTING PROCESS
What EN17092 Actually Tests
Every EN17092-certified garment passes four independent tests conducted by an accredited third-party laboratory. No brand can certify its own gear — all testing is independently verified.
Abrasion Resistance
Fabric samples are mounted on a Darmstadt machine, spun at speed, and dropped onto a concrete slab. A failure occurs if a hole larger than 5mm forms. Each zone is tested at the speed threshold corresponding to its classification level (A, AA, or AAA).
Tear Strength
A pre-cut specimen is pulled apart mechanically to measure the force needed to extend the tear. This tests how the garment behaves if the outer shell is compromised during a slide — preventing a small tear from opening into a major one.
Seam Burst Strength
The structural seams that hold the garment together are subjected to controlled force to measure how much they can withstand before bursting. In a crash, seams experience enormous stress — this test ensures they hold when it matters.
Impact Protector Placement
For Class AA and AAA garments, shoulder, elbow, knee, and hip armor placement is verified against defined protection zones. The armor must stay in position under stress — not shift during a fall — to be certified at the stated class.
GARMENT ZONES
EN17092 Protection Zones Explained
EN17092 maps every motorcycle garment into three protection zones based on statistical injury data — the areas most likely to make contact with the road in a typical accident. Higher classification levels require more zones to pass abrasion testing.
Zone 1 — Highest Risk
Shoulders, elbows, knees, and back. These are the primary impact points in a crash and the areas tested at the highest abrasion velocity for each class. Impact armor is mandatory here in AA and AAA garments.
Zone 2 — Medium Risk
Hips and forearms. These areas make secondary contact in a typical low-side or slide. Zone 2 is tested at a lower velocity than Zone 1 but still requires passing abrasion resistance.
Zone 3 — Lower Risk
Shins and lower leg areas. Zone 3 has the lowest abrasion requirements and is only included in AAA classification testing.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Protection FAQ
Gear built to protect you
Browse our full range of CE-certified protective denim for men and women — built for real riding, styled for real life.