Motorcycle apparel that has been tested and certified is essential for rider safety, and understanding the CE certification system is crucial when selecting protective gear. The CE certification categorizes motorcycle clothing into different classes—A, AA, and AAA—each indicating a specific level of protection. This rating system is different from the ones used for other types of riding gear, such as boots and armour.
It is important to note that garments such as riding jackets advertised as CE Level 1 or 2 may refer to the CE-certified armour inserts, but this does not indicate that the garment has been CE tested as a whole. Look for an A, AA, and AAA rating to ensure that the entire garment passes testing designed specifically for motorcycle apparel, such as abrasion resistance, tear strength, and seam strength.Protection Classes: A, AA, and AAA
The EN 17092 standard classifies motorcycle apparel into three primary protection classes:
- Class A: Designed for urban riding, Class A garments offer basic protection with a focus on comfort and flexibility. They include impact protectors and provide a balance between safety and wearability.
- Class AA: Suited for touring and higher-speed riding, Class AA apparel provides enhanced protection compared to Class A. These garments are constructed with more robust materials to offer better abrasion resistance and impact protection.
- Class AAA: Representing the highest level of protection, Class AAA gear is intended for professional or track use. These garments are made from the most durable materials and are designed to withstand severe conditions, offering maximum abrasion resistance and impact protection.
To achieve CE certification, motorcycle apparel undergoes several tests, including:
- Abrasion Resistance: Assesses the material’s ability to withstand friction during a slide.
- Tear Strength: Measures the force required to propagate a tear in the fabric.
- Seam Strength: Evaluates the durability of the garment’s stitching under stress.
- Impact Protection: Tests the effectiveness of integrated armour in absorbing and dispersing impact energy.
When selecting motorcycle apparel, consider the type of riding you engage in:
- Urban Commuting: Class A gear offers sufficient protection with greater comfort for city riding.
- Touring and Highway Riding: Class AA apparel provides enhanced safety features suitable for longer journeys at higher speeds.
- Track or Professional Use: Class AAA gear delivers the highest level of protection necessary for high-speed and competitive environments.
Local Products vs Imported
Choosing safe riding gear in India presents a complex challenge. While many locally manufactured garments lack CE certification, this doesn’t automatically mean they’re unsafe. However, certification is crucial for ensuring both material quality and manufacturing standards, like stitch strength, are rigorously tested. A company might use excellent materials, but without testing, the garment’s overall integrity remains unknown.
Ideally, riders should prioritize certified gear. Purchasing a complete, tested garment is preferable to buying a garment that has CE-certified armour in an untested garment. If budget allows, an AA-rated imported garment offers excellent protection and peace of mind.
However, many imported options available in India are entry-level offerings from international companies, often using basic materials like 500D polyester to achieve an A-rating. Locally made garments, conversely, might offer stronger materials like 600D polyester with 1000D reinforcement in impact zones for a lower price.
This creates a difficult dilemma. While certified gear offers verifiable safety, its cost can be prohibitive for many riders who struggle to afford to complete their full riding gear kit. It would be irresponsible to exclusively recommend certified products when affordability is a major concern, and when local products often seem to use better materials for a lower price.
Therefore, riders must consider their own value of safety certifications, and also consider how long it will take them to budget for and purchase a complete riding kit. It’s better to have full coverage, even to a lower standard, than to go out and buy that cool AA jacket and then spend the next 6 months riding in jeans and sneakers.
