CE Armour Standards Explained: Level 1 vs Level 2

Published: September 2026

Why This Matters

CE printed on a tag doesn't tell you much on its own. It's a certification mark, not a protection level, and the actual number that matters, Level 1 or Level 2, sits in the fine print most riders never read before buying.

The difference between the two levels is not small. It's the difference between how much impact force actually reaches your body in a fall, measured and tested rather than estimated from how thick the padding feels in a shop.

This guide breaks down what CE certification actually tests for, what Level 1 and Level 2 mean in practical terms, how jacket and pant Class ratings (A, AA, AAA) fit into the picture, and which level makes sense for the kind of riding you actually do.

  • CE certification means tested, not just padded and claimed
  • Level 2 transmits meaningfully less impact force than Level 1
  • Class A, AA and AAA ratings apply to the garment, armour levels apply to the inserts
  • Armour degrades over time and needs checking, not just buying once and forgetting

What CE Certification Actually Tests

CE stands for Conformite Europeenne, a European conformity mark that confirms a product has been independently tested against a specific safety standard, rather than just described as protective by the manufacturer. For motorcycle armour, the relevant standard is EN 1621, which tests how much impact force passes through the armour and reaches the body underneath during a simulated fall.

This matters because foam padding that hasn't been tested this way can feel just as substantial in a shop as certified armour, without offering anywhere near the same real world protection. The only way to know for certain is the CE mark and level, stamped or printed directly on the armour insert itself, not just claimed on the jacket's outer tag.

CE Level 1 vs Level 2 Armour

CE Level 1 and Level 2 both refer to impact protection for limb armour (shoulders, elbows, hips, knees) and back protectors, tested under EN 1621-1 for limb armour and EN 1621-2 for back protectors.

  • CE Level 1 armour is tested to transmit no more than 35 kN of force through to the body during a standardised impact test.
  • CE Level 2 armour is tested to a stricter limit, transmitting no more than 20 kN under the same test, meaning significantly less force reaches the body in an equivalent impact.

In practical terms, Level 2 armour offers meaningfully better protection at the same impact severity. It isn't that Level 1 armour is unsafe or non-compliant, it meets a real, tested standard, but Level 2 is the higher bar and the better choice where speeds and consequences are higher.

Class A, AA and AAA: A Different Rating

Class ratings and armour levels are often confused because they show up on the same product, but they measure different things. Class A, AA and AAA ratings apply to the jacket or pant garment as a whole, covering abrasion resistance, seam strength, and overall protective performance of the material itself under EN 17092, the standard for protective motorcycle clothing.

  • Class AAA is the highest overall protection rating, generally found in dedicated touring and sport riding gear.
  • Class AA sits in the middle, a common rating for city and commuter focused jackets that still offer solid protection.
  • Class A is the entry level rating, typically found in lighter, more casual riding gear with reduced abrasion resistance.

A jacket's Class rating and its armour Level are two separate numbers you should check independently. A Class AA jacket can still carry Level 2 armour at the shoulders and elbows, and a Class AAA jacket with only Level 1 armour is not automatically the better overall choice, the two ratings answer different questions.

Which Level Should You Actually Buy

City Commuting at Moderate Speed

CE Level 1 armour at the shoulders and elbows is a reasonable minimum for city riding, where speeds and the resulting impact forces are generally lower than highway riding. It's a genuine, tested standard, and pairing it with a Class AA or higher jacket covers most commuting situations well.

Highway Riding and Touring

CE Level 2 armour is worth the extra cost once you're riding regularly at highway speed or touring for extended periods. Impact forces scale with speed, and the gap between what Level 1 and Level 2 armour let through to your body becomes more significant as speed goes up. A back protector, often sold or fitted separately, is also worth adding for touring specifically, since spinal injuries are disproportionately serious relative to how rarely jackets include back protection by default.

Track Riding

Track riding calls for the highest protection available across the board, typically Level 2 limb armour paired with a Class AAA garment, since track speeds and the resulting impact forces are consistently higher than road riding. Also many tracks permit only single piece leather suit. So check track policy before going.

Checking and Replacing Armour

CE certified armour is not a one-time purchase you never think about again. Foam and impact absorbing materials degrade over time from UV exposure, heat, and repeated compression, even without a crash. As a general guideline, inspect armour for cracking, deformation or compression at least once a year, and replace it every three to five years regardless of visible damage if you ride regularly.

Any armour that has taken a direct impact in a fall, even a minor one, should be replaced rather than reused, since impact absorbing foam is generally designed to deform once under load and doesn't reliably return to its original protective state afterward.

A Quick Buying Checklist

  1. Check for a CE mark and level (1 or 2) stamped directly on the armour insert, not just claimed on the jacket tag
  2. Match the armour level to your riding: Level 1 for city commuting, Level 2 for highway and touring
  3. Check the garment's separate Class rating (A, AA, AAA) for overall material and abrasion protection
  4. Add a back protector separately if your jacket doesn't already include one, particularly for touring
  5. Inspect armour yearly and replace it every three to five years, or immediately after any impact

For how CE armour fits into a full jacket, our riding jacket buying guide covers material, fit and ventilation alongside armour choice. If you're building out a full kit, our riding pant buying guide covers the same armour standards as they apply to knee and hip protection.

Related Guides

FAQs

Q1: What is the difference between CE Level 1 and CE Level 2 armour?

A1: CE Level 1 armour is tested to transmit no more than 35 kN of force through to the body in a standardised impact test. CE Level 2 is tested to a stricter limit of 20 kN, meaning significantly less impact force reaches your body in an equivalent fall. Both are genuine tested standards, but Level 2 offers better protection at the same impact severity.

Q2: Is Level 1 armour unsafe?

A2: No. Level 1 armour meets a real, independently tested safety standard and offers genuine protection. It simply allows more force through than Level 2 under the same impact, which is why Level 2 is generally recommended for higher speed riding where impact forces are greater.

Q3: What's the difference between an armour Level and a jacket's Class rating?

A3: Armour Level (1 or 2) measures impact protection for the individual insert at the shoulder, elbow, hip or knee. Class rating (A, AA, AAA) measures the overall garment's abrasion resistance and seam strength under EN 17092. They're tested separately and both worth checking, since a jacket's Class rating doesn't tell you what armour Level is inside it.

Q4: How often should I replace CE armour?

A4: As a general guideline, inspect armour yearly for cracking or compression and replace it every three to five years even without visible damage, since impact absorbing foam degrades with UV exposure and repeated use over time. Replace any armour immediately after it has taken a direct impact in a fall, regardless of how it looks afterward.

Q5: Do I need CE Level 2 armour for city riding, or is Level 1 enough?

A5: For city commuting at moderate speeds, CE Level 1 armour at the shoulders and elbows is a reasonable, genuinely protective minimum. Level 2 becomes more worthwhile once you're regularly riding at highway speed or touring, where the gap in protection between the two levels matters more.