Understanding CE Level 2 Motorcycle Protection: Limits, Labels and Fit

CE Level 2 is the higher of the two performance levels for motorcycle armor. A Level 2 elbow, shoulder, hip or knee protector must keep the average force passed to your body at 20 kN (about 4,500 lbf) or less in the standard impact test. A Level 2 back protector must stay at 9 kN (about 2,020 lbf) or less on average.

Level 2 rates a protector, a glove or a boot, not a whole jacket. Garments get a class from AAA to C instead. This guide is part of our motorcycle leather gear guide. If you are still deciding between the two levels, our CE Level 1 vs. Level 2 comparison puts armor, gloves and boots in one table.

What Level 2 requires, item by item

Lower transmitted force means more protection.

How the Level 2 armor test works

Limb armor is struck with 50 J (about 37 ft-lbf) of energy from a 5 kg (11 lb) mass dropped from 1 m (3.3 ft). The protector sits on a rounded anvil, and the result is the force that passes through it. Level 1 and Level 2 use the same test; Level 2 simply has a lower pass limit.

Two details vary between sources, so treat them as open:

• Number of hits. Wikipedia's motorcycle armor article describes the result as an average of nine tests. A UK riding-gear retailer's guide describes three impacts, one in each of three zones.
• Single-hit cap at Level 2. That retailer guide adds that no single strike may exceed 30 kN (about 6,740 lbf) at Level 2. The other sources we read give only the 20 kN average.

Hot (+104°F / +40°C) and cold (14°F / -10°C) impact tests are optional. For a test-house summary of all four parts of the standard, see SATRA's EN 1621 overview.

How to read a Level 2 label

A protector's CE label carries more than the level. Check these five items:

1. Standard number. EN 1621-1 for limbs, EN 1621-2 for the back. A pad with a CE logo but no EN 1621 number may be certified for another sport, such as cycling.
2. Level. "1" or "2".
3. Area. Codes show the body area covered, such as CB for central back or FB for full back.
4. Size type. Type B pads are larger than Type A.
5. Temperature marks. According to one retailer guide, "T+" shows a pass in the optional hot test and "T-" in the optional cold test.

Is CE Level 2 worth it?

Makers and researchers do not frame the choice the same way.

• A protector-material maker. It says Level 2 meets the criteria for racing and gives up to 50% more impact protection than Level 1.
• A maker that sells Level 1. A boot maker says Level 1 is the right choice for road riding and that Level 2 is designed for sustained high-speed track use.
• Research on the standard. A 2017 study cited on Wikipedia found the force EN 1621-1 allows may be too high to reliably reduce impact injuries. On that view, the stricter Level 2 limit gives more margin.
• Research on armor in general. A 2011 study cited on Wikipedia found armor was not linked to a lower risk of fractures.

The trade-off you can feel is size. Moving from Level 1 to Level 2 back protection may mean sizing up the suit or jacket. Viscoelastic armor stays soft until hit and gives more impact reduction with less bulk than hard foam laminates.

Fitting and keeping Level 2 armor

A Level 2 rating only helps if the protector covers the right spot. Independent testers score protectors on size, position and how well the fastenings stop them moving. Sit in your riding position and check that each pad stays on the joint.

Replace armor after a real hit. Hard foam protects against one impact only, and back protectors are generally single-impact.

Level 2 gloves and boots

Gloves. Sources disagree on what glove Level 2 requires. Wikipedia says knuckle protection is required at Level 2 and not at Level 1. The test house Eurofins, in its guide to EU rules for riding garments, lists three glove levels, including a Level 2 without knuckle protection. Read the glove label rather than assuming. Our guide to choosing CE-approved motorcycle gloves covers fit and materials.

Boots. Boots are rated in four zones: ankle height, abrasion resistance, transverse rigidity and heel energy absorption. Each is a 1 or a 2, so a boot can be Level 2 in some zones and not others.

CE Level 2 vs. class AA: not the same thing

Level 2 rates one protector. AA is a class for a whole garment under EN 17092. AA and AAA garments must include shoulder, elbow, knee and hip protectors, and those protectors must meet EN 1621. The class does not tell you whether they are Level 1 or Level 2; the protector's own label does.

Check both labels. For the classes in depth, see EN 17092 garment classes explained, and for the CE mark itself, what CE approval means for motorcycle gear.

Armor pockets in a made-to-order race suit

Made-to-order suits show why you need to ask. Leather Collection race suits are cut in 1.2–1.3 mm (about 0.05 in) cowhide, with armor pockets at the shoulders, elbows and knees. The category page states no CE level for the protectors and no EN 17092 class for the suit. If you want Level 2, ask which protectors ship in each pocket and for their certificates before you order.

FAQ

Is CE Level 2 the same as AA?

No. Level 2 is a performance level for one protector under EN 1621, while AA is a class for a whole garment under EN 17092. An AA garment must contain protectors that meet EN 1621, but their level is shown on their own labels.

Is CE Level 2 protection good?

It is the higher of the two levels: Level 2 limb armor must pass at 20 kN or less, against 35 kN for Level 1. Research suggests even the Level 1 limit may be too high to reliably prevent injury, which is the main argument for choosing Level 2.