CE Ratings Explained: What They Mean for Riders
October 01, 2025
If you’ve been shopping for motorcycle gear lately, you’ve probably noticed something about a CE rating. It might have been in the product description, or come in the form of a small “CE” mark on the jackets, pants, gloves, boots, and armor. It isn’t just a label; that mark proves your gear has been tested against strict European safety standards. But what do CE ratings actually mean for riders? And how do you know if that new pair of jeans or jacket gives you the protection you expect?
What is a CE rating?
“CE” stands for conformité européenne, which is French for European conformity. It means a product has been independently tested, and meets the safety standards set down by the European Union.
There are different CE standards for different products. For example, motorcycle apparel is covered by the EN 17092 (2020) standard series, while motorcycle gloves are judged by the EN 13594:2015 standard. Each standard details the criteria a product in that category must meet to be CE certified.
CE ratings for motorcycle apparel
Motorcycle apparel, like riding jeans and motorcycle jackets, comes under the EN 17092 (2020) standard series. The standard is broken into six parts, which explain the testing methods and what the garment must be able to do to be rated at each level.
| Standard sub-section | What the standard covers |
| EN 17092-1:2020 | The first section of EN 17092 covers the test methods used across all garments. It’s the foundation of the CE rating system for motorcycle apparel, covering specific areas like abrasion resistance, tear strength, seam strength, and impact protector positioning. |
| EN 17092-2:2020 | Sets the requirements for Level AAA garments, such as the Mark Black AAA pants or Commando UH base layer, which offer the highest level of protection. |
| EN 17092-3:2020 | Covers the criteria for Level AA garments, which balance protection with comfort. This is where you’ll find riding gear like the Falcon Leather Aviator jacket and M65 waterproof jacket. |
| EN 17092-4:2020 | Level A garments are the entry point for gear that offer abrasion and impact protection. Many lightweight summer jackets and riding shirts fall into this class, like the Capo Cor 03. |
| EN 17092-5:2020 | Outlines the requirements for Level B garments, which meet abrasion standards but don’t include impact protection. They’re meant to be paired with separate armor. |
| EN 17092-6:2020 | Defines Level C garments, which can hold armor in place but offer little to no abrasion protection. |
Having CE ratings for motorcycle apparel allows riders to make fact based decisions about the gear they buy, by ensuring consistent, reliable testing across various brands.
CE ratings for impact armor
Riding jackets and pants are one thing, but the armor inside actually has separate CE standards to meet. There are two CE standards that are relevant to motorcycle impact protection:
- EN1621-1:2012: Covers limb protectors for the shoulders, elbows, knees, and hips
- EN1621-2:2014: Covers back protectors
The impact protection offered by armor that meets the CE standards is then rated as Level 1 or Level 2.
Level 1 armor is thinner and transmits more impact energy, while Level 2 armor offers better protection but is often bulkier. Many riders prefer Level 1 in lighter gear for comfort, while Level 2 is ideal for long rides or higher-risk conditions.
Most Pando Moto jackets and pants come with Level 1 armor as standard, with the option to upgrade to Level 2 armor by buying it separately.
CE ratings for gloves
The EN 13594:2015 standard covers motorcycle gloves, testing the abrasion resistance, seam strength, cut resistance, and impact protection. Just like armor, the CE standard for gloves is broken into Level 1 and Level 2, with Level 2 offering more protection.
For most riders, Level 1 protection is just fine. For example, the Pando Moto Onyx Black 02 are CE Level 1, and come with an integrated TPU guard with padding protection on each finger, flexible TPU knuckle guards, and a PU slider and suede leather patches with padding on the palms.
CE ratings for boots
EN 13634:2017 is the standard for motorcycle boots, which evaluates abrasion, cut resistance, sole rigidity, and impact protection. Again there are two levels, with Level 1 offering the basic protection often found in lightweight or urban-oriented boots, while Level 2 is more suitable for touring, racing, and adventure boots.Sometimes you’ll see more numbers in the rating, for example, the Apex Sneakers Black are rated as Level 1111. Each of these numbers reflects how the boot performed during testing:
| Test | Level 1 | Level 2 |
| Height of boot | Short | Tall |
| Abrasion resistance | Basic | High |
| Impact cut resistance | Basic | High |
| Transverse rigidity | Basic | High |
The Apex Sneaker Black, being Level 1111, means they achieved Level 1 in each test.
How CE ratings help you choose
So, what do CE ratings actually mean when you’re buying motorcycle gear?
The CE ratings give you peace of mind, knowing the gear has actually been tested and found to be fit for purpose. You don’t have to take a brand’s word for it; the gear has already been through lab tests that replicate real-world crashes. If it’s not CE rated, it’s generally not a good idea to trust the gear with your life and limbs.
Having set standards then provides you with an easy way to compare the protection offered by different riding gear. You can select the level of cover you think you need, and compare options across brands to see what you like best. Having a CE rating can also help you think about how you put your riding wardrobe together. For example, the Commando UH base layer is rated Level AAA, so it can be paired with a casual t-shirt in summer, rather than having to wear a full riding jacket.
Pando Moto and CE-approved protection
At Pando Moto, CE testing is a core part of the design process. It perfectly leans into our core principals of making motorcycle gear that’s stylish, functional and safe, with the materials, designs and construction being carefully selected to provide an optimal experience for riders.
With the EN standards behind them, you can ride knowing our gear has been independently tested for the moments that matter most.
PANDO MOTO Lifetime Warranty
CE ratings prove our gear is tested. But at PANDO MOTO, we take it further. With our Lifetime Warranty, if you crash in our gear, we’ll replace it — no questions, no compromises. It’s our way of standing behind every rider who chooses the street, the risk, and the freedom.
And we don’t just talk about it — our community has lived it. Riders have tested our gear in real crashes and shared their stories of impact, survival, and trust in PANDO. Crash stories, straight from the road.
