The Label Most Riders Ignore
Check the armor insert in your riding jacket according to the manufacturer's instructions. Look for its markings and supporting documentation. You may see a reference such as EN 1621-1 or EN 1621-2 alongside a protection level. Those EN references identify test standards, not a prediction of exactly how much force will reach your body in a crash.
Understanding CE Level 1 vs Level 2 armor helps you compare documented impact-protection performance instead of relying on appearance or a brand name.
What CE Standards Actually Measure
Impact testing assesses how much force passes through a protector under specified laboratory conditions. An impactor strikes the sample over a measuring arrangement, with test equipment and procedures defined by the relevant standard.
The results include transmitted force in kilonewtons (kN). Within the same test method, a lower transmitted-force result indicates better force attenuation in that test. Force and energy are different quantities: halving a force limit does not mean that a protector absorbs twice the energy.
Real crashes vary in impact direction, surface, speed, and other factors. Ratings do not guarantee an injury-free outcome. Coverage, fit, positioning, and compatibility remain important.
The Two Main Standards You'll Encounter
EN 1621-1: Limb Protectors (Shoulders, Elbows, Knees, Hips)
This standard assesses limb-joint impact protectors. Two performance levels are specified:
- Level 1: The mean maximum transmitted-force threshold is 35 kN.
- Level 2: The mean maximum transmitted-force threshold is 20 kN.
The standard also includes individual-impact limits and other requirements. These averages are not the complete test specification. Level 2 requires lower average transmitted force than Level 1 under this test method, but neither level defines a universally safe crash speed.
EN 1621-2: Back Protectors
Back protectors use a different test arrangement from limb protectors. The numbers should not be used to compare different body areas as though the tests were identical.
- Level 1: Mean maximum transmitted force below 18 kN, with no individual strike above 24 kN.
- Level 2: Mean maximum transmitted force below 9 kN, with no individual strike above 12 kN.
Level 2 has half the Level 1 mean force threshold in this back-protector test. That does not mean twice the energy absorption, zero force reaching the body, or guaranteed prevention of spinal injury.
EN 1621-3: Chest Protectors
Chest protection has its own standard. Its levels should not be reduced to “street use” and “track use.”
- Level 1: Includes force-transmission requirements.
- Level 2: Includes both force-transmission and force-distribution requirements.
Check the specific protector's documented level, coverage, and intended use. If your jacket supports chest protectors, use only compatible inserts and follow the manufacturer's instructions. An empty pocket provides no impact protection.
Where to Prioritize Level 2
Level 2 is worth considering wherever compatible, correctly fitting protection is available. There is no universal body-part purchase order established by these ratings, and an elbow should not be treated as naturally protected enough to need less armor.
Build your setup around these checks:
- Coverage: Identify which areas already have documented protection and which only have empty pockets.
- Compatibility: Confirm the insert's shape, size, and intended position match the garment.
- Fit and retention: Check that protectors remain positioned as instructed in your riding posture.
- Documented level: Compare performance levels within the same standard rather than across unrelated tests.
- Complete gear setup: Consider the garment's abrasion resistance, seams, coverage, and fit alongside the impact protectors.
For track riding, check the organizer's requirements rather than assuming a particular armor label automatically meets them.
D3O, Forcefield, SAS-Tec: What Are These Brand Names?
D3O, Forcefield, and SAS-TEC are names you may encounter when comparing motorcycle armor. A brand name is not a protection level, and it does not establish that every product in a range has identical performance.
- D3O: Check the exact insert's standard, level, dimensions, and intended position.
- Forcefield: Compare the specific protector's documented performance and fit rather than relying on a material name.
- SAS-TEC: Verify the individual model's markings and compatibility with your garment.
Look for supporting product instructions and documentation. Do not assume a brand-name insert exceeds every applicable test threshold or fits every jacket.
The Takeaway
CE armor markings and supporting documentation provide a useful basis for comparing laboratory-tested impact protection. Use them alongside coverage, fit, compatibility, and the performance of the complete garment. Consider Level 2 where a suitable protector fits correctly, and don't let a jacket's appearance substitute for documented protection.
For more detail on the testing, see SATRA's guide to EN 1621 impact protectors.
Putting armor into context? Read our comparison of leather vs. textile motorcycle jackets. If you're considering a vest, start with our complete guide to motorcycle vests and motorcycle vest sizing guide.
For head protection and coverage choices, read motorcycle helmet types explained, covering full-face, modular, open-face, and half helmets.
When adding layers beneath your protective gear, check that your armor stays correctly positioned. Our motorcycle base layer guide covers moisture management, insulation, and fit beneath your riding gear.