EN 17092 Explained: What AAA, AA, A, B and C Mean on Your Riding Gear
Every jacket, pair of riding jeans or riding hoodie sold as protective motorcycle clothing in the EU carries a CE label with a class: AAA, AA, A, B or C. Those letters come from EN 17092, the European standard for protective motorcycle garments. Here is what they mean and how to use them when you buy.
Why there is a standard at all
In the EU, motorcycle clothing that is sold as protective counts as personal protective equipment. It has to be tested and certified before it can carry a CE mark. EN 17092 has applied to riding garments since 2020. It has six parts: Part 1 describes the test methods, Parts 2 to 6 the requirements for the five classes.
The important point: the complete garment is certified. A jacket only gets a class if fabric, seams, closures, fit and protectors pass the tests together.
The five classes
| Class | Abrasion resistance | Protectors | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | highest | required | longer trips, motorway, riders who want maximum protection |
| AA | high | required | commuting and everyday riding, often lighter |
| A | basic, for lighter garments | required (hips optional) | urban riding in warm weather |
| B | like class A | none | worn with separate protectors |
| C | no minimum | protectors only | worn under or with other garments |
If a garment is meant to replace a classic textile or leather suit, AA and AAA are the classes to look for.
What gets tested
- Abrasion: how long the material lasts in a simulated slide on a rough surface
- Tear strength: how well the fabric resists tearing further once it is damaged
- Seams and closures: a seam that bursts exposes the skin, even if the fabric holds
- Protectors: certified to EN 1621 and placed over the right part of the body
- Fit and ergonomics: the garment must fit its size and allow the movements you need on the bike
- Dimensional stability: washable garments may only shrink or stretch within tight limits
Zones
The standard divides a garment into zones by how likely they are to hit the road. Shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and the seat face the toughest requirements. That is why many garments reinforce exactly those areas.
AA or AAA?
Both require protectors and a high level of abrasion resistance. AAA sets the highest abrasion requirements in the standard, and suits riders who spend a lot of time on motorways or on long tours. AA is a good choice for commuting and everyday riding and often allows lighter, more breathable garments. The class tells you how a garment performed in a defined test. No garment can promise how it will perform in every crash.
Protectors have their own rating
The class covers the whole garment. The protectors inside are rated separately to EN 1621: Level 1 or Level 2. More in our guide to protectors.
How to read the label
- Look for the standard and the class together, for example "EN 17092-2:2020 AAA".
- "Fabric tested" is not "garment certified". Only the complete garment counts.
- Check the protectors separately: the EN 1621 level for shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and back.
- Travelling to France? There, CE-certified gloves are mandatory for riders and passengers.
Our collection by class
- AAA: Cafe Racer Jeans, Kingston Shirt, Wellington Hooded Sweater, Richmond Hooded Jacket, Adelaide Field Jacket, Bathurst Rain Jacket
- AA: Warrior Jeans, Rogue Jeans
All of them are built on PEKEV®, and none of them looks like motorcycle gear.
