motorcycle jacket CE rating explained

hey riders!

let's talk safety without the boring bits. you've probably spotted that "CE" mark on your gear and wondered what's the deal. here's the no-nonsense breakdown of why it matters to you.

what's this CE thing anyway?

think of CE as your gear's stamp of badassery - it's basically your confirmation that what you're wearing isn't just looking good, but actually does the job of protecting you. CE stands for "conformité européenne" (fancy french for european conformity), and it's the gold standard for safety gear worldwide.

the three things you need to know:

1.     protection levels:

·       AAA: the heavyweight champion (think full racing suits)

·       AA: the all-rounder (your everyday riding gear)

·       A: the lightweight contender (perfect for urban riding)

·       B: the abrasion specialist (needs impact protectors to be complete)

·       C: the impact protector carrier (works with other gear for full protection)

2.     what gets tested:

·       impact absorption (because hitting the ground hurts)

·       abrasion resistance (no one likes road rash)

·       seam strength (keeping it all together when it matters)

·       tear resistance (because small rips shouldn't become big problems)

3.     how long it's good for: each ce certification lasts 5 years. after that, it's time for a fresh round of testing.

why we care (and why you should too)

at trip machine, we're riders first. we know the difference between gear that looks tough and gear that actually is tough. that's why we put our stuff through the wringer before it gets anywhere near your bike. each piece goes through rigorous testing to meet (and often exceed) CE standards.

the real talk

here's the thing - motorcycle gear isn't invincible. just like your helmet is designed to take one big hit to save your head, your gear is there to save your skin when things get sketchy. it might get damaged in the process, but that's literally its job - better the gear than you, right?

your move, rider

while it's not legally mandatory everywhere to wear CE-certified gear, we reckon your skin is worth the investment. look for the ce marking and classification when you're gearing up - it's your assurance that what you're wearing is actually protective gear, not just styled to look like it.

keep the rubber side down!