Riders investing hundreds of dollars in protective motorcycle gear are getting less safety for their money than they should, according to independent testing data. Researchers have uncovered a troubling trend: manufacturers are quietly removing protective features from jackets, pants, and gloves while still meeting official certification standards, allowing them to cut costs without flagging the change on product labels.

The findings come from Australia’s Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program, which has independently tested roughly 1,100 products since 2018. The program’s chief scientist says protection levels in gear certified under Europe’s EN 17092 standard have declined year after year. His assessment of why is direct: the certification standard itself is set too low, and companies have been stripping away protection features to improve their profit margins.

What the Testing Reveals

The evidence is stark. Single-layer motorcycle jeans tested by the program performed no better than ordinary denim in abrasion resistance tests. In one particularly telling case, a manufacturer’s updated version of a previously tested jacket failed in just 1.2 seconds during abrasion testing, compared to 3.7 seconds for the earlier model. The retail price remained unchanged despite the reduced protection.

This data raises a critical issue for shoppers: a CE safety label on your gear means the product clears a minimum threshold, but it does not indicate how much protection you actually have beyond that baseline. Two jackets can both be certified and still offer vastly different levels of impact resistance or abrasion protection.

Research into real-world conditions has also revealed important distinctions. Urban asphalt is approximately 4.5 times gentler on motorcycle clothing than the chip-seal surfaces found on rural and country roads. The testing program recommends a minimum two-star independent rating for city riding and three stars or higher for highway and open-road use. A certified label alone cannot tell you whether a garment meets these practical demands.

What This Means for Buyers

motorcycle abrasion testing equipment
Photo by Christian 2eyes

The key takeaway is straightforward: certification is no longer enough. When shopping for protective gear, look beyond the label. Custom-fitted gear options are becoming more widely available, and independent ratings from organizations conducting their own testing provide critical insight into actual performance differences between products.

If you are comparing two jackets at similar price points, independent test ratings should become your deciding factor. A product with a significantly higher independent performance rating will protect you better on the road, whether you’re commuting in the city or riding highways. The certification label is only the starting point of your evaluation, not the conclusion.

There is encouraging news for the industry. Some manufacturers have steadily improved their protective offerings since independent testing began, suggesting competitive pressure and consumer awareness are pushing positive change. Independent ratings also benefit smaller brands without massive marketing budgets, allowing them to compete on quality rather than brand recognition alone.

How to Make Better Purchasing Decisions

Start by checking independent test results before making your final choice. Compare the actual performance data, not just the certification status. If one product has substantially better ratings than another at a similar price, that performance difference should matter more to you than brand loyalty or marketing claims.

Pay attention to abrasion resistance specifically, as this is where the most concerning declines have been documented. Ask retailers if they have access to independent test results. As consumer awareness grows, manufacturers are feeling pressure to maintain and improve protection levels, so your attention to these details sends a message to the industry.

Finally, remember that riding conditions vary. Complete safety systems include communication technology to keep riders connected, but the foundation of safety starts with quality protective clothing. Choose gear rated for the riding you actually do, and verify that the protection level exceeds the minimum certification threshold. Your skin depends on what is underneath the labels.