CE Protectors

If you've been looking at motorcycle jackets, I'm sure you've come across the CE label. CE stands for Communaute Europeene. CE is a standard set by the European Community standards committee to regulate the effectiveness of body armor and protective gear. A motorcycle jacket carrying this label means that the protective gear has been tested to meet a standard of safety for the wearer.

The most popular types of body protective gear are for the shoulders, elbows, and back. If the jacket is ever in a crash, the protective pads should always be replaced. While they may help in a second accident, they are not as effective in a second crash. Obviously, you want your protective equipment to be as safe as possible.

Motorcycle jackets without the CE pads offer a bit of protection, but the CE pads multiply that protection. CE rated protective gear helps distribute the impact of a crash. Some of them act almost like the "crumple zone" of cars: they kind of delay and filter the brunt of the impact. This means the injuries a crash victim sustains may not be as serious as they would have been without the gear.

Unfortunately, there are many cases of fraudulently labeled CE motorcycle jackets. When you're looking at a jacket bearing the CE label, look at it closely. Make sure the jacket appears well made and sturdy. Are the seams all stitched well? Do you see any loose threads or partially open seams that shouldn't be open? A motorcycle jacket that is well made is more likely to have true CE rated protective gear for pads.