AEntry
Light, comfort-first
Entry-level protection built for comfort and warm-weather riding, where a lighter garment gets worn more often.
Best for · lower-speed urban
The Rider's Guide to Safety Ratings
CE ratings & MotoCAP, decoded.
Australia sets no legal safety standard for riding gear beyond helmets. That makes a garment's rating one of the clearest signals it was built to protect you, not just to look good on the bike. Here is what the labels actually mean, and how to read past the badge.
Why it matters here
In Australia, the rating is the standard
There is no mandated minimum for jackets, pants, gloves or boots. A recognised rating fills that gap: it tells you a garment was designed and independently tested to a known level of protection, rather than simply styled to sell. Two systems do most of that work, and they answer different questions.
EN 17092
What the CE system tests
CE ratings come from a European standard, EN 17092. Gear is put through the same core tests, then sorted into performance classes. Four things get measured.
01 · Abrasion
Abrasion resistance
How long the fabric survives sliding on the road before it wears through.
02 · Seams
Seam strength
Whether the stitching holds the panels together under load. Seams often fail first.
03 · Tear
Tear strength
Resistance to ripping once the material is snagged or stressed.
04 · Impact
Impact protection
Where fitted, how well armour absorbs and spreads a hit.
The tiers
The five CE classes
Higher is not automatically better. It is a trade of coverage against weight, stiffness and heat. For most road and touring riders, AA is the practical sweet spot.
AAMost riders
The everyday all-rounder
A solid all-rounder that suits most everyday road and touring riders. The class we point most people to first.
Best for · commuting & touringAAAMaximum
Highest abrasion & impact
The top class, aimed at maximum abrasion and impact resistance. Popular for sport and high-speed riding.
Best for · sport & trackBNo armour
Abrasion, bring your own armour
Provides abrasion protection but does not include impact armour. Designed to be worn with separate CE-certified protectors.
Pair with · CE armourCArmour carrier
Holds armour in place
Keeps CE-certified protectors positioned but lacks the abrasion protection to stand alone. Typically armoured base layers.
Wear under · a rated outer
Independently tested
Gear sold in the EU must meet these requirements before it reaches the market. A Notified Body — an authorised, independent EU lab — examines the design, the documentation and the test evidence before a class is granted.
Assessed · abrasion · tear · seams · fit
On the road
A rating earns its keep in the moment you didn't plan for
Classes and stars stay abstract until the tarmac gets involved. That is the whole point of choosing gear that has been tested, not just styled.
Common mix-up
CE armour is not a CE garment rating
"CE Level 2 armour" describes the protectors, not the jacket. Armour and garments are held to separate standards: impact protectors are tested for how much force they absorb, while the garment is tested for abrasion, tearing and seam strength. A jacket can carry Level 2 armour and still be a lower garment class, so check both.
The Australian lab
What MotoCAP adds
MotoCAP is an independent Australian testing programme. It buys gear off the shelf like a customer would, then runs it through the lab and publishes detailed scores tuned to local conditions.
Two things are worth holding onto. First, MotoCAP testing is voluntary — it is not required to sell gear in Australia or Europe, and only selected products have been tested. A product without a MotoCAP score simply may not have been through the programme; that alone does not make it unsafe. Second, a MotoCAP rating tells you a product was tested, not that it automatically beats an untested one.
Treat it as one more piece of information rather than a final ranking. A few cautions keep it in perspective:
- Don't lean on stars alone. A single headline number hides the detail underneath it.
- Breathability is personal. Real comfort shifts with fit, ventilation, climate and layering.
- CE and MotoCAP won't always agree. They use different protocols and scoring, so results can diverge.
- Coverage is partial. Only gear the programme has bought and tested appears at all.
Side by side
CE ratings vs MotoCAP
They are not rivals. CE gives you a fast confidence check; MotoCAP gives you the breakdown behind it.
| Feature | CE ratings | MotoCAP |
|---|---|---|
| Type of result | A class or tier — pass-based. | A rating with a detailed breakdown. |
| Who tests | Certified testing to a European standard. | An independent programme buying gear off the shelf. |
| What it reveals | Overall protection class, sometimes zone by zone. | Abrasion, burst, seam strength and comfort, scored separately. |
| Best used for | Quick confidence that gear meets a known class. | Extra detail on tested gear — not the sole deciding factor. |
Which should you rely on?
If only one is available, treat the CE class as your baseline and use MotoCAP for the specifics. When a garment carries a solid CE class and scores well on MotoCAP, that is a reassuring combination.
Construction
Why multi-layer gear often scores better
In testing, multi-layer garments tend to outlast single-layer ones for abrasion. Extra layers absorb energy and resist tearing during a slide, so the fabric holds on longer.
Single-layer fabricshorter slide time
Multi-layer constructionlonger slide time
Illustrative — actual abrasion times vary by fabric and construction.
There is a genuine trade-off. Single-layer fabrics move more freely, manage heat better and often pass as regular clothing, which is exactly why plenty of riders prefer them. The point is not "more layers always wins" — it is to know what you are giving up, and to make sure the construction earns its keep.
Casual-looking gear
Read past the badge
Reinforced jeans and casual jackets can absolutely protect you — but construction decides it. A garment can have strong fabric and still fail at weak seams. Two quick lists worth running before you buy.
Signs it is built to protect
- Reinforced high-impact zones — knees, hips and seat.
- Armour pockets for knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and back.
- Strong, well-finished seams — stitching often fails before the fabric does.
Details worth a second look
- Burst strength — how seams and fabric resist splitting under force.
- Seam construction — reinforced or double-stitched.
- Abrasion zones — spread across the garment or focused on key panels.
- Armour — level, coverage, and whether a back protector is included or optional.
Decision flow
Choosing the right rated gear
Class A suits lower-speed urban use, AA covers broader road and touring, AAA targets higher-risk or track riding. Work through it in order.
Pin down how you ride
Commuting, touring, sport or off-road. Your main use sets the target, not the exception.
Set a minimum class
For regular road use, start at AA and only move up if your riding calls for it.
Confirm the fit
Rated gear only protects if it stays in place. Armour has to sit over the joint it guards. Not sure on sizing? Take your measurements first.
Balance protection with comfort
Gear you actually wear beats a higher-rated piece that stays in the wardrobe. Comfort is not a luxury, it is part of safety.
Cross-check MotoCAP
Where a score exists, look at abrasion and seam strength for extra confidence.
The short version
What the research says
- CE is a real signal
Classes backed by European-standard testing are genuine performance measures, not marketing.
- AA is the all-rounder
Widely described as the practical class for everyday road and touring riding.
- MotoCAP is local depth
An independent Australian programme buying gear off the shelf, with results tuned to local conditions.
- Layers usually help
Multi-layer construction generally scores better for abrasion, though it is not guaranteed across every fabric.
- Read the whole garment
How a class or score maps to the full piece varies — some focus protection on high-wear zones.
- Pair the two
A solid CE class plus a good MotoCAP score gives you the clearest picture of all.
From the range
Rated gear, ready to ride
A few examples from the Peak Moto lineup. Check each product page for its current CE class and any MotoCAP score.
Questions, answered
CE & MotoCAP FAQ
Is CE AAA always better than AA?
Not for everyone. AAA targets the most abrasion and impact resistance for sport and high-speed riding, but that often means a heavier, stiffer garment. For most road and touring riders, AA is the practical all-rounder.
Is a MotoCAP rating required in Australia?
No. MotoCAP is voluntary and only selected products have been tested. A garment with no MotoCAP score may simply not have been bought and tested by the programme — that on its own does not make it unsafe.
Does CE Level 2 armour make my jacket AAA?
No. Armour and garments are rated under separate standards. Level 2 describes the protectors' impact absorption; the jacket's class comes from abrasion, tear and seam testing. Check both ratings separately.
What CE class should I buy?
As a starting point: A for lower-speed urban riding, AA for everyday road and touring, and AAA for sport or track. Confirm fit as well — rated gear only protects if it stays in place.
Are reinforced jeans safe enough?
They can be, if the construction backs it up: reinforced high-impact zones, armour pockets at the knees and hips, and strong, well-finished seams. Look for the CE class and, where available, a MotoCAP score.
This guide is general information to help you compare gear, not personal safety advice. Always check a garment's current certification and fit before you ride.