Your motorcycle jacket serves more than just an aesthetic purpose; its primary function is to provide protection. Whether made of leather or textile, motorcycle jackets play a crucial role in safeguarding riders during accidents by minimizing injuries. They are a vital part of your riding gear. Additionally, motorcycle jackets are highly practical for shielding you from various weather conditions. They offer defense against cold temperatures, wind, dust, and even snow. Without a jacket that ensures your safety, riding becomes less enjoyable.
It is however not enough to have a motorcycle jacket, your jacket should have the safety ratings to certify that it is good enough to give you full protection. In this article, we will discuss how to read safety ratings for motorcycle jackets.
What Are Motorcycle Jacket Safety Ratings?
Safety ratings refers to the rating system which is used to check how reliable a motorcycle jacket is, in dealing with and absorbing impact. The reliability of motorcycle protective equipment is determined using a number of destruction testing.
These destruction testing include burst strength, abrasion resistance as well as impact resistance to a sharp object. If the jacket passes these tests satisfactorily, it gets the AS or CE mark.
This is known as the safety label, which confirms that your jacket is strong enough to protect you in case of impact.
How To Read Safety Ratings For Motorcycle Jackets
Reading safety ratings takes a bit of getting used to, but once you understand the basics, you will have no problem checking if a jacket meets the safety standards. When you wear personal protective equipment ensure that they meet safety requirements for each type including motorcycle helmets. You might have seen a CE-certified tag on the insides of a jacket before.
The CE here stands for Conformité Européene which translates to European Conformity. What this means is that, the motorcycle jacket means the European standard of safety. Along with the "CE" mark, a safety confirmation code will exist on the jacket.
This code indicates the type of tests that were taken on the jacket, as well as when it was taken. You are likely to see a code that looks like this EN1621-1:2014. Breaking down this code, the EN shows that the testing of the jacket was done in Europe.
The number "1621" which follows certifies that the jacket is suitable as a garment for motorcycling. The number "1" indicates that the jacket is a level 1 protective garment while 2014 stands for the year which the testing standard was updated, and put in place.
There are two levels of motorcycle clothing safety ratings.
● Level 1: Level 1 protector means that the maximum force that should be transmitted to the jacket must be below 18 KN with no value going beyond 24 KN.
● Level 2: Level 2 protectors mean that the maximum force that should be transmitted to the jacket must be below 9 KN with no value going beyond 12 KN. With this being said, a level 2 motorcycle jacket will give you the best protection.
Checking Best Motorcycle Jackets For Your Protection
Getting a motorcycle jacket that gives you the safety that you need, is not as straightforward as walking into a store and picking the first jacket that you come across. To find the safest motorcycle jacket, you must check to see that the motorcycle jacket meets certain standards that assure full impact protection.
● Torso Protection: Any motorcycle jacket that you choose must have torso protection. Your torso is made up of your spine and other vital organs, making it the most important area to protect your head while riding.
Purchase an armored jacket that covers your torso. If your jacket does not offer torso protection, buy an armored vest that covers your torso and chest. Your armor is not functional if it does not give you full protection, so make sure to get one that offers torso protection.
● CE-Certified: Of course your motorcycle jacket must be CE-approved. Jackets that are CE-certified meets all the safety ratings, and gives riders full protection. For your safety, it is best to go for an armor that is CE-certified. Look out for the certification before purchasing an armor.
● Fit: Your armor must fit properly if you want to enjoy full protection. An armor that is too large will fit loosely, leaving the armor to slide around and leave your vital organs exposed.
When your armor slides, it leaves your torso, knees, and other areas open to impact, keeping you at the risk of getting hurt. The safest motorcycle body armour will cover your knees and open areas while cushioning them from impact.
On the other hand, if your armor is too tight, you will be uncomfortable restricting your movement while you ride. An armor that fits you snugly, so as to provide you with protection and comfort.
● Breathability: You need ventilation when you are riding, and with an armor that offers no breathability you cannot enjoy that. Go for motorcycle armors that come with mesh, as they provide ventilation making you comfortable and safe. Textile jackets offer better airflow during hot summers.
Conclusion
Riding in leather motorcycle jackets that meet all the safety ratings gives you all the confidence that you need to enjoy the experience.
You will be able to ride freely and safely. Follow the directions above to certify that your motorcycle leather jacket is strong enough to keep you safe.
Also ensure to maintain your leather jackets and other personal protective equipment properly, as poor maintenance might affect their functionality. Once you do all of this, you can be sure to have great fun on your rides.
