EN 17092 Explained: What AAA, AA and A Jackets Mean
EN 17092 is the European standard that rates the garment itself: how well a motorcycle jacket or trousers resist sliding down tarmac, tearing, and bursting at the seams. It sorts gear into five classes, AAA, AA, A, B and C, with AAA the toughest. The part riders get wrong is that this has nothing to do with the CE level of the armor inside. A jacket can carry excellent Level 2 protectors and still be made from a shell that only just scrapes Class A.
Key takeaways
- EN 17092 rates the garment (abrasion, tear, seams). EN 1621 rates the armor. Two separate labels.
- Classes run AAA > AA > A, plus B (no impact protectors) and C (armor carrier only).
- The part number gives the class away: EN 17092-3 means Class AA, –4 means Class A.
- Garments are split into risk zones, and Zone 1 (shoulders, elbows, hips, seat) faces the hardest tests.
- AA is the sweet spot for most touring: near the protection of AAA without the weight and heat.
In this guide
Garment vs armor: two labels, two jobs
Think of your jacket as two separate safety systems. The armor absorbs the hit when you land: that is the job of CE-rated protectors under EN 1621. The shell has a different job entirely: keeping the road from grinding through to your skin while you slide. EN 17092 is the standard that measures the shell.
EN 1621: the armor
Rates the hard or foam protectors in the pockets. Measured in kN of force transmitted during an impact. Graded Level 1 or Level 2.
EN 17092: the garment
Rates the fabric, seams and construction. Measured by abrasion, tear and seam strength. Graded AAA, AA, A, B or C.
Why this matters when you shop: “CE Level 2 armor” on a product page tells you nothing about the fabric. Look for both marks. Great armor in a weak shell still leaves you sliding on thin material.
The five classes, from AAA down to C
| Class | Impact protectors | Abrasion requirement | Typical gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | Required | Highest | Leather suits, race kit, heavy-duty touring |
| AA | Required | High | Most quality touring and adventure jackets |
| A | Required | Moderate | Summer mesh, urban and lightweight gear |
| B | Not fitted | Same as Class A | Riding shirts and jeans sold without armor |
| C | Required (that is all it does) | None | Armor vests and base layers that only hold protectors |
Classes B and C catch people out because they are not simply “worse” versions of A. Class B is a garment tested for abrasion that ships without impact protectors, which is common in riding shirts and jeans. Class C is the opposite: a garment whose only job is holding armor in place, like a protector vest worn under a jacket, with no abrasion claim at all.
Reading it on the label
Here is the detail almost nobody points out. EN 17092 is published in parts, and the part number tells you the class before you read another word. Part 1 covers the test methods; parts 2 to 6 are the classes themselves.
EN 17092-2
AAA
EN 17092-3
AA
EN 17092-4
A
EN 17092-5
B
EN 17092-6
C
So a jacket whose inner label reads EN 17092-3:2020 is a Class AA garment. Alongside it you will usually find a small pictogram of a motorcycle with the class letters printed beside it, which is the quickest thing to look for on a shop rail.
What actually gets tested
Three mechanical properties decide the class, and they map neatly onto the three ways gear fails in a crash.
Impact abrasion
A sample is thrown against a moving abrasive surface to mimic a slide. The lab checks how long it lasts before a hole forms. This is the headline test.
Tear strength
Once the fabric is nicked by gravel or a kerb edge, how much force does it take to rip that tear open further?
Seam strength
Gear usually fails at the stitching, not the middle of a panel. Seams are pulled until they burst.
The risk zones
A jacket is not tested as one uniform thing. EN 17092 divides it into zones by crash risk, and each zone has its own pass mark. That is why a good jacket can have stretch panels under the arms without losing its class: those panels sit in a low-risk zone.
Zone 1
Highest risk: shoulders, elbows, hips and seat. The areas that hit first and slide longest. Toughest requirements.
Zone 2
High risk: the rest of the arms, back and outer legs. Still demanding, a step below Zone 1.
Zone 3
Moderate risk: chest and areas less likely to take a long slide. Lighter requirements.
Zone 4
Lowest risk: inner arm, armpit and similar. Where makers put mesh and stretch for comfort.
Which class do you actually need?
Chasing AAA is not automatically the right answer. Higher classes need heavier, denser material, which means more weight and less airflow. Match the class to the riding you really do.
Go AAA if
You ride fast roads, do track days, or tour at sustained high speed. Heat and weight are a price you accept.
AA suits most riders
Multi-day touring, adventure riding, all-weather commuting. Strong protection you will still wear in August.
A is a fair trade when
Heat would otherwise stop you wearing gear at all, or your miles are slow and urban. Certified beats nothing.
Material choice feeds directly into the class a garment can reach, which is why our guide to mesh, leather and textile jackets is worth reading alongside this one. And once you own good kit, washing it correctly keeps that shell performing as certified.
EN 17092 vs the older EN 13595
You may still see EN 13595 on some gear. That is the older garment standard, which graded clothing Level 1 or Level 2 using a different abrasion machine and was aimed largely at professional riders. EN 17092 arrived to give everyday street gear a scale that fits how most people actually ride, which is why the AAA-to-C system is what you will find on almost everything sold today. Seeing EN 13595 is not a red flag, just an older or professional-grade certification.
Checking a jacket before you buy
Frequently asked questions about EN 17092
What is EN 17092?
EN 17092 is the European standard for motorcyclists’ protective clothing. It tests the garment’s abrasion resistance, tear strength and seam strength, then assigns a class: AAA, AA, A, B or C. It rates the jacket or trousers themselves, not the armor fitted inside them.
What do AAA, AA and A mean on a motorcycle jacket?
They are protection classes, with AAA the highest. AAA gear resists abrasion longest and suits high speed or track use, AA balances protection with comfort for most touring, and A is lighter kit for summer or urban riding. All three include impact protectors.
Is EN 17092 the same as a CE rating for armor?
No. EN 17092 rates the garment shell, while EN 1621 rates the impact protectors inside it. A jacket can have CE Level 2 armor and still be a lower-class garment, so check both marks rather than assuming one implies the other.
What are Class B and Class C gear?
Class B is a garment tested for abrasion but supplied without impact protectors, which is typical of riding shirts and jeans. Class C is a garment whose only role is holding armor in place, such as a protector vest, with no abrasion requirement of its own.
How do I find the class on a label?
Look for the EN 17092 part number on the inner label. Part 2 is AAA, part 3 is AA, part 4 is A, part 5 is B and part 6 is C. So a label reading EN 17092-3:2020 means Class AA. Most gear also shows a motorcycle pictogram with the class letters beside it.
Is AAA always the best choice?
Not for everyone. AAA needs heavier, denser material, so it is hotter and bulkier. For most touring and adventure riding, AA offers close to the same protection in gear you will actually wear on a hot day. Choose the class that matches your real riding.
What are the zones in EN 17092?
The garment is divided by crash risk. Zone 1 covers shoulders, elbows, hips and seat and faces the toughest requirements. Zones 2 and 3 cover progressively lower-risk areas, and Zone 4 covers places like the inner arm, where makers can use stretch or mesh panels.
What happened to EN 13595?
EN 13595 is the older standard for motorcycle clothing, graded Level 1 and Level 2 and aimed largely at professional riders. EN 17092 replaced it for most street gear with the AAA to C system. Gear still carrying EN 13595 is not inferior, just certified to the older scheme.
Related guides you might like
- What Is CE-Rated Motorcycle Armor? (EN 1621 Explained)
- Motorcycle Armor Ratings Explained: CE Level 1 vs Level 2
- Mesh vs Leather vs Textile Jackets for Long Rides
- More protective apparel guides
Published September 2026. Standards are summarised for riders and may be revised. Always check the label on the specific garment you are buying, and remember that a class applies to that garment as tested, not to a brand as a whole.
