Is There a CE Level 3 for Motorcycle Armor?
No. There is no CE Level 3 for motorcycle armor.
Every part of EN 1621, the European standard for motorcycle impact protectors, has exactly two levels. That covers limb armor, back protectors, chest protectors and airbags. Level 2 is the top of the scale.
levels in every part
Limb, back, chest and airbag alike.
parts of EN 1621
Which is where a “3” usually comes from.
a published Level 2 result
Against a 9 kN limit. Better than Level 2 is a number, not a level.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- There is no CE Level 3. Every part of EN 1621 has two levels.
- A “3” is usually a part number. EN 1621-3 is the chest protector standard.
- AAA is not Level 3. It is a garment class under a different standard, EN 17092.
- “Level III” body armor is a bulletproof vest rating, a US ballistic scale with nothing to do with motorcycles.
- Level 2 is a pass mark, not a score. Better armor shows up as a lower measured kN.
- If a seller says Level 3, ask which standard and for the test certificate.
IN THIS GUIDE
What the standard actually says
SATRA, a test house that certifies motorcycle armor, lists the four parts of EN 1621. Each one specifies two performance levels, and none has more.
| Part | What it covers | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| EN 1621-1 | Limb joints: shoulders, elbows, hips, knees | 1 and 2 |
| EN 1621-2 | Back protectors: full, central or lower back | 1 and 2 |
| EN 1621-3 | Chest protectors | 1 and 2 |
| EN 1621-4 | Inflatable protectors (airbags) | 1 and 2 |
One detail trips people up. Limb and back armor use different scales, so a back protector’s 9 kN and an elbow’s 20 kN are not comparable numbers. We explain why in what CE-rated motorcycle armor actually means.
In this short Motorcyclist Magazine video, filmed in 2013, Forcefield’s Matthew Dawson explains the difference between CE armor Level 1 and Level 2.
Where “Level 3” comes from
If the level does not exist, why do people search for it? We found five places the idea comes from.
Part numbers read as levels. EN 1621-3 is the chest protector standard and EN 1621-4 covers airbags. A “3” next to “EN 1621” is a body area, not a third tier.
AAA on jackets. Garments are classed AAA, AA, A, B or C under EN 17092. Three letters look like a third level. They are garment classes, not armor levels.
Bulletproof vests. “Level III” is a US ballistic rating from the National Institute of Justice, recently renamed RF1. Search “level 3 armor” and you land among bulletproof vests.
Shop pages built from search terms. Walmart has a category page titled “ce level 3 armor”. A page with that name tells you what people type, not what the standard says.
“Meets or exceeds” marketing. webBikeWorld has pointed out brands claiming to beat standards they invented themselves. A rating with no EN number behind it is not a CE rating.
The garment classes are a separate system worth understanding on their own, covered in EN 17092: what AAA, AA and A jackets mean.
Level 2 is a pass mark, not a score
Here is the part that actually helps you buy armor. Level 2 is a ceiling a protector has to stay under, not a grade on a curve.
This is what a level is decided by. Test lab Ricotest filmed the EN 1621-2 back protector impact test: a weight dropped onto the protector, with the force that gets through measured underneath.
So two Level 2 back protectors can be very different. One might average just under the 9 kN limit. Another might transmit less than half of that. Both carry the same label.
Back protectors: average force transmitted
Lower is better. Limits from EN 1621-2, results as published by the makers
Both products are certified Level 2. Their results come from the makers’ own published figures. The Forcefield result was tested by SATRA to the older 2003 edition, and the product has since been discontinued.
Notice the REV’IT name. The 3.7 in “Feel 3.7” is the kN figure. When a maker is proud of its number, it tends to put it where you can see it.
Independent testing shows the same thing across limb armor. MotoCAP, the rating program in Australia and New Zealand, scores protectors out of 10. We grouped the ones whose model name states their CE level.
MotoCAP impact scores, Level 1 vs Level 2 limb armor
Shoulder, elbow, hip and knee protectors whose model name states the level. Range of scores, with the median marked
Median score: 5 for Level 1, 9 for Level 2. The ranges overlap, so the best Level 1 protector here (7) outscored the weakest Level 2 one (5). Top scores of 10 went to D3O’s Aero Pro L2 shoulder, elbow and knee protectors and its LP2 Pro and Ghost hip protectors. Source: MotoCAP impact protector ratings, counted October 2026.
Back protectors deserve particular care, because many jackets ship with uncertified foam in the back pocket. We cover that trap in do you need a CE Level 2 back protector.
How to find armor that beats Level 2
If what you really want is more than Level 2, this is how to look for it.
- Start with Level 2. Nothing above it exists, so it is the baseline for the comparison.
- Look for a published kN figure. Makers with a strong result usually state it, in the specs or even the product name.
- Compare like with like. Back protector against back protector, limb armor against limb armor. The scales differ.
- Check the conditions. Some makers state the temperature range they tested across. REV’IT quotes -20 °C to +40 °C for the Feel 3.7.
- Check independent scores. MotoCAP publishes impact scores for many limb protectors, and they separate Level 2 models clearly.
- Ask for the test report if the number matters to you. A published figure is a claim until you see the certificate.
When a listing says “Level 3”
It is not automatically a scam. It is usually a mistake, a part number misread, or a keyword stuffed into a title. Check it like this.
Before you buy “Level 3” armor
Behind the numbers
The parts and levels of EN 1621 come from SATRA. The force limits match those in our CE Level 1 vs Level 2 guide. The NIJ renaming comes from the National Institute of Justice.
Product results are published by the manufacturers and repeated by retailers. We report them as claims, not as independent test results.
Limb protector scores come from MotoCAP, counted by us. Photos are from Wikimedia Commons under the licenses shown, and the videos are by Ricotest and Motorcyclist Magazine. Checked in October 2026.
Level 3 questions
Is there a CE Level 3 for motorcycle armor?
No. EN 1621, the European standard for motorcycle impact protectors, has four parts covering limbs, back, chest and airbags, and each part specifies exactly two levels. Level 2 is the highest. A “Level 3” claim usually comes from a misread part number, a jacket’s AAA class, or ballistic vest ratings.
What is the highest CE level for motorcycle armor?
Level 2. For limb armor under EN 1621-1, Level 2 allows an average of 20 kN transmitted force. For back protectors under EN 1621-2, it allows an average of 9 kN. Some Level 2 products perform far better than the limit, which shows up as a lower published kN figure rather than a higher level.
What does EN 1621-3 mean?
It is the part of the standard for chest protectors, current edition EN 1621-3:2018. The 3 identifies the body area, not a performance level. Chest protectors have their own Level 1 and Level 2, but they work slightly differently: SATRA notes that Level 2 chest protectors must also spread the force of the impact, not only transmit less of it.
Is AAA the same as CE Level 3?
No. AAA is the highest of five garment classes under EN 17092, the standard for motorcycle jackets, trousers and suits. It describes the whole garment, including abrasion and seam strength. Armor levels belong to EN 1621, which only has Level 1 and Level 2.
Can motorcycle armor be better than Level 2?
Yes, but it is still labeled Level 2. Level 2 is a limit the protector must stay under, so some products transmit far less force than required. REV’IT, for example, publishes 3.7 kN for its Tryonic Feel 3.7 back protector against a 9 kN Level 2 limit. Look for the published kN figure and ask for the certificate.
Which motorcycle armor scores best in independent tests?
In MotoCAP’s ratings of shoulder, elbow, hip and knee protectors, the top scores of 10 out of 10 went to D3O’s Aero Pro L2 shoulder, elbow and knee protectors and its LP2 Pro and Ghost hip protectors. All are labeled Level 2. Among protectors whose name states the level, Level 2 models scored 5 to 10 and Level 1 models 1 to 7.
What is Level 3 body armor?
It is a ballistic rating for bulletproof vests and plates from the US National Institute of Justice, which has since renamed former Level III as RF1. It measures resistance to rifle rounds and has nothing to do with motorcycle impact protection.
Where to go next
- What is CE-rated motorcycle armor? EN 1621 explained
- Motorcycle armor ratings explained: CE Level 1 vs Level 2
- Do you need a CE Level 2 back protector?
- More protective apparel guides
Updated October 2026. EN 1621 parts and levels from SATRA; ballistic level names from the National Institute of Justice; product results as published by REV’IT and Forcefield; independent limb protector scores from MotoCAP; photos via Wikimedia Commons; videos by Ricotest and Motorcyclist Magazine. Always check the label on the exact protector you buy.
