Armored Motorcycle Shirts: How They Work and How to Choose
An armored motorcycle shirt is a casual-looking riding layer with certified impact armor built in — on a Streetbrawl shirt, that means CE Level 2 armor (EN 1621-1) at the shoulders and elbows, with an optional back protector available separately. The armor is what carries the certification, not the shirt itself — and understanding that distinction is the key to choosing well.
Here is how armored motorcycle shirts actually work, what the certification covers, and how to pick the right one for your riding.
What Is an Armored Motorcycle Shirt?
An armored shirt is a riding garment cut like everyday clothing, with internal pockets holding certified impact protectors at the shoulders and elbows. It is designed to be worn on its own in warm weather, or as an armored layer in a bigger setup — and to look like an ordinary shirt the moment you step off the bike.
Are Armored Motorcycle Shirts CE Certified?
The precise answer matters here: the armor is certified — the shirt itself usually is not. EN 1621-1 is the standard for impact protectors, and CE Level 2 is its higher tier. Garment abrasion certification (EN 17092, classes A to AAA) is a separate test applied to the finished garment, and very few shirts on the market carry it. Streetbrawl shirts do not claim it — if you want garment-certified abrasion protection, that is what CE AAA riding jeans are built for. A brand that tells you which certification applies to what is a brand you can trust on the rest.
| What's certified on a Streetbrawl shirt | Standard | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder & elbow armor | EN 1621-1, CE Level 2 | ✅ Included |
| Back protector | EN 1621-2, CE Level 2 | ⚠️ Optional — sold separately |
| Garment abrasion rating | EN 17092 | ❌ Not certified (Streetbrawl jeans carry this, shirts do not) |
How Much Protection Is CE Level 2 Armor?
Under EN 1621-1, Level 2 limb armor must transmit no more than 20 kN of force to the body in the standard impact test, versus 35 kN allowed for Level 1. Lower transmitted force means more of the impact is absorbed by the armor instead of you. Every Streetbrawl shirt ships with Level 2 — the higher tier — at the shoulders and elbows.
The Streetbrawl Armored Shirt Range
Every shirt below carries CE Level 2 armor at the shoulders and elbows, with an optional EN 1621-2 back protector available separately. Several are also available in ladies' cuts.
- Blackwatch™ Hybrid Armored Shirt — the hybrid concept is covered in full in What Is a Hybrid Armored Shirt?
- FlexGuard™ Air Mesh Armored Riding Shirt — mesh construction built for airflow in hot weather
- Air Mesh Camo Edition — the same mesh shirt in a camo colourway
- Overland™ Armored Shirt — casual overshirt styling for everyday riding
- Deadbolt™ Riding Shirt — a clean, everyday design
Armored Shirt vs Motorcycle Jacket
A full motorcycle jacket with a garment abrasion rating offers more comprehensive protection; an armored shirt trades some of that for all-day wearability and a look you can walk into work with. The full comparison is here: Armored Riding Shirts vs Motorcycle Jackets.
How Should an Armored Shirt Fit?
Snug enough that the shoulder and elbow armor stays positioned over the joints — armor that slides off the elbow in a crash protects nothing. Check the fit seated in your riding position, arms forward on the bars, not just standing in front of a mirror. The elbow protectors should still sit centred on your elbows with your arms bent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are armored motorcycle shirts CE certified?
The armor inside them is — Streetbrawl shirts carry CE Level 2 protectors certified to EN 1621-1 at the shoulders and elbows. The shirt itself does not carry a garment abrasion certification (EN 17092); very few shirts on the market do.
Do armored shirts include a back protector?
No — a CE Level 2 back protector (EN 1621-2) is an optional add-on, bought separately, on all Streetbrawl armored garments.
Are armored shirts too hot for summer?
Mesh designs are built exactly for that — the FlexGuard Air Mesh uses mesh construction for airflow while keeping CE Level 2 armor at the shoulders and elbows.
Is an armored shirt as protective as a motorcycle jacket?
A jacket with a garment abrasion rating offers more comprehensive protection. An armored shirt carries the same class of certified impact armor in a more wearable everyday garment — which protection you carry daily matters more than which sits in the wardrobe.