CE Level 1 vs Level 2 Armor: What's the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

When you're buying CE-certified motorcycle gear, you'll see two armor ratings: Level 1 and Level 2. Both meet the CE standard. But they're not the same — and understanding the difference helps you make a better decision about the protection you're actually getting.

What CE Armor Ratings Mean

CE armor ratings measure how much force is transmitted through the armor to your body in an impact. The test involves dropping a weighted striker onto the armor and measuring the transmitted force in kilonewtons (kN).

The lower the transmitted force, the better the armor absorbs the impact — and the less energy reaches your body. The exact thresholds depend on the body zone:

• Limb armor (EN 1621-1 — shoulder, elbow, knee, hip): Level 1 transmits below 35 kN average; Level 2 below 20 kN.
• Back protectors (EN 1621-2): held to stricter limits — Level 1 below 18 kN average, Level 2 below 9 kN.

In plain terms, at each zone CE Level 2 armor absorbs significantly more impact energy than CE Level 1 — roughly halving the force transmitted to your body.

Where the Armor Goes

CE armor ratings apply to specific impact zones:

• Shoulders — EN 1621-1 standard (limb protectors)
• Elbows — EN 1621-1 standard (limb protectors)
• Knees/hips — EN 1621-1 standard (limb protectors)
• Back — EN 1621-2 standard (back protectors, separate certification)
• Chest — EN 1621-3 standard (chest protectors, separate certification)

Each armor piece in a garment can be rated independently — so a jacket might have Level 2 shoulder armor and Level 1 elbow armor. Always check the rating for each specific zone.

Level 1 vs Level 2: Which Should You Choose?

For most road riders, CE Level 2 is the right choice. Here's why:

• The impact absorption difference is significant — not marginal
• Modern Level 2 armor is thin and flexible enough to be comfortable in everyday riding gear
• The price difference between Level 1 and Level 2 gear is often small relative to the protection improvement
• If you're going to wear CE-certified gear, wearing the higher standard costs little extra and protects meaningfully better

CE Level 1 is adequate and meets the standard — but if Level 2 is available in the garment you're considering, it's worth choosing.

What Streetbrawl Gear Uses

Every Streetbrawl armored shirt and hoodie is built with CE Level 2 armor at the shoulders and elbows, with an optional back protector available separately. The Blackwatch™ Hybrid Armored Shirt, Overland™ Armored Shirt, FlexGuard® Air Mesh Armored Riding Shirt, and Nightfall™ Reflective Armored Hoodie all carry the higher standard — not because it's a marketing point, but because it's the better protection and the armor is thin enough to build into wearable gear without compromise.

Can You Upgrade Armor?

Many motorcycle garments have removable armor that can be upgraded. If your current gear has Level 1 armor in removable pockets, check whether Level 2 armor of the same size and shape is available as a replacement. It's often a straightforward swap that meaningfully improves your protection without replacing the whole garment.

The Bottom Line

CE Level 2 armor absorbs roughly twice the impact energy of CE Level 1 to the same standard. For road riding, it's the better choice — and in modern gear, it doesn't require any compromise on comfort or wearability.