Spend a few minutes – or possibly only a few seconds – on social media and you will find motorcycle jackets, jeans and trousers advertised as CE approved, A, AA or AAA rated and tested to the highest standards – often at prices that make established brands look like profiteers. Some of what is advertised is genuine. Much is not. After eight years documenting rogue vendors, I have learned that their sales tactics are remarkably consistent and, once you know them, easy to spot.
What genuine certification looks like
Motorcycle clothing is officially designated as Category II PPE, so a notified body – an approved body for UKCA marking – must examine a sample of the actual garment and issue a certificate. That certificate names the manufacturer, the product and the standard it was tested against. For clothing, that standard is EN 17092, which grades garments AAA, AA, A, B or C; gloves, boots and protectors each have standards of their own. The manufacturer must also draw up a declaration of conformity and supply a printed copy with the product, or include in the user information booklet a web address where it can be read.
So the test is simple: ask for the details of the certificate. These will appear on the declaration of conformity. A genuine manufacturer can produce it quickly. Then check that it names the model you are buying, that it was issued by a body accredited with the specialised area of competence to assess motorcyclists’ clothing that appears on the official databases – EU NANDO for CE marked products (https://tinyurl.com/MC-Gear-on-NANDO), UKMCAB for UKCA marking (https://tinyurl.com/MC-Gear-on-UKMCAB) – and that it is still valid. Be wary of certificates that describe the product vaguely, or cover only the protectors fitted rather than the entire garment.
Why the label proves nothing
CE marks and EN 17092 pictograms are printed on labels and in advertisements as easily by rogue vendors as by honest ones. A logo is a claim, not evidence. The certification is the evidence.
The tactics to recognise
These are the patterns I see again and again.
Claims without paperwork. “CE certified” or “meets the standard” appears in the advert, but no certification details follow. Asking for evidence sees the seller go quiet. In my experience, silence is the most reliable red flag of all.
Vague wording. “CE approved”, “CE tested” and “CE rated” are not terms the regulations use. A genuine claim names the standard and the performance class.
Certified materials. Only EN 1621 impact protectors are certified as components. Everything else is assessed as part of the complete garment, so “certified fabrics” or “race-homologated materials” sounds technical but means nothing.
Borrowed credibility. Certificates that belong to another product or company, altered or fabricated documents, trading names that mimic an established factory, and award logos with no connection to the product.
Wrong product. Cargo trousers and workwear, sometimes with protectors tucked in, sold as motorcycle clothing and promoted with images of riders. Whatever the pictures suggest, they have never been tested as protective garments.
Too good to be true. Prices far below those of reputable brands, slick or cartoon-style video adverts, and sellers who cannot decide whether they are quoting for one garment or a bulk order. Many operate overseas, beyond the reach of UK Trading Standards, and reappear under a new name when a page is removed.
If in doubt
Buy from retailers and brands that will provide you with details of their products’ certification without fuss, ideally somewhere you can try the garment on. If you cannot verify it, my advice remains the same: don’t buy rider safety clothing online. If you have already been caught out, contact your card provider or PayPal promptly to dispute the payment, although recovering your money is never guaranteed, and report UK-based sellers to Trading Standards.
Certification is what separates clothing that has been independently tested to protect you in a crash from clothing that merely looks the part. Your skin is what you are trusting to it, so it is worth thirty seconds to ask the question – and to walk away from anyone unwilling to answer.
In the next article in this series, I’ll take readers into a typical test lab to explain the scientific assessments that motorcycle clothing and equipment is subjected to.
Got a question? Email contact@roadskin.co.uk and type “PPE question” into the subject line, and Paul will answer it in a future article.
About the Author
Paul Varnsverry is widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading experts on the manufacture, testing and certification of motorcycle clothing. He has helped develop standards for bike gear since 1991 and advises organisations including the British Motorcyclists Federation, the National Motorcyclists Council, and UK Policing.
Paul writes a weekly column in Motorcycle News, "The Fight Against Fake Bike Kit," explaining the legislation and standards to riders, with a particular focus on the social media and online marketplace sellers promoting untested, non-certified and unsafe products. He is also active on social media, naming and shaming the scammers, and runs a winter series of talks to rider groups across the UK to raise awareness.
Paul has agreed to write a regular series of articles for Roadskin, sharing his knowledge so that more riders can understand what defines genuine motorcycle safety clothing and how to avoid rogue vendors online.
Copyright © Paul Varnsverry 2026. All rights reserved.
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Customer story: I could have not asked for more from these jeans. They saved my skin and bones literally.