If you ride, you probably assume that any jacket, glove or pair of jeans sold as "motorcycle gear" has been properly tested for safety. It seems a fair assumption. Yet the truth is more complicated, and understanding it could save your skin.
Motorcycle clothing has been a regulated safety product for a very long time. In this first article of a new series for Roadskin, motorcycle clothing expert Paul Varnsverry walks you through the legislation, explains how we got here, and shows you why it matters every time you throw a leg over your bike.
Regulated Since 1994: Longer Than You Think
Here is a fact that surprises most riders. Motorcycle clothing has been regulated as a safety product since 30 June 1994. Yes, more than 32 years.
That date marks the full implementation of the original Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC). It required motorcycle clothing declared by the manufacturer as protective to be independently tested and certified. Conforming products would carry the CE (Conformité Européenne) mark.
Read that phrase again, because it matters: "declared by the manufacturer as protective."
The Loophole That Left Riders Exposed
The old legislation put the responsibility on manufacturers to decide how to categorise their own products. For motorcycle clothing, this created what has since been called "the historic abuses."
In plain terms, some brands told the authorities their products were simply outerwear, while marketing them to riders for their abrasion resistance, robustness and safety. In many cases, the garments had CE-marked impact protectors at the joints, yet the clothing itself dodged proper certification. Riders thought they were buying safety gear. On paper, they were buying a fashion item.
The 2018 Shift: Motorcycle Clothing Becomes Category II PPE
Regulators eventually closed that loophole. On 20 January 2016, they introduced Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which removed the decision from manufacturers entirely. Motorcycle clothing was now officially designated as Category II PPE.
The PPE Regulation took full effect on 21 April 2018. From that date, all motorcycle clothing newly placed on the market has had to be independently tested and certified. In Europe, an officially appointed organisation carries out that work (there are around 35). Following Brexit, an Approved Body in the UK can certify products for UKCA marking (there are five).
So, what does the regulation actually cover? The list is broad:
- One and two-piece suits
- Jackets
- Trousers (including motorcycle jeans)
- Gloves
- Footwear
- Impact protection components
If you buy any of these today as certified kit, it has genuinely been through the process to earn its mark.
The Unspoken Amnesty
There is one detail worth knowing. Clothing stocks placed on the market before 21 April 2018 have been allowed to continue to be sold without conformity, even though many would argue much of it should have been CE marked under the older rules.
The result was an unofficial, unspoken amnesty. Rather than force a reckoning over old stock, the new legislation simply drew a clean line and gave the industry a fresh start.
Overall, that fresh start has been embraced. Both established brands and newcomers have got behind the new regime. Standards for motorcycle clothing have existed since the late 1990s (EN 1621-1:1997, covering impact protectors, was the first), and since then we have seen revised standards for gloves and footwear, plus a whole new suite covering suits, jackets and trousers.
Worth remembering: you are not legally forced to wear approved PPE in the UK. The one exception is France, where riders and passengers must wear gloves. The standards give you a reliable way to identify kit designed and tested for motorcycling.
CE and UKCA: Where Things Stand After Brexit
Brexit did not change the relevance of the PPE Regulation or European Standards one bit. The legislation dates from 20 January 2016, five months before the referendum and while the UK was still an EU member state, so it was written straight into UK statute.
After the UK formally left the EU in January 2020, a new mark was developed: the UKCA mark, described by some as "the UK's CE mark." It was meant to replace the CE mark, with firm deadlines set for when it would become mandatory. British companies invested to comply. It was largely a paperwork exercise, but not a free one, since the same standards used for CE certification still applied – meaning a product's existing CE certification could also be used to support UKCA marking, though not the other way round: UKCA certification alone does not permit the CE mark to be applied.
Those deadlines were pushed back repeatedly. By August 2023, UKCA certification had, to all intents and purposes, been significantly downgraded if not abandoned, with the government confirming the CE mark would continue to be recognised "indefinitely."
Even so, you will still spot the UKCA mark on some products, for one of three reasons:
- Unexpired certification issued before the government's decision
- A commercial choice to continue with UKCA certification
- Legitimate dual-marking of products as both CE and UKCA, based on the underlying CE certificates
The takeaway for you as a rider is simple. A CE mark (and/or a UKCA mark) on properly certified motorcycle clothing remains the sign to look for. It tells you the gear has been tested and certified to recognised standards, rather than just sold with a safety-sounding sales pitch.
Why This Matters Every Time You Ride
Knowing the law is not about ticking a legal box. It is about protecting yourself. When you understand what CE and UKCA marking really means, you can tell the difference between genuine, tested protection and untested kit dressed up to look the part. That knowledge helps you shop with confidence and spot the rogue vendors flooding social media and online marketplaces with unsafe products.
In the next article in this series, Paul will look at the European Standards that apply to motorcycle clothing and equipment, and how to recognise authentically tested and certified products.
Got a Question?
Have a burning question about PPE, certification or what to look for when buying gear? Email us at contact@roadskin.co.uk and pop "PPE question" in the subject line. Paul will answer a selection 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.
Afterword from Ian Wilson, CEO of Roadskin
At Roadskin, we design our jeans, jackets, hoodies and gloves to meet recognised certification standards. As riders ourselves, we want our customers to have the same confidence in their gear that we expect from our own. It’s where style meets safety and comfort comes without compromise.
Since 2023, we have valued our professional advisory relationship with Paul Varnsverry, who has guided our company through the legal and regulatory aspects of product expansion and CE certification.
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