CE AA vs AAA Explained: What EN 17092 Ratings Mean
In short: EN 17092 is the European standard for protective motorcycle garments. It has five classes: AAA and AA offer the highest abrasion protection and require impact protectors, A is a lighter class, B has no protectors and C is protector-only. For everyday riding gear that replaces a textile or leather suit, look for AA or AAA.
Look at the label of any modern riding jacket, pair of motorcycle jeans or riding hoodie and you will find a CE mark with a class: AAA, AA, A, B or C. These letters tell you more about how a garment protects you than any marketing claim. Here is what they mean, how garments are tested and what the difference between AA and AAA means on the road.
What is EN 17092?
EN 17092 is the European standard for protective motorcycle garments: jackets, trousers and one- or two-piece suits. It was introduced in 2020 and is made up of six parts. Part 1 describes the test methods, Parts 2 to 6 the requirements for the five protection classes.
The key point: the complete garment is certified, not just the fabric. A jacket or a pair of jeans only gets a class if fabric, seams, closures, fit and protectors pass the tests together.
The five classes at a glance
| Class | Abrasion protection | Impact protectors |
|---|---|---|
| AAA | Highest level | Required at shoulders and elbows, or knees and hips |
| AA | High level | Required at shoulders and elbows, or knees and hips |
| A | Basic level, for lighter garments | Required, hip protectors optional |
| B | Same as class A | None |
| C | No minimum abrasion protection | Only impact protection, worn under or with other garments |
For everyday riding gear that is meant to replace a classic textile or leather suit, AA and AAA are the classes to look for.
How garments are tested
- Impact abrasion: The test simulates a rider of about 75 kg and 1.75 m sliding to a stop on concrete. The material passes if no hole of 5 mm or more appears in the layer closest to the body. Specimens are tested in several directions of the fabric.
- Tear strength: How well the fabric resists tearing once it has been damaged.
- Seams and closures: Seams are tested by zone, because a seam that bursts in a slide exposes the skin even if the fabric holds.
- Impact protectors: Protectors must be certified to EN 1621 and sit over the right part of the body.
- Fit and ergonomics: The garment must fit its size label and allow the essential riding movements.
- Dimensional stability: Washable garments may not shrink or stretch by more than 5%.
Why zones matter
The standard divides a garment into zones by how likely they are to hit the ground. Shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and the seat are in the highest-risk zone and face the toughest requirements. Areas that rarely touch the road have lower requirements. That is why some garments only reinforce the high-risk zones, which is enough to pass the test.
AA vs AAA: what is the difference on the road?
Both classes require impact protectors and a high level of abrasion resistance. AAA sets the highest requirements for abrasion and is aimed at riders who want the most protection the standard defines, whether on the highway or on longer trips. AA is a strong choice for commuting and everyday riding, and often allows lighter, more breathable garments.
The class tells you how a garment performed in a defined test. It is not a guarantee of how it will perform in every crash. No garment can do that.
Level 1 vs Level 2 armour
The CE class covers the whole garment. The protectors inside it have their own rating under EN 1621-1: Level 1 and Level 2. Level 2 lets less impact force through to the body, so it offers more protection. Our jeans, shirts and hoodies come with RE ZRO® Flat Level 2 protectors as standard.
What AAA+ means at Resurgence Gear
AAA+ is not an official class. The highest official rating under EN 17092 is AAA. We use AAA+ for certified AAA garments where we go further than the test requires: an additional PEKEV® lining in the highest-risk zones, and PEKEV® protection throughout the garment, including areas the test does not measure.
How to read the label
- Look for the class and the standard together, for example "EN 17092-2:2020 AAA". A CE mark without a class does not tell you how protective the garment is.
- "Fabric tested" is not the same as "garment certified". A fabric can reach AAA in the lab, while the complete garment still has to pass seam, fit and protector tests.
- Check the armour separately. Note the EN 1621 level for shoulders, elbows, knees, hips and, if fitted, the back.
Our collection by class
- Class AAA: Cafe Racer Jeans, Kingston Shirt, Wellington Hooded Sweater, Richmond Hooded Jacket, Adelaide Fieldjacket
- Class AA: Warrior Jeans
- Fabric tested to AAA, garment certification in progress: Klondike Single-Layer Jeans
Every garment is built on PEKEV®, our patented protective fibre, and none of them looks like motorcycle gear. Protection you don't see is still protection.
