What is the difference between CE Level 1 and CE Level 2 motorcycle gloves?

CE Level 1 and Level 2 refer to the performance tier achieved under EN 13594, the European safety standard for protective motorcycle gloves. Level 1 is baseline certification — gloves meet minimum thresholds for abrasion resistance, impact protection, seam strength, and ergonomic performance. Level 2 requires the glove to meet significantly more demanding thresholds in the same tests. Level 2 gloves allow less force transmission in impact tests and withstand more abrasion before failure — providing meaningfully higher crash protection.

Which CE level is better for motorcycle safety: Level 1 or Level 2?

CE Level 2 provides significantly better crash protection than Level 1 in both abrasion resistance and impact energy absorption. For the knuckle area specifically — the most commonly injured area in motorcycle crashes — Level 2 knuckle armor transmits substantially less force to your hand in an impact. Most motorcycle safety organizations and experienced riders recommend CE Level 2 at minimum for serious riding.

Can a glove have CE Level 2 in some areas and Level 1 in others?

Yes — CE certification under EN 13594 can be zone-specific. A glove may achieve CE Level 2 at the knuckle area (where impact armor is included) but CE Level 1 at the palm (where only leather provides protection). When evaluating certification, check which zones are certified at which level, not just the overall label. The knuckle and palm are the two most important zones to check.

Do leather motorcycle gloves meet CE standards without added armor?

Full-grain leather gloves can meet CE Level 1 for abrasion resistance at the palm zone without added hard armor, because quality full-grain leather passes the abrasion resistance threshold at appropriate thickness. However, knuckle CE certification requires impact armor (hard insert or foam energy absorber) because leather alone does not adequately absorb impact energy at the knuckle zones. CE Level 2 at the knuckle requires armor inserts.

CE Level 1 vs CE Level 2 Motorcycle Gloves: What's the Difference?

jamesjordan
Jun 26
3 min read

CE Level 1 vs CE Level 2 Motorcycle Gloves: Exactly What's Different

CE Level 1 and Level 2 are the two performance tiers under EN 13594 — the European standard that governs motorcycle glove safety certification. Here is exactly what separates them and why it matters for your protection.

The Standard: EN 13594

EN 13594 is the European standard for protective gloves for motorcycle riders. It defines specific laboratory tests that gloves must pass to earn CE certification, and establishes two performance tiers (Level 1 and Level 2) with different minimum thresholds for each test. A glove that meets Level 1 thresholds earns CE Level 1 certification. A glove that meets the more demanding Level 2 thresholds earns CE Level 2.

What the Tests Measure

EN 13594 tests four primary properties: abrasion resistance (how long before the material wears through in a road slide simulation), impact protection (how much energy armor absorbs and how little force is transmitted to the hand in a drop-weight impact), seam burst strength (how much tension seams resist before failing), and ergonomic performance (dexterity and fit while wearing).

What Level 1 vs Level 2 Means Numerically

For impact protection — the most safety-critical test — Level 2 knuckle armor must transmit no more than 9 kilonewtons of peak force in testing. Level 1 allows up to 13.5 kN. That's a meaningful difference: Level 2 armor absorbs significantly more energy, transmitting substantially less to the knuckle bones and joints beneath. For abrasion, Level 2 requires the material to withstand road simulation for a longer duration without failure.

For serious riders, CE Level 2 certified leather motorcycle gloves with Level 2 knuckle armor provide a significantly higher crash protection standard than Level 1.

Zone-Specific Certification

A glove's CE certification can vary by zone. A glove might be CE Level 2 at the knuckle (where hard armor is installed) and CE Level 1 at the palm (where leather provides abrasion resistance without a hard insert). Read the certification label carefully — it should specify which zones are certified at which level. The two most important zones are knuckle (impact) and palm (abrasion).

Which Level Should You Choose?

For all serious riding — including street commuting, touring, and sport riding — CE Level 2 at the knuckle is the recommended minimum. The additional protection Level 2 provides is real and tested. Level 1 is appropriate for very casual low-risk riding contexts. If you're buying gloves for any regular riding, invest in Level 2 certification where it counts: the knuckle.

FAQs: CE Level 1 vs Level 2 Motorcycle Gloves

What is the difference between CE Level 1 and Level 2?

Level 2 requires more demanding performance thresholds under EN 13594 — specifically: less force transmitted in impact tests (9 kN vs 13.5 kN at knuckle) and greater abrasion resistance before failure.

Which level is better for safety?

CE Level 2 provides meaningfully higher crash protection in both impact absorption and abrasion resistance. Most safety organizations recommend Level 2 for all regular riding.

Can a glove be Level 2 in some zones and Level 1 in others?

Yes — certification is zone-specific. Always check which zones are certified at which level. Knuckle and palm are the most important zones to verify.

Can leather gloves meet CE without armor?

Full-grain leather can meet Level 1 abrasion requirements. Knuckle CE certification at any level requires impact armor inserts — leather alone cannot meet knuckle impact thresholds.

Choose the Higher Standard

CE Level 2 certified American-made leather motorcycle gloves give you verified, tested protection at the highest available standard. Shop our collection and ride at Level 2.