Every code on the sewn-in label
Gear label decoder
Motorcycle gear carries its lab results sewn inside — classes, levels and codes most riders were never shown how to read. Pick your gear, or scroll the full reference. No jargon survives below this line.
Showing everything. Pick a gear type to focus.
EN 17092 — Protective garments
EN 17092-3:2020 AAEN 17092:2020 is the European standard behind the class letters (AAA, AA, A, B, C) on motorcycle jackets, pants, suits and riding jeans. The class rates the garment shell — abrasion, seam and tear strength — and says which armor pockets must be filled; it does not rate the armor itself, which carries its own EN 1621 label. The part number on the label identifies the class: -2 is AAA down to -6 for C.
EN 17092-3:2020 AA
A typical marking you'll find on the sewn-in label.
| Marking | What it means |
|---|---|
| AAA | Top garment class, with the heaviest abrasion and strength requirements — in practice mostly one-piece and two-piece leather race suits. Shoulder, elbow, hip and knee impact protectors are mandatory. Back and chest protectors are still not required. Darmstadt impact-abrasion at the highest machine speeds — a slide equivalent to about 120 km/h on the most exposed zone, about 75 km/h on moderate zones and about 45 km/h on low-risk zones — with no hole of 5 mm or more allowed in the layer closest to the body. Plus the toughest seam- and tear-strength tiers, dimensional stability within 5% after cleaning, and EN 1621-1 certified protectors in every mandatory position. Letters 'AAA' inside or under the motorcyclist pictogram on the sewn-in label, next to 'EN 17092-2:2020' and a booklet symbol |
| AA | Middle full-garment class and the most common rating on quality touring and adventure textile gear and stronger riding jeans. It trades some abrasion margin for weight and heat comfort. Shoulder, elbow, hip and knee protectors are mandatory — the same armor coverage as AAA. Darmstadt abrasion at a slide equivalent of about 70 km/h on the most exposed zone, about 45 km/h on moderate zones and about 25 km/h on low-risk zones, with no 5 mm hole allowed. Intermediate seam- and tear-strength tiers, EN 1621-1 protectors in all mandatory positions, and dimensional stability after washing. Letters 'AA' in the motorcyclist pictogram with 'EN 17092-3:2020' |
| A | Entry full-garment class, aimed at urban, low-speed and hot-weather gear such as mesh jackets and lighter riding jeans. Shoulder, elbow and knee protectors are mandatory; hip protectors are optional. Least abrasion protection of the armored classes. Darmstadt abrasion at a slide equivalent of about 45 km/h on the most exposed zone and about 25 km/h on moderate zones, with no abrasion requirement on low-risk zones; no 5 mm hole allowed. Lowest seam- and tear-strength tiers of the armored classes, with EN 1621-1 protectors in the mandatory positions. Letter 'A' in the motorcyclist pictogram with 'EN 17092-4:2020' |
| B | Abrasion-only garment: the same abrasion protection as Class A but with no impact protectors, so it carries no certified impact protection. Seen on some riding jeans and casual gear; pair it with separate EN 1621 protectors or a Class C garment. Same impact-abrasion, seam and tear requirements as Class A — a slide equivalent of about 45 km/h on the most exposed zone and about 25 km/h on moderate zones — but with no impact-protector requirement at all. Letter 'B' in the motorcyclist pictogram with 'EN 17092-5:2020' |
| C | Impact-protector holder only — armored mesh under-shirts, strap-on armor vests, armored leggings. Its only job is to hold EN 1621 protectors in place; it has no minimum abrasion resistance and is meant to be worn with (under or over) a Class AAA, AA, A or B garment, not instead of one. Protector retention and positioning plus general garment requirements only; no impact-abrasion requirement. The protectors themselves are certified separately under EN 1621. Letter 'C' in the motorcyclist pictogram with 'EN 17092-6:2020'; may carry a CO (overgarment) or CU (undergarment) designation |
- The class letter rates the garment shell and which armor pockets must be filled — it does not rate the armor inside. A AAA suit may legally contain only Level 1 limb armor and no back protector; read each protector's own EN 1621 label separately.
- The km/h figures are machine slide-speed equivalents from the Darmstadt test rig, not certified real-world crash speeds. Real outcomes depend on surface, slide versus tumble, fit and armor — treat the numbers as lab benchmark tiers.
- A widely shared 'abrasion seconds' table (AAA 4.0 s / AA 2.0 s / A 1.0 s) mixes up the older EN 13595 timed test with EN 17092's pass/fail Darmstadt test. Time-to-hole numbers do not apply to EN 17092 classes.
- Exact seam- and tear-strength minimums are published only in the paywalled standard text, and secondary sources quote conflicting numbers, so this page describes those requirements qualitatively rather than with figures.
- Garments certified around 2018–2019 may be labelled prEN 17092 or FprEN 17092 — the provisional drafts that preceded the March 2020 publication. The draft classes and main tests were essentially the same as the published standard, so read the class letter the same way.
- This page describes the 2020 edition. No later edition had superseded it in the sources reviewed as of mid-2026, but standards do get revised — check the year printed on the label against the current edition.
Sources for these values (7)
EN 1621 — Impact protectors (armor)
EN 1621-1:2012 Type B Level 2EN 1621 is the European standard family for the impact protectors — the armor pads and airbags — worn inside or under motorcycle gear. All four parts share one core test: a 5 kg mass is dropped with 50 J of energy onto the protector and a load cell measures how much force passes through to the body side; less transmitted force means better performance in the test. Parts 1 (limb), 2 (back) and 4 (airbag) define Level 2 as roughly half the Level 1 force allowance, while part 3 (chest) keeps the Level 1 force limits and adds a load-spreading requirement for Level 2.
EN 1621-1:2012 Type B Level 2
A typical marking you'll find on the sewn-in label.
| Marking | What it means |
|---|---|
| EN 1621-1:2012 | The standard for limb-joint armor — shoulder, elbow and forearm, hip, knee and lower-leg pads. On a label it always appears together with a performance level (1 or 2), a body-zone letter and a size type (A or B). |
| Level 1 (EN 1621-1 limb) | Baseline limb armor: from the 50 J lab impact, at most 35 kN mean transmitted force, with no single strike above 50 kN. Often chosen where low bulk and flexibility matter; still a real, tested floor. |
| Level 2 (EN 1621-1 limb) | Higher-rated limb armor: at most 20 kN mean transmitted force — a bit over half the Level 1 allowance — with no single strike above 30 kN. Level 2 pads can be thicker or heavier than Level 1. |
| S | Zone letter for a shoulder protector. |
| E | Zone letter for an elbow-and-forearm protector. |
| H | Zone letter for a hip protector. |
| K | Zone letter for a knee-and-upper-tibia protector. |
| K+L | Combined knee plus upper-and-middle-tibia protector — one long guard covering the knee and most of the shin, common on MX and adventure knee guards. |
| L | Leg protector for the area below a separate K knee protector — shin coverage that pairs with a knee-only pad. |
| Type A | Reduced-dimension protector: a smaller minimum coverage area, generally sized for smaller riders or lower-bulk designs. It must pass the same force limits as Type B, just over a smaller mandatory zone. Used on EN 1621-1 limb and EN 1621-3 chest labels. |
| Type B | Full-dimension protector: the larger minimum coverage area, intended to suit most riders. If it fits, the extra coverage of Type B is worth having. Used on EN 1621-1 limb and EN 1621-3 chest labels. |
| EN 1621-2:2014 | The standard for back protectors, both strap-on and jacket-insert types. Labels combine the standard number, a coverage code (FB, CB or LB) and Level 1 or 2; sizing is by waist-to-shoulder length in centimetres, not by jacket size. |
| FB | Full-back protector — covers the central back plus the shoulder-blade area. The largest coverage class. |
| CB | Central-back protector — covers the spine strip only, not the shoulder blades. Typical for in-jacket back inserts. |
| LB | Lower-back protector — covers only the lumbar region, as in kidney-belt style protectors. Sometimes printed as just "L" on back-protector labels. |
| Level 1 (EN 1621-2 back) | Baseline back protection: at most 18 kN mean transmitted force from the 50 J kerbstone-edge impact, with no single strike above 24 kN. |
| Level 2 (EN 1621-2 back) | The higher back-protector level: half the Level 1 allowance — at most 9 kN mean transmitted force, with no single strike above 12 kN. |
| EN 1621-3:2018 | The standard for chest protectors, sold as one-piece (full) or two-half (divided) designs. It is written around impacts against edges like kerbstones and car-roof corners, and against lofted stones. |
| Level 1 (EN 1621-3 chest) | Soft chest protector that passes the force-transmission test: at most 18 kN mean transmitted force, with no single strike above 24 kN. |
| Level 2 (EN 1621-3 chest) | More rigid chest protector that passes the same force-transmission limits as Level 1 plus an additional load-spreading test (at most 15 kN mean, no single value above 20 kN). Unlike the other parts, chest Level 2 is not half of Level 1 — it adds the distribution requirement. |
| EN 1621-4:2013 | The standard for inflatable (airbag) protectors. The 2013 edition covers mechanically activated tether systems only; electronic airbags are certified against adapted versions of its requirements. An airbag only provides its rated performance while inflated. |
| Level 1 (EN 1621-4 airbag) | Baseline airbag level: at most 4.5 kN mean transmitted force when tested inflated, with no single strike above 6 kN — well below what any passive foam armor is allowed to pass through. |
| Level 2 (EN 1621-4 airbag) | The lowest transmitted-force allowance in the EN 1621 family: at most 2.5 kN mean when tested inflated, with no single strike above 3 kN. |
| T+ | Optional mark: the protector was also impact-tested after conditioning at +40 °C and still met its claimed level — relevant for hot-climate riding, where soft armor can soften further. |
| T- | Optional mark: the protector was also impact-tested after conditioning at −10 °C and still met its claimed level — relevant for cold-weather riding, where viscoelastic armor stiffens. |
- Many consumer guides mix up numbers between parts: the back-protector limits (18/24 kN and 9/12 kN) are often presented as the limits for limb armor or chest protectors. The correct limb (EN 1621-1) values are 35/50 kN for Level 1 and 20/30 kN for Level 2, and chest Level 2 adds a load-spreading test rather than halving the force limit.
- The EN 1621-1 single-strike caps differ by strike location: the 50 kN (Level 1) and 30 kN (Level 2) caps apply to the perimeter areas, while central-area strikes must stay at or below the mean cap (35/20 kN). The popular shorthand "no single value over 50/30" is a safe simplification.
- The exact number of samples and impacts per test sits behind the standards paywall, and secondary summaries disagree (five to nine strikes are quoted), so no specific impact count is printed here.
- The exact label and pictogram layout clauses are not in the free standard previews; label-format examples here are reconstructed from secondary sources.
- "KP" on glove knuckle armor comes from the glove standard EN 13594, not EN 1621-1 — some guides incorrectly list it as an EN 1621-1 zone code.
- EN 1621-4:2013 covers mechanically triggered (tether) airbags only. Electronic airbags (Tech-Air, D-air, In&motion and similar) are type-examined against adapted EN 1621-4-based specifications, and a revised edition is under development — their labels may reference EN 1621-4 without the product being strictly within the 2013 scope.
- Edition years matter: armor certified to the older EN 1621-1:1997 had a single performance level (no Level 1/2 on the label), and EN 1621-2:2003 predates the 2014 FB/CB coverage definitions. Read the edition year printed on the label.
- The T+/T- conditioning temperatures (+40 °C / −10 °C) are well corroborated, but the exact conditioning durations are behind the paywall.
- The kN limits are lab comparison values, not real-world crash forces. A Level 2 pad performs better in the standard test; that is not the same as a promise about any specific crash.
EN 13594 — Gloves
EN 13594:2015 Level 1 KPEN 13594:2015 is the CE standard for motorcycle gloves, certified as PPE under EU Regulation 2016/425. A glove earns a single overall level, 1 or 2, printed beside the rider pictogram on the sewn-in label. Level 2 means a longer gauntlet cuff, roughly double the abrasion requirement, tougher tear and seam thresholds, and mandatory impact-tested knuckle armor — so short-cuff gloves can only ever reach Level 1. A separate KP mark means the knuckle protector passed its impact test: an optional extra at Level 1, required at Level 2.
EN 13594:2015 Level 1 KP
A typical marking you'll find on the sewn-in label.
| Marking | What it means |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Baseline certified motorcycle glove. Prioritizes comfort and dexterity; short-cuff gloves can only ever be Level 1 because Level 2 requires a long gauntlet. Knuckle armor is optional at this level. Cuff at least 15 mm past the wrist line. Impact abrasion on a Klingspor PL31B grit-180 belt (sample dropped 50 mm onto the moving belt): no sample under 3 s, mean of four samples at least 4 s. Tear strength: palm and palm side of fingers 25 N, back of hand and cuff 18 N, fourchettes 18 N. Seam strength: main seams 6 N/mm, fourchette seams 4 N/mm. Blade-cut (EN 388 method) index at least 1.2 on the palm face. Restraint: the fastened glove must stay on under a 25 N pull. Number "1" printed beside the motorcycle-rider pictogram on the glove's sewn-in label, with "EN 13594:2015" |
| Level 2 | Higher-protection glove: roughly double the abrasion requirement, tougher tear and seam thresholds, a real gauntlet cuff, and mandatory impact-tested knuckle armor. Typical of track and sport gauntlet gloves. Cuff at least 50 mm past the wrist line. Impact abrasion: no sample under 6 s, mean at least 8 s. Tear strength: palm 35 N, back of hand and cuff 30 N, fourchettes 25 N. Seam strength: main seams 10 N/mm, fourchette seams 7 N/mm. Blade-cut index at least 1.8 on the palm face and 1.2 on the back face (fourchettes exempt). Restraint: stays on under a 50 N pull. Mandatory knuckle impact test: 5 J strike on each of four knuckles, no single transmitted force over 5.0 kN and mean at or below 4.0 kN. Number "2" beside the rider pictogram, usually together with "KP" (knuckle protection is mandatory at Level 2) |
| KP | Knuckle protection: the glove's knuckle armor passed a standardized impact test. On a Level 1 glove KP is optional — without it, any hard knuckle shell is untested styling. Every Level 2 glove must pass it, though some labels print just "2" rather than "2 KP". A 2.5 kg flat-faced striker delivers one 5 J impact to each of the four knuckles across four glove samples. Level 1 KP: no single transmitted force over 9 kN, mean at or below 7 kN. Level 2: no single result over 5.0 kN, mean at or below 4.0 kN. Fail criteria include glove parts cracking or shattering into sharp edges, or the 0.8 mm split-leather backing between test piece and anvil tearing or holing. Letters "KP" next to the level number on the glove label — read "1 KP" as a Level 1 glove with tested knuckle armor, "2 KP" as a Level 2 glove (where the test is mandatory anyway) |
- The full standard text is paywalled. Figures here come from secondary technical sources cross-checked against a public preview of EN 13594:2015 that shows the requirement tables; values marked medium confidence carry residual uncertainty.
- SportsBikeShop, Motohut and InGearMoto agree verbatim on many figures and likely share a common lineage — treat them as fewer than three independent sources.
- Several retailer guides print the Level 2 knuckle limit as 4 kN for a single strike and restraint forces of 27 N / 52 N; the standard's tables read 5.0 kN single / 4.0 kN mean, and 25 N / 50 N. Figures here follow the standard.
- SATRA's overview page lists the Level 1 cuff as 5 mm; the standard's Table 1 and the PVA-PPE trade-association summary both say 15 mm. The 5 mm figure appears to be a typo propagated to pages that syndicate SATRA's text.
- SATRA describes the abrasion abradant as P120 grit; the standard specifies a Klingspor PL31B grit-180 belt and an accredited lab report lists that same consumable, so grit 180 is used here.
- Knuckle protection is mandatory at Level 2, but whether the label prints "2 KP" or just "2" varies by certifier; both appear in the wild.
- Older stock may carry EN 13594:2002 marks. That edition covered professional riders' gloves and required a 50 mm cuff on every glove; its level definitions differ from the 2015 revision described here.
Sources for these values (4)
EN 13634 — Boots
EN 13634:2017 2 2 2 2EN 13634:2017 is the CE standard for motorcycle boots and riding shoes, certified as PPE under EU Regulation 2016/425. The label carries four digits next to the motorcycle pictogram, each scored 1 or 2 independently and read left to right: upper height, impact-abrasion resistance, impact-cut resistance, and transverse (crush) rigidity. There is no single overall boot level — a short boot can read "1 2 2 2": short on height but level 2 on every protection test. Optional letter marks (WR, FO, SRA/SRB/SRC, IPA, IPS, WAD, B) record extra tested properties such as waterproofing, slip resistance, and ankle or shin armor.
EN 13634:2017 2 2 2 2
A typical marking you'll find on the sewn-in label.
| Marking | What it means |
|---|---|
| Digit 1 — upper height | How tall the boot is. 1 = short boot or riding shoe covering the ankle; 2 = tall boot reaching well up the lower leg. This digit is about coverage, not material strength. Height of the upper measured at two points (H1, the shorter, and H2, the taller, per the standard's Figure 1) against size-dependent tables. Level 1: H2 103–121 mm and H1 64–73 mm from smallest to largest sizes. Level 2 by size band (H2/H1): size ≤36: 162/113 mm; 37–38: 165/115 mm; 39–40: 172/119 mm; 41–42: 178/123 mm; 43–44: 185/127 mm; ≥45: 192/131 mm. Public sources disagree on which measurement point is the front and which the rear of the boot, so no orientation is asserted here. First of the four digits after the motorcycle pictogram on the boot label (e.g. the first "2" in "2 2 2 2") |
| Digit 2 — impact abrasion | How long the boot's outer materials survive being ground against a moving abrasive surface, simulating sliding on asphalt. 2 means the upper lasted more than twice as long as the Level 1 minimum. Samples held against a 60-grit abrasive belt moving at 8 m/s. The boot surface is split into two zones with different minimums — Level 1: 1.5 s (Zone A) and 5 s (Zone B); Level 2: 2.5 s (Zone A) and 12 s (Zone B). Zone B, the more exposed area of the upper, carries the higher requirement. Second of the four digits on the boot label |
| Digit 3 — impact cut | Resistance to a sharp edge striking the boot — think footpeg, metal edge or debris in a crash. Measured as how far a dropped blade penetrates; lower penetration earns Level 2. A blade is dropped onto the sample at 2.8 m/s in the main Zone B areas; Level 1: blade penetration no more than 25 mm; Level 2: no more than 15 mm. Zone A areas are tested at a lower 2 m/s blade speed with a 25 mm limit at both levels. Third of the four digits on the boot label |
| Digit 4 — transverse rigidity | How much the sole and boot resist being crushed sideways — the scenario of a bike landing on your foot. Higher force to deform earns Level 2. The boot is compressed transversely in a press, with force measured at 20 mm of sole deformation; Level 1: withstands at least 1.0 kN; Level 2: at least 1.5 kN. Fourth of the four digits on the boot label |
| Four-digit string (e.g. 2 2 2 2, 1 2 2 2) | Each digit is rated independently, so mixed scores are normal. "2 2 2 2" means a tall boot that reached level 2 on every test. "1 2 2 2" means a short boot that still reached level 2 on every protection test. A leading "1" only means short height — it says nothing about material strength. Combination of the four individual digit tests; EN 13634:2017 has no overall single boot level — the 2017 revision removed it and made the height digit a mandatory marking. The complete four-digit performance string on the boot label, read left to right: height, abrasion, impact cut, transverse rigidity |
| WR | Water resistance: the whole boot resists water penetration in a standardized wet test. Not the same as a lining brand name — it is a tested claim. Optional whole-boot water-penetration test; pass/fail marking, no levels. Optional letters after the four digits on the boot label |
| FO | Fuel and oil resistance of the outsole: the sole material does not degrade when exposed to fuel or oil — useful because garage floors and fuel spills attack ordinary rubber. Optional outsole fuel-oil resistance test; pass/fail marking. Optional letters after the four digits on the boot label |
| SRA / SRB / SRC | Outsole slip resistance, tested the same way as general safety footwear: SRA = tested on wet ceramic tile with detergent solution, SRB = on steel with glycerol, SRC = passed both. Relevant for feet-down stops on wet or greasy surfaces. Optional outsole slip-resistance test on standard surfaces and lubricants; the SRA/SRB/SRC surface definitions follow the common safety-footwear scheme and are marked medium confidence for this standard. Optional slip-resistance letters on the boot label |
| IPA | Impact protection, ankle: the boot contains ankle (malleolus) armor that passed a separate impact-absorption test — beyond the base certification, which does not require impact armor at all. Separate impact test on the ankle protector with transmitted force limited to 5 kN; the impact-energy figure circulating for this test is single-source and not shown as verified — see caveats. Optional letters after the four digits on the boot label |
| IPS | Impact protection, shin: shin (tibia) armor in the boot passed a separate impact-absorption test. Only possible on taller boots that actually cover the shin. Same style of impact test as IPA, applied to the shin protector; specific energy figures are not multi-source verified. Optional letters after the four digits on the boot label |
| WAD | Water absorption and desorption of the insole (footbed): the insock absorbs little water and dries out readily. A comfort claim about the inner sole, not the boot upper. Optional insole/insock water absorption and desorption test; pass/fail marking. Optional letters on the boot label |
| B | Breathability: the upper passed a water-vapour-permeability test, so sweat can escape — a comfort-oriented optional claim. Optional water-vapour permeability test of the upper; pass/fail marking. Optional letter on the boot label |
- The full standard text is paywalled. Figures here come from secondary technical sources cross-checked against a public preview of the 2017 standard (which shows the height tables and optional-requirement clauses) and certified user-information booklets; values marked medium confidence carry residual uncertainty.
- The mapping of which boot panels fall in Zone A versus Zone B for the abrasion and cut tests rests mainly on one source — treat zone geometry as approximate.
- The standard measures upper height at two points (H1 and H2 in its Figure 1). The height values are verified against the standard's tables, but public sources disagree on which point is the front and which the rear of the boot, so no orientation is asserted.
- The IPA/IPS impact-energy figure circulating online (10 J) comes from a single manufacturer FAQ and is not presented as verified; the 5 kN transmitted-force limit has corroboration.
- Slip-resistance surface definitions (SRA/SRB/SRC) follow the general safety-footwear scheme and are marked medium confidence for this standard.
- Older stock may carry EN 13634:2010 or EN 13634:2015 marks. The 2015 edition still used a single overall boot level; the 2017 revision removed it and made the upper-height digit a mandatory fourth marking number.
Helmet certifications
ECE 22.06 · 062439/PHelmet marks split into legal minimums and voluntary programs. ECE 22.06 — the current European standard — is read from the white label sewn to the chin strap. DOT is a sticker on the back of the shell that the manufacturer applies itself: nobody outside the factory tests the helmet before sale. Snell is a voluntary certification with independent lab testing and a sticker inside the helmet, and FIM homologation is a racing-only layer with a hologram label on the strap. One helmet can carry several of these marks, and each one means something different.
ECE 22.06 · 062439/P
A typical marking you'll find on the sewn-in label.
| Marking | What it means |
|---|---|
| ECE 22.06 | Type-approved to UN Regulation 22, amendment 06 — the current European standard. The circled-E number is only the country whose authority granted the approval (E1 Germany, E2 France, E3 Italy, E11 UK), not where the helmet was made or how well it scored. The 06 at the start of the approval number is what tells you it is the newer standard. Linear impacts at three speeds (6.0, 7.5 and 8.2 m/s) with speed-specific g and HIC limits; up to 18 impact points, with three picked at random from 12 extra locations; an oblique impact at 8.0 m/s onto a 45° abrasive anvil with rotational limits (≤10,400 rad/s², BrIC ≤0.78); a 6 mm steel-ball visor test (reported speed varies by source — see caveats); sun-visor optics checks; and helmets sold with comms units or other accessories must pass with and without them fitted. White label sewn onto the chin strap: a circled E with a country number, then an approval number beginning with 06, a letter code for the helmet type, and a production serial — e.g. E1 062439/P. |
| ECE 22.05 | Approved to the previous (2000–2023) revision of Regulation 22. Still legal to wear in the UK, EU and Australia, but it was tested with linear impacts at essentially one speed (7.5 m/s) and no rotational measurement. New 22.05 production stopped in mid-2023, and since January 2024 only 22.06 designs can get new approvals. Linear impact at 7.5 m/s onto flat and kerbstone anvils at around five fixed points (≤275 g, HIC ≤2400); retention, roll-off, chin-strap and visor tests; a surface-friction shear test but no instrumented rotational criterion. Same chin-strap label format as 22.06, but the approval number begins with 05. |
| /P | Protective lower face cover: a full-face helmet (or a modular tested with the chin bar closed) whose chin bar passed the chin-guard impact test. The chin bar is a structural, protective part of the helmet. Letter after the approval number on the ECE chin-strap label, e.g. 062439/P. |
| /J | Jet (open-face) approval: the helmet was tested and approved without a protective chin bar. Letter after the approval number on the ECE chin-strap label. |
| /NP | Non-protective lower face cover: the helmet has a chin bar or lower-face element that was not tested as protective — it is cosmetic or aerodynamic only. Do not count on full-face protection from an NP helmet. Letter code after the approval number on the ECE chin-strap label. |
| /P/J | Dual homologation: the modular helmet is approved for riding both with the chin bar locked down (P mode) and raised (J mode). A modular marked only /P is not approved for riding with the chin bar up. Combined letter code on the ECE label of modular (flip-front) helmets. |
| DOT FMVSS 218 | The manufacturer's own declaration that the helmet meets US federal standard FMVSS 218. It is self-certified — no government or independent lab tests the helmet before sale; NHTSA only spot-checks helmets already on the market. Legally required for road use in the US, but on its own the sticker is the weakest consumer signal of the major marks. When a helmet is tested: guided drops at 5.8–6.2 m/s onto a flat anvil and 5.0–5.4 m/s onto a hemispherical anvil; peak headform acceleration ≤400 g, with ≤2.0 ms cumulative above 200 g and ≤4.0 ms above 150 g; a ~3 kg pointed striker dropped from 3 m must not reach the headform; the retention system holds 22.7 kg then an added 113.4 kg with ≤2.5 cm movement; ≥105° peripheral vision each side. No rotational or oblique test. Legend on the rear outside of the shell: the DOT symbol (at least 1.0 cm tall) centered 2.5–7.6 cm above the bottom rear edge, with the manufacturer name, the model, and the words 'FMVSS No. 218' and 'Certified'. |
| Snell M2020D | Voluntary certification by the independent Snell Memorial Foundation. The D variant is tuned for compatibility with US DOT and Japanese JIS — the traditional high-energy Snell recipe for North America and Japan. Snell buys random retail samples for follow-up testing after certification. Certification impacts from 7.75 m/s onto flat, edge and hemispherical anvils with peak-g limits of 275/264/243 g depending on headform size (no HIC criterion); chin-bar impact (5 kg at 3.5 m/s, ≤60 mm deflection); 3 kg cone penetration test; positional stability and retention tests. Snell certification sticker inside the helmet, usually under the comfort padding; 'Snell' is sometimes also printed on the shell. |
| Snell M2020R | The R (Regulation 22) variant of Snell M2020, tuned so the same helmet can also pass ECE 22.06 — slightly lower peak-g ceilings plus an HIC limit, aligned with the European requirements. A helmet carrying both Snell and ECE marks will be the R variant; D-variant helmets are typically US-market. Single flat-anvil impact at 8.2 m/s, edge anvil at 7.75 m/s, hemispherical at 7.70 m/s; peak acceleration ≤275 g (≤257 g for the largest headform); HIC ≤2880; same chin-bar, penetration and retention tests as M2020D. Snell sticker inside the helmet (under the comfort padding), marked M2020R. |
| Snell M2025D / M2025R | The current Snell motorcycle standards, with the same D/R split as M2020 (D for DOT/JIS markets, R also compatible with ECE 22.06), plus a new oblique impact test in both variants measuring rotational shock — Snell's answer to ECE 22.06 and FIM-style rotational testing. All M2020D/R requirements carried over, plus oblique impacts: a FIM-style silicone-coated headform dropped at 8.0 m/s onto a flat 45° anvil faced with 80-grit paper; peak rotational acceleration ≤10,000 rad/s² and BrIC ≤0.78. Snell interior sticker marked M2025D or M2025R; labels shipped from April 2024, and M2020-labeled production ended April 2025. |
| FIM FRHPhe-01 | FIM racing homologation, phase 1 — an extra racing-only qualification on top of a base standard (ECE, JIS or Snell), required to race in FIM world championships. Required in MotoGP classes from June 2019, then all FIM circuit-racing disciplines from January 2020. Not needed for road riding or track days. Adds higher-energy linear impacts than ECE plus an oblique impact: a drop at 8.00 m/s onto a 130 mm cylindrical anvil with its face at 45°, covered in abrasive paper, measuring the rotational loading on an instrumented headform. Homologation is granted per model and per shell size. FIM homologation label with hologram and QR code sewn onto the chin strap (early units used a shell sticker); scanning the QR shows the helmet's model, size and validity in the FIM database at frhp.org. |
| FIM FRHPhe-02 | Phase 2 of the FIM racing homologation: tougher than phase 1 and extended to off-road disciplines (motocross, enduro, speedway, cross-country) as well as all circuit racing. Strongly recommended from 2025 and mandatory from January 2026 for FIM world-championship riders. Adds impacts against oblique and hemispherical anvils measuring rotational loading, random impacts at 9–13 of 22 pre-set locations across the shell, a quick-removal cheek-pad test, and a skull fracture criterion (SFC) threshold. FIM homologation label sewn directly on the chin strap, with a QR code that lets race scrutineers track individual helmets. |
- ECE 22.06 test numbers here come from a peer-reviewed IRCOBI 2024 paper plus manufacturer and specialist guides — not the UN regulation text itself, which could not be verified directly.
- The visor ball-test speed is disputed: 60 m/s per FEMA and several retailer sources, 80 m/s per Dainese and guides derived from Billy's Crash Helmets. We do not quote a single number until it is checked against the UN R22.06 text.
- Some consumer guides describe the 22.06 rotational test as a 15° bar anvil at 8.5 m/s — that geometry belongs to the separate surface-friction shear test carried over from 22.05. The rotational test is 8.0 m/s onto a 45° abrasive anvil.
- Exact end dates for 22.05 vary by source: production stopped in mid-2023 and new approvals have been 22.06-only since January 2024, but wearing a 22.05 helmet remains legal, and UK retailers may still sell old stock.
- Snell impact speeds and g-limits vary by headform size — there is no single 'Snell test speed' number.
- DOT compliance is declared by the manufacturer and NHTSA spot-checks helmets already on sale. A plain 'DOT' sticker without the manufacturer, model and 'FMVSS No. 218 Certified' text is a red flag on a modern helmet.
- FIM's linear-impact criteria beyond the oblique test were not verified to our sourcing standard, and the phase-2 'roughly 18% higher linear severity' comparison comes from Dainese only.
- SHARP stars are a UK government rating published online, not a mark on the helmet — the sewn-in label tells you what a helmet passed, not how well it did.