Types of Motorcycle Armor

When purchasing protective gear you will come across many different types of protecting armor. Knowing the pros and cons of each type will help you to decide which gear is right for you.

Foam armor
This is the most inexpensive, and therefore least protective of the armor available to riders. This foam is something similar to what you might find in a mattress. This armor is pretty versatile and will help to protect you in various circumstances.

Memory foam
Memory foam is good armor, and achieves high absorption to thickness levels. On sudden impact this foam stays rigid, helping to protect the rider. This type of foam is similar to what you would find in helmets. The only downfall is that once this armor has been involved in an impact it has to be replaced.

Hard armor
Hard armor is basically a piece of plastic with some foam stuck to the inside. Though this type of armor can be more comfortable, unfortunately it is not thought to disperse force quite as well as the foam armor, making it harmful to the rider if involved in an impact. Hard armor is also more likely to wear through leather gear in an accident, exposing the armor to hard surfaces.

CE Rated
A CE approval means that the armor in the gear has been lab tested and meets European standards for impact absorption. The armor is designed to provide padding and extra protection in the event of an accident. Though the approval process can be expensive, all European protective gear must be CE-approved in order to be placed on the market.

There are two different standards of CE protection, EN 1621-1:1997 and EN 1621-2:2003. EN1621-1:1997 tests devices designed for shoulders, elbows, forearms, hips, knees and lower legs. EN 1621-2:2003 tests back protectors.

Sadly there are no standards on protective gear in the United States, meaning that just about anything can be placed on the market and called “armor.” Joe Rocket jackets come with protective gear, though typically not CE rated. As mentioned in previous posts, purchasing the optional CE rated spine protectors for the jackets, as Joe Rocket offers, is surely the best way to go.

-Julie