Motorcycle Glove CE Ratings Explained

Every time you pull on your riding gloves, you're trusting them to protect your hands if things go wrong. Hands hit the ground first — and the difference between a CE-certified glove and one that isn't can be significant.

Since 2018, motorcycle gloves are classified as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), meaning all new models brought to market must pass a standardized CE safety test under EN 13594:2015. At MotoHut, every glove we carry meets this standard — here's how to read the label and understand what it actually means.

How to Read the CE Label

The CE label inside your gloves tells you four things:

A motorcycle pictogram confirms the glove has been tested specifically for motorcycle use. A number — 1 or 2 — shows the protection level, with Level 2 being the higher standard. The letters KP indicate the knuckle protection has passed a separate impact test. The designation EN 13594:2015 confirms which standard it was tested to.

How Gloves Are Tested

Test 1 — Cuff Length The cuff is measured from the wrist line to the end of the gauntlet. Level 1 requires a minimum of 15mm. Level 2 requires a minimum of 50mm — meaning a proper gauntlet that covers the wrist securely.

Test 2 — Retention This test checks whether the glove would stay on your hand in a crash. The glove is placed on a dummy wrist and pulled with force — 27 Newtons for Level 1, 52 Newtons for Level 2. The glove must stay on for 30 seconds at both levels to pass.

Test 3 — Tear Strength Three zones are tested: the palm and palm-side fingers, the back of the hand and cuff, and the fourchettes (the panels between your fingers). For Level 1, the palm must withstand 25N, back of hand 18N, and fourchettes 18N. Level 2 raises those figures to 35N, 30N, and 25N respectively.

Test 4 — Seam Strength Seams are tested by pulling them apart in a tensile machine. Level 1 requires main seams to hold at 6 N/mm and fourchette seams at 4 N/mm. Level 2 raises the bar to 10 N/mm and 7 N/mm.

Test 5 — Impact Abrasion Resistance Arguably the most important test. A sample of the glove material is dropped onto a moving abrasive belt and timed until it holes. For Level 1, each sample must last at least 3 seconds with a mean average of 4 seconds across four samples. For Level 2, the minimum per sample is 6 seconds with a mean of 8 seconds or more.

Test 6 — Knuckle Impact Protection (KP) Optional for Level 1, mandatory for Level 2. A 2.5kg striker hits the knuckle protector with 5 joules of force, and the transmitted force is recorded. Level 1 allows a single strike up to 9kN with a mean below 7kN. Level 2 tightens this to a maximum of 4kN per strike and a mean below 4kN. Any tears or holes in the surrounding material during this test result in an immediate fail.

Which Level Do You Need?

For most road riders, a Level 1-KP glove offers solid, tested protection and is the standard you'll find across the majority of quality motorcycle gloves. Level 2 is the benchmark for high-speed and track riding, where impact forces are greater and the margin for error is smaller.

At MotoHut, we stock gloves across both certification levels from brands including Knox, REV'IT, and more — so you can ride with confidence knowing your gear has been properly tested.

Shop our full range of CE-certified motorcycle gloves at motohut.ca or visit us in-store at 505 Burrard Street, Downtown Vancouver.