Protection & Safety
CE Level 2 Certified Protection — Independently Tested in Europe
If you're researching Bleed Racing Gears before you buy, this is the page that matters most. A racing suit is safety equipment, and you deserve to know exactly what's protecting you — not marketing language. So here's the straight version: every Bleed Racing Gears motorcycle leather suit is fitted with CE Level 2 armor that has been independently tested and certified in Europe, built into a full-grain leather shell that's triple-stitched throughout. Below we show you the certifications, the standards behind them, and the documents themselves — so you can check our claims rather than take them on faith.
Who Tested Our Armor — and Why That Matters
Anyone can write "CE approved" on a website. What actually counts is who did the testing, because real CE certification has to come from an accredited European Notified Body. Ours does.
The KeepTech armor in every Bleed Racing Gears suit was tested and certified by Ricotest, European Notified Body No. 0498, based in Pastrengo, Italy. Ricotest has been certifying motorcycle impact protectors for decades and tests armor for well-known international riding-gear brands — so the same independent laboratory that signs off on big-name protectors has signed off on ours. The armor is certified under EU Regulation 2016/425 as Category II Personal Protective Equipment, carries both CE and UKCA marks, and the manufacturer's EU Declaration of Conformity is published openly at keeptechprotection.com. The certification documents are attached at the bottom of this page.
Two Armor Options, Both Fully CE Level 2
We fit two different armor sets depending on the suit, and the most important thing to understand is that both are CE Level 2 — the highest impact rating in the standard. They carry the same certifications (EN 1621-1 for the limbs, EN 1621-2 for the back). The difference between them is the material and breathability, not the level of protection. Even our most affordable suit comes with genuinely Level 2-certified armor — we don't cut corners on safety to hit a lower price.
Premium Armor — Advanced Ventilated (Our Best Protection)
Our premium armor is made from a more advanced, ventilated protective material that breathes well and sits comfortably without sacrificing the Level 2 rating. It comes standard on our premium suits and can be added to any custom build for riders who want the most comfortable certified protection we offer.
Premium Back Protector
The centerpiece of the set: a full-length ventilated back protector certified to the dedicated motorcycle back-protector standard.
- Standard: EN 1621-2:2014 (motorcycle back-protector standard)
- Level: CE Level 2
- Reference: KeepTech Part-269 (back-protector size approx. 40 × 44 cm)
- Material: advanced ventilated compound for airflow along the spine
- Marking: CE and UKCA — tested by Ricotest, Notified Body 0498
Premium Shoulder Protectors
Your shoulders are usually the first thing to hit the ground, so this is where Level 2 matters most.
Standard: EN 1621-1:2012 | Level: CE Level 2 | Marking: CE & UKCA, tested by Ricotest (NB 0498)
Premium Elbow Protectors
Shaped to wrap the elbow and forearm and stay put through the riding position.
Standard: EN 1621-1:2012 | Level: CE Level 2 | Marking: CE & UKCA, tested by Ricotest (NB 0498)
Premium Knee Protectors
Covers the knee and upper shin, the contact points in a low-side slide.
Standard: EN 1621-1:2012 | Level: CE Level 2 | Marking: CE & UKCA, tested by Ricotest (NB 0498)
Premium Thigh Protectors (Included)
Included as part of the package for added upper-leg protection — something a lot of suits leave out.
Standard: EN 1621-1:2012 | Level: CE Level 2 | Marking: CE & UKCA, tested by Ricotest (NB 0498)
Standard Armor — CE Level 2 (Great Value, Same Safety Rating)
Our standard armor carries the exact same Level 2 certifications as the premium set — it's the value choice for riders on a budget, and it's still fully CE Level 2 across every body area. The back protector is perforated for ventilation, so you stay cooler on longer rides.
Standard Back Protector
A perforated, ventilated back protector certified to the same back-protector standard as our premium set.
- Standard: EN 1621-2:2014 (motorcycle back-protector standard)
- Level: CE Level 2
- Material: perforated, ventilated protective foam
- Marking: CE and UKCA — tested by Ricotest, Notified Body 0498
Standard Shoulder Protectors
Standard: EN 1621-1:2012 | Level: CE Level 2 | Marking: CE & UKCA, tested by Ricotest (NB 0498)
Standard Elbow Protectors
Standard: EN 1621-1:2012 | Level: CE Level 2 | Marking: CE & UKCA, tested by Ricotest (NB 0498)
Standard Knee Protectors
Standard: EN 1621-1:2012 | Level: CE Level 2 | Marking: CE & UKCA, tested by Ricotest (NB 0498)
Standard Thigh Protectors (Included)
Standard: EN 1621-1:2012 | Level: CE Level 2 | Marking: CE & UKCA, tested by Ricotest (NB 0498)
What Does "CE Level 2" Actually Mean?
It's a fair question, and the answer is simple. Motorcycle impact armor is tested under the European standard EN 1621 and rated at one of two levels. The rating measures how much force passes through the armor to your body in a controlled impact test — and less force is better. Level 2 is the higher, safer rating:
| Performance Level | Maximum average force passed to the body |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | up to about 35 kN |
| Level 2 (what we use) | up to about 20 kN — far less force reaching you |
All of our armor — both sets, every body area — is Level 2. When you read "CE Level 2" on a Bleed Racing Gears suit, that's the rating an independent European lab actually verified.
What's Certified, and What's Built for Abrasion — Honestly
We're careful to separate two things, because blurring them is exactly what less honest stores do. The armor — every limb protector and back protector, in both sets — is independently CE certified to the correct EN standard for its area. The leather shell is engineered for abrasion resistance through full-grain hide and triple stitching, but we don't slap a garment-level certification on it that it doesn't hold. The armor is certified; the leather is built to resist abrasion. Two true statements, kept separate on purpose — because telling you the difference is what earns your trust.
Full-Grain Leather Built to Resist Abrasion
In a slide, the leather is your first line of defense, and abrasion resistance is what counts — which is why a real racing suit is leather, never textile or imitation. Every Bleed Racing Gears suit uses genuine full-grain cowhide at 1.3–1.4 mm, the strongest, most durable grade of leather with the natural grain fully intact. For riders who want lighter weight at the professional level, we also offer genuine kangaroo hide at 0.8–0.9 mm — lighter than cowhide but exceptionally strong for its weight. We never use bonded or synthetic "PU" leather, because the grade and thickness of the hide is what does the work when it meets the road.
Triple-Stitched With Bonded Nylon Thread
Strong leather is useless if the seams let go, and seams take enormous stress in a crash. That's why every Bleed Racing Gears suit is triple safety stitched throughout with high-strength bonded nylon thread, reinforced at the highest-stress seams. The triple row is deliberate redundancy: if one line of stitching gives in a slide, the other two hold the seam together. It's one of the clearest differences between a suit built for the track and one built to look the part.
Protective Construction, Detail by Detail
Protection is more than armor and leather — it's how the whole suit behaves at speed and in a fall. Every Bleed Racing Gears suit includes replaceable Velcro knee sliders, an aerodynamic hump for stability, and stretch panels at the crotch, calf, sleeves, and lower back so the suit moves with you instead of fighting you. We fit original YKK zippers that stay shut under load, offer full, partial, or selective perforation for airflow, and can add ventilated chest protection or airbag compatibility on request.
Fit Is Part of Protection
Here's something many riders don't realize: armor only protects you if it stays in the right place. A loose suit lets the shoulder, elbow, knee, and back protectors drift off the joints they're meant to cover. That's the whole reason we build every Bleed Racing Gears suit to your exact measurements — a proper fit is what keeps the protection where it belongs. If you're unsure about sizing, talk to us before ordering. We'd rather get it right than ship fast.
Caring for Your Armor
To keep your protection performing, follow the armor maker's guidance: keep the protectors out of direct heat and sunlight, wipe them clean with a damp cloth after removing them from the suit, and check them regularly for damage. KeepTech recommends replacing the protectors about five years from purchase, and after any impact — once armor has absorbed a crash, it has done its job and should be replaced.
Our Honest Commitment
No gear can make riding risk-free, and we won't pretend otherwise — even the certification documents state that no protector can guarantee protection against every impact. What we can promise is honesty about what's in your suit: independently CE-certified Level 2 armor at every impact point, genuine full-grain leather chosen for abrasion resistance, triple-stitched seams, and a fit built to you. For complete protection we always recommend pairing your suit with CE-rated gloves, boots, and a certified helmet — and if you ride on a track, confirm your club or circuit's specific gear requirements before your event.
Certification Documents
We publish our armor's certification so you never have to take our word for it. You can also view the manufacturer's EU Declaration of Conformity at keeptechprotection.com. The full KeepTech CE certification document (covering EN 1621-1 for the limb protectors and EN 1621-2 for the back protector) is attached below.
Need documentation for a track or club requirement, or help choosing the right armor and fit for how you ride? Email info@bleedracinggears.com or message us on WhatsApp
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