Do You Need a Motorcycle Back Protector?
CE back armour is the piece of protection most riders assume they already have. Often they don't. Here's what the rating means, what to check in your own gear, and how to tell whether a jacket actually includes a back protector or just a pocket for one.
What CE back armour is
A back protector is a rated insert that sits along the spine, inside the jacket or suit. Its job is spreading impact force across the back rather than letting it concentrate on one point. That's a different job from what the leather does. Leather handles the slide, the back protector handles the hit.
CE back armour is tested under EN 1621-2, the European standard specifically for back protectors. It measures how much force gets through to the body during a controlled impact. Lower transmitted force means a better rating.
CE Level 1 vs CE Level 2 back armour
Level 1 permits a higher average transmitted force. It's genuine protection and it's usually thinner and more flexible, which is why it shows up in commuter and casual gear. Level 2 cuts the allowed force roughly in half, and it's the standard used across race suits and serious road gear.
Level 2 back protectors used to be noticeably bulkier to hit that lower number. Modern construction has narrowed the gap enough that for most riders there's no good reason to accept Level 1 in a suit you're taking on track.
Check whether you actually have one
This is the part that catches people out. A lot of jackets are sold as "back protector compatible" or "armour ready", which means there's a pocket stitched in and nothing inside it. The insert is a separate purchase. Reach into the back of your jacket and feel for it. If there's foam-free empty lining, you're riding without back protection regardless of what the product page implied.
Track days will check. Most Australian circuits require a CE-rated back protector at scrutineering, either built into the suit or worn separately underneath. See what to wear to your first track day for the full requirement list.
Built-in or separate
A back protector built into the suit stays where it should during a fall, which is the main argument for it. A separate strap-on protector worn under your gear is more flexible if you swap between jackets, but only works if you remember it every time. Fit matters either way. A protector that sits too high or too low leaves part of the spine uncovered, which is another reason a suit cut to your own measurements does the job better than a stock size. We covered that in how motorcycle leathers should fit.
What we include
Every Motorce custom race suit and custom leather jacket ships with CE Level 2 armour at the shoulders, elbows, knees and back as standard. The back protector is included, not an upsell, and it's positioned against your own measurement profile rather than a generic block. Full detail on the suits is on our custom race suits page.