MERC3 ANOMALY

D3O® is the number one choice for motorcycle body armor and protective gear that delivers outstanding impact protection, comfort and flexibility. From MotoGP, to off-road and the street, our innovative range of CE Level 1 and Level 2 certified products are trusted and sold worldwide by leading motorcycle brands.

HOW DOES MOTORCYCLE ARMOR WORK?

Motorcycle armor works by absorbing the shock from an impact. Rather than the impact striking your body with full force, motorcycle armor helps take the brunt of the impact and dissipate the force to reduce its severity. The impact protection material found in motorcycle armor is what makes this possible, and the materials used in and around the armor (such as leather in a jacket, or woven kevlar in motorcycle pants) help to resist abrasion.

D3O^® motorcycle armor offers the most advanced impact protection available on the market. Based on non-Newtonian principles, D3O^® materials are soft and flexible in their resting state, but stiffen under an impact to disperse the energy of the force across the surface area of the product. D3O^® armor is durable and designed to withstand multiple impacts, only needing to be replaced when showing wear and tear. This is in contrast to other armor which can flatten out over time, quickly losing its ability to protect effectively.

The design of motorcycle armor is also key to ensure it gives maximum levels of protection and comfort. Each piece of D3O^® armor is designed to fit specific parts of the body comfortably, including the back, chest and limbs, such as knees and elbows. This gives these areas optimum coverage and reduces the likelihood of injury.

WHAT EN NUMBERS TO LOOK FOR ON MOTORCYCLE ARMOR?

When looking at your D3O^® impact protection or the label in your motorcycle armor, you're likely to see EN (European Norm) numbers. EN standards are used to help demonstrate that a product meets the requirements of the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 or PPE Regulation (2016/425) as brought into UK Law and amended.

• D3O^® Ghost™, LP1 and LP2 are CE/UKCA certified in accordance with EN1621-1:2012.
• D3O^® Viper Stealth, Central and Pro Back protectors are certified in accordance with EN1621-2:2014.
• D3O^® knuckle protection is tested to EN13594:2015.
• D3O^® Ankle protection is certified in accordance with EN 13634:2015.
• The D3O^® CP1 Chest Protector and Racing Chest Protector are certified in accordance with EN1621-3:2018.

EN1621 relates specifically to motorcycle armor. EN1621-1:2012 relates to limb protection, EN1621-2:2014 to back protection, and EN1621-3:2018 to chest protection. All of these can be tested to meet Level 1 or Level 2 protection. Level 1 offers a good level of impact protection, and Level 2 meets the criteria for racing, and can therefore withstand higher force impacts.

EN13594:2015 is specific to motorcycle glove protection. To pass, the product must meet the following criteria: Innocuousness, ergonomic requirements, sizing and cuff length, restraint, tear strength, seam strength, impact abrasion resistance, cut resistance, and impact protection of knuckles.

EN13634:2015 applies to motorcycle footwear. The criteria that need to be met include: protection, ergonomic characteristics, innocuousness, mechanical properties, marking and information for users.

Whole garment testing is reviewed against EN 17092:2020. This is separate from the EN standards indicated above. While impact protection is necessary to meet EN 17092:2020, the armor also needs to be tested on its own to ensure it's fit for purpose and meets Level 1 or Level 2 requirements.

EN17092 is tested to 5 levels of criteria. The testing looks at the different zones on the body and how well the armor protects those areas under force. Garments certified to EN17092 and featuring D3O^® impact protection are therefore some of the safest and most well-tested motorcycle armor items available on the market. You can be guaranteed regulated, independent testing when looking for these EN standards.

WHAT DOES AAA-A CLASSIFICATION MEAN?

The AAA-A garment classification is important to check and understand so you make sure you're getting the correct level of protection.

AAA-A classes are certified in accordance with EN 17092:2020. The materials are tested under lab conditions to assess how much speed and force they can withstand before tearing — this is the measure of abrasion resistance. This then allows the AAA-A classification to be assigned.

• AAA — the highest class possible, AAA is suitable for track racing. Limb protection is mandatory in AAA garments, and back and chest protection are optional. D3O^® LP2 limb protectors, the Viper Pro back protector and Racing Chest are great examples of the best armor setup to hit AAA. CE EN 1621-1:2012 limb protection and CE EN 1621-2:2014 back and chest protection are the marks to look out for.
• AA — best for touring and long-distance riding. This still requires CE EN 1621-1:2012 Level 1 impact protection at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Back and chest protectors are optional but worth the investment. D3O^® LP1 limb and Viper Stealth back protectors are great options to consider.
• A — suitable for urban riding, commuting, and weekend cruising. Bike jeans and other textile-type pants are most likely to be Class A. This requires CE EN 1621-1:2012 Level 1 impact protection at the shoulders, elbows and knees, with hips becoming optional. D3O^® Ghost™ is the perfect fit-and-forget armor for more casual riding.

The main difference between the classes is the abrasion, seam strength and cut resistance of the garment. The more you go towards AAA, the better the materials and construction.

D3O works with many partner brands to provide market-leading impact protection armor in motorcycle clothing.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 MOTORCYCLE ARMOR?

D3O^® motorcycle impact protection is offered in two levels, Level 1 and Level 2. Choose the right level of protection depending on the type of riding you're doing, as well as taking into consideration the technical features you prefer to have while riding.

• Level 1 — suitable for most types of riding, Level 1 can be used by urban, commuter, and touring motorcyclists offering them a great level of all-around protection.
• Level 2 — best suited to bikers racing on tracks, riding more extreme off-road, or stunt riding. Level 2 can provide up to 50% more impact protection than level 1.

D3O offers a range of CE/UKCA armor to protect your chest, back and limbs whilst riding to minimize the likelihood of injury from riding accidents.