Motorcycle body armour

Motorcycle body armour: knees, elbows, back, neck — how to choose and buy

Updated 20 October 2026

What to protect and how

Motorcycle body armour means separate protective elements worn under or over clothing, as well as inserts in jackets and trousers. Knee and elbow pads, a back protector (a “hump” or turtle), a chest protector, a neck brace and an armoured vest. The choice depends on the risks: in the city knees and elbows suffer most often, while on the track and in enduro the back, chest and neck are added.

There are two approaches. Stand-alone armour attaches with straps and fits under any clothes, but may shift. Inserts in the pockets of a jacket or trousers sit more steadily, but need suitable clothing. Before buying inserts, check that your jacket or trousers have pockets for them and what size.

Protection class and riding style

• CE certification to EN 1621-1 (limbs) and EN 1621-2 (back): levels 1 and 2 are the most common. Level 2 lets through less impact energy, but is usually thicker.
• Touring and city: comfort and ventilation matter, and the protection should be soft to wear.
• Sport and track: you need hard protection with a strong shell.
• Enduro and off-road: separate sets that do not restrict movement, often with a chest shell.

What to put in your request

• What to protect — knees, elbows, back, chest, neck, full set.
• Protection class — CE level 1 or 2.
• Stand-alone or inserts — stand-alone on straps or inserts for a jacket or trousers.
• Riding style — touring, sport, city, enduro.
• Size — by clothing size or measurements (height, chest).
• Brand, for example Leatt.
• New or used, delivery city, budget.

Example: “I need a new CE level 2 back protector and knee guards for enduro, size L, preferably Leatt. Delivery to Johannesburg, budget up to R 1,200.”

What to look at in the offers

It is better not to buy protection that has already been through a fall second-hand: the damage inside can be invisible. So for this category it is better to buy new and save on brand or colour instead. Check for the CE mark on the armour itself, not only in the description, and ask about the size by height. Remember that armour must fit snugly, otherwise in a fall it will slide away from where it is needed.

If you doubt which level you need, talk to experienced riders or a shop adviser.

How it works on BlaBlaPrice

You write a request in your own words, and sellers of riding gear answer with offers in chat. The platform compares them and shows the best one for your request first, with reviews of the seller next to each. Your phone number is hidden. More in how it works.

To go with the armour, pick motorcycle jackets and motorcycle trousers with pockets for inserts, and also motorcycle helmets.