Gear - may be come MORE protective.....

[newboy]

CE standards for all clothing on bikes inbound - this may divide opinion on here..
Minimum standards...
[h=2]http://www.fema-online.eu/website/index.php/2016/01/20/new-european-rules-for-motorcycle-gear/[/h]

The European Parliament decided today that motorcycle gear is protective clothing that will have to meet European standards.
Until now only protective (motorcycle) gloves, boots and impact protectors were seen as protective gear and had to meet certain standards. Today the European parliament decided to include all motorcycle gear in the new protective personal equipment (PPE) regulation.
This means, that in a few years’ time all motorcycle gear that is sold in Europe has to meet the same safety standards. They will have to provide a minimum amount of protection against abrasion and impact.
Just like with boots and gloves now, there must be a label inside the gear that confirms that the gear meets the European standards and what level of protection is provided. Also information about maintenance, storage and use must be given to the buyer.
The exact standards and when all motorcycle gear in the shops must meet them are not known yet. It might even take some years. FEMA will inform the riders of all new developments.
This new regulation does not mean that riders are obliged to wear only approved clothing. This regulation is about selling approved protective clothing and not about wearing it. As far as we know the European Commission has no plans to make the wear of approved motorcycle gear mandatory.

FEMA’s General Secretary Dolf Willigers commented: “When all motorcycle gear meets the standard you know what amount of protection you can expect. This is consumer protection we don’t have now. Of course the new standards will have to meet the needs of the riders, but with the information we have now I have all confidence that this will be the case. As long as the European authorities will not use these standards to force riders to wear only approved motorcycle gear, and we will see to it that this will not happen, standardization of motorcycle gear is a good thing for riders.”
Helmets and visors are outside the scope of this regulation: they are covered by UN ECE Regulation no. 22.

 

[PhaedrusMC]

And likely consequently more expensive...

 

[Nutty]

Sounds good to me. A standard for protection can only be a good thing, surely?

 

[Wreford Miles]

Sounds good to me. A standard for protection can only be a good thing, surely?

Why...

Can't you tell between good stuff and shite stuff

In today's world of social media and forums do you not feel that product fit for use is something that is quickly praised or flagged as crap

We live in a new world we do not need some knob to spend months and millions and then millions more to ensure compliance to tell us if something is fit for purpose.

Here's an example: AirBandB
Ask a someone that uses it how do you know that it's not going to be a shite hole and they look at you as though you are mad because they will trust reviews from people they don't know and know that those letting a room flat put a value in good review - we live in a wonderful new world let's embrace it


And besides you get regs on how stuff is made and those that run that will then want riders to be made to wear it and I like riding down the shops in my shorts on a summers day.

 

[Packer]

There should be standards but it should be up to the manufacturer if they choose to create gear that complies and can therefor be sold as protective safety riding kit. Those that don't want to compromise the appearance, cut or feel of their kit should be able to continue selling it as non approved clothing.

I foresee lots of kit being sold as "biking style" casual clothing. Quite rightly IMO too.

 

[dean0n0]

The Chinese will be ready to run the required labels off.

 

[ahutcheon]

The Chinese will be ready to run the required labels off.

And stitch them on to cheap clothing that is designed to meet the standard, because that's now the market. Seems to have worked that way with knee protectors and the like.