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Hump, Airbag and CE Level: Choosing Protection for a Track Suit
Choose track suit protection in the right order: CE Level 2 armor first, then an airbag that fits your suit, then a standard, ventilated or hydro hump.
A track suit protects you in three separate ways. The leather resists sliding, the armor rated under EN 1621 absorbs impacts, and an airbag rated under EN 1621-4 cushions the torso once it inflates. The hump is not one of them: it is an aerodynamic feature, not a protection rating. So choose your armor level first, decide on an airbag second, and pick the hump last, for airflow, cooling or a drink.
This page is part of our racewear safety and protection guide.
Key takeaways- Armor level is a number you can check. Level 2 lets less force through than Level 1 in the EN 1621 test.- An airbag adds torso protection only after it fires, so it works alongside armor, not instead of it.- Only wear an airbag vest under leathers that were designed for one.- The hump choice (none, standard, ventilated, hydro) is about aerodynamics and comfort, not crash protection.
The three layers of protection in a track suit
Each layer has its own standard and its own job. Checking one tells you nothing about the others.
According to SATRA's EN 17092 summary, in Class AAA and AA garments, elbow, shoulder, knee and hip protectors are mandatory; in Class A, hip protectors are optional. Class C garments give impact protection only and no minimum abrasion protection.
| Layer | What it does | Standard to look for | What to check on the suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather shell | Resists abrasion in a slide | EN 17092 garment class AAA, AA, A, B or C | Whether a class is stated for the whole suit |
| Impact armor | Spreads impact at shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and back | EN 1621-1 (limbs), EN 1621-2 (back), EN 1621-3 (chest) | Level 1 or Level 2 for each zone |
| Airbag | Cushions the torso after it detects a crash and inflates | EN 1621-4, or the French CRITT/SRA protocol | Airbag level, protected areas, and whether the suit has room for it |
| Hump | Smooths airflow behind the helmet in a tuck | None: it is not rated | Fit in your riding crouch with the helmet on |
CE Level 1 vs Level 2 armor
The EN 1621 tests measure the force that gets through a protector. As SATRA's EN 1621 summary puts it, the lower that force, the more protective the protector is considered to be.
Back protectors come in three types under EN 1621-2: full back, central back and lower back. For the track, ask which type a suit's back protector is, not only its level.
A label that says only "CE armor" leaves out the two details that matter: which part of EN 1621 and which level. Ask the maker for both, zone by zone.
| Protector | Standard | Level 1 limit | Level 2 limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder, elbow, hip, knee | EN 1621-1 | Mean below 35 kN, no single value over 50 kN | Mean below 20 kN |
| Back | EN 1621-2 | 18 kN or less | 9 kN or less |
| Chest | EN 1621-3 | Two levels, divided or full designs | (see standard) |
| Airbag (chest/back) | EN 1621-4 | 4.5 kN or less | 2.5 kN or less |
What the MotoSpeeds race suits list
On the stock suits, the product pages list composite inner protectors to EN 1621.1, plus a CE Level 2 back protector and CE Level 2 thigh protectors on all four models. Every one has interchangeable CE Type A knee sliders. The FAQ says armor covers shoulders, elbows, knees and back, and that selected models add a chest protector, without naming which ones.
The custom race suit page is less clear. Its spec list says removable Level 2 armor (EN 1621-1:2012) sits at the shoulders, elbows, knees and hips. But the order form sells "CE Level 2 (EN 1621-1:2012)" as a +$60 add-on. Ask the store which it is before you order.
The custom suit's back protector is described as "EN 1621-2 compatible", which is not the same as a stated level. Because the armor sits in internal pockets, you can swap in higher-grade protectors, and custom orders can specify upgrades from the start.
Adding an airbag: under the suit or over it
Armor is always in place. An airbag helps only after it detects a crash and inflates, and it mainly covers the torso. That is why riders who add one keep their armor and leather.
At the top level, the electronic airbag has been compulsory for all professional riders in every world championship class since 2018. For a track-day rider the first question is practical: where will the vest go?
Bennetts BikeSocial's airbag guide covers the under-or-over question in more depth. Airbag-compatible suits have specific internal construction to make room for the bag. If a suit page does not say it is airbag-ready, ask the maker before you plan to wear a vest under it.
Tethered, electronic, and how to read the label
EN 1621-4 was written around mechanically triggered (tethered) airbags, but makers of electronic systems also certify to its impact limits. Some brands use the French CRITT/SRA protocol instead, and its current version measures acceleration, so its results are hard to compare with EN 1621-4.
The "CE" mark alone does not show that an airbag is protective equipment. Look for the airbag symbol that states EN 1621-4, the level and the areas covered.
Whether you still need a separate back protector depends on the airbag. Passive armor works in every crash, while the airbag works only once it fires. For choosing the vest itself, see how to choose motorcycle airbags.
| Column 1 | Vest under the suit | Vest over the suit |
|---|---|---|
| Suit requirement | Only leathers designed for an airbag; the bag needs room to expand | Vest must clear the hump; some are cut for it, such as the Helite GP Air |
| Sizing | Fit the suit with the vest on; if it is tight, size up, because a compressed airbag cannot deploy properly | Suit size unchanged |
| Main risk | Wrong suit cut blocks inflation | The road can wear through the vest shell before it fires; vests over other gear are not allowed at the TT |
Choosing the hump: none, standard, ventilated or hydro
The hump was introduced to cut drag when a rider is tucked over the bars. Its size says nothing about spine protection; the back protector does that job.
A pronounced hump can pull across the shoulders when you sit upright. Judge it in your riding crouch with your helmet on. Our guide to how a race suit should fit on the bike covers that check in full.
| Hump option (MotoSpeeds custom suit) | Extra cost | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|
| No hump | None | You ride more upright, or plan to wear an over-suit airbag vest without a hump cutout |
| Standard hump | None | You want the race look and aero for a tucked position |
| Ventilated hump | +$30 | You ride in heat; it pairs with chest, front or full perforation (full: +$30) |
| Hydro hump | +$45 | You want water on long sessions; the FAQ mentions hose pass-throughs at the hump or cuff |
What track-day organizers usually ask for
Organizers set rules on the suit and the back protector, not on humps or airbags. No Limits Trackdays in the UK, for example, requires a one-piece suit or a fully zipped two-piece, and makes a back protector compulsory at all circuits. 2Fast in the US requires a one- or two-piece suit with armor and prefers zip-together two-pieces.
If you choose a two-piece, the connecting zip matters. EN 17092 tests two-piece suits by pulling the joined jacket and pants at 100 N for 60 seconds, with no gap allowed. Our beginner's guide to motorcycle track days lists the rest of the kit.
Picks by rider type
These are starting points, not rules. Check each one against your organizer's requirements.
| Rider | Armor | Airbag | Hump |
|---|---|---|---|
| First track days, a few per year | Level 2 at limbs and back, if the suit lists it | Optional; if you add one later, buy a suit with room for it | Standard or none |
| Regular track-day rider | Level 2 throughout, plus a chest protector | Under-suit vest in an airbag-ready suit | Standard or ventilated |
| Hot-climate rider | As above | As above | Ventilated, with perforation |
| Long sessions or endurance | As above | As above | Hydro |
Before you order: a short checklist
- Ask for the EN 1621 part and level of each protector, zone by zone, including the back.
- Size the suit with your back protector on, and with your airbag vest on if you will wear one.
- Decide on an airbag before you order, so the suit is cut with room for it.
- Pick the hump last, for your climate and session length.
- After any crash, stop using the suit until it is inspected, and replace every protector that took a hit.
The MotoSpeeds leather race suits list their armor and sliders on each product page. For hump, perforation and armor options, use the custom leather race suit order page. Still choosing between the two? See custom vs off-the-rack race suits.
FAQ
Are airbag vests effective?
In the EN 1621-4 test, an airbag must let through 4.5 kN or less for Level 1 and 2.5 kN or less for Level 2. A Level 2 passive back protector is allowed up to 9 kN in its own test. But an airbag protects only once it has inflated, and mainly the torso.
Which airbag vests fit over a speed hump?
Only vests cut for race leathers. The Helite GP Air, for example, has a cutout for the hump. Remember that a vest worn over the suit can be worn through in a slide.
Do I need a special suit to wear an airbag underneath?
Yes, unless your leathers were designed for an airbag, you should not wear one under them. Try the suit on with the vest, and size up if it is tight.
Motorcycle Leather Suit Editorial Team
Motorcycle Leather Suit articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.