Proof, explained
How motorcycle riding shoes are tested
A plain-language explanation of abrasion, impact, wet grip, crushing, flex, bonding and outsole tests—plus what their results do and do not prove.
Quick answer
Tests turn broad claims into defined evidence
A laboratory test isolates one concern—such as ankle impact, slide abrasion or wet grip—and measures it under a defined method. The result is meaningful when the test, product and limit are stated together.
Why a complete shoe is tested
A riding shoe is a system: upper, ankle protector, toe and heel reinforcement, sole, bonding, fastenings and waterproof construction must work together. Testing only an individual material does not describe how the assembled footwear performs.
Laboratory methods create repeatable conditions so different risks can be assessed consistently. They do not recreate every crash or guarantee a specific real-world outcome.
Eight rider concerns translated into tests
The shopper-facing concern comes first; the laboratory method provides the evidence underneath it.
| Rider concern | What the test simulates | How to read the result |
|---|---|---|
| Slide abrasion | Contact between the footwear upper and an abrasive road-like surface. | Time or performance level applies to the tested area and method—not every possible slide. |
| Ankle impact | A controlled impact delivered to the ankle protection zone. | Lower transmitted force means less of the test impact passed through the protector. |
| Wet-surface grip | Heel and forefoot traction on specified wet surfaces. | SRA reports slip-resistance performance under the stated test conditions. |
| Sharp-object impact | A controlled blade impact against the upper. | Impact-cut performance is not a cut-proof claim. |
| Side crushing | Lateral compression across the footwear. | Reports resistance under a defined load and test setup. |
| Sole separation | Force used to pull the upper and sole apart. | Evaluates the bond in a controlled laboratory test. |
| Repeated bending | Repeated flexing of the footwear or sole construction. | Checks whether the tested construction withstands the required cycle count. |
| Outsole wear | Controlled abrasion of the outsole compound. | Measures wear against the method's permitted limit. |
How Clan reports results
Clan presents the customer concern first, followed by concise proof and a quieter technical reference. For example: Built to take the slide → up to 24.7 seconds → EN 13634 laboratory abrasion test, Level 2.
Other documented proof used on the current Stealth page includes ankle-impact force below 5 kN, the highest EN 13634 impact-cut test level, up to 1.2 kN lateral compression, 150,000 flex cycles and outsole wear at least 33% below the permitted limit. Each number belongs to its tested sample and method.
The limits matter
- A laboratory result applies to the tested sample, area and specified method.
- “0 mm” in an impact-cut test is a test result, not a claim that the shoe is cut-proof.
- Water penetration and water absorption tests do not mean the shoe is designed for submersion.
- Protective footwear can reduce risk but cannot prevent every injury.
- An ankle-height riding shoe does not provide the same shin coverage as a full-height motorcycle boot.
Testing questions
Does a longer abrasion time guarantee the same time in a road slide?
No. It reports performance in a controlled laboratory method. Real crashes vary in speed, surface, contact area, movement and many other conditions.
What does less than 5 kN transmitted force mean?
In the specified ankle-impact test, less than 5 kilonewtons of force was transmitted through the tested protection zone. It is not a universal prediction of injury.
What does 150,000 flex cycles tell me?
It shows that the tested construction completed the defined repeated-flex test. It does not translate directly into a fixed number of kilometres or years.
Are tests the same as certification?
No. Test reports are evidence used within a conformity process. Formal certification status should be stated separately.
Sources and evidence
EN 13634:2017 laboratory test methods
Clan Stealth laboratory reports and certification documents
Clan Torque laboratory report CHNSL260038119
Results apply to tested samples and specified methods. Protective footwear reduces risk but cannot prevent every injury.