Temu ‘motorcycle clothing’ event: Click with caution

The old adage ‘if it seems too good to be true, it probably is’ is as true today as it was when my dad first uttered it to me all those years ago. It’s also increasingly appropriate as I browse the ‘motorcycle clothing’ section of the Temu online storefront.

As you may or may not have seen, the e-commerce website, Temu, is holding a social media event, with sponsored posts appearing on Facebook and other social media outlets. The posts show what looks like an older-generation Benelli adventure bike being ridden in a meadow. And it doesn’t seem like I need to scroll very far down my newsfeed to come across another identical image.

The posts, which seem to be getting posted by so-called ‘Sock Puppet’ accounts, all point to the Temu store, and when clicking on them, I’m shown a different item of ‘motorcycle clothing’ every time. One may point me to a pair of throw-over saddle bags, while the next will send me to a page selling a supposed ‘motorcycle jacket’.

And while at first glance the items of clothing and kit on offer can look appealing, both thanks to their appearance and price, as is the case with many online retailers, all might not be what it seems.

One such post links to a product titled: ‘Motorcycle riding suit for men, summer, racing gear, racing protective jacket with breathable mesh’ - it’s just a jacket. It’s priced at £57.09 and is listed as being sold by Thunder Motorcycle Equipment Camp. It is said to be 100 per cent Polyester construction, while the ‘operating instructions’ simply state ‘Wipe With Damp Cloth’.

If that doesn’t raise your suspicions, nothing will.

The fact of the matter is that this item doesn’t display any of the appropriate CE certification ratings or supporting documents you would find from a legitimate motorcycle clothing and equipment retailer. These are mentioned in some of the accompanying imagery, although they aren't backed by any specific information or documents.

Indeed, the ‘Safety Information’ drop-down box on the Temu webpage, where you would expect to find this sort of information, simply lists the manufacturer in China, and the EU contact, a company called In Memoria Futuri SAS, France. That company lists its business as the “Manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations”.

So that doesn’t fill me with confidence either.

And here’s the bigger problem, as explained by motorcycle safety advocate and PPE certification expert Paul Varnsverry:

“Purchasing motorcycle clothing from e-commerce and social media platforms is highly inadvisable. Since motorcycle gear was officially classified as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) more than seven years ago, it has been a legal requirement for it to be independently tested and certified.

“Despite this, very few products available on these platforms meet the necessary standards. Test purchases conducted by Trading Standards, the British Safety Industry Federation, MotoCAP, and several motorcycling publications have repeatedly shown that many items carry fake CE marks. These products often fail European Standards by a wide margin – including back protectors that allow more than five times the permitted impact force to pass through – and feature fabrics or seams that can tear apart on impact.”

The worrying truth is that until online platforms, such as Temu, introduce stricter controls, or are dealt with as a brick and mortar retailer would be, riders who buy clothing and so-called protective kit from them are gambling with their safety, as Varnsverry concludes.

“Until online platforms introduce stricter controls and ensure that only certified motorcycle clothing is offered to EU and UK consumers, the risk of buying from them remains high. While the low prices and apparent convenience of these sites may seem appealing, the reality is that unapproved products cannot be relied upon to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash. Riders are effectively placing their safety in the hands of unverified vendors.

“The convenience of online shopping should never come at the expense of proven protection. Riders are strongly advised to purchase their gear from reputable retailers who can provide clear evidence of certification, such as CE approval confirmed by a notified body. Choosing properly tested equipment is not just a matter of compliance – it is an essential step in safeguarding yourself on the road.”

The sad fact in all this, though, is that you don’t have to spend a whole lot more money to get a proper, pukka, CE-approved item.

For instance, RST’s lowest-priced jacket is the Spectre Air, coming in at £109.99. Now, at that price, it isn’t RST’s highest performing piece of kit in terms of protection, and is given a CE rating of A - with AAA being the highest rated. I can, though, say with hand on heart, if I had to take a 40mph slide down the A14 in either this or the Temu special, I’d much rather have RST’s years of experience, extensive knowledge and testing saving my skin than a jacket imported by a company that lists its business as perfume and face cream.

The RST jacket also won't take six weeks on a slow boat to reach you!

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