Aug 20, 2026

2WA™ Product Care & Amour Installation

Protect your gear. Maintain your protection. Ride with confidence.

At Two Wheel Appeal, rider protection is at the heart of everything we create.

Our protective motorcycle clothing is engineered using carefully selected materials, abrasion-resistant protective linings and removable CE impact armour to deliver comfort, durability and protection on every ride.

Correct garment care and armour installation are essential to maintaining the performance and longevity of your riding gear.

This guide covers our ELITE Armoured Hoodies, protective STREET Shirts, X-Air STREETRYDER Shirts, RYDERZ softSHELL Joggers, Cordura STREET Tights and other applicable 2WA protective garments.

BEFORE YOUR FIRST RIDE

Getting to know your new 2WA protective garment

Congratulations on your new 2WA protective motorcycle clothing!

Your removable CE impact protectors and back protector are supplied separately from your garment.

Before installing your armour, we recommend trying your garment on to confirm the correct size and fit.

Remove your new garment from its packaging.
Try the garment on without installing the armour.
Check the fit around your shoulders, chest, waist, hips, arms or legs, as applicable.
Sit in your normal motorcycle riding position to assess comfort and fit.
Once you’re satisfied with the sizing, proceed with armour installation.

Need a different size?

If your garment doesn’t feel like the correct fit, remove it carefully and return it to its original packaging with the tags attached.

Contact Two Wheel Appeal to arrange a size exchange in accordance with our exchange policy.

You do not need to return your separately supplied armour when exchanging your garment for another size.

Please retain your armour for installation in your replacement garment.

HOW TO INSTALL YOUR 2WA PROTECTIVE ARMOUR

Our flexible impact protectors are designed to provide protective coverage while remaining comfortable and unobtrusive during riding.

Because of their size and coverage, some armour inserts are larger than the openings of their designated pockets.

This is completely normal. Our soft, flexible armour is designed to be rolled to fit through the pocket openings.

Step 1 — Turn your garment inside out

Turn your garment inside out and locate the appropriate armour pocket.

Open the pocket closure and identify the correct protector for that location.

Step 2 — Roll the armour

Gently roll the flexible armour lengthways until it is narrow enough to fit through the pocket opening.

Carefully slide the rolled protector through the opening and into the armour pocket.

Do not force the protector through the opening or pull excessively on the pocket stitching.

Step 3 — Unroll the armour inside the pocket

Once the protector is completely inside the pocket:

Allow the armour to unroll.
Gently flex it backwards and forwards.
Work the armour into the full length and width of the pocket.
Ensure it completely fills the intended pocket area.
Check that the armour is lying flat, without folds, twists or bunching.

The armour must be completely unfolded and correctly positioned before riding.

Step 4 — Secure and check

Close the pocket securely and repeat the process for the remaining protectors.

Once all armour has been installed, try the garment on and check the position of each protector.

KNEE & SHIN ARMOUR — TWO SEPARATE POCKET POSITIONS

Our protective motorcycle pants, joggers and tights feature two separate knee and shin armour pockets in each leg.

These provide alternative armour positions to accommodate riders with shorter or longer leg lengths.

How to select the correct position

Turn your pants inside out.
Locate the two separate armour pockets in each leg.
Select the higher or lower pocket according to your leg length.
Roll your flexible knee and shin protector to fit through the selected pocket opening.
Unroll the armour inside the pocket.
Flex the protector backwards and forwards until it completely fills the pocket.
Repeat for the opposite leg.
Try your pants on and check the armour position.

Check the fit while seated

Sit on your motorcycle in your normal riding position.

The knee section of the protector should align correctly with your knee joint, with the extended section covering the intended shin area.

If the protector sits too high or too low, remove it and try the alternative pocket.

Important: Only one knee and shin protector is required per leg. The two pockets are alternative positioning options, not compartments that both require armour.

ELBOW & FOREARM ARMOUR — ADJUSTABLE VELCRO POSITIONING

Our 2WA protective hoodies and armoured shirts feature one elbow and forearm armour pocket in each sleeve.

Inside each pocket are adjustable Velcro tabs that allow you to position the armour for shorter or longer arm lengths.

Unlike our pants, which feature two separate pocket positions, our upper-body garments allow adjustment within the same armour pocket.

How to adjust your elbow armour

Turn your hoodie or shirt inside out.
Locate the elbow and forearm armour pocket.
Open the pocket and identify the internal Velcro adjustment tabs.
Roll the flexible protector and carefully slide it into the pocket.
Unroll the armour and flex it backwards and forwards until it lies flat.
Adjust the internal Velcro tabs to position the protector higher or lower according to your arm length.
Secure the adjustment tabs and pocket closure.
Repeat for the opposite sleeve.

Check your riding position

Put your garment on and extend your arms into your normal riding position.

The protector should align with your elbow joint and cover the intended forearm area.

If the armour is too high or too low, readjust the internal Velcro tabs until the correct positioning is achieved.

Correct armour positioning is essential. Always check the fit in your riding position, not just while standing.

SPECIAL INSTALLATION — 2WA GHOST HIP ARMOUR

Greater coverage through intelligent design

At Two Wheel Appeal, we believe protective coverage matters.

Rather than using a smaller conventional hip protector, we have incorporated a larger Ghost-style impact protector into our hip armour system.

This style of protector is commonly used by other motorcycle apparel manufacturers for knee protection.

We have deliberately incorporated its larger surface area into our hip protection system to provide more extensive coverage over the intended hip region.

IMPORTANT — CORRECT HIP ARMOUR ORIENTATION

Because this protector was originally designed for use as knee armour, it carries a manufacturer’s orientation marking.

When installing this protector into your 2WA hip armour pockets, the printed TOP marking does not indicate the correct upward orientation.

For correct 2WA installation:

SMALLER END — FACES UP, towards your waist.
LARGER, WIDER END — FACES DOWN, towards your ankle.
The end marked TOP on the armour faces downwards when installed as 2WA hip protection.

This is intentional.

Positioning the larger section downwards allows the protective surface to extend over the intended hip impact area.

How to install

Locate the internal hip armour pocket.
Identify the smaller and larger ends of the protector.
Roll the flexible armour to fit through the pocket opening.
Insert the protector with the smaller end towards your waist and the larger end towards your ankle.
Unroll the armour inside the pocket.
Gently flex it backwards and forwards until it completely fills the pocket.
Check that it lies flat and covers the intended hip area.

Do not reverse the protector simply to match the printed TOP marking. Follow the 2WA hip armour orientation instructions.

Our larger protector selection is intended to increase protective coverage. Actual impact attenuation remains determined by the protector’s tested performance and correct positioning.

HOW TO REMOVE YOUR ARMOUR

All removable CE impact armour must be removed before washing your garment.

Our soft and flexible armour can be rolled for removal using the same technique as installation.

Turn your garment inside out.
Locate the relevant armour pocket.
Open the pocket closure.
Gently roll or curl the armour inside the pocket.
Carefully guide the rolled protector through the pocket opening.
Repeat until all removable armour has been taken out.

This includes shoulder, elbow, forearm, back, hip, knee and shin protectors, where fitted.

Do not pull aggressively on the pocket openings or attempt to force flat armour through a narrow opening.

Store your armour in a clean, dry location while washing your garment.

WASHING YOUR 2WA PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Correct washing helps maintain your garment

Our protective motorcycle clothing contains specialised materials that require appropriate care.

Following the correct washing and drying instructions helps preserve the garment’s appearance, construction and protective components.

WASHING INSTRUCTIONS

REMOVE ALL ARMOUR BEFORE WASHING.

Remove all protective armour. Take out every removable CE protector before placing your garment in the washing machine.
Turn your garment inside out. This helps protect exterior finishes, embroidery, prints and detailing.
Secure zippers and fastenings. Close all zippers and secure Velcro closures to minimise snagging.
Machine wash in COLD WATER ONLY. Use a cold-water washing cycle with a mild laundry detergent.
Do not use bleach or fabric softener. Avoid harsh chemicals that may damage protective materials or finishes.
Hang dry in the shade. Use a suitable coat hanger or the garment’s integrated hanging tabs where provided.
Turn the garment inside out as it dries. Alternate the exposed surfaces during drying to encourage airflow through both the outer fabric and protective lining.
Allow the garment to dry completely. Ensure all layers, pockets and seams are fully dry before reinstalling armour or storing the garment.

IMPORTANT — NEVER

Machine wash with armour installed.
Wash in warm or hot water.
Tumble dry.
Use bleach or fabric softeners.
Dry in direct sunlight.
Place garments against heaters or other direct heat sources.
Iron protective linings, prints or armour.
Wring or aggressively twist the garment.
Dry clean unless expressly permitted by the garment’s care label.

COLD MACHINE WASH ONLY. HANG DRY IN SHADE. NEVER TUMBLE DRY.

Always follow any additional product-specific instructions provided on your garment’s care label.

MOTOCAP RESEARCH — CAN WASHING IMPROVE ABRASION RESISTANCE?

What independent Australian research has discovered

An important Australian scientific study published in 2026 investigated how washing affects the protective performance of motorcycle clothing.

The research, titled Impact of Washing Conditions on the Performance of Motorcycle Protective Garments, was conducted by researchers from Deakin University, Transport for NSW and Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission.

The study used motorcycle clothing testing methods associated with MotoCAP, the Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program.

Researchers examined how repeated laundering affected three important protective characteristics:

Abrasion resistance.
Seam strength.
Impact energy absorption.

A surprising finding — increased abrasion resistance

The study found that some motorcycle garments containing p-aramid protective linings demonstrated improved abrasion resistance after repeated cold washing and line drying.

P-aramid is the family of high-strength protective fibres that includes Kevlar®.

Following 20 cold-wash and line-dry cycles, researchers measured the following changes in abrasion resistance in high-risk impact areas:

Garment tested	Improvement
P-aramid-lined protective denim pants	+44%
P-aramid-lined motorcycle leggings	+64%
P-aramid-lined protective riding shirt	+31%

These results challenge the common assumption that washing motorcycle protective clothing must always reduce abrasion resistance.

Researchers suggested that washing may cause p-aramid fibres to become more entangled, making them more resistant to removal during abrasion testing.

What does this mean for 2WA riders?

Many Two Wheel Appeal protective garments incorporate high-strength DuPont™ Kevlar® reinforcement and protective linings.

The research provides encouraging evidence that appropriate laundering of certain aramid-reinforced garments does not necessarily reduce abrasion resistance and, depending on construction, may improve it.

However, the study did not test the current 2WA product range. These findings should not be interpreted as a guarantee that washing will increase the abrasion resistance of every 2WA garment.

Results differed between materials and garment constructions. Some protective components deteriorated during washing, particularly under hot washing and tumble-drying conditions.

This reinforces the importance of following the correct garment care instructions.

Washing armour can reduce impact protection

Another significant finding was that laundering impact protectors reduced their ability to absorb impact energy.

In some cases, this deterioration was not visible.

This is why we insist that all removable armour must be taken out before washing your 2WA protective clothing.

Read the independent research

Impact of Washing Conditions on the Performance of Motorcycle Protective Garments (2026)

Published in Fibers, Volume 14, Issue 8, Article 91.

Read the full scientific study

For independent motorcycle protective clothing testing, ratings and research, visit:

MotoCAP — Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program

CARING FOR YOUR CE IMPACT ARMOUR

Your removable impact protectors are an essential part of your garment’s protective system.

Correct care helps preserve their condition and performance.

Remove all armour before machine washing your garment.
Never machine wash or tumble dry your armour.
Clean separately using a soft, slightly damp cloth where permitted by the protector manufacturer’s instructions.
Avoid harsh chemicals, solvents and excessive heat.
Allow protectors to air dry completely in the shade.
Inspect regularly for cracks, splitting, distortion or deterioration.
Replace any damaged or compromised armour.

Do not cut, trim or permanently modify your impact protectors.

Remember that deterioration in impact performance may not always be visible.

CARING FOR YOUR KEVLAR® PROTECTIVE LINING

Many of our protective garments incorporate DuPont™ Kevlar® aramid reinforcement to provide abrasion protection.

These high-strength fibres are selected for their protective properties, but correct care remains important.

To help maintain your protective lining:

Always wash in cold water.
Use a mild detergent.
Avoid bleach and harsh chemicals.
Never tumble dry.
Keep away from direct heat.
Hang dry in the shade.
Allow the entire garment to dry completely.
Inspect linings periodically for damage, excessive wear or loose stitching.

Do not attempt to remove or modify permanently installed protective linings.

ADDITIONAL CARE FOR RYDERZ softSHELL GARMENTS

Our RYDERZ softSHELL garments combine protective construction with weather-resistant materials and functional ventilation.

To help maintain these features:

Remove all impact armour before washing.
Machine wash in cold water only.
Do not use fabric softeners or bleach.
Never tumble dry.
Hang dry in the shade.
Turn the garment inside out during drying to encourage airflow through the protective layers.
Ensure all pockets, ventilation openings and linings are completely dry before storage.

Repeated washing and general wear can gradually affect the water resistance of some textile finishes.

Water-resistant garments are not necessarily fully waterproof.

STORING YOUR PROTECTIVE MOTORCYCLE CLOTHING

Correct storage is another important part of looking after your gear.

Always store your garments clean and completely dry.

We recommend hanging garments on suitable coat hangers or using their integrated hanging tabs where provided.

Store in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, excessive heat and moisture.

Avoid leaving protective clothing damp inside luggage, sealed bags or enclosed storage areas.

Regularly inspect:

Protective linings and high-wear areas.
Seams and stitching.
Zippers and fastenings.
Armour pockets and closures.
Removable impact protectors.
Ventilation systems and weather-resistant finishes.

After an accident

If your protective clothing has been involved in a motorcycle accident, inspect it carefully before considering further use.

Protective fabrics, stitching and impact protectors can sustain damage that is not immediately obvious.

Do not continue using protective components if their integrity is uncertain.

FINAL ARMOUR CHECK BEFORE EVERY RIDE

Before riding, confirm that:

All required armour has been installed.
Every protector is in its correct pocket.
Armour is fully unrolled and lying flat.
Knee and shin armour is positioned correctly for your leg length.
Elbow and forearm armour has been adjusted using the internal Velcro tabs.
Ghost hip armour is installed in the correct 2WA orientation.
All armour pockets are securely closed.
Protectors remain correctly positioned when seated on your motorcycle.

Never ride with armour missing, folded, incorrectly positioned or unsecured.

PROTECT YOUR GEAR. PROTECT YOURSELF.

At Two Wheel Appeal, we believe riders deserve to understand the protective equipment they wear.

From our abrasion-resistant materials and carefully designed armour systems to our adjustable protective pockets, every detail has a purpose.

Taking care of your gear and ensuring your armour is correctly installed helps you get the most from the protective equipment you’ve invested in.

Have questions about your garment, armour installation or product care?

Our team is here to help.

Email: sales@twowheelappeal.com

Website: twowheelappeal.com

TWO WHEEL APPEAL

2 WHEELS. 1 MIND. 0 PROBLEMS.

LIVE IT. LOVE IT. RIDE IT.

Protective Motorcycle Apparel Since 2017.