In 1946 the Held family found a new home in the Bavarian town of Burgberg, bringing their glove manufacturing business with them. The son, Edgar, was already an expert glove maker and – along with his wife, Erna – ensured Held became known for producing some of the finest gloves in Germany.

Now focusing solely on the production of items for motorcyclists, Held teams up with 11-time European Motocross Champion, Erwin Schmider to develop the first dedicated MX glove. By this stage the company is already a trailblazer in the riding equipment industry.

In 1983 Held breaks the mould when it develops a radically different sports glove in co-operation with Germany’s most successful road racer of all time, Anton ‘Toni’ Mang. Input from the five-time 250 and 350GP World Champion gave Held inspiration to create such an advanced specification that it still forms the basis of all modern sports gloves.

The level of innovation, which is by now synonymous with Held products, extends to luggage, when the company releases the world’s first high quality, magnetic nylon tank bag, which was colour matched with the latest popular bike models.

In this year, the first textile motorcycle suits arrive on them market, with Held at the forefront of development…

… Just one year later, Held introduces a sports suit made of kangaroo leather. It is almost ten years before other manufacturers catch up, but today, the lightweight, yet extremely tough, hide is now used in almost all high-end race suits.

In the year the company celebrates its 50th anniversary Held is awarded the first of many Motorrad magazine reader survey Best Brand awards.

In response to demand from the trade and public alike, Held launches its own line of affordable quality helmets.

Held introduces the first glove to use carbon fibre protectors – another technology which was since become an industry standard.

Held GmbH becomes the official importer of Arlen Ness, Berik, KBC and other big brands to the German market.

As well as picking up the Motorrad Best Brand Award for its gloves for the fifth year running, Held is granted a coveted GORE-TEX license and launches the outstanding Quattrotempi GORE-TEX® collection.

Throughout the last 60 years, there has been only one aim: to make biking even better for motorcyclists who chose Held Rider Equipment – a tradition which the Held family intends to maintain indefinitely.