A leather motorcycle suit is serious purchase. You obviously want to enjoy this for as long as possible. But did you know that it is also important for safety reasons to keep the leather of your motorcycle suit in good condition? In a motorcycle suit there are two forms of protection. The first is impact protection such as; chest, knee, elbow and back protectors. This cushions the impact of the blow you make. The second is the abrasion resistant material. This is what keeps you from getting scrapes during a slide. What can happen if you don't maintain your leather suit properly is that the leather dries out. In that case, the leather can tear open during the fall and your suit no longer does what it is meant for. In this blog you will read how to best take care of your beloved leather motorcycle gear.
LEATHER MOTORCYCLE CLOTHING MAINTENANCE
DO'S & DONT'S
There are some things you better not do with your leather motorcycle clothing. It may seem nice and fresh to throw your leather motorcycle suit in the wash, it just won't make your suit very happy. Hand washing is also not conducive to the material. It may not surprise you now that using a dryer is not recommended either.
Much more importantly, how do you do it? Spray a small area by hand, pull this area tight and clean this surface with a cotton cloth. Finish the entire motorcycle jacket or motorcycle pants in this way. This way, no dirt residue is left behind. A child can wash, uhh... correction; wash leather motorcycle clothing.
Do’s
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Spray small part to test
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Tighten
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Clean with cotton cloth
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Repeat top 3 steps
Don’ts
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In the washing machine
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In the dryer
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Hand wash
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Completely wet
LEATHER MOTORCYCLE CLOTHING MAINTENANCE TIPS
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Always air your leather motorcycle clothing after use;
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Never store leather motorcycle clothing airtight in a bag or bin;
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Never put leather motorcycle clothing in the washing machine or dryer.
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Do not expose leather motorcycle clothing to extreme heat and direct sunlight for too long.
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Treat your leather motorcycle clothing at least twice a year with the appropriate cleaning products. This ensures that the water and dirt resistant layer of the leather remains intact and that the original leather smell is preserved.
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After cleaning, lubricate your leather motorcycle clothing with leather conditioner, leather grease or leather balm to nourish the leather and make it water and dirt repellent again without compromising breathability.
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There are motorcyclists who advise each other to wet a new leather motorcycle suit and ride it dry. That is also among the dont's.
EXTEND LEATHER MOTORCYCLE CLOTHING LIFE
It is best to take good care of your leather motorcycle clothing preventively to extend its life. Even from the very first ride, you can do something for your suit by airing it out. Then hang it on a wide hanger as soon as you get home, but don't hang it in the sun or near other sources of heat. If you've caught flies on the bike, it's also best to wipe them off immediately after your ride. Even if it's not really time to fully clean your suit yet, this is important because otherwise the stains will soak into the leather. After that, re-lubricate your suit, or the parts you cleaned. To do this, use a leather conditioner or leather grease. Leather conditioner is to be used after a ride and leather grease is to be used as soon as your motorcycle clothing is hanging out during the fall and winter days. The leather will then remain supple as long as you hang the clothing in a ventilated area. Maintaining the leather properly increases the chances that it won't get stains that you can't get out! For best results, clean your leather motorcycle clothing twice a year.
