Caring for Leather Motorcycle Gear

Your leather motorcycle gear is important. It helps protect you on the road from the elements and in the event of a crash. Plus, it helps you stay stylish so you can turn heads as you cruise on past. But the tough motorcycle life takes a toll on leather, causing a number of problems. The staff here at Barnes Harley-Davidson Victoria, serving British Columbia, discuss how to solve these problems below! It can be hard to keep your gear in the sweet spot. When leather is too dry, it can turn brittle and even crack. When it gets too wet, it can be too flexible and even pull apart on impact. Keep reading to find out how to hit that sweet spot.

Problem One: Sweat

Sweat is an unavoidable part of the biker lifestyle. Riding a motorcycle is an athletic activity. When you cruise around town for an extended period of time, your body is going to work up a sweat. When the sun beats down on you in the summer, your body is going to produce sweat to try to cool you down. After a few rides, your leather clothing will accumulate a surprising amount of sweat.

It’s more than just the issue of the unpleasant smell. The moisture in the sweat will eventually evaporate and leave behind salt, which damages the liner and the stitching alongside the leather.

The solution is to use a desalter product. It’s a simple spray that you can coat your leather coat with. Spray it on and use a clean rag to rub it in. Do this on the interior and exterior. Some leather jackets are built with removable interiors. If yours has one of these liners, the cleaning process is even easier. These liners are usually machine washable (but double-check the care instructions to make sure).

Problem Two: Color Fading

Your striking black leather over time may turn into a dull, faded color that is much less appealing. This tends to be caused by a layer of something getting in the way of letting the color shine through, such as dirt or smog. The good news is that means the fading usually isn't permanent and your leather can be returned to its former glory.

Pick up a bottle of leather shampoo to get the stains out. Scrub it into the leather with a brush, especially focusing on the chest and elbows since those areas tend to get the grimiest.

Just like with your hair, you will need to condition after you shampoo. If you don't add conditioner, it could wear down the quality of your leather and you won't get as good of protection in a crash. Look for a conditioner that evaporates and allows the leather to still breathe. To apply it, use a sponge to spread on a thin layer. Then use a clean rag to buff out the leather after the conditioner has dried. It'll get rid of any extra conditioner and add a glorious sheen to the material. You can aim for doing this about every two months or so, depending on how often you ride. If you hit the road more often, you'll likely need to wash it more often. If you only ride occasionally, you can likely go longer in between cleanings.

Problem Three: Maintaining the Hardware

A leather jacket is mostly leather, but there are still some parts that aren't. These will need special care too! Some riders put wax in the zippers in an attempt to keep them running smoothly. Unfortunately, this does the opposite. It can get them all gunked up and make them not work as well. Instead, you will want to use a liquid silicon to grease them up.

Maintaining your leather gear isn't hard once you know the right steps and tools to use. If you have any questions, talk to the friendly staff here at Barnes Harley-Davidson Victoria. We are happy to answer any questions! If you are looking to buy, check out our wide selection of motorcycles for all budgets and riding styles. We proudly serve those in Nanaimo and Duncan, British Columbia.