Caring For Motorcycle Leather & Leather Gear
Your motorcycle enables you to chase the horizon and explore the countryside, or at least run the occasional errand. Every part of it contributes to making your ride efficient and comfortable, but it’s easy to forget about some of them, like the leather. Your rides take a toll on the leather on your seats, on your grips, and even in your riding gear.
To help you care for this delicate part of your bike, we here at Langston Motorsports have put together a few tips for caring for motorcycle leather. If you want to know more, or you need supplies for these steps, contact our store in Perris, California. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you find what you need at the prices you want!
Sweat
No matter what the weather is like, you’re probably going to sweat when you ride your motorcycle. It’s a full-body workout, so it’s only natural. Your leather gear and the leather on your bike itself will build up a surprising amount of salty sweat after a few rides. That’s going to leave behind more than an unpleasant smell—once the water evaporates, all that’s left is the salt, which can damage the liner and stitching along the leather and even dry out the leather itself.
For this, you’ll need a desalter spray and a clean cloth or rag. Simply spray it on your leather clothes and the leather on your bike, then rub it in using the rag. For your clothes, you’ll need to do this on both the inside and outside. If your riding gear has a removable interior, that makes the cleaning process much smoother. Liners tend to be machine washable, but double check the tag before you throw it in the wash.
Cleaning
Your leather will earn some wear-and-tear over time, and that includes fading, most often a side-effect of stains that cover over the surface like dirt or built-up smog. That fading isn't permanent, however, and with the right products and care you can bring your leather back to its old color in no time. You’ll need to clean your leather bike parts and leather riding gear every two months or so, depending on how often you ride. More frequent cleanings might be necessary if you ride regularly and often.
Shampoo
Your first step is removing the stains. To do that, you’ll need some leather shampoo. Scrub the shampoo into the leather with a soft brush. On your motorcycle, your seat will need the most care. With your gear, focus on the chest, the rear on any leather pants, and elbows and knees. These areas tend to build up the most grime.
Condition
After you shampoo, you’re going to need to condition. Like with your hair, the shampoo will clean everything, but it can dry the leather out. Leather conditioner will help you get your leather looking like new rather than cracking or wearing down. This is important for safety as well as aesthetics, when it comes to your riding gear, as properly-cared-for leather provides more protection during a crash.
Ideally, you’ll want a conditioner that evaporates naturally and will let the leather breathe. Apply it in a thin layer with an otherwise dry sponge, then use a clean, dry rag to buff out the leather once the conditioner dries. That gets rid of any extra conditioner or residue and adds a nice sheen to the leather.
Riding Gear Zippers
The leather itself isn’t your only concern when it comes to your riding gear. You’ll need to pay special attention to zippers as well. Some riders use wax in the hopes of lubricating the mechanism, but this actually gums up the works. We recommend using a liquid silicon-based lubricant to grease up your zippers. This is more convenient for putting on or taking off your gear, but it’s also a safety concern. If you even need to remove the gear quickly, you don’t want your zipper sticking!
We hope these tips help you care for the leather on your motorcycle and in your riding gear. If you need help finding the right products, or you’d like to browse our inventory of motorcycles for sale, contact us at Langston Motorsports. We proudly serve the people of Temecula and Orange County, California—let us serve you today!