Caring for Leather Motorcycle Gear

The classic gear choice for most motorcyclists is leather, for a number of reasons. First, leather is a strong and durable material that will protect you in the event of a slide-out. Second, it’s the most common material for gear to be made from and it has been for years. Third, leather just looks amazing; it catches other people’s eyes and helps you stand out from the crowd as a true road warrior. A good black leather jacket and a set of black motorcycle boots essentially ooze attitude.

However, leather is not an easy-care material, and the harshness of motorcycle riding can really take a toll on your leather gear over time by drying it out, causing it to crack, fade and look dingy. It’s important to keep your gear conditioned and maintained so that you don’t have to invest in more of it too quickly. After all, the other thing about leather is that it isn’t cheap.

Mission City Indian Motorcycle®, located in Boerne, TX, is the premier Indian® motorcycle dealer for the Austin, TX, region. Below, you’ll find three common problems that riders have with their leather gear along with the steps you can take to get your gear back into good condition.

Reducing Sweat Damage

As a rider out in the hot Texas sun, you’re going to sweat, and you’re going to sweat a lot. Perspiration is the body’s way of keeping cool in the heat, and even just the act of riding a motorcycle is active enough to get your body to perspire in the absence of high temperatures. So your leather gear will absorb a lot of sweat, and this will do a few things: it will start to smell and it will crust your leather up with salt.

Along with water, your body releases salt in your sweat. This salt can damage the liner of your jacket and break down the stitching over time. That’s why many riders turn to a desalter product, which can be sprayed on your leather coat and rubbed in with a clean piece of cloth. Apply the desalter to the inside and outside of your jacket. If your jacket has a removable liner, then take it out and wash it according to the instructions on the tag.

Treating Faded Color

That glossy black sheen on your leather jacket has a few enemies in the great outdoors, namely the sun, rain and dirt. We don’t get a lot of rain here in southern Texas, but we do get plenty of sun and our climate can be dry and dusty, especially out in the deserts to the west. In the cities, smog from cars can dull the shine of your jacket. Fortunately, the fading is generally not permanent and you can restore the deep black color easily.

Get a bottle of leather shampoo to remove stains from your jacket using a soft brush. Afterwards, you’ll want to condition your leather to prevent it from breaking down and cracking. Use a sponge to apply an evaporating conditioner in a thin layer over your jacket, then buff the leather with a cloth after the conditioner has dried. Try to do this process every two months, unless you notice dirt build-up sooner due to more frequent riding.

Maintaining Hardware

While your favorite leather motorcycle jacket is mainly comprised of leather, it does have some bits and pieces that are made from metal. The zipper is the primary concern, as it can sometimes become stiff and hard to maneuver. Some riders try to apply wax to their zippers to make them function more smoothly, but this is a terrible idea because it will just make them even stickier and might break the zipper entirely. Instead, use a liquid silicone lubricant to oil up your jacket’s zipper so that it can easily be zipped and unzipped without sticking.

We hope this guide helps you to keep your favorite leather motorcycle gear in peak condition. Searching for motorcycles for sale near Austin, TX? Browse our website to see the fine selection of new and used Indian® motorcycles for sale at our dealership in Boerne, TX. Mission City Indian Motorcycle® proudly serves the metro areas of San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi, TX.