I've had requests to share my gear care tips especially w/ regards to leather w/ anyone who is interested.

I usually ride between 100-150 miles a couple times a week and in the warmer months there are alot of insects that meet there demise on my gear.

For my Helmet , when I'm done riding I take a wet washcloth and lay it over the top of the Helmet so it also covers the visor. After 5 minutes the bugs are wet enough to wipe off w/ a microfiber cloth which does not scratch Helmet or the visor.

My leather jackets I hang on the clothes line and take a wet sponge and wipe all the bugs and their leftovers off the leather and any other fabric. I may have to rub some places harder than others to get all the bug stuff off.

Then I take a dry towel and wipe off excess water. I'll leave the jacket on the clothes line on it's original hanger w/ the collar snapped so as to keep the jacket's original shape as it drys.

Leather pants I do the same thing. I use a wet sponge to wipe off all bug stuff and dirt .I Alsowipe off road grime that will wipe off too. If it is tar or grease I use some Isopropol Alcohol ( rubbing Alcohol ).  I just dab it on the tar or grease , but if that won't take it of I'll use more force and rub it 'til it comes off.

Racing Boots , these days they are made of more man made materials like Lorica and Kevlar , Carbon Fiber and some... leather. For the most part they can be wiped off w/a wet sponge and dried off w/ a towel. Chances are they are wet inside from sweat even though you should us foot powder in them before you wear them to help keep  them dry and cool. I set them next to my Dehumidifier overnight . They shoud be kept in the shape that they are when you wear them so that they stay in their original shape .

I hang my back protector on the clothes line to let the Dehumidifyer dry it.

Racing gaunlet gloves are all I wear . Best protection you will find. Eventhough they are made of many different leathers and man made fabrics, I treat each pair the same.

I mix up a quart of warm water w/ a tablespoon or so of laundry detergent  and as I poor it in to one of the gloves I run cool water from a laundry sink faucet in at the same time and try to keep the glove full of soapy water .

Sweat causes leather to rot and washing the gloves out will get rid of the sweat.

As I run soapy water through the glove for about a 2 minutes  I then run clean water through the glove and the water runs out through the glove vents . Finally I dump out any excess water and take a towel and wipe out the excess , squeeze the fingers w/ the towel to get as much water out and then hang the glove by the closure flp on the clothes line to dry w/ the Dehumidifyer pulling the water out for about 24 hours. Repeat w/ 2nd glove .

After 24 hours all the leather items should be dry and at that point I take Lexol Spray Leather Conditioner( which I pick up at a local Auto Parts store) and take each item and spray them a coulpe times and then take a dry sponge and wipe the Lexol all over the item I am conditioning .

The gloves I put on and rub the Lexol all over them and into them .

The Jackets and Pants , I will just spray and spread all over the leather w/ a dry sponge until it feels like the leather is damp w/ conditioner. The sponge will become wet w/ conditioner and this wiil make it easier to cover every area of leather.

Boots just need to dry over night unless they are all leather .If leather , then treat them  like jackets or pants above.

Those are my tips to keeping my leather gear staying and feeling like new.   Dolph

Thanks for all of the good info.  I'm a new rider and this stuff really helps.  Thanks again.

That's intense!  I find it difficult to motivate myself to clean my bike and gear once a month.  How often are you going through this process?

Quote from: Stucky on September 11, 2008, 09:37:09 AM
That's intense!  I find it difficult to motivate myself to clean my bike and gear once a month.  How often are you going through this process?

I'm retired and ride about twice a week  , 100-150 miles each time I ride.  I do this everytime I ride.

I always wash and dry my bike after each ride as well.

I like to have my stuff always looking and feeling like new.

I have this notion that if I return my gear to like new condition that it will stay that way forever.  Dolph

Good thread Dolph!

Any idea how I can clean my textile jacket? Can I just drop it in the washing machine?
It's a Joe Rocket Corona jacket with stitched in padding.
Jeff

Quote from: Bun-bun on September 11, 2008, 02:28:39 PM
Good thread Dolph!

Any idea how I can clean my textile jacket? Can I just drop it in the washing machine?
It's a Joe Rocket Corona jacket with stitched in padding.
Jeff

I was checking some of my Textile Jackets . My Olympia I coulldn't find a tag . I have an Icon Timax 2 w/a 85 % Polyester shell, 9 % eva, 6 % Titainium . Lining 100 % Polyester .

It has Ti and non removeable Armor.

Wash instruction  " WASH BY HAND IN COLD WATER, DO NOT USE SPIN DRYER, NO HEAT OR BLEACH ."

It may be a good idea to Google the brand of your gear and find their Corp. phone number and give them a call. They usually have a toll free phone number , that way they can advise you

I would check your Jacket for a tag somewhere on the inside w/ washing instructions  , if no tag can be found, then ...to be safe, hand washing in cold water would be best , then hang dry. 

In other words , unlesss you find a tag to the contrary , DON'T THROW YOU TEXTILE jACKET IN THE WASHER  ! Follow the above . 

It would probably be a good idea to Google the brand of gear you have and find the brand's contact phone number. That phone number generally is toll free and you can ask the customer service Dept. what is the best way to clean and care for your particular model of gear that you have of their's.    Dolph

I wash all my textile/mesh gear in my washing machine.  I remove all the removeable padding & armor then wash it on cold cycle. Do not use fabric softener as it will break down the material.  Then hang to dry. Also my washing machine is a front loader I do not know if I would recomend a top loader as I would be afraid the agitator may cause some dammage.  Anyway, this method has served me just fine for the past couple years with no ill effects.