Motorcycle riding gives you an unmatched thrill and speeding in the open air fills you with freshness. Riding is all about looking great and stylish and you need stylish gear to look well groomed. You want your gear to last for years as they are expensive and it all comes down to how well you maintain them. It’s a great feeling to buy a new jacket, jeans, helmet or a suit but what if you can get that feeling all over again without buying. You can do so by reviving your gear. Moreover, poorly maintained gear is unhygienic and causes bacteria formation. Helmets and leather clothes and accessories smell if not cleaned regularly. When you clean the shell of your helmet you will see if there is any possible damage. You should remember that your life depends on your helmet and any negligence towards it may prove fatal.
There are some common misconceptions about cleaning your riding gear. Bike riding gear doesn’t need any special cleaning. Anyone can do the job as long as one is cautious.
- You will only need cotton cloth, kitchen roll, and fresh water.
- You can use helmet lining cleaners which are easily available and leather cleaning and feeding agents for your boots and jacket.
- The leather is extremely susceptible to dust, oil, and grease. Besides, there are other natural factors like rain, wind, sun. Even insects can damage and rot your leather.
- Do not use a leather feed to clean your leather. It actually makes it look even worse. It traps the dirt in the pores. You need specialist leather cleaner by Mars.
- You should use a soft brush and dip it in a cleaner and scrub on one area like shoulder, arm at a time.
- Do it gently and circularly. This will remove the dirt from your leather.
- Get rid of excesses if any with a soft cloth. Once one area is cleaned you should remove the dirt using a cotton cloth dipped in water.
- Rinse the cloth frequently. Leave it to get air dried overnight using a coat hanger.
- Now you can apply the feed but make sure that it’s color does not spoil the leather. You must not go overboard with it as excess will make it look sticky.
- After the feed clean your leather suit with a cloth to give it a shine. Leave it to get air dried again with the zips open but do not keep it near a radiator.
Using the same technique as above you can clean your gloves. They also need a thorough cleaning as due to constant movement dirt gets into them. Your zips on gloves, boot, jacket or suit require special treatment too. Due to grit and dirt, the teeth get worn out which can be fatal if you happen to crash. The zip will burst open in such an event. Do not wash your zips with lubricant instead use water and a nail brush.
Your boots need the same treatment as your jackets and jeans. If they are made of plastic armor water and a brush will be enough.
- Use mild soapy water to remove the spots.
- You can use a spray-on wax polish to give your boots the shine.
- You need to clean the area between your sole and the upper boot with special care. It is the area where mud and filth get accumulated the most. They can damage any stitches in your boot.
- Clean that region gently with warm water and finally apply feed on your boot if it is made of leather.
- For the shell of your helmet, we recommend you to make a mixture of liquid soap and water. Use it and a cloth to clean the shell.
- For the vent pods, you can use a toothbrush. Any residue should be washed away using clean water and then dry it using a towel.
- Use a polish but first ensure it won’t damage plastics. Make a solution of a shampoo and water to clean the interiors of your helmet.
After cleaning rinse it with clean water. You can rinse it in a shower if your helmet has a removable liner while for a non-removable cleaner you will need to clean it using a cloth and water. Dry the lining using a hair dryer or let it air dry preferably overnight.
