I'm only bringing it up because Dainese are sent me a info on a leather cleaning "system" that looks like it costs an arm leg and my left nut! What do you guys use to clean / maintain your leathers?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I say "and my left nut", too! LOL!

Anyways, I've NEVER cleaned any of my gear, leather included... Gross, probably... But I'd like to know people's responses to this too, so maybe I can START. :wink:

 

I know I definitely can't ride w/o my leg and my arm so I'll probably negotiate with them for the other nut. :shock:

I've had my FT 1pc for over 2months now.. and yeah it's got some battle scars(read: dead bugs) on it.. and I always thought I'd go into Cyclegear.. ask the guy, he'll point me to a bunch of shelves.. I'd get something in the top 15% price range and I shoudl be good.

It'd be nice to hear what folks here have to offer advice about though..

 

I have some orange-based leather cleaner I use on the outside, smells great. The pits REEK of B.O. though and I can't figure out how to get rid of it. I've tried crappy household stuff like Febreze but it comes right back. Suggestions?

 

I'm only bringing it up because Dainese are sent me a info on a leather cleaning "system" that looks like it costs an arm leg and my left nut! What do you guys use to clean / maintain your leathers?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I say "and my left nut", too! LOL!

Anyways, I've NEVER cleaned any of my gear, leather included... Gross, probably... But I'd like to know people's responses to this too, so maybe I can START. :wink:

Came back from Bracebridge to Mississauga Ont. with my brother on the weekend through shitty conditions that made both our bikes and jackets dirty. On my last jacket I used Armor all, but am wondering if there is something that you guys / gals use that I should look at. Oddly I am more concerned with fudgeing up my gloves than anything else - I have a pair of Dainese gloves that fit my hands perfectly and want to keep them that way.

M

 

Be only a minute till the 'trackwhores' Al and Bill chime in folks.. be only a minute.


I'm sure they're nice clean guys that care for their leathers :twisted:

 

You're a moderator now too so let's have your 2¢ worth.

M

 

Be only a minute till the 'trackwhores' Al and Bill chime in folks.. be only a minute.

I'm sure they're nice clean guys that care for their leathers :twisted:

Well, not necessarily clean all the time :twisted: But I use some old school stuff that I got from ZCustom Leathers when I had my custom suit made... It's called Sterling's Magic All Purpose Cleaner.. It gets the bugs off really well, and leaves the leather moist without feeling greasy or smelly. It has a lemony scent.

http://www.sterlingsmagic.com/

 

You're a moderator now too so let's have your 2¢ worth.

M

Do I sense sarcasm? :roll: Like I said, I haven't really gotten to cleanign my leathers yet.. will probably go with what Cyclegear has (maybe go for the top-end models/brands they sell) or wait for others to chime in here.

 

Be only a minute till the 'trackwhores' Al and Bill chime in folks.. be only a minute.

I'm sure they're nice clean guys that care for their leathers :twisted:

Well, not necessarily clean all the time :twisted: But I use some old school stuff that I got from ZCustom Leathers when I had my custom suit made... It's called Sterling's Magic All Purpose Cleaner.. It gets the bugs off really well, and leaves the leather moist without feeling greasy or smelly. It has a lemony scent.

http://www.sterlingsmagic.com/

But what do you use on the inside?? Am I the only one that sweats profusely at a 110 degree track day?

 

I've never heard of it. Is is that good? It reminds me of that Saturday Nite Live skit where CRELM is not just a floor polish it's a dessert topping. Seriously it sounds good but I've never seen it up here where do you get it from?

M

 

Be only a minute till the 'trackwhores' Al and Bill chime in folks.. be only a minute.

I'm sure they're nice clean guys that care for their leathers :twisted:

Well, not necessarily clean all the time :twisted: But I use some old school stuff that I got from ZCustom Leathers when I had my custom suit made... It's called Sterling's Magic All Purpose Cleaner.. It gets the bugs off really well, and leaves the leather moist without feeling greasy or smelly. It has a lemony scent.

http://www.sterlingsmagic.com/

But what do you use on the inside?? Am I the only one that sweats profusely at a 110 degree track day?

I haven't cleaned mine from the inside yet

But I have a removable liner in my suit... so I guess I would just through that in the delicate cycle.

 

I've never heard of it. Is is that good? It reminds me of that Saturday Nite Live skit where CRELM is not just a floor polish it's a dessert topping. Seriously it sounds good but I've never seen it up here where do you get it from?

M

:lol: :lol:

I got mine from the ZCustoms leather shop in Huntington Beach, CA

But you can get it on line here..

http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_specific.cfm?ClientID=15&ProductID=17595

 

I just remove the liner from my suit and stick it in the washing machine. If you do not have a liner in the suit you can buy a one piece body liner. keeps you warm/cool and stops sweat getting into the suit.

info here:

http://www.triumph675.net/phpBB2/vi...et/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=43302&highlight=&sid=42faa4a0a6e681bce624fef8d62d0bb9

 

these guys make them.

bottom of page.

http://www.firedogracing.com/KushitaniLeathers.html

 

For the outside I use leather cleaner and then conditioner. Nothing fancy just something to keep the leather soft so it doesn't crack.

For the sweat stains on the inside you can lightly scrub with a good general purpose carpet cleaner, just make sure to test spots to make sure the colors don't run.

Now to get that fresh from the dryer smell back into it.... just get about 10 dryer sheets (I prefer snuggles because of the cute bear on the box :wink: ) and stuff them in the leathers around the armpits and sleeves and then zip the jacket up and let it sit in the sun for a day or more. The hotter the better. This also works great on helmets that don't have a removable liner also. 8)

 

cleaning leathers is for friends of Dorothy.

 

I wouldn't advise this on a (relatively) new set of leathers but I recently bought new gear, basically because the old were pretty much shagged.
So... took out the protector pads, turned the whole lot (leather Helston vest and leather Richa trousers) inside out and tossed them into the washing machine at 30° on a short cycle with a squirt of detergent :lol:
Came out completely drenched and limp of course. But after a couple of days drying (draped on a chair), took some leather cleaner/protector (you now the milky stuff) to them and the end result was pretty good actually. You can feel the leather reacted to the water, losing some of the original firmity but not a lot once it dried up again. I wear both regularly again, no problem.
I think a lot depends on the original leather quality anyhow. If you have some scrappy leathers lying around.. give it a go, you'll be surprised.

And on helmets: wash my Arai 2x a year just by putting a towl in the bathtub, visor off, helmet upside down and fill with cold water, some shampoo, wash and press the padding getting all of the muck and dust out, rinse profusely with cold water, allow for couple of days drying and voilà.. clean helmet. By the way, if you've never done this, the water in your tub will be black as pitch after washing. Fucking disgusting if you see it. Just don't use warm water or leave the helmet soaking too long, it might loosen the glue for padding. Got my Quantum for 4 years now (ca.30.000 miles) and apart from some scratches and a new visor it's in pristine shape.

 

Ride fast in the rain. That is all the cleaning I do.

 

That works pretty well in Belgian climate too :lol:

 

WD-40 on the outside. Seriously. It cleans really well, and conditions the leather at the same time.

 

Keep the actual leather soft and supple with Lexol. I use it on every leather item I have.

 

When I think the inside is getting nasty...

....the method I use on my leathers (did it to my Dainese's last year) is to simply take out any removable armor. Then I fill a tub with luke warm water. Using a neutral soap like Dove I wash them inside and out. Rinse REALLY well with lots of cold water after a short while in the tub.
Pat them down/press them between 2 towels on the floor.
Let them dry naturally.
As soon as possible slather Lexol Conditioner all over the outside.
Replace armor.
Et voila.

I have had NO problems at all with the leather being harmed and will use this method for my new suit too when it needs it.

I am fastidious with my gear, but if you try this and screw a step up and trash your leathers, dont blame me.

 

WD-40 on the outside. Seriously. It cleans really well, and conditions the leather at the same time.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Harley Davidson has some real nice stuff that works well and is affordable. You'll need the cleaner and the moisturizer.

I've used Vanson's stuff, too. It's a 1-step balm product that cleans and protects.

 

I use the rain