protecting new leather jacket

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sam_j · #1 Unread post by **sam_j** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 3:26 pm

Hey guys, I just bought my first leather motorcycle jacket. I was wondering if I need to put any weather protector on it, or anything else to protect it from the environments
Thanks!

#2 Unread post by **Jamers!** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 3:31 pm

i put nothing on mine and after about 1000 miles or so its fine. protecting stuff may help, but riding jackets are pretty tough. Should be good either way, though i dont know what you would put on it.

JWF

flynrider · #3 Unread post by **flynrider** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:03 pm

When I got my last leather jacket, the gal in the store predicted dire consequences if I didn't by an expensive can of leather waterproofing treatment. I figured I'd never seen a cow shrink in the rain, so I went without. The jacket still looks fine after 8 yrs and a lot of rain.

#4 Unread post by **Jamers!** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:19 pm

flynrider wrote: I figured I'd never seen a cow shrink in the rain, so I went without. The jacket still looks fine after 8 yrs and a lot of rain.

great logic, hahaha i like it.

JWF

SuperRookie · Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:10 am

I never seen a pig fly...at least not 'til I watched a football game

CNF2002 · #6 Unread post by **CNF2002** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:13 am

I figured I'd never seen a cow shrink in the rain, so I went without

True, but your cow is dead. They treat that leather pretty heavily before you buy it. The wear will depend on the quality of the leather, how it was prepared, and how you treat it when you own it. You might get weathered cracks and fading if you dont treat it with their special goop but they really oversell the importance of it. I rather like the weathered look anyway myself.

Indiana Jones never sprayed protectant on his leather jacket

#7 Unread post by **Sev** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:50 am

I put... 11000 km on my jacket through some very heavy rain (at times) and it's pretty much fun, I stretched the arms a little because I hung it up wet, but other then that looks just like the day I bought it. Less bug guts and scratches from kicked up rocks.

JCS · #8 Unread post by **JCS** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:55 am

Absolutely you need to protect your leathers. I use a product called Lexol. They have a cleaner and a conditioner. Use both. Your leathers will thank you. In the long run your wallet will thank you. I have a full set of Dainese leathers that I have used this on regularly. At 20 years old, they look and feel like new.

#9 Unread post by **Kal** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:07 am

It really depends on if you can be bothered... I can think of many, many better things to do with my time...

Kal - Highway surfaces thread wrote:I always wear my Leather, even when I am not on my bike its rare for me not to wear my leather.
(We have a picture of us both at Discovery Cove, Orlando. We are both wearing Leathers and I've got a fleece on under mine)

My Bike Leather will be 6 years old at Rock and Blues this year. It's been sunheated, rained on, snowed on, sleeted on, rained on, soaked through, had beer poured on it, been rained on, had the cat p*** on it, been rained on, done more than 38,000 bike miles, more beer poured on it, slept in, used as a groundsheet, been rained on and endured my habit of not moving for street furniture when on foot, been down the road twice and did I mention its been rained on???

It dosnt look like new anymore. The elbows and shoulders are scuffed, there is a great dark stain on the back from the cat, the top of the jacket is all torn up from where the cat used it as a scratching post when she was a kitten* and the lining in the pockets is going.

That said. I have never treated it with anything, and apart from some er 'added character' it still looks good.

Don't stress about your leathers.

*No, I don't know how the cat made it through kittenhood either...

By the time you've put serious wear on the outside you'll be shopping for a new one having destroyed the lining completely...