Top Tips on How to Look After Your Moto Gear

There are countless tips and advice out there when it comes to looking after your motorcycle gear. We don’t doubt you’re the master of farkles, but do you look after your moto gear as carefully as your bike? It’s tempting to just dump your muddy boots or dusty leathers in the garage and forget about them till the next ride. However, looking after your gear is essential if you want to keep it in top shape.

Motorcycle gear designers and manufacturers put a lot of effort, tech, and thought into the stuff you wear when you’re riding your bike. Do your part and give your leathers or Kevlar a little TLC once in a while, too. After all, it’s what keeps you safe.

Here’s how to look after your motorcycle gear.

Cleaning Your Helmet

We’ve said this before: your helmet is the most important piece of your moto gear, so be sure to give it a good clean every couple of months or so. Depending on how much you ride, you may want to do it more often. Don’t wait until it gets ripe!

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Don’t let your helmet get ripe!

Most helmets have removable inner linings, so giving your helmet a wash is a pretty straightforward task. Simply remove the lining and hand-wash it in a sink using lukewarm water. Ideally, wash it with baby shampoo as it doesn’t have any irritants or aroma. Leave to air-dry.

For the outer shell, use a soft microfiber cloth or rag. If your visor is covered in dead bugs or road grime, wash it off with the cloth, then leave it to dry.

Washing Your Motorcycle Riding Suit

Now that your helmet’s squeaky clean, it’s time to take care of your riding gear.  If you aren’t a motocross maniac or a track rat, chances are, your gear is probably made of textile. Cordura jackets and pants remain among the most popular, so here is how to clean your textile motorcycle jacket and pants.

First off, remove the inner lining and take out all the armor pads. Before you put it in the wash, do up all the zippers and buttons. Read the manufacturer’s instructions before washing the jacket and pants. Most textile riding suits, however, can be washed in the washing machine. Simply make sure you put it on a gentle cycle and use a mild detergent but skip the fabric softener.

If the sweat and grime got at your armor pads, hand-wash them with lukewarm water and soap, then leave on a towel to dry.

Once your riding pants and jacket are washed, hang the suit up to air-dry or, if you’re in a rush, you can use the tumble dryer. However, make sure it’s in a mild temperature setting.

Keeping GoreTex Waterproof

If your riding pants or jacket has an outer GoreTex layer, machine-wash them in cold water and air-dry. Once the gear is dry, put it in the tumble dryer for 15-20 minutes. This will reactivate the water repellent treatment on the GoreTex, so it remains rainproof, but make sure the heat setting is mild.

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