How to Maintain Motorcycle Riding Gear: A Care Schedule for Every Piece

Maintaining motorcycle riding gear comes down to four habits: wipe it after rides, clean it by hand when it's dirty, dry it slowly away from heat, and store it dry on a wide hanger. The care label inside each piece leads over any general guide. Leather gets conditioned once it's clean and dry; textile gets reproofed when water stops beading. A helmet needs replacing after any crash and, per the Snell Memorial Foundation, after five years of normal use.

This guide covers motorcycle gear, not bicycle gears. It is part of our leather care and cleaning guide.

Riding gear maintenance schedule

Leather jackets, pants and suits

Leather riding gear is never machine-washed. Clean it by hand: dry cloth first to lift grit, then a slightly damp cloth with a pH-neutral leather cleaner, then air dry and condition. Remove the armor and liners before any wet cleaning, and close the zippers.

• Suede or nubuck panels: no liquid cleaners or conditioners.
• Perforated leather: as little moisture as possible; blot, don't rub.
• No normal dry cleaner: gear makers rule out dry cleaning, and the store says normal dry cleaning strips oils from leather.

The full step-by-step method is in how to wash a motorcycle jacket safely. One-piece suits are covered in how to wash a motorcycle race suit. For how often to condition, see how often to condition leather.

Textile jackets and pants

Hand washing is the safest option: lukewarm water, a little detergent, gentle agitation and a rinse until the water runs clear. Machine wash only if the label allows it. Use a laundry bag, a delicate cycle and cold water up to 86°F (30°C).

Two rules protect waterproof, breathable membranes:

• No fabric softener. REV'IT! says it destroys the membrane's function.
• Check the label before using a dryer. REV'IT! says to drip dry its textile gear and never tumble dry it, but its GORE-TEX instructions say to tumble dry for 20 minutes once the garment is dry, to reactivate the water-repellent finish. The label for your exact garment decides.

Reproof the outer fabric when water no longer beads on it.

Gloves

Clean riding gloves by hand with a damp cloth and no hot water. REV'IT! rules out washing machines, dry cleaners and pressure washers. Dry them completely, then store them somewhere dry and ventilated, out of the sun and away from heat. Step-by-step help is in how to clean leather gloves.

Boots

Let wet boots dry naturally at room temperature, away from heaters and direct sun. Match the care to the finish:

• Suede or nubuck boots: brush only. No leather grease or shoe polish.
• Full-grain leather boots: REV'IT! says never to use a water-repellent spray on them.

Armor and protectors

Take armor out before washing any garment. Wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth and don't soak it. Refit it in the right pockets once the jacket is dry.

Helmet

• Cleaning: wash the inside pads with mild soapy water only, and never use chemical cleaning products inside or outside.
• Paint: don't repaint a helmet with paint the manufacturer hasn't approved.
• Replacement: replace a helmet after any impact while in use, because the crushed liner can't protect a second time. The Snell Memorial Foundation also recommends replacement after five years of normal use, as worn pads loosen the fit. An unused helmet stored in good condition does not automatically expire.

Inspection checklist

When you clean, look over each piece:

• [ ] Seams and stitching at the shoulders, elbows, seat and knees
• [ ] Zippers and hook-and-loop fasteners
• [ ] Armor pockets, and the armor itself for cracks
• [ ] Glove palms and fingertips
• [ ] Boot soles, buckles and closures
• [ ] Helmet pads, strap and the date you started using it

How to store riding gear

Hang jackets on a wide, padded hanger in a cool, dry, ventilated place, in a breathable cover. Never store gear damp or in plastic. Make sure gloves are completely dry first. Off-season storage for leather in general is covered in how to store leather properly.

Common mistakes

• Machine-washing leather
• Drying gear on a radiator or near any heat source
• Wringing or twisting garments
• Bleach, fabric softener or solvents
• Putting gear away wet

Caught in a downpour? See caring for motorcycle leathers after riding in the rain.

Quick answers

How often should you wash motorcycle gear?

Spot-clean after dirty rides and do a full clean when the gear looks grimy or smells. Wipe leather after each ride.

Can you put motorcycle gear in the washing machine?

Not leather, ever. Textile gear only if its label allows it, on a cold, gentle cycle.

How often should you replace a motorcycle helmet?

After any impact, and Snell recommends after five years of normal use.

Leather riding jackets from Leather Collection come with the same basic care advice: wipe after wearing, dry at room temperature and condition now and then.