Cycle Leather

While the motorcycle jacket is a staple both on and off the road today, it actually has its origins as far back as the 20s and 30s. During this time, the style of the jacket was typically a button closure front with a mandarin style collar. One of the most popular styles was a short jacket with a fitted waist made of brown goatskin.

Ever since, the leather motorcycle jacket has gone through many alterations and changes. As such, these jackets began being outfitted with zippered pockets, fur lining, zipper fronts, and many more stylistic and practical changes. Today, the motorcycle jacket is still generally short with a zipper closure. There may or may not be buckles, which are there for both aesthetics and practical purposes.

In the world of fashion, there aren’t many things that make quite as bold a statement as leather. A heavy and dark material, it doesn’t matter if it comes in the form of a jacket or a miniskirt. Designers have used this knowledge for years to create daring and bold looks. But if you’re looking to incorporate leather into your everyday fashion repertoire, make sure that it’s not overdone. With that bold of a look, it’s best to wear just one accent piece using the fabric.

For this reason, a motorcycle jacket can be a surprisingly versatile thing to have in your closet. Not only will it prove useful if you’re ever cruising around on your motorcycle, but it will also serve as a great accent to any outfit. For a casual look, pair it with jeans. And for a more eclectic look, pair the edgy look of leather with a more formal outfit. However you wear it, leather can help you make that bold statement, so make sure your closet isn’t completely devoid of leather.

When a little touch up needs to be done to your leather jacket, taking it to the cleaners can be quite frustrating. So instead just find a cloth that is very gentle to the touch and a spray cleaner that doesn’t contain chemical substances and wipe your jacket down. This will help in getting all the dust off of the jackets outer surface.

For those that own leather processed jackets you can simply use a gentle soap and water to clean your jacket. When you are doing this though ensure that you use a gentle cloth as it could damage the outer layer of the leather.

Brushed leather is hard to come by, but when you do cleaning it can be done with the use of a mohair brush or a shoe brush like the old fashioned kind. By using either one of these tools you should have the ability to get good results every time.

If you’ve noticed that your jacket has salt spots on it you will quickly want to clean them off with the use of clean water. Avoid attempting to clean salt spots away with dirty or soapy water, as it will just smear things around.

Everyone drips stuff on their clothing every once and a while, but it can be more difficult to get drippings off of a leather jacket then it is to get out of a cotton shirt. If you notice that you’ve dripped something on to the leather jacket quickly remove the substance with a gentle brush and then clean the surface with a mild soap and warm water.

Some things that you should avoid using on your leather jacket are any waxes, silicones, and any leather preparations. Also avoid cleaning the jacket with anything that contains an alcohol substance, turpentine substance, or mineral spirits as these can severely destroy the leather jacket.

A leather motorcycle jacket can be a true priced possession for any motorcyclist and taking care of your leather jacket should be done just as much as you take care of your motorcycle. If you feel there is something you can handle on your own, don’t try. Take your leather jacket to someone who can do it without chancing your leather jacket from being destroyed.

Don’t ever underestimate the sexiness of a man wearing leather. At least that’s what my mother always told me. She also used to love to tell me the story about how she met my father. She worked a pizza restaurant near the air force base where my father was stationed. One night she said she saw a gorgeous man wearing a leather bomber jacket sitting at a table.

Later that night he was still there so she asked him for a lift home. He dropped her off and she craftily left her purse in his car. The next day he returned to her house to return the purse and he asked her out. They’ve been together ever since. What a lovely story.

Motorcycle safety is a subject that is often overlooked or taken for granted by both new and experienced riders alike.  Such things as wearing proper motorcycle safety gear (a leather motorcycle jacket, and a helmet at the least) and practicing emergency procedures can make the difference between going home and going the the hospital, or worse.

 Sign up for a Motorcycle Safety Course.  They will teach you important skills such as counter-balancing, maneuvering, obstacle avoidance, safely starting and stopping on loose aggregate.  I recommend this even for experienced riders if you have never done it, you may surprise yourself and learn something new.

Buy a few good books on Motorcycle Safety, and actually read them from cover to cover.  Refresh again in the spring before the regular riding season starts.  Motorcycle safety cannot be over-emphasized, a mistake on the highway can do a lot more that damage your bike, it could seriously damage you.

More to come… Ride Safe

Ok, I think I’ve seen it all now.  I found this photo on the web and it has to be one of the most bizzare things I have ever seen.  It appears to be a motorcycle that someone built on a very rough wood frame using a combination of spare motorcycle parts and various metal brackets and braces to hold the wood together.  I’m not sure if you would wear a leather motorcycle jacket when riding this or a Carpenters Apron. 

 If you built this, or know who did, please email us - I would love to learn more about this bike and do a more comprehensive article on it.

Several states now offer free courses for both novice and experienced riders.  These courses are invaluable to the young or new rider just starting out, as they teach not only riding technique and the mechanics of basic motorcycle operation but, most importantly, proper safety and emergency procedures.  It is vitally important that you have some sort of training on how to handle unexpected occurrences on the road before they occur, and that is what many of these courses teach.  In our opinion, these courses are as important for the new rider as any other proper safety gear, such as a good leather motorcycle jacket and a DOT approved helmet.

Another great bonus of these training courses is that, in addition to being free, many of them also supply the motorcycles for you to learn and practice on.  Refer to your state DOT website for course availability and locations.

Historically motorcyclists have been characterized as being out-laws.  All you had to do was to don a leather jacket and a do-rag, and you would have folks crossing to the other side of the street to avoid you, all the while casting sideward glances in your direction.   Of course Hollywood has done much to reinforce this perception over the years.  Who could forget Hopper and Fonda flouting law, order, and authority in “Easy Rider”.   

 Fortunately, motorcycle manufacturers and motorcyclists themselves have done much to change that perception.  Todays motorcyclists, for the most part, are hard working, responsible citizens who come from all walks of life; doctors, lawyers, teachers, construction workers, and even ministers and priests. 

 However, one common thread still binds them all together, the willingness to take charge and hit the open road.  The decision to put on motorcycle leather, mount a powerful machine and roar down the highway with the wind in your face is still not for the faint of heart.    In addition, most motorcyclists are fiercely dedicated to God, Family, and Country.  A strong sense of brotherhood links all motorcyclists, they are always willing to help one of their own and will never leave a fellow biker stranded along the road if at all possible.  

We, as motorcyclists, share a proud if not always glamorous heritage, and the next chapter of our story is happening now.  Ride On!

While you are getting your bike ready for the spring riding season:  charging and re-installing the battery, checking the engine and tranny oil, topping off the brake fluid, and checking the tires, brakes, and lights.   Don’t forget to give your leather motorcycle jacket and leather chaps a checkup and tune-up if needed. 

Check for cracks and/or dryness especially in creases and where the leather flexes, such as the elbows, knees, across the shoulders and under the arms.  Give a generous treatment of a good leather conditioner to any problem areas that you find (of course you should also have done this prior to storing it away at the end of last riding season, if not - a little extra care now can fix most problems).  

Next,  give a light treatment overall to moisturize and prepare the leather to be worn again after winter storage.  This is especially important of you have a brown leather jacket and/or brown leather chaps because while this leather is extremely durable and wear resistant, it is less resistant to the elements and requires just a little extra care to keep it supple and weather resistant.

Any small loose seams or hems, such as at the sleeve cuffs, collar, or pant cuffs can be repaired with some rubber cement and allowed to dry thoroughly before wearing. 

Other motorcycle leather, such as saddlebags, travel bags, and tool bags, should be given a good coat of leather waterproofing compound to renew their water resistance for the coming season.  Just a little maintenance will keep your bike, and your leather happy and healthy for another summer season.  Ride On!

Don’t go freezing your bum off while you roar down the road on your motorcycle. Wear warm, comfortable clothing especially during cold months.  Choose from the many styles of men’s motorcycle jackets today that will suit your tastes and personality while protecting you from the elements.  In addition to their obvious functionality, they also make you look cool when you are hanging out with your friends. 

A good motorcycle jacket can be a faithful companion for many years to come. Learn to take care of it well.  Leather jackets usually have removable liners so they are easier to clean. They also come in different colors, textures and design options.