Cycle Leather

Discount leather jackets and motorcycle leather
Cleaning a Leather Coat

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.

posted by EZRider
 May 11, 2009
How to Properly Wear Chaps

Chaps are usually worn over denim jeans or other trousers of heavy material. They have their own belt, and usually are fitted around the hips, resting below the belt loops of the trousers. Except for chinks and armitas, which are designed to fit above the boot, most chaps are long, fitting over the boot and draping slightly over the vamp of the boot (see shoe).

Some leather chaps are cut to hang long at the heel and nearly cover the entire boot except for the toe. Batwings, chinks, and shotgun chaps fit firmly but comfortably around the thigh, with shotguns continuing to fit closely all the way down the calf, though not so snug as to limit free knee movement. The shotgun design is a bit flared at the ankle to allow for the rider’s boot. Batwings and chinks are not attached around the leg below the knee.

posted by EZRider
 April 27, 2009
empty_lot_parking_lot.jpgPractice your emergency maneuvers and your low-speed turns.  It is usually best to find an isolated spot like an empty parking lot or a little-used service road to use as your practice spot.  When a critical situation comes up on the road is not the time to be ‘learning how’ to swerve out of the way.  You frequently have less than a second to make a decision ’swerve or brake’, make the wrong decision or execute it incorrectly, and you may not have the opportunity to learn from your mistake. 
  
You should also always wear your regular safety gear, leather motorcycle jacket, leather chaps, and leather gloves, when practicing.  I also strongly recommend wearing a helmet.  The whole point of practice to to make and learn from your mistakes, so that you won’t make them later.   Even a low speed ’spill’ can be quite painful and hazardous if you aren’t wearing protective gear.

posted by Travlr67
 April 21, 2009

al3067.jpgRiding a motorcycle can be rough on your hands.  Sun, wind, and rain, not to mention road grit, pebbles, and insects can play havoc on the your fingers at the best of times.  The best way to protect your hands while enjoying your rides is a good pair of leather motorcycle gloves.

Motorcycle gloves come in a wide variety of styles, colors, and material options.  Perforated and fingerless designs work well in warmer weather, providing the needed margin of protection while not overheating your hands.  Lined, insulated, and gauntlet-style gloves are ideal for colder weather or when the weather suddenly takes a downturn.  I always carry a pair of unlined gauntlet style leather gloves in my saddle bag even in the summer, it doesn’t have to be winter for you to get pretty uncomfortable from rain blowing up your sleeves.

posted by Travlr67
 April 10, 2009

dleatherbomberjacketblack-leathermotorcyclejacketsdirect.jpgDon’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.

posted by EZRider
 April 7, 2009

al3651.jpgThere is a bag for every occasion. There are duffel bags, lunch bags, sling bags, backpacks, shopping bags, sandwich bags, marble bags, and beanbags. When choosing any type of bag, we must consider our own needs, as well as the pros and cons of various bags. However, after choosing bags, such as leather saddlebags, we must then determine what to put inside those bags. Here are some categories of gear that you should stuff into your motorcycle saddlebags, before your next road trip:

1. Tools, spare parts, and maintenance products

When on a motorcycle road trip, the roads can be rough. Make sure to bring a tool kit to make any minor repairs to your cycle. You may need to add some additional items, such as vice grips, which are not included in the tool kit. Tire problems are one of the most common issues during road trips. Make sure to bring a patch kit, tire irons, an air pump (with CO2), a proper spoke tool, etc., to make minor repairs to your tires. While you do not need to bring a toolbox’s worth of tools, bring the bare necessities. Being stranded in the middle of nowhere can be as thrilling as a root canal.

2. Food, glorious food

The name of the game is convenience. Be certain to pack food items that are easy to prepare, or require no preparation at all! Some suggestions include candy bars, canned food (i.e. baked beans, beef jerky, chili, stew, etc.,) energy bars, freeze-dried food, oatmeal, and trail mix.)

Buying some of your food in small towns that you pass through, can provide two benefits. You will be required to pack less food, which will allow you to travel faster. Furthermore, this will allow you to support some of the local economies. Oftentimes, small businesses in small towns rely heavily on the income from tourism. Thus, buying from small convenience stores or gas stations not only helps you, but also the towns that you include in your road trip.

3. Odds and ends

Besides the basic gear to keep your motorcycle running and your stomach full, you should also bring an array of other items, which can become quite handy during your motorcycle road trip. Some of these items include:

• AAA card
• Binoculars
• Blanket
• Camera
• Cash
• cell phone
• compass
• extra goggles
• extra socks
• GPS
• Lighter
• Maps
• motorcycle gloves
• rubber gloves
• sunglasses
• sunscreen
• water filtration pumps
• waterproof matches
• zip ties

4. Cold weather gear

Include items such as waterproof clothing, a fleece vest, an extra pair of lined leather gloves, and thermal underwear, to stay warm in frigid weather. Remember to pack and dress in layers, to avoid freezing or frying. Temperatures can range greatly during a single road trip.

One of the keys for any successful motorcycle road trip is to bring the right gear. The key is to bring enough, but not too much. These aforementioned tips will help you to pack light for heavy riding.

posted by rawhide
 March 28, 2009
motorcycle-safety-pic1.jpg

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

posted by rawhide
 March 27, 2009
ult_redneck_mc.jpg

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.

posted by rawhide
 March 26, 2009

msf-safety-course.jpgSeveral 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.

posted by rawhide
 March 25, 2009
pinkmotorcyclechapsharley-leathermotorcyclejacketsdirect.jpg

No woman wants to blend in with the crowd. Standing out is the best way to get a man’s attention. And there’s no better way to stand out from the crowd than by wearing a sexy get up. If you like men who like Harleys, you should consider getting yourself a cute pair of pink motorcycle chaps.  Not only will a pair of these pink chaps allow you to stand out from the crowd, they will also protect you from the elements when riding on the back of your dream guy’s Harley. You will feel so feminine, yet so butch wearing a pair of leather chaps. If anyone teases you, just tell them to “talk to the hand” as you’re riding away into the sunset on the back of your man’s Harley.

posted by EZRider
 March 24, 2009