How to Care for a Harley Davidson Style Leather Jacket

A heavyweight biker jacket needs conditioning two or three times a year, cleaning after every wet or dusty ride, and storage on a wide hanger away from heat. Done consistently, a cowhide riding jacket will outlast the bike. Neglected, it dries out at the elbows and shoulders within a few seasons.

Riding jackets take punishment that fashion jackets never see: wind at speed, road grime, insects, rain, sun and constant flexing at the same points. The routine below is built around that.

One note first. Leather Outlet makes jackets in the Harley Davidson style. We are not an authorised dealer and our jackets are not licensed products. This advice applies to any heavyweight cowhide jacket.

The First Three Months: Breaking In

Heavy cowhide, around 1.2 mm and above, is stiff when new. That stiffness is a sign the hide is what it claims to be, not a fault.

What to do: just wear it. Body heat and movement soften the hide, starting at the elbows and shoulders, then across the back. Expect two to three months of regular wear.

What not to do: do not soak it, freeze it, or put it in a tumble dryer. All of these appear in online advice and all of them damage the hide. Do not over condition it either, since flooding new leather with oil softens it unevenly and can leave it limp where it should hold structure.

One light conditioning treatment after the first month is plenty.

After Every Ride

Two minutes, and it prevents most long term problems.

• Wipe off dust and road grime with a dry or barely damp cloth. Grit left on the surface acts as an abrasive every time the jacket flexes.
• Deal with insects immediately. Insect remains are acidic and will etch into the finish if left. Soften with a damp cloth and lift gently rather than scrubbing.
• Hang it up. Never leave it draped over a seat or a chair, where the shoulders distort.

After Riding in Rain

This is where most damage happens, and it is about drying rather than the water itself.

1. Wipe off surface water with a dry cloth.
2. Hang on a wide wooden or padded hanger. Wire hangers distort wet leather permanently.
3. Dry at room temperature, away from radiators, heaters and hairdryers.
4. Leave space around it so air reaches both sides.
5. Once fully dry, condition to replace the oils that evaporated with the water.

Never use direct heat. It dries the surface faster than the interior, shrinking the outer layer against a still damp inner one, which hardens and cracks the hide permanently. Our guide on what rain does to leather covers this properly.

Conditioning

Two or three times a year is right for cowhide. More often is unnecessary and can leave the leather greasy.

1. Clean the surface first and let it dry fully. Conditioning over grime seals the grime in.
2. Test the product on an inside seam.
3. Apply in thin coats with a soft cloth, working in circles. Two thin coats beat one thick one.
4. Pay attention to elbows, shoulders, collar fold and cuffs, which flex most and dry first.
5. Leave it an hour, then buff off any excess.

How to tell it is due: flex the leather at the elbow. If it feels stiff, or fine pale lines appear in the crease, it needs treatment.

Patches and Embroidery

If your jacket or vest carries patches, work around them rather than over them.

• Keep conditioner off embroidery and chenille. It stains the thread and does nothing useful.
• Clean around patches with a barely damp cloth, not a wet one.
• Check stitching around large back patches occasionally, since they take strain from wind at speed.
• If a patch corner lifts, restitch it rather than gluing it down.

See Motorcycle Vests and Harley Davidson Vests.

Zips, Snaps and Chrome

• Run every zip fully open and closed occasionally. A zip that is never fully opened seizes at the end.
• Lubricate the teeth with a graphite pencil or zip wax if they start to catch. Do not use oil, which attracts grit.
• Wipe chrome hardware dry after rain to prevent pitting.
• Check snap studs close firmly. A loose snap will pop open at speed.

Storage

Clean it, condition it, then store it properly:

• Wide wooden or padded hanger. A heavy jacket on a thin hanger deforms at the shoulders and the shape does not return.
• Breathable cotton bag, never plastic. Plastic traps moisture and can cause mildew.
• Cool, dark and dry. Direct sunlight fades and dries leather.
• Never folded. Fold creases in heavy cowhide set permanently.

What Not to Use

• Saddle soap on a finished jacket. It is designed for unfinished tack leather and will strip the finish.
• Silicone sprays and anything forming a plastic film. They block the pores and trap moisture inside the hide.
• Household cleaners, detergents or baby wipes. All contain agents that dry leather out.
• Mink oil on lighter finishes, since it darkens leather considerably. Fine on some heavy work leather, but test first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I condition a biker leather jacket?

Two or three times a year for heavy cowhide. Flex the leather at the elbow to check: if it feels stiff or shows fine pale lines in the crease, it is due.

How do I break in a stiff cowhide jacket?

Wear it. Body heat and movement soften the hide over two to three months, starting at the elbows and shoulders. Do not soak it, freeze it or over condition it.

How do I remove insect remains from a leather jacket?

Soften them with a damp cloth and lift gently rather than scrubbing. Do it the same day, since insect remains are acidic and will etch into the finish if left.

Can I use saddle soap on my jacket?

No, not on a finished leather jacket. Saddle soap is made for unfinished tack leather and will strip the finish from a jacket.

How do I clean a jacket with patches?

Work around the patches with a barely damp cloth and keep conditioner off embroidery and chenille. Restitch any lifting corners rather than gluing them.

How should I store a heavy leather jacket?

On a wide wooden or padded hanger, in a breathable cotton bag, somewhere cool and dark. Never folded and never in plastic.

What should I do if the zip starts sticking?

Run it fully open and closed, then lubricate the teeth with a graphite pencil or zip wax. Avoid oil, which attracts grit and makes it worse.

Keeping Yours Going

Wipe it after every ride, dry it properly when wet, and condition it two or three times a year. That is genuinely most of it. Browse Harley Davidson Jackets and Motorcycle Jackets at Leather Outlet, or see our FAQs for more. Made to order in real leather, XS to 5XL, free worldwide shipping.