Keeping your motorcycle jeans in peak condition is important not just for how they look but for your safety – you might say, there’s a lot riding on it!
Once you’ve settled on a favourite pair, and worn them in, and they’ve become a faithful friend in pretty much every and any riding situation, you’ll want them to last forever.
We have all heard about the denim aficionados are reluctant to wash their jeans, but motorcycle jeans are different. Not washing them means that they will inevitably degrade over time, thanks for grime, grease and sweat. Especially in hot weather, lined jeans will feel hotter and stickier than single-layer jeans, so are likely to need more frequent washing.
Today’s hi-tech fabrics and armours create great-fitting, comfortable jeans that are virtually indestructible – they aim to minimise impact in a fall and save your skin when sliding along the tarmac. That is especially true as you go up the safety ratings – so AAA (for example, Roadskin’s Paranoid and Taranis Elite) will last longer than A rated jeans (eg City). To help you keep your bike jeans looking sharp and staying safe, we’ve put together the following dos and don’ts:
How do I wash armoured motorbike jeans?
DO:
Remove all armour and any removable layers (wash these separately).
Fasten up all the zips and buttons to avoid damaging the fabric.
Turn the jeans inside out to maintain the colour and help protect the outer fibres.
Check the wash and care label. We recommend washing Roadskin motorcycle jeans by hand. We also recognise that this is a hassle and so, generally speaking, bike jeans can be washed gently at a low temperature (30°) in the washing machine, on a short cycle, using normal detergent (bio or non-bio is fine). Just check that the detergent does not contain bleach – it will destroy the Kevlar fibres.
DON’T:
Use fabric conditioner.
Dry clean, as the chemicals will damage your jeans.
Wash them more often than you need – they will last longer. When it comes to washing jeans, less is more.
Iron your jeans, to prevent heat damage.
How do I dry my motorcycle jeans?
DO:
Dry them flat to help keep the shape
Hang them away from direct sunlight to prevent colour fade and UV damage to the aramid fibres
DON’T:
Tumble dry – but, if you must, make it short and cool. If you’re wearing and washing your bike jeans frequently, it’s better to have a couple of pairs you can wear on rotation.
How do I wash my bike armour?
Wipe clean with a solution of multipurpose cleaner such as Flash.
And finally…
At Roadskin, we always tell our customers to avoid wearing their favourite bike jeans in a workshop environment. Oil stains are difficult to remove (try a bio detergent) but battery acid and other corrosive materials will destroy your jeans.
Quality motorcycle jeans are an investment, but they might just save your life. Looking after them is pretty straightforward – and if you take care of them, they will take care of you. We hope that’s covered everything, but if you have any other questions about maintaining your Roadskin jeans, please feel free to contact the team.
