Cleaning/washing your gears

[toua70]

Hey everyone. Was wondering how you guys wash your mesh/textile/leather jackets. I usually hand wash mines and then hang to dry but I've become lazy
Washing them in a machine is probably not good for the jacket so does anyone have an alternative way of washing their gears? However, with the linings in both my helmets, i wash and dry them in the machines and they turn out fine but am looking for an alternative way to wash my jackets since hand washing is annoying. Any suggestions?

[dubojr1]

I wash my mesh jacket in my front load washing machine. Works great! Not sure I would recommend that in top loads though. The agitator would probably destroy it.

[EthioKnight]

Lol, I've been contemplating the same, one of my jackets, a textile icon timax, has gotten steadily darker in the usual spots, guess I'll hit the laundromat for the front loading washers (good advice @dubojr1, but I'll be coming for yo ass if it ruins my sh!t )

[CynicalC]

The tag inside the jacket will tell you exactly how it should be washed. Same as every other piece of clothing you own.

[toua70]

Originally Posted by CynicalC

The tag inside the jacket will tell you exactly how it should be washed. Same as every other piece of clothing you own.

The tag is actually worned so i can't read it

Originally Posted by dubojr1

I wash my mesh jacket in my front load washing machine. Works great! Not sure I would recommend that in top loads though. The agitator would probably destroy it.

And thanks for the suggestion. I didn't even think of that and I just did laundry last night lol. I'll def try that next time. I'll have to remove the paddings first though. Thanks.

[choneofakind]

Who washes gear?? Febreeze is good stuff!
Posted via Mobile Device

[toua70]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Who washes gear?? Febreeze is good stuff!
Posted via Mobile Device

I guess guys like me with wives who makes them wash their sh!t because they think its disgusting lmao

[dubojr1]

Originally Posted by EthioKnight

Lol, I've been contemplating the same, one of my jackets, a textile icon timax, has gotten steadily darker in the usual spots, guess I'll hit the laundromat for the front loading washers (good advice @dubojr1, but I'll be coming for yo ass if it ruins my sh!t )

LOL. It will be fine. Remove any pads or rain liners and select a gentle cycle on the machine. Don't overload it with detergents/softners either.

As for drying... air dry and do not machine dry.

[Whiskey]

Bike gear should not be machine washed. Ever. End of.

Leather & textile gear should be cleaned with a damp cloth or sponge & a small amount of mild detergent. Wear something under the gear that can be washed.

Putting a leather jacket in the machine is asking for a damaged/destroyed jacket (around the stitching will probably fail if it's been machine washed), a damaged machine & a pissed off wife.

Putting a stiff textile jacket (cordura) through a wash will weaken the textile, feel free to do it, if you don't mind the gear failing when you need it. but hey It'll look good on the bike... that's what really matters right

If wifey thinks bike gear becomes disgusting show her a pic of road rash...
http://rottenxxxronnie.blogspot.co.u...-brittany.html
Mesh gear may be fine in a wash, it's worthless in a slide anyway.

[dubojr1]

No one said anything about leather. Of course leather can't be machined washed....

As for textile and mesh. A gentle cycle on a front load machine is very similar to a "hand wash" that most gear manufactures I've used recommend.

Oh and BTW. Do you have any evidence of your claim that mesh is "useless" in a slide? I've seen a few guys go down with it in the past and come out just fine. I use it myself as well. I don't want to hijack the thread so a couple on-biased links would do fine. Thanks in advance.

EDIT: For reference as well. I have a "First Gear" textile jacket that I purchased in 2003 with my Honda CBR 954RR. It has been thru a few hand washes and at least a dozen machine washes. It has zero stitch failure even at the elbow, wrist, and shoulder protection pads which by the way are covered in leather.

[broilmebk]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

...If wifey thinks bike gear becomes disgusting show her a pic of road rash...
http://rottenxxxronnie.blogspot.co.u...-brittany.html
...

[toua70]

Originally Posted by broilmebk

Thanks for the article.. that is why I always wear gears. I feel bad for her but live and learn right? Sucks for her though and stupidity on her friend's part for letting her on without gears.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by dubojr1

No one said anything about leather. Of course leather can't be machined washed....

Originally Posted by toua70

Hey everyone. Was wondering how you guys wash your mesh/textile/leather jackets. I usually hand wash mines and then hang to dry but I've become lazy

You were saying...

Originally Posted by dubojr1

As for textile and mesh. A gentle cycle on a front load machine is very similar to a "hand wash" that most gear manufactures I've used recommend.

Most textile gear is made from cordura, same as the Irish military's outer layer gear, it weakens & softens in the wash, the weave loosens, it loses it's waterproof properties. I came off the bike wearing new army gear, dislocated my shoulder & slid for about 40ft without any rash, stuff that's seen a few washes has ripped after a short slide into cover

Originally Posted by dubojr1

Oh and BTW. Do you have any evidence of your claim that mesh is "useless" in a slide? I've seen a few guys go down with it in the past and come out just fine. I use it myself as well. I don't want to hijack the thread so a couple on-biased links would do fine. Thanks in advance.

Go to the local track with it & see if it passes scrutineering

It does an OK job of holding armour in place, but it's a compromise even beyond textile.

Originally Posted by dubojr1

EDIT: For reference as well. I have a "First Gear" textile jacket that I purchased in 2003 with my Honda CBR 954RR. It has been thru a few hand washes and at least a dozen machine washes. It has zero stitch failure even at the elbow, wrist, and shoulder protection pads which by the way are covered in leather.

Has it been down the road? The failure will not be the stitching itself, it weakens the leather around it, that's what will fail first.

Wash detergents have pretty string enzymes (protease & lipase) which do the leather no good.

[dubojr1]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

You were saying...

Most textile gear is made from cordura, same as the Irish military's outer layer gear, it weakens & softens in the wash, the weave loosens, it loses it's waterproof properties. I came off the bike wearing new army gear, dislocated my shoulder & slid for about 40ft without any rash, stuff that's seen a few washes has ripped after a short slide into cover



Go to the local track with it & see if it passes scrutineering

It does an OK job of holding armour in place, but it's a compromise even beyond textile.



Has it been down the road? The failure will not be the stitching itself, it weakens the leather around it, that's what will fail first.

Wash detergents have pretty string enzymes (protease & lipase) which do the leather no good.

No one (in their right mind) would wear anything but full leathers to the track.... duh

I see this is a loosing battle already. You still provided no un-biased proof. Good day to you sir.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by dubojr1

No one (in their right mind) would wear anything but full leathers to the track.... duh

I see this is a loosing battle already. You still provided no un-biased proof. Good day to you sir.

I'm not bothered to continue searching for a peer reviewed paper/ scientific publication on the abrasion resistance of 250 denier polyester vs 1.4mm leather... it's a pretty specific request

If you really want proof take one of each, fill them with about 60lbs of sand & drag them on the same stretch of concrete at the same speed until failure & measure the distance.

The mesh will fail first.

[dubojr1]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

I'm not bothered to continue searching for a peer reviewed paper/ scientific publication on the abrasion resistance of 250 denier polyester vs 1.4mm leather... it's a pretty specific request

If you really want proof take one of each, fill them with about 60lbs of sand & drag them on the same stretch of concrete at the same speed until failure & measure the distance.

The mesh will fail first.

Again that's only stating the obvious. If each were dragged lets say 50 feet, I'm sure the mesh would be in worse condition but both would have done their job. If you drag them till one fails.... I'm sure leather would win.

[Alex]

@gfloyd2002 has a blog entry on this right here:

Which Material is Best for Gear? Abrasion Resistance Tests