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A leather motorcycle jacket is the perfect choice for riding your motorcycle. It's also a long term investment so you should know about caring for your leather motorcycle jackets.

Leather is durable and designed to last a long time with very little effort. Here are some tips to keep that jacket looking great.

How much actual care your jacket will need will depend on how much abuse your jacket takes. How much time it is in the hot sun or how much rain you expose it to will play a role in how much conditioning you'll need to give your leather.

If your leather starts to look and feel dry it's time to condition it. Rain is really hard on leather because it pulls the moisture out of the skin. It's actually a good idea to condition your jacket every time you wear it in the rain.

There are two schools of thought for conditioning your jacket. Many prefer mink oil is a good choice. It waterproofs it by clogging the pores similar to the way Vaseline would. Eventually it will dry out the leather and it may even leave a whitish haze when it solidifies in the colder weather. You can also use a Lexol type leather conditioner for your jacket.

If you don't treat your jacket and protect it from UV rays it will fade over time. Black leather is really susceptible to fading. Use a product like Aerospace Protectant to prevent fading. These products also condition the leather. It's rather like a sunscreen for your leather jacket.

To keep your leather dry use a spray water repellent which will protect you in mild to moderate rain falls. However don't expect it to save you in a major down pour which will soak through the leather. When spraying make sure to spray evenly and let it completely dry, otherwise you will get horrible lines in the leather.

Besides treating your leather jacket you should wipe it down with a damp cloth regularly. This will remove any surface dirt. When you are storing it you need to make sure that there is room all around it so it can breathe otherwise it may dry out.

Whenever you are using any of these cleaners or protectants you need to make sure the room is properly vented.

Never use hair gels or sprays or colognes or perfumes near your jacket. In fact avoid the use of any sprays near it.

If your coat gets wet while you are out then hang to dry where it can breathe but not directly near any heat. If your jacket develops a wrinkle just use a towel and your iron to remove it.

If you haven't yet purchased your jacket look for the best grade of leather you can afford. Always choose a full grain leather and settle for nothing less. It doesn't have to break the bank if you shop online.

Leather motorcycle jackets are as easy as any other leather product to care for and with a little TLC they'll last forever. What a great investment!