Restoration Of Motorcycle Leather And Accessories

Case study: Restoring a 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan 900

Motorcyclist enthusiasts, this is for you.  If you have not treated the leather on your bike before, this is a sign to start doing so.  Using leather care products, when used correctly, will extend your leather’s life.

For example, we are going to talk about the restoration of a 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan 900.  The leather on the bike, seats, and biker bags has not had any treatment for 10 years. 

Our very own Mad Cow Leather Products were used to clean this bike.  First, we wanted to wipe down the bike to remove any visible dirt and other contaminants from the surface. You will use a mild detergent (a small amount of dish soap and water) to do this.  Mad Cow’s spot cleaner was used to clean any extra dirt and contaminants that were still on the leather.  This got the bike cleaned up and ready for the next steps in the cleaning process. 

TRIVIA…Did you know?

According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, the longest backward motorcycle drive was on October 7th, 2014, in Jabalpur, India.  Using Mad Cow products would have made sure the leather stayed supple and moisturized for the entire drive.

Bike seat

As you can see from the video below, a lot of cream is not needed.  A small application will go a long way.  The seat may take up to ten minutes, but the results are priceless.  You will want to work the cream into the leather to make sure the entire piece is protected.  The last thing you want is to slip off your seat while driving, so with Mad Cow’s Leather Cream, you will have no greasy or sticky finish. Your butt will thank you later.  

Saddle Bag

While working on the top of the bag, we will use the Mad Cow leather cream to bring moisture and the original color back into the leather.  This will also help slow down the aging process and prevent cracking.  The leather on this bag is thick and will require a bit of elbow grease to work it in.  The sides of the bag are essential to get coated by the leather cream.  They might not always be in direct sunlight, but they will also need to be protected from the elements.  We made sure to get into every crease and stitch to make sure it was fully coated.  

Trunk + two side trunk bags 

We decided to start with the Mad Cow spot cleaner to make sure the backs of the bags were cleaned before we used the Mad Cow leather cream. The spot cleaner will dry quickly and not leave a slippery or sticky residue.  We used leather cream on the bags because the bike is outside in the heat and sun, which is harsh on the leather. Without the proper protection from the sun, the leather on the bike would fade and potentially dry out.  During the winter, the bike is also outside and must endure the frigid Michigan winter weather.  Ensuring the leather is protected during the winter is just as important as protecting it during the summer.

Final bike 

As we can see from these videos, the leather's original color has been restored, and there is no sticky or slick residue.  Treatment should be done about every four to six months, depending on the amount of exposure the bike gets.  The Mad Cow leather dressing should be used first BEFORE the cream if the leather has already started to crack or is worn down.  The dressing will seep into the pores quicker and begin to moisturize the leather. The cream and the dressing will not fix cracks and worn leather, but the cream and dressing can help slow the cracking and wearing process down. Suppose you need any assistance with the application.  In that case, our blog Are Leather Cleaning Products Worth It? helps explain the process for each product.  It is crucial to note Mad Cow Leather Products are not meant for suede or nubuck.

JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW…. There are no harsh chemicals in our products, so you will not need to wear gloves while applying our products, and if it gets on the plastic, it will not damage it.  If you overapply our product, it can easily be wiped off.