Is the motorcycle season over, and are you about to stash your motorcycle gear in the basement, the attic, or the closet? If so, you should take a moment before you simply put your jacket, pants, helmet, and other gear into storage. Storing motorcycle gear properly means more than just putting it out of the way. Dirt, moisture, improper storage, and a lack of care can damage materials and cause unpleasant odors or even mold.
With the right preparation, you can keep your motorcycle gear in top condition over the off-season. And if you don’t have enough space at home, storage facilities in your area offer a convenient way to keep all your motorcycle gear neat and protected.
What can you store in your motorcycle gear?
Your motorcycle gear usually consists of much more than just a jacket and pants. Especially during the winter months, you end up with quite a few items that you don’t want lying around the house all the time.
These include, for example:
- Motorcycle Jacket and Motorcycle Pants
- Leather suit or textile clothing
- Back Protector and Other Protectors
- Motorcycle Helmet
- Boots and Shoes
- Motorcycle Gloves
- Visors and Pinlock inner visors
- Functional Underwear and Thermal Underwear
- Balaclavas and Other Accessories
- Motorcycle Backpacks and Bags
If you store all your gear in one place, you’ll have everything right at your fingertips when the next season starts, so you can get back into it right away.
Before Storing: Clean Your Motorcycle Gear
Before you store your motorcycle gear for several weeks or months, you should clean it thoroughly. Over the course of a motorcycle season, sweat, dust, insects, road grime, and other debris accumulate in your gear. If you simply store them away as is, these can cause unpleasant odors and damage the fabric. When cleaning, always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions to ensure you’re taking proper care of your equipment. Especially with clothing made of fabric, you should pay attention to which detergents and care products are suitable. You should also wash functional underwear before storing it and let it dry completely to ensure its long-term use and protect it.
Before storing your items, you should:
- Thoroughly clean the clothing
- Remove and clean the protectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions
- Cleaning the Helmet and Liner
- Clean gloves and boots
- Washing Performance Underwear
- Let all parts dry completely
That last point, in particular, is crucial:
You should never store damp motorcycle clothing for long periods of time.
Leather or fabric — how should you store motorcycle clothing?
When it comes to storage, it also depends on what material your motorcycle gear is made of. Leather and synthetic fabrics have different cleaning and storage requirements.
Leather Motorcycle Clothing
You should clean your leather suit or leather jacket before storing it and then let it dry completely. After that, depending on the type of leather and the manufacturer’s recommendations, you can apply a suitable leather care product.
How often you should condition leather or treat it with a care product and oil depends, among other things, on how often you’ve worn the garment and the type of leather used. Use a care product suitable for your leather, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and pay special attention to specific types of leather, such as nubuck or suede.
Textile Motorcycle Clothing
Textile motorcycle clothing often features membranes or coatings that protect against water and wind. When cleaning and caring for it, you should therefore take special care not to damage or remove these.
After washing, the clothing must dry completely. Depending on the material, it may be a good idea to waterproof it afterward. Here, too, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, as not all motorcycle clothing can be treated the same way.
Hang them up or fold them?
A common question when it comes to storing motorcycle gear is: Should I hang up my motorcycle jacket and pants, or fold them?
As a general rule, it’s a good idea to store jackets and pants in a way that helps them retain their shape. Leather clothing, in particular, should not be stored with deep creases or under heavy objects for long periods of time.
Sturdy, wide hangers are a good choice for jackets. You should avoid thin wire hangers, as they offer little stability for heavy motorcycle gear and can cause indentations. For particularly heavy leather suits or motorcycle jackets, a sturdy hanger designed to support the weight is recommended. A mannequin or a special garment rack can also be an option, but is usually not necessary for normal storage.
A simple rule of thumb is:
- Store jackets and pants on suitable, sturdy hangers whenever possible
- Do not use thin wire hangers
- You should not store leather in a way that causes it to be permanently creased.
- Avoid placing heavy objects on your clothing
- Do not crush or squeeze delicate parts
On the other hand, you can easily fold functional underwear, gloves, and small accessories and store them neatly.
Storing a Motorcycle Helmet
Your helmet also deserves some attention during the off-season to ensure it stays in good condition. Clean it before storing it and make sure the inner lining and padding are completely dry. The helmet should be stored in a dry place, protected from direct sunlight. It’s best to protect it from dust and scratches with a helmet bag that fits properly. It’s important not to place any heavy objects on top of the helmet, as this can cause cracks. You should also protect the visor from scratches and store it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Storing Your Visor and Pinlock Properly
Replacement visors or Pinlock inner visors should not simply be placed among other gear. Scratches can permanently impair your vision and thus become a problem later while riding. Therefore, store visors separately and protect them whenever possible. When cleaning, avoid using harsh cleaning agents and abrasive materials.
Motorcycle Boots and Gloves
You should also clean and let your motorcycle boots and gloves dry completely before storing them. For leather boots, depending on the material, it may be a good idea to use a suitable leather care product. Make sure the boots have enough time to dry afterward. You can fold motorcycle gloves loosely after cleaning them. For leather gloves, the same rule applies: the care product you use should be suitable for the specific type of leather.
Humidity: The Most Important Factor in Storage
If you’re storing motorcycle gear for several months, moisture is one of the most important factors to watch out for. A damp jacket, a glove that hasn’t dried completely, or damp inner padding can quickly develop unpleasant odors in a poorly ventilated environment. Damp basements or rooms with significant fluctuations in temperature and humidity can be particularly problematic.
That’s why you should make sure that, when storing it:
- your gear is completely dry
- the storage area is dry and clean
- the clothes have enough room
- Air can reach the textiles
- wet equipment is not packed in an airtight container
Especially when it comes to high-quality motorcycle gear, a suitable storage space can be a good alternative if you don’t have enough room at home.
Storing Motorcycle Clothing in a Self-Storage Unit
Not everyone has enough space at home for a motorcycle jacket, leather suit, helmet, boots, protective gear, and the rest of their equipment. Especially in an apartment, a full set of motorcycle gear can quickly take up several closets or shelves.
A self-storage unit provides extra space and allows you to keep all your motorcycle gear in one central location.
When choosing a storage space, you should pay special attention to the storage conditions. A clean, dry, and climate-controlled room is much better suited for delicate textiles, leather, and equipment than a damp basement. You can also organize your gear efficiently: hang your jacket and pants together, store your helmet in a safe place, and keep smaller items like gloves, technical underwear, or visors neatly organized in boxes. That way, everything stays together, and you’ll be able to find everything quickly again at the start of the next motorcycle season.
Your Checklist for Storing Motorcycle Clothing
Are you putting your motorcycle gear away for an extended period of time? Then you can go through this short checklist to make sure you’ve included all the items:
☐ Clean your motorcycle jacket and pants
☐ Properly care for leather clothing
☐ Care for clothing according to the manufacturer’s instructions
☐ Check and clean the protective pads
☐ Clean the helmet and the inner lining
☐ Carefully clean the visor and Pinlock
☐ Wash and dry gloves
☐ Cleaning and Caring for Motorcycle Boots
☐ Wash performance underwear
☐ Let all pieces of equipment dry completely
☐ Hang jackets and pants on appropriate hangers
☐ Fold small accessories neatly and put them away
☐ Choose a dry and suitable storage location
Store Your Motorcycle Gear Safely at STORE ROOM
So, you don’t want to store your motorcycle gear in your closet, basement, or storage room for months on end and risk damaging it? Then STORE ROOM offers you a flexible solution for your motorcycle gear.
Book a storage unit near you and use it exactly when you need it—during or after your motorcycle season. Your gear is stored safely, dry, and in a climate-controlled environment, and is accessible to you at any time. That way, you can grab your motorcycle gear on the fly whenever the weather is right and your next ride is coming up.
Your jacket, pants, helmet, boots, and accessories stay neatly stored, giving you more space at home. At the same time, you don’t have to store your motorcycle gear in the basement, where moisture, wrinkles, or unpleasant odors can become a problem.
Make some space at home and give your motorcycle gear the space it deserves. Discover the Self-Storage Units from STORE ROOM and flexibly book exactly the storage space you need for your motorcycle season.
