General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Old 03-17-2015, 05:09 PM
How-Tos on this Topic
Last edit by: IB Advertising
Need to soften up a leather jacket? Leather jackets are really stiff when new or can become stiff after being stored. There are a lot of different ways to soften up leather and everyone has their own technique. The most popular suggestions seem to be:

        Read the full discussion below to find out what forum members are doing.
        Print Wikipost

        Any way to soften up a leather jacket?

        Thread Tools
         
        Search this Thread
         
          #21  
        Old 12-17-2011, 02:51 PM
        TXCOMMISH's Avatar
        TXCOMMISH
        TXCOMMISH is offline
        Outstanding HDF Member
        Join Date: Feb 2008
        Location: Deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas
        Posts: 3,202
        Likes: 0
        Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
        Default

        Originally Posted by oct1949
        Myths - Softening Leather by Chewing:

        Indian women did not soften leather by chewing it.
        Maybe not. But, they chewed the fat a lot.
         
          #22  
        Old 12-17-2011, 03:27 PM
        BBStacker's Avatar
        BBStacker
        BBStacker is offline
        Outstanding HDF Member
        Join Date: Apr 2010
        Posts: 3,373
        Likes: 0
        Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
        Default

        Wear it, wear it, wear it and when you're done wearing it, wear it some more. It shouldn't be stiff to start with. All my boots in the Corps broke in a week or two, my leather flight jacket was pliable enough that it wasn't stiff, neither was my original riding jacket.
         
          #23  
        Old 12-17-2011, 03:46 PM
        albngore's Avatar
        albngore
        albngore is offline
        Road Master
        Join Date: Jul 2008
        Location: Emmett, Idaho
        Posts: 811
        Received 51 Likes on 33 Posts
        Default The clothes dryer system without heat works

        But you should throw in some tennis shoes to help beat the leather to softness. The more the better I would guess. Just by itself in the dryer won't do much.
         
        The following users liked this post:
        treece883 (01-02-2019)
          #24  
        Old 12-17-2011, 04:40 PM
        TaterSaladonaRoadking's Avatar
        TaterSaladonaRoadking
        TaterSaladonaRoadking is offline
        Tourer
        Join Date: Dec 2011
        Location: Beach House on the moon
        Posts: 258
        Likes: 0
        Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
        Default

        You can soften all leather by the oil in your skin. Ride Naked!
         
          #25  
        Old 12-17-2011, 04:49 PM
        badwhine's Avatar
        badwhine
        badwhine is offline
        Outstanding HDF Member
        Join Date: Aug 2007
        Location: Earth
        Posts: 2,874
        Likes: 0
        Received 8 Likes on 3 Posts
        Default

        Originally Posted by Benway
        Got a nice leather jacket and the fit is great, but it's so stiff, when I sit on the bike, it damn near strangles me. I have to keep pulling it down and trying to tuck it. Anyway to soften these things up? (like drag it behind the bike for a hundred miles)
        Yeah, put the jacket on and wear it!
         
          #26  
        Old 12-17-2011, 05:51 PM
        dieselguy65's Avatar
        dieselguy65
        dieselguy65 is offline
        Tourer
        Join Date: Aug 2011
        Location: la porte, texas
        Posts: 432
        Likes: 0
        Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
        Default

        the indians had the women chew the hides to make them soft, hope your old lady is more understanding than mine, lol
         
          #27  
        Old 12-17-2011, 07:48 PM
        harleycharlie1992's Avatar
        harleycharlie1992
        harleycharlie1992 is offline
        Unofficial HDF Chaplain
        Join Date: Dec 2009
        Location: san diego
        Posts: 20,774
        Received 14,630 Likes on 4,624 Posts
        Default

        I know how to make it look old.....




        get it married!!
         
          #28  
        Old 12-17-2011, 07:53 PM
        exemexer's Avatar
        exemexer
        exemexer is offline
        Road Warrior
        Join Date: Oct 2009
        Location: Dallas, Texas
        Posts: 1,346
        Likes: 0
        Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
        Default

        Wear it a lot & be patient.
         
          #29  
        Old 12-17-2011, 08:08 PM
        chamokie's Avatar
        chamokie
        chamokie is offline
        Supporter
        Join Date: Oct 2009
        Location: Milton Mills NH
        Posts: 2,050
        Received 241 Likes on 106 Posts
        Default

        Mink oil or a leather conditioner.
         
          #30  
        Old 12-17-2011, 08:15 PM
        1skrewsloose's Avatar
        1skrewsloose
        1skrewsloose is offline
        Outstanding HDF Member
        Join Date: Feb 2009
        Location: Driftless Area
        Posts: 2,936
        Received 20 Likes on 13 Posts
        Default

        I've been looking for just such a jacket. What brand is it? My first hd jacket I bought in 78 was as stiff as all get out, but tuff as nails. I don't care for this softened, prestressed leather. Still have my first jacket, but it don't fit around my waist anymore.
         


        Quick Reply: Any way to soften up a leather jacket?



        All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:11 PM.