If you spend your weekends riding enduro, motocross or heading away for a couple of days off-roading, your riding kit probably doesn't stay clean for very long.
Mud, dust, sweat and damp are all part of it.
That's easy enough to deal with when you're heading home at the end of the day. But when you're living out of a van or camper for the weekend and planning to put the same gear back on again the following morning, washing everything after every ride isn't exactly practical.
And riding kit is expensive enough without needing a fresh set for every day.
The Reality of an Off-Road Weekend Away
Ready for Day 2?
Keeping riding kit fresh during a weekend away.
For plenty of enduro and motocross riders, a weekend on the bike starts with loading the van on Friday and doesn't finish until Sunday night.
In between you've got riding, muddy boots, sweaty helmets, wet kit and everything else that gets thrown into the back of the van.
What you probably don't have is a washing machine.
Even if you could properly wash all of your riding kit after the first day, getting it completely dry before the following morning can be difficult – especially during a typical wet UK race weekend.
That's where having a simple routine for looking after your kit between riding days can make a big difference.
Off-Road Riding Kit Takes a Beating
Enduro and motocross equipment has a fairly hard life.
Over the course of a day's riding your kit can collect:
- Mud
- Dust
- Sweat
- Damp
- Dirt from the bike
- General paddock grime
The outer layers might be the most visibly dirty, but it's often the kit closest to your body that you notice the following morning.
Helmet liners, gloves and protective equipment can absorb a considerable amount of sweat during a day's riding.
Putting cold, damp or sweaty kit back on for day two isn't much fun.
Start by Getting the Worst of the Dirt Off
Before worrying about freshening your riding kit, deal with the obvious mud and dirt first.
If mud has started to dry, brush or knock off as much loose material as you reasonably can.
Boots and heavily soiled outer clothing will usually need a proper clean once you're home, but removing the worst of the dirt stops everything in the van becoming unnecessarily filthy.
If your gear is wet, don't immediately throw it into a closed kit bag.
Give it as much ventilation as possible.
Open the van doors when practical, hang clothing up and let air circulate around helmets, gloves and protective equipment.
Give Your Riding Kit a Quick Refresh
This is where MotoClean Apparel Care comes in.
It's designed for cleaning and freshening suitable motorcycle riding equipment between deeper washes.
That makes it particularly useful when you're away riding and don't have access to your normal cleaning setup.
Depending on the manufacturer's care instructions for your equipment, Apparel Care can be used on suitable items including:
- Helmet liners
- Motorcycle jackets
- Gloves
- Boots
- Other suitable riding equipment
Shake the can thoroughly before use and test the product on a small, inconspicuous area first.
Hold the can approximately 20cm from the area you're cleaning and apply a light, even coat.
Allow around 15–20 seconds for the product to work before gently wiping the area using a clean, damp microfibre cloth.
Then leave your equipment somewhere well ventilated and allow it to dry naturally in a cool, shaded area before using it again. Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources such as radiators.
It's a Refresh – Not a Replacement for Washing Your Kit
There's an important distinction here.
Giving your gear a quick clean and refresh during a weekend away doesn't replace properly washing dirty motorcycle clothing when you get home.
If your kit is heavily covered in mud or saturated with sweat, it will eventually need a proper wash following the manufacturer's instructions.
The purpose of a quick refresh is much simpler.
Ride Saturday. Refresh the kit. Ride Sunday. Proper wash when you get home.
It's about making the gear you're already carrying a bit more pleasant to use again the following day.
How to Freshen a Motorcycle Helmet Liner Between Rides
Your helmet might look relatively clean compared with the outside of your riding kit, but the liner has spent the whole day absorbing heat and sweat.
As soon as you've finished riding, give your helmet a chance to air.
Open the visor and position it somewhere dry and ventilated rather than immediately closing it inside a helmet bag.
If the helmet liner only needs a light refresh, MotoClean Apparel Care can be useful between deeper cleans.
For heavily soiled removable helmet liners, follow your helmet manufacturer's instructions for removing and properly washing the liner once you have the facilities to do so.
Never put a wet helmet away for long periods without allowing it to dry properly.
Drying Motocross Gloves and Boots Between Riding Days
Gloves can become particularly unpleasant over a two-day riding weekend.
As soon as you've finished riding, open them up and give them as much airflow as possible.
The same principle applies to motocross and enduro boots.
Remove obvious mud, open the fastenings and let the inside breathe rather than leaving everything bundled together in the back of the van.
If you're camping at an event, putting wet equipment somewhere with good airflow as soon as you finish riding gives it the best chance of being usable again the following morning.
A few minutes spent sorting your kit after riding can make a substantial difference when you have to put it all back on the following day.
Do You Really Need Multiple Sets of Riding Kit?
Having a completely fresh set of equipment waiting for every riding day would certainly solve the problem.
It would also become expensive very quickly.
Good enduro and motocross riding equipment isn't cheap, particularly once you include helmets, boots, body armour, gloves, trousers and jerseys.
For most weekend riders, looking after the equipment they already own makes considerably more sense.
That means:
- Removing dirt before it becomes ingrained
- Letting wet equipment dry properly
- Allowing helmets and gloves to ventilate
- Giving suitable equipment a refresh between riding days
- Properly cleaning everything once you're home
It's a simple routine, but it can make life considerably easier when your van is effectively your home, changing room and kit store for the weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you keep riding kit fresh during a two-day enduro?
Air your riding equipment as soon as you've finished riding, remove loose dirt and mud, open boots and gloves to improve airflow and refresh suitable equipment between deeper washes.
Don't leave wet riding kit sealed inside a gear bag overnight if you can avoid it.
Can you freshen a motorcycle helmet without removing the liner?
For a light between-wash refresh, suitable helmet interiors can be cleaned in place following both the helmet manufacturer's care instructions and the instructions for the cleaning product you're using.
If a removable liner needs a deeper clean, remove and wash it according to the helmet manufacturer's instructions.
How do you dry motocross kit overnight?
Remove as much mud and surface moisture as possible and give individual items plenty of airflow.
Open boots and gloves, hang clothing rather than leaving it bundled together and allow your helmet to air with the visor open.
Allow equipment to dry naturally and avoid placing motorcycle kit directly against radiators or other strong heat sources.
How do you stop a motorcycle helmet smelling after riding?
The first step is allowing heat and moisture to escape rather than immediately sealing the helmet inside a bag.
Regularly airing the helmet, refreshing suitable interior surfaces between rides and properly washing removable liners when required can all help keep it in better condition.
Does refreshing motorcycle riding gear replace washing it?
No. A between-ride refresh is useful when you're away from home and need to use the same equipment again, but heavily soiled riding clothing will still need to be properly cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Ready for the Next Ride
Living out of a van is part of the experience for plenty of enduro, motocross and off-road riders.
So are muddy bikes and dirty riding kit.
You might not be able to put everything through the washing machine after every race or riding session, but you can still look after your equipment and make it more comfortable to use again the following day.
MotoClean Apparel Care is a 500ml motorcycle helmet and riding gear cleaner designed for quick cleaning and freshening between deeper washes.
Ride Saturday. Refresh the kit. Ride Sunday. Proper wash when you get home.
Because riding kit is expensive enough without needing a fresh set for every day.