What to Know Before Using Suede Waterproof Spray

Summary:

• Suede waterproof sprays can provide protection from the elements, but they can also impact the colour, texture, and breathability of your seat cover materials.
• Waterproof sprays also need to be reapplied periodically. The more you ride in inclement weather, the more often you’ll have to spray—and the quicker it can alter the condition of your seat cover.
• We recommend upgrading the materials your seat cover uses to help keep rain off, and investing in a high-quality weather protector.
• Luimoto uses marine-grade materials and synthetic suede in our seat covers for extended durability. We also offer weather protectors made with PU-coated waterproof materials that can prevent you from needing to spray down your bike.

Your motorcycle’s saddle stops keeping you comfortable if you let its condition deteriorate—and letting it get soaked repeatedly is one of the easiest ways to damage it. Seat covers with suede and other delicate materials can be particularly vulnerable, so many riders wonder if using suede waterproof spray is an effective solution.

You can certainly help protect the suede on your motorcycle seat cover and the foam underneath by coating it with waterproof spray—but that’s not always the most effective option. Below, Luimoto’s team walks you through what to consider before using waterproof spray on your seat, and shows you some alternative options for keeping it dry.

How Suede Waterproof Spray Works

Most suede and leather waterproofing sprays have a pretty simple mechanism of action:

• The spray contains a combination of chemicals like silicone and fluoropolymers, which help repel water when applied to the suede. They also bond to the material to create a coat that lasts.
• Most sprays also contain alcohol or another kind of solvent. This helps the protective ingredients spread evenly over the sprayed area before evaporating and leaving them behind.
• Some sprays also contain conditioning agents. These are intended to help the suede maintain its softness after the spray has been applied.

Risks of Using Suede Waterproof Spray

Using a waterproof spray on suede can make it more resilient against the elements—but there are a few potential drawbacks:

• Reduced Breathability: Spray adds water resistance but can also reduce the breathability of the material to which it is applied. This may lead to increased moisture buildup under the rider over time.
• Change in Texture: Even with conditioning elements, suede spray can alter the natural softness and texture of the fabric.
• Residue Build-Up: Repeated applications of the spray over long periods can lead to a buildup of residues that might attract dirt more readily.
• Wear & Tear: Some chemicals in waterproof spray can cause suede fibers to degrade over time.

How to Use Suede Waterproof Spray on Your Seat Cover

Here’s the best way to use waterproof spray to protect the suede on your motorcycle seat cover:

Clean the Suede Surface

Before applying the spray, make sure the suede is clean and dry. Use a suede brush to gently remove any dirt or debris. This helps the spray adhere properly and evenly.

Test the Spray

Always test the spray on a small, inconspicuous area of the suede first. This way, if the spray changes the colour or texture of the material in a way you don’t like, you can mitigate its effects.

Shake the Can Well

Before use, shake the can thoroughly to mix the spray's contents evenly. This will make the spray pattern more consistent by ensuring that the active ingredients are well distributed.

Spray in a Well-Ventilated Area

Use the spray outdoors or in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling fumes. Hold the can approximately six to eight inches away from the suede’s surface.

Apply Evenly

After testing on a small area, spray a light, even coat over the entire surface. Avoid saturating any area too heavily, since this can increase the risks of stiffness and residue buildup.

Allow to Dry

Let the spray dry completely (ideally in a warm, dry environment). Avoid using or touching the suede until it has fully dried. This may take several hours depending on the temperature and humidity.

Reapply Sparingly

You’ll need to reapply the spray periodically—but for best results, don’t do this too often. Shoes and jackets typically only need to be sprayed annually (or once per season of us, whichever is sooner).

If you ride often in inclement weather, you’ll want to apply spray more often—but remember that this can also change the condition of the suede in your cover more quickly. If you don’t want to risk that, there are a few other ways we recommend protecting your seat and cover from the elements.

Other Ways to Waterproof Your Motorcycle Seat

While a suede waterproof spray can limit the effects of rain on your seat cover materials, there are other methods that will help keep your saddle in better condition over the long term. Here’s what we recommend:

Start with a Material Upgrade

Upgrading the material you use to cover your motorcycle seat is one of the best ways to give it additional longevity and protection from the elements.

Luimoto offers premium aftermarket seat covers that use the following materials:

• Marine-grade vinyl: commonly found on fishing vessels and in other industrial applications where water protection is a priority, this material is considerably less vulnerable to water damage than standard vinyl and most leather products.
• Japanese synthetic suede: Looking just as good as real suede and providing significantly better durability, this material is an excellent way to get that classic appearance without needing to worry as much about maintenance.

Note that both of these materials still require some maintenance and protection from the elements—but they’ll do a far better job of keeping your seat foam dry than the options for most OEM covers. Explore our collection of rider seat covers, or customize your order with a materials upgrade.

Add a Weather Protector

Once you’ve buffed up the materials in your actual seat cover, we recommend going one step further for the best weather protection you can give your motorcycle seat (short of always parking it indoors).

Investing in a high quality weather protector creates a removable seal that keeps rain and other moisture from inundating your seat foam while you’re off the bike—without permanently changing the way it looks or feels.

Luimoto’s weather protectors are made from PU-coated waterproof materials, and use an elastic to stay securely in place when you use them to cover your saddle. Find weather protectors for your seat size here.

There Are Better Ways than Spray

Remember: waterproof spray is only a temporary solution to keeping moisture away, but it can be a permanent change to the way your seat cover looks and feels.

Before you jump to using a suede waterproof spray, consider upgrading your seat cover with better materials or buying an effective weather protector that you can remove before riding. Explore our entire range of motorcycle seat covers and accessories to find the best options for your bike.