I need more product information and advice?

Call us and ask to speak to a member of our product team on +44 (0)1543 270299 or fill in the Contact Form on the site and we will get back to you within 24 hours (during Monday-Friday).

How do I make a purchase?

Merlin and Route One products are available from over 200 UK motorcycle retailers and a number of International customers ranging from the USA, Australia, France, New Zealand, Germany, Portugal and many others. Within the UK there are two options. Firstly, view our Stockist page and enter your postcode to find a dealer within 40 miles of you. Secondly, if there is not a stockist within 40 miles of your location call us on +44 (0)1543 270299 and we can let you know where your nearest stockist is or even make arrangements to get a product to your local store for you in special circumstances.

How do I care for my textile garment?

Step 1: Remove all protective armour from the shoulder, elbows and back by opening the velcro pocket holding the armour in place and sliding it out. Unzip any removable inner liners

Step 2: Agitate any especially dirty areas with a brush/towel, water and diluted detergent in which no bleach is present

Step 3: Ideally hand wash your jacket with a mild or diluted detergent (without any bleach) in slightly warm water. This gentle wash prevents damage to any mesh or waterproof membranes. Take care by using a gentle wash and spin if you are only able to clean the garment in a washing machine.

Step 4: As an additional and optional treatment use a water repellent wash/spray such as Nikwax to proof the outer garment

Step 5: Hang dry the garment out of direct sunlight but in a warm location and never use a machine dryer. Alternatively lay it flat in a warm area on top of a towel.

Step 6: Once dry replace all armour and liners

How do I care for my waxed cotton garment?

The outer of your waxed cotton jackets are made from 100% cotton that is treated with a special wax coating. This coating helps acts as a protective barrier against both wind and water, yet still allows the fabric to remain breathable. Knowing how difficult and harsh the weather can be for us motorcyclists, Merlin also chooses to provide extra support to the wax by specifying that a Reissa waterproof and breathable membrane sits behind the wax. This means that even over a long period when the wax begins to dry out the waterproofing performance of you jacket is not compromised- some riders actually prefer the aged dry look of the wax. The key to getting the most out of your wax cotton jacket is to show it a little care and attention, for which in return it will serve you well for many years.

Step 1: Lightly brush off any dirt or soil, and if necessary use a cold damp cloth to wipe down the jacket. Clean your jacket regularly to maintain its appearance but go easy as the wax will be removed. Dried mud, sand or grit are abrasive to the wax, especially along inner sleeve seams and this is the reason why we recommend brushing off regularly. Leaving the jacket to dry naturally for 24 hours in a well ventilated area.

Step 2: Re-waxing the jacket when the jacket loses its waxed appearance/finish. Purchase a waxed cotton dressing tin from a number of online retailers and heat the tin of reproofing wax so that it becomes pliable and easy to apply. You can place the tin into a pan of hot water and warm it gently. Evenly apply the wax with a lint-free cloth, paying attention to seams. Allow the wax to settle and dry slightly and remove any excess build up. Use a hair dryer to melt the wax into the jacket- allowing an even spread of wax. Allow the jacket to dry in a well ventilated area for 24 hours.

Do not machine wash or tumble dry. Do not iron. Do not wipe with hot water. Avoid soap and detergents. Keep you jacket on a hanger to maintain its shape and appearance in a dry place.

How do I care for my textile gloves?

1) Rinse them in water (never hot and without any heavy pressure) to allow the dirt to loosen and give any bacteria a chance to flush out

2) With a bucket use some mild hand soap or diluted detergent wash the inside of the glove. Do no though put concentrated cleaner directly onto the liner or exterior only use diluted mix. Let the gloves soak for a little while in the soapy water. You can use your fingers to clean the inside liner (outlast is perfectly fine to be washed)

3) Rinse the gloves out and using your fingers squeeze down the fingers to draw out any remaining water

4) Leave the gloves to dry in a well ventilated open area that is not in the direct sunlight or next to a heat source such as a radiator

5) As the gloves dry out but before totally dry put the gloves on to shape them back into place. Leave again to dry

How do I care for my motorcycle boots?

1) After each ride ensure that all dirt and grease is wiped off the boot and if the boots are wet that they are wiped dry with a cloth or preferably a stiff brush, paying attention to panel seams. For areas of the boots with plastic mouldings mild soap can be applied to remove grease spots.

2) Depending on how often you ride and what the conditions have been like, a leather cleaner will help to begin the restoration process, returning your boots to an ‘out of the box finish’. A number of leather boot cleaners are available on the market and each come with their own set of instructions for application to different types of leathers. Please note that some of our leathers such as the Crazy Horse finish or the Aniline leather are developed with special treatments and therefore the normal cleaning process of polished leathers should not be used.

3) Once you have followed the boot leather cleaning instructions and the boots are completely dry for additional protection apply a leather protector which again can be bought from a number of retailers. Further please see point 2 and be aware of cleaning specialist (exotic) leathers.

Do not use strong cleaning products on leather, the use of mild cleaning products prevents the weakening of the materials, colour and finish.

How do I care for my jacket lining?

1) Unzip the thermal lining and unfasten the studs on the cuff to remove the thermal lining.

2) The thermal lining should be wiped with a cloth and mild detergent to prevent the liner becoming soaked and saturated which can clump the thermal wadding together. If the lining does become soaked tumble drying at a low temperature with a rubber ball at short intervals can help to break the wadding back up. Please search for cleaning guides on thermal wadded (insulated) garments online, which shares a similar method to cleaning your thermal motorcycle jacket liner. If you’re removable lining includes a Reissa membrane please take extra care not to rub, rip or damage the lining as this will effect the waterproof performance.

3) Regarding the mesh inner lining you will notice that the Reissa waterproof membrane is behind this (in the event of the Reissa being detachable you can be more vigorous in the lining cleaning) and as such is a delicate piece of technology that if punctured will allow water to pass through. Therefore using a diluted mild detergent simply wipe the inner mesh with light pressure and hang to dry (outside of direct sunlight). Turning the garment inside out will help this cleaning process but may not always be possible depending on your jacket style. Further to that a number of online guides discuss the use of baking soda to absorb odours as well as airing the garment inside out.

How do I register for my 2-year guarantee?

Standard guarantee from date of purchase is 1 year. By registering your product online you activate a 2 year guarantee (from date of purchase) totally free. You are required to register within a month of purchase and retain your receipt for any claims.

Merlin products carry a full guarantee to the original purchaser against defects in components, materials and workmanship. The guarantee excludes damage caused by normal wear and tear, accidents, inappropriate use or care and repair other than Merlin. Merlin may repair or replace any guaranteed item at its discretion. All claims should be made to the retailer. This guarantee gives no further rights other than those expressly set out above and does not cover any claims for consequential losses or damages. This guarantee does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer. Merlin does not provide loan or hire clothing to replace any item of clothing returned to us for review or repair.

How do I care for my Hixon or Alton jacket?

The leather is naked actually we advise that you do not have to use a specialist cleaner at all and because of the naked finish which will absorb moisture very easily, looking to buy an aniline leather cleaner and then an aniline leather guard/protector would be the best option.

You can also buy aniline moisturiser independently to put moisture back into the leather at longer intervals. I would though say that these products should be tested in an inconspicuous area first before applying to the ensure garment.

Saddle soap or a milk oil are two further alternative suggestions but these can darken the garment due to the natural absorption of a naked leather.

Which CE back protector or limb upgrade?

All Merlin garments include a velcro closing back protector pocket. In a number of cases the Merlin garments already include a CE certified back protector, pre-fitted. In any jacket that does not already include CE certified back armour, with a ‘universal/generic’ profile a number of after market armour pieces can be purchased and inserted retrospectively.

We have specified this ‘universal/generic’ pocket so that as the rider you have a wider choice of armour (from performance level, thickness or construction). The male jackets have a back armour pocket size of 40cm height x 30cm width and the ladies jacket pocket armour size is 36cm height x 29 cm width.

Examples of aftermarket CE certified back options for men would include, Forcefield’s 001 or Oxford RB-Pi1 as examples; other armour may fit but please check armour size vs pocket size within the garment and allow for a minimum of 1cm extra space in height and length. British armour company Knox also produce a number of smaller back armour inserts suitable for the ladies garment pocket. To help the fitting of the armour generally it is good advice to select armour that is 1cm smaller than the pocket width or height. Further to the Level 1 CE options above Forcefield’s Pro-Lite is a certified Level 2 option, for those looking for that extra impact protection within their garment.

Merlin would recommend fitting at least a CE Level 1 back protector. Maximum protection can be found in our airbag systems that achieve the highest (and only) CE motorcycle specific airbag standard certification, Level 2. More information can be found here.

Both the shoulders and elbows can be replaced and upgraded where necessary to D30 components in our waxed cotton garments. Please check your physical garment pocket against the D30 product sizing to ensure correct fitting before purchase.

Can I let you know my thoughts?

We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback on Merlin itself or any of our products specifically. Why not send us your feedback by using the Contact Form. Also, beneath each product is a Reviews section where you can voice your thoughts anonymously