If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, you know that there are many aspects which sum up a perfect bike apart from torque. You want your machine to be powerful, sturdy, distinctive, and above all, ergonomic.

You may have maxed out on all the possible mechanical aspects of the bike, but there is a lot you can do to give it a facelift and turn it into a fashionable masterpiece. One way is revamping the bike's seat with an exclusive seat cover made of premium exotic leather.

The market is awash with top grade exotic leather. One skin, however, has risen to the top of the ranks despite being a hidden gem. Arapaima (sometimes referred to as pirarucu) is a monster freshwater fish usually found in the Amazon. A mature arapaima can grow to more than 8 feet (almost 3 meters) and weigh over 400 lbs.

Why Choose Arapaima Skin?

Until recently, arapaima skin had remained relatively low key as a raw material for commercial use in motorcycle seats. Why are leather connoisseurs taking notice of this amazing leather?

1. Abundant Size

The working area of arapaima leather is approximately eight square feet. The body area is roughly rectangular and measures about 36 by 24 inches. The two rear flanks are about 6 by 12 inches each. Such dimensions are more than enough to finish a seat cover project with only one skin.

Moreover, working with spacious leather eases the design process, since you can complete your seat panels with minimal cutting and stitching.

2. Rough and Wild Looking

Arapaima fish live up to their reputation and environment. Before any tanning processes are done, arapaima leather is rugged and very exotic looking. Getting such a wild look in fish leather is a feat in itself. The texture of the arapaima skin gives your bike that sought after boost in masculinity. Besides being rugged, the hunt for that monster fish could make a great campfire story.

3. Soft and Supple

The arapaima skin is a contradiction of nature, yet that is its most desirable quality. The fish shares a home with the stereotypically aggressive piranha. Yes, the ones with the sharp teeth and large appetite.

However, arapaima comes well-prepared. The arapaima skin is more or less the Kevlar of the Amazon. This defense mechanism makes the skin virtually indestructible. Despite having ‘bullet-proof’ skin, arapaima skin is surprisingly soft and supple. The soft collagen underneath and the minerals on the outer surface make the skin strong yet very easy to work with.

Finished arapaima skin is soft and flexible. It makes a comfortable seat that is less likely to cause saddle sores. Cutting, manipulating, and sewing leather panels together becomes hassle-free, and you subject your needles to minimal wear, tear, and risk of breakage.

4. Masculine Scales

The fact that the indigenous tribes hunt for arapaima in the Amazon should be masculine enough. Moreover, arapaima skin has large scales that give it a unique look. The scales form a regular, repeated directional pattern, unlike some skins which do not exhibit a particular arrangement. The scales assume a diamond-like shape that complements the paint work on the body of the bike.

This uniformity gives arapaima leather seat covers a silent, yet sophisticated look.

5. Eco-Friendly Raw Material

Arapaima fish is caught in its natural habitat or reared in farms for meat. The skin is a by-product, which would go to waste if not used to make other products. Initially, people had not realized the importance if arapaima skin. They would discard it as waste in the fields or throw it in the river.

Granted, piranha would probably have a field day trying to chew through the arapaima's dual-layer of skin; waste skins would mostly decompose in the Amazon River. Making good use of this exotic skin is an environmentally friendly practice which generates income for stakeholders while supplying the market with stylish leather products.

Arapaima Leather Care

To preserve the quality of your exotic leather motorcycle seat, you have to take proper care of the cover. Cleaning should be as easy as wiping with a damp cloth in the direction of the scales. If there is some dirt trapped beneath the scales, you can remove it with the help of a brush with soft bristles.

It is advisable to apply an exotic leather conditioner to your seat, but be sure to confirm with an expert that your choice is suitable for arapaima leather. The product should preserve the softness and suppleness of your seat.

To learn all about the arapaima skin, please schedule a demo at one of our showrooms in New York, NY or Fort Worth, TX!