floorboard fringe

[annieoakley]

Check out "kawasaki Drifter mud flaps" in E bay motors. Hand made flaps, that people are digging. I can probably make floorboard fringe also.....

That's your handywork?? Very nice!

[jb741]

Check out "kawasaki Drifter mud flaps" in E bay motors. Hand made flaps, that people are digging. I can probably make floorboard fringe also.....

[pcarrell]

ok, so now we have opened a whole new line of questions.

Thats why we're here!

1 what weight off leather should I get?

You're probably looking for something in the 4-5oz. range for most projects.  If you want to do some solid mudflaps, I'd go a bit heavier so it holds it's shape.

2. can't do deer, I want burgundy since that is the color of the bike, well, burgundy with orange undertones, so will have to be cow?

Cow is an alternative, but so is hog, and hog is cheaper.  It has a slightly different folicle pattern, but it might be worth checking out.

If you went with a tooling type leather, you could actually custom dye it to match that pretty paint!

3. I also want to restore the leather on the <give me a second for a professional term for this item> passenger seat pad, its hard as a rock, I am ok with that, its the best way for me to get time to myself. But it is a little dry and scratched, needs redyed and reconditioned. Any recomendations for that?

I've used the buffalo butter and the color restorer (black only) the Chilhowee sells, and I can attest to them working very well.  http://www.chilhowee.net/leather_care_products.html  If you want colors, check out Tandy Leather for a huge supply of shades.

4. I have included pictures of the damaged floorboard, how do I get the messy remainder off to attach new fringe

Not sure what would clean that up.  Maybe Goof Off, or nail polish remover?

5. how do I get the ones off the good side to put new on?

Pull 'em off and use whatever worked for the other side to get the rest of the glue off?

6. are there any patters/recomendations for the mudflaps?

There's some patterns on this site: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/flaps.zip

and to get the existing rivets either out, or maybe I should just put some back in the couple holes that the rivet is missing?

Ya know, ya could put concho's in the holes......knock out the remaining rivets and add concho's to them too.  It would be very unique and very personalized.

7.  I have done some leather work in years past, had a friend that made custom leather items, and I made a wallet, bible/book covers, among other things, and I have a sewing machine that can handle light leather, was thinking of making my own tank bra, also burgundy to match, with a pocket for my license, registration and insurance, the police like me lots, I think my speedometer might be wrong, (JK I have leadfoot) and occasionally I run out of blinker fluid (its my story to tell right?) so its good for me to have those things handy anyone else ever made their own and have a pattern/recomendations?

Thin leather is harder to sew then thick leather.  It wants to stretch and misshape as you move the needle through it.

Oh, and you'll use a lot less blinker fluid it you tighten down the knuter valve a couple of turns.

I hope you guys are at the DriftIn so I can thank you in person!!

Sorry, but I'm not gonna make it this year.  The wife is still healing up from surgery.  Maybe next year?

[MaggieQ]

ok, so now we have opened a whole new line of questions.
1 what weight off leather should I get?
2. can't do deer, I want burgundy since that is the color of the bike, well, burgundy with orange undertones, so will have to be cow?
3. I also want to restore the leather on the <give me a second for a professional term for this item> passenger seat pad, its hard as a rock, I am ok with that, its the best way for me to get time to myself. But it is a little dry and scratched, needs redyed and reconditioned. Any recomendations for that?
4. I have included pictures of the damaged floorboard, how do I get the messy remainder off to attach new fringe
5. how do I get the ones off the good side to put new on?
6. are there any patters/recomendations for the mudflaps? and to get the existing rivets either out, or maybe I should just put some back in the couple holes that the rivet is missing?
7.  I have done some leather work in years past, had a friend that made custom leather items, and I made a wallet, bible/book covers, among other things, and I have a sewing machine that can handle light leather, was thinking of making my own tank bra, also burgundy to match, with a pocket for my license, registration and insurance, the police like me lots, I think my speedometer might be wrong, (JK I have leadfoot) and occasionally I run out of blinker fluid (its my story to tell right?) so its good for me to have those things handy anyone else ever made their own and have a pattern/recomendations?

I hope you guys are at the DriftIn so I can thank you in person!!  these images should be clickable so you can see them bigger, they would not load with the uploader on here.....

[jcf]

Take a quick look at ironbraid.com.

jcf

[annieoakley]

+1 What Phil said. Tandy leather is a great place to shop! I have one about 45 miles from my house and that is where I picked up the grey leather for my bike. I used a glue from Tandy that works good but I use the same glue Phil uses too. My mud flaps were already there, I just took them off and finished customizing them to fit in with the rest of my theme. Can't wait to see what you do to yours MaggieQ 

[MaggieQ]

YEAH!!! I like it lots, thats what I was looking for, thanks!!

[pcarrell]

I made my own floorboard fringe and fringe mudflaps.  My lever and grip covers came from Chilhowee, as did my tank bib and rear fender bib.  I HIGHLY recommend them! ( http://www.chilhowee.net/ )  They aren't the cheapest, but they aren't rediculously priced either, especially considering they do a lot of custom work, and it's all top quality.

As for the flaps and floorboad fringe, you can get pre-made fringe from several sources.  Tandy leather Stores are one place.  Elathersupply is another place ( http://eleathersupply.com/ ).  You want deerskin, because if it gets wet, when it dries out it doesn't get hard.  It stays soft and supple.  Also, deerskin will stretch some, but return to it's original shape (makes GREAT gloves!).

Anyways, I simply used  glue called E6000 (you can get it at WalMart or a hardwarre / home supply store) to glue the fringe to some industrial strength self stick velcro, then cleaned the inside of the fenders and glued the velcro to the fender.  I know, it's self stick, but I liked the extra security of the glue.  Once it dried, I just used some sharp scissors to trim the leather to work with the lines of the fenders.  Barges glue is another popular glue that folks use.  I used velcro so I could make adjustments to the straightness of the fringe after it was all dry.  I can also remove them to redye them if I want.  Here's a closeup of them: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/IMG_0566small.jpg  http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/IMG_0565small.jpg

The floorboard fringe is made of the same stuff, and glued straight on with the E6000.  I did add some turquoise studs to it before I glued it on.  I'll add more of those over the bike to tie the look together and make it more cohesive.  Here's a closeup: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/SkirtCloeup.jpg

All in all, it's a pretty easy project.  And when it's all done, it can look pretty decent I think.......

[MaggieQ]

so what did you make the floorboard fringe out of?  and how did you attach it?

[annieoakley]

MaggieQ- Floorboard fringe is either aftermarket storebought or custom made by the owners. When I bought my bike it had floorboard fringe that was obviously not made for my bike because it was not big enough to wrap the entire board, it looked terrible. I made my own, don't know if I did it right but they are still there Lever fringe......you either like it or hate it. My grips are covered with a heavy pair of leathers (long too!) Most of the time I don't even notice them when I ride. The only fringe that irritates me is the fringe on one of my jackets. I immediately took care of that with a pair of sissors To fringe or not to fringe............the debate will go on forever Motorcycles, leather & Fringe.... Can life get any better???

[MaggieQ]

2003 800 is my baby, did this come with floorboard fringe? I have it on the left, but not the right, but from looking at it, I think the prior owner ground it off in the turns, as the edge of the floorboard is also ground down.

Any suggestions on how to replace it?

and how about the mudflaps, were these stock? I see the rivets where this bike used to have some.....
I see in the photo gallery some have fringe there, some have solid I like the fringed look, obviously thats a custom, any patterns or suggestions for those?

next one, grip/lever fringe.....again this bike used to have it, but the last owner said it would beat him to death when he rode so he cut it off, with his pocket knife it appears, I am thinking a nice set of Kuryakyn grips, and the lever fringe, any oppinions there?