I need new inserts on my foot boards, but wanted something a little different so decided to make my own to personalize my ride a little and advertise my business at the same time.

So Ive set to work making a pair of arty leather inserts. These are still a work in progress...

Mods, this isnt a shameless plug, just showing off my DIY handiwork

 

Those are nice but I would tend to stay with the darker ones due to dirt coming off the bottom of the boot/shoe

 

Havent done the black on the indian insert yet, still carving on the leather...

 

Wear could be a concern, to me...

Looks nice, but how long can you scrape your boot soles across them before needing to replace 'em?

 

If I left them as just dyed and polished they wouldn't last long at all. But I am applying a technique that was used back in the days of yore when haerdend leather was used to make armor.

I'll be hardening these, and when done they will quite literally rock hard and impervious to most any crud from the road. I'll also be treating them so that most road crudwill wipe off with damp sponge.

 

Looks great. I'm a garmet man myself, can make most anything out of leather never had a nac for carving and stamp work. look forward to seeing them finished.

 

I'm the opposite, I can work heavy leather into anything you'd want to hang off a bike, but garments and clothing is a skill I've never been able to master aside from Cosets, i get a lot of women customers asking for leather Corsets, and zipper replacements on jackets, I do lots of those.

 

with the hardening of the leather, won't that make them slippery as well? looks cool though....

 

Finished my inserts.

Hardened the leather and put on several coats of clear leather Lacquer to add some more protection, and a little surface traction.
I guess I'll find out how well they wear this weekend with a 500 mile 24 hr endurance ride planned.

 

Those are too cool. Nice work.