EASY LEATHER GRIPS FOR MOTORCYCLE

This is a great first time leather project and can be used on multiple other projects.

I recentley finished a renovation of a 1981 Yamaha DT 100 motorcycle.I purchased a new seat and could not fine a handlebar grip that would match the seat so I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased some leather and tools that would match the seat. As you can see from the picture of the motorcycle I wrapped all the black wore out plastics with leather using the same process. This was my first leather working project and I was nervous but after doing one this is super easy and anyone can do it just follow these easy to follow steps lets get started

• leather 12x12
• leather punch
• hammer
• waxed thread
• needles
• pen
• scissors
• tape measure
• and a metal pick
• block of scrap wood

For this step simply wrap the handle and make a mark where they intersect. subtract 1/4 inch so you can stretch it for a great fit. then cut to length and width.

Like I said in the beginning this was my first time doing this and thought I was tough and didn't need a punch

Save your finger tips and get a punch it makes the threading part so much easier and any of your local hobby store should have one if not amazon.

I punched a hole every 3/8 of an inch or so I marked it with a pen first. They make tools that can make multiple holes at once and after doing this one at a time I will be looking into growing my leather tool collection

Place the punch on the mark and tap with hammer on the scrap piece of wood and continue on until completed on both sides .

I used the 2 needle and used twice as much waxed yarn as i needed to make sure i had enough and to make it more manageable at the end.

thread the yarn leaving 2 inches hanging on each side. this is so it wont fall out each time you pass it through a hole

pass one needle through the first 2 holes stopping the half way( you should have equal amounts of string on each side) then pass the opposite needle the opposite way

Pull tight now pass 1 needle to the second hole on the opposite side.

pass the second needle to the opposite side and pull both strings tight ( you should have an X at this point)

then repeat this process until you get to the end

Once you have both ends at the top of the work piece feed the needle through both hole on top and then feed the other one through the opposite side and then pull tight and tie a knot and trim the line off

I repeated this same process on multiple pieces on the bike.