Chaps - How To?

[dabull]

hey gang,

finally went and did it...bought a set of chaps...got them, tried them on, they fit...

I know I need to cut the length a bit, but I really don't know how long i should leave them?

shorter in the front, longer in the rear?

etc etc??

Thanks in advcance

[nomadliz]

just remember cut them a little long, Don't make the mistake of cutting them short, I always measure so that they are just a 1/8 inch from touching the ground or make them touch the ground with what boots you would wear riding. Remember when you ride you will be sitting down, and they will be short if you don't, so they need to be long when you are standing up. Hope this helps!

[paul]

I cut mine and Kelli's off evenly, that is , straight across from front to back. Tried to get within , but no closer than, 5/16 of the snap. Not all that important really, I just didn't want to get too close. Wanted to leave some material below the last snap.

Long time rider told me just be aware of where the bottom is going to be when you're sitting on the bike and use that as your guide. Be conservative, you can always cut more. But, adding.......that's going to cause you to start a whole nother thread .

[strobe]

Cut them off evenly and leave them a bit long.

[cactusjack]

When I bought mine, I bought them at a motorcycle leather shop. Anyway, the gal fitted me to make sure I bought the right size, then she marked the length and cut them off straight after I took them off. You want them to be as long as possible when standing straight so they don't ride up (no pun intended) while riding.

[phenrichs]

Mine have four snaps running up from the bottom before the zipper. For correct length I really only need 3 but I left the fourth one to make sure they weren't too long when I stretch out to my highway pegs. To ensure they don't drag or trip me when I walk I pull them up a bit before securing the last snap and that holds them off the ground.

Mine are actually about 3-5 inches longer than I would actually need them but when I stretch out to the pegs they fit just right. Keep that in mind before you cut.
Try them on and then sit on the bike and put your feet on the boards and check length and put your feet on your highway pegs and recheck.

[ccmjr77]

I did not have to cut mine. They are little long while standing, but do not touch the ground.
I would cut them straight and not too close to the snaps and make sure they are a little long.

[dogdoc]

bought mine from Fox Creek leathers and they fit right out of the box, no cut.

[dabull]

hey guys, after cutting chaps to fit....do i need to do anything to the freshly cut leather edges? singe with a lighter? or nothing?

[strobe]

I was told to just cut them off....nothing else was required. I asked the place I bought them and that was the answer I got anyway.

[Cajunrider]

Don't heat the edges with a lighter, they will wrinkle and shrivvle up. Cut them evenly and they will be good.