Hand-crafted leather for riders. One bike at a time.

Chilhowee Motorcycle Leather is a small family shop in Tennessee. We've been cutting, stitching, and lacing custom motorcycle leather since 2004 — tank bras, fender bibs, lever covers, engine guard chaps, floorboard fringe, and a handful of other pieces that dress your bike instead of dressing the rider.

Nothing is outsourced. Nothing is one-size-fits-all. Every piece starts with a paper template cut to your specific year, make, and model — or your tank, fender, levers, or guards measured to the eighth of an inch. We keep the templates on file. Your bike is on file.

Closed in 2023. Back under new management.

Chilhowee wound down in 2023 after a nearly two-decade run. The shop stopped taking orders, the site went dark, and a lot of riders were left without a place to send their bikes for real leather work.

We're back under new management, with the same great products, the same hand-crafted-in-the-USA standards, and the templates and patterns preserved from the original shop. New site, new domain, same leather. If you ordered from us before, your bike may still be on file — worth asking when you place your next order.

How we make it

Every piece starts with full-grain bridle leather and a paper template cut to your bike. Stitched with bonded nylon. Edges burnished and finished by hand.

• Leather8–9 oz vegetable-tanned bridle leather. [Update with your specific tannery if you want — Hermann Oak, Wickett & Craig, etc.]
• StitchingBonded nylon thread, machine-sewn then hand-finished. [Replace with stitches-per-inch and any specific machine if you want to brag.]
• LacingLatigo lace and rawhide where the design calls for it. [Replace with kangaroo / chrome-tanned specifics if applicable.]
• AdhesiveBarge All Purpose Cement on attachment-style pieces (floorboard fringe, lever covers). Designed for metal-to-leather bonds; won't harm your chrome.
• CareChilhowee Buffalo Butter for cleaning & conditioning. 303 Aerospace Protectant for UV. [Replace if these have changed.]
• FinishingFiebing's Pro dye, hand-rubbed conditioner before each piece ships.