A boot upgrade is helpful, actually. When I was riding a DR750, which had a 36" inseam, while my skinny ass could barely muster 32" when straight, a stout pair of rubber-soled boots made all the difference. I'd try that first before hacking away at the bike.
On the amusing side, while rummaging through the army-navy store I found a pair of unusual boots - sort of a combat boot with a completely flat, inch-thick sole. They only had one pair, they'd been on the shelf as long as they could remember, and no one knew what the heck they were for. Someone suggested a "roofer's boot". They fit, so I bought them for use as a Frankenstein's monster hallowe'en item.
When I picked up the DR a few years later, those boots came in mighty handy! People called me Herman Munster a lot, though.