tech question does anyone know....
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2009
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tech question does anyone know....
hey everyone got a ? im looking to get my first hd was looking at sportys but now in looking at a differant path. i have seen a lot of used fatbobs and dynas that are georgus on craigslist but the problem is they have forward controlls on them and i cant reach them cause i only have a 26 inch inseam. question is i see a lot of them have some sort of coverplate that is on the case? is that where the mid mount shiffter used to be and how hard is it to convert back also same problem with the brake pedal did that also use to be mid mounted in case your wondering why not the sporty because i weight 255 lbs and i would think i would look like im rideing a moped (l.o.l) and i have sat on a fatbob this weekend that had drag bars and a pullback riser (if thats the proper term ??)and had no problem other than reaching the forward controlls they were close but still a little short in comfortably reaching them thanks for takeing time to read and answer also should i stay away from a carbed bike and get a fuel injected model. does it matter
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 6
From: Little Rock
there are plenty of used dynas with mid controls....fatbobs are available either way..just keep looking till one jumps out at you 
. i prefer fuel injected over carbs.. 255 is too big for a sporty other than short hops around town in my opinion...
. i prefer fuel injected over carbs.. 255 is too big for a sporty other than short hops around town in my opinion...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,579
Likes: 10
From: S.E. MO
It depends
If its a Fatbob that came with factory forwards or a wide glide then its going to take alot of work to put mids on.
If it has a cover plate on the primary they were added after but still can depend on how they did it wether its a big job to go back or not. Some guys will cut the old shifter shaft so if that has been done it takes alot of work.
You could also consider a reach seat if got a bike that had forwards already. They will move you up some.
If its a Fatbob that came with factory forwards or a wide glide then its going to take alot of work to put mids on.
If it has a cover plate on the primary they were added after but still can depend on how they did it wether its a big job to go back or not. Some guys will cut the old shifter shaft so if that has been done it takes alot of work.
You could also consider a reach seat if got a bike that had forwards already. They will move you up some.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 34
From: West Palm Beach, Florida
Don't even consider getting a bike with forwards, unless you want to do the work to convert them back to mids. With a 26" inseam, forwards will definitely never be comfortable even with a reach seat. There are plenty of street bobs, super glides (and SG customs) and low riders that have mid controls.. you just need to look a bit more.
I just converted my bike from forwards to mids and it was a major pain in the ***... BUT, only because the jackasses that worked on my bike who put the forwards on before I got it severely F'ed up some things, which I had to pay the consequence for.
Just to give you an idea.. to convert back, you would need to take off the primary cover, remove the primary chain assembly (clutch basket, compensating sprocket, primary chain, primary chain tensioner) then the starter bolts need to come out, then the inner primary, and ALL that just for a little shift lever. SO, with that said... get a bike with mids. You'll be much happier!
I just converted my bike from forwards to mids and it was a major pain in the ***... BUT, only because the jackasses that worked on my bike who put the forwards on before I got it severely F'ed up some things, which I had to pay the consequence for.
Just to give you an idea.. to convert back, you would need to take off the primary cover, remove the primary chain assembly (clutch basket, compensating sprocket, primary chain, primary chain tensioner) then the starter bolts need to come out, then the inner primary, and ALL that just for a little shift lever. SO, with that said... get a bike with mids. You'll be much happier!
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 409
Likes: 2
From: Norwalk, Ohio
dude, just expend your search criteria, or just wait a week for a slew of new ads to pop up.
The mid control dyna's are everywhere, and usually you half to go out of the way to find the ones with forwards. Plus, if they removed the shifter shaft and did the full install, the amount of work to convert back wouldn't be worth it cost wise, unless you got a ridiculous steal on a bike.
Patience.
The mid control dyna's are everywhere, and usually you half to go out of the way to find the ones with forwards. Plus, if they removed the shifter shaft and did the full install, the amount of work to convert back wouldn't be worth it cost wise, unless you got a ridiculous steal on a bike.
Patience.
hey everyone got a ? im looking to get my first hd was looking at sportys but now in looking at a differant path. i have seen a lot of used fatbobs and dynas that are georgus on craigslist but the problem is they have forward controlls on them and i cant reach them cause i only have a 26 inch inseam. question is i see a lot of them have some sort of coverplate that is on the case? is that where the mid mount shiffter used to be and how hard is it to convert back also same problem with the brake pedal did that also use to be mid mounted in case your wondering why not the sporty because i weight 255 lbs and i would think i would look like im rideing a moped (l.o.l) and i have sat on a fatbob this weekend that had drag bars and a pullback riser (if thats the proper term ??)and had no problem other than reaching the forward controlls they were close but still a little short in comfortably reaching them thanks for takeing time to read and answer also should i stay away from a carbed bike and get a fuel injected model. does it matter
Last edited by yoseppi; Aug 11, 2009 at 03:55 AM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
Keep in mind that all dyna's are mid-control bikes except for the Wide Glide, where forwards are standard, and the FatBob, where forwards are a factory option. So any other model either has mid controls or had them at some point. If the mid shift shaft spline isn't there, it is probably more involved to go back to mid controls than if you find one that just has a cover on the spline (like mine). Mine has Kuryakyn forward controls and a chrome cover over the spline, so it can be converted back to mids just as easy as it was to convert it to forwards. I can't have the only one out there like that.
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 83
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From:
I'm 325 and did the 1200 sporty for almost 2 years. It was great around the city but trying to cruise on the highway around 70 was a real struggle for the bike (big surprise there, right). I wound up trading it in for a Fat Bob and I am much happier/comfortable and so is my rider. Just wait and get something bigger. You should also check eBay. shipping the bike may be less of a hassle than driving out to get it.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
From: Wichita, KS
Yep, be patient and one with mids will pop up. Some of the bikes you see with forwards, if it is any model other than a WG or FB, then it's been converted. Ask the owner if they still have all the parts to put the mids back on. Good luck!
Mike
Mike