Why forward controls?
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
There really is nothing like a set of floorboards. The stock HD ones let me stretch out when I want. For more stretching, I use a set of highway pegs once in a while. Sliding one's feet back of floorboards gives one just about a mid control position. Truly boards are the best of both worlds.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Long Island
I prefer mids, but have highway pegs installed where the forwards would be. I am 5' 8". Taller folks would be cramped with mids, but it is a better way overall to control a bike.
Nice to change positions once in a while too.
Nice to change positions once in a while too.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 36
From: San Diego, CA
Sorry to Hijack but this falls in line with another personal issue I have. I've currently got mids, and my pant leg always gets blown up above the top of my shoe and it drives me nuts! I've been looking into forwards but i wonder if the angle of the forwards would actually allow MORE wind to get up my pant leg and blow it back more frequently or higher up my leg.
Does anyone else have wind/pant issues?
Does anyone else have wind/pant issues?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,053
Likes: 5
From: Southern IL
Sorry to Hijack but this falls in line with another personal issue I have. I've currently got mids, and my pant leg always gets blown up above the top of my shoe and it drives me nuts! I've been looking into forwards but i wonder if the angle of the forwards would actually allow MORE wind to get up my pant leg and blow it back more frequently or higher up my leg.
Does anyone else have wind/pant issues?
Does anyone else have wind/pant issues?
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 717
Likes: 3
From: Cincinnati
It's hard to get an answer as to what suits you best until you find out for yourself, but you'll get plenty of opinions, including mine.
- Mid controls: PRO; Best for handling the switchbacks and short quick rides, great for drag racing (setback even better but who does that on a Harley?), good around town. CON; cramped (numbing) quarters over the long haul.
- Forward controls: PRO; More comfort than mids. Comfortable stretch for cruising, including long distance when set up right for your inseam, good grip peg, good ergos (etc), simply better suited than mids on some bikes, FX softails, Wide Glides, raked choppers, etc. but also work well on others, FXD, FXR, minibikes, etc. CONS; Less (natural) body input (control) and feedback on the switchbacks - [unless you're a madman and don't care], rising or flappy loose pants (fixable), and disconcerting as hell when you relax your footing.
- FL style floor boards: PRO; probably the most comfort, especially long distance. And that pretty much says it all. CONS; getting used to the boards and car like break pedal, backing up, far less legroom, less control in tight slow spaces (banging hell out of your shins). Usually found on heavier FL style bikes (pro and con).
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(edit) FWIW: put a set of Hurst billet Fwd Controls on my FXR and never looked back. Rode that for years, including a solo trip from Alaska to Los Angeles, no saddle bags, no issues (although in hindsight I could've used better shocks through parts of Canada and once in LA... lol).
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Here's my Road Art album for anyone interested: http://www.pbase.com/thealaskan/roadart
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- Mid controls: PRO; Best for handling the switchbacks and short quick rides, great for drag racing (setback even better but who does that on a Harley?), good around town. CON; cramped (numbing) quarters over the long haul.
- Forward controls: PRO; More comfort than mids. Comfortable stretch for cruising, including long distance when set up right for your inseam, good grip peg, good ergos (etc), simply better suited than mids on some bikes, FX softails, Wide Glides, raked choppers, etc. but also work well on others, FXD, FXR, minibikes, etc. CONS; Less (natural) body input (control) and feedback on the switchbacks - [unless you're a madman and don't care], rising or flappy loose pants (fixable), and disconcerting as hell when you relax your footing.
- FL style floor boards: PRO; probably the most comfort, especially long distance. And that pretty much says it all. CONS; getting used to the boards and car like break pedal, backing up, far less legroom, less control in tight slow spaces (banging hell out of your shins). Usually found on heavier FL style bikes (pro and con).
---
(edit) FWIW: put a set of Hurst billet Fwd Controls on my FXR and never looked back. Rode that for years, including a solo trip from Alaska to Los Angeles, no saddle bags, no issues (although in hindsight I could've used better shocks through parts of Canada and once in LA... lol).
---
Here's my Road Art album for anyone interested: http://www.pbase.com/thealaskan/roadart
---
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 772
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Sorry to Hijack but this falls in line with another personal issue I have. I've currently got mids, and my pant leg always gets blown up above the top of my shoe and it drives me nuts! I've been looking into forwards but i wonder if the angle of the forwards would actually allow MORE wind to get up my pant leg and blow it back more frequently or higher up my leg.
Does anyone else have wind/pant issues?
Does anyone else have wind/pant issues?
Sorry, that's just funny!Yeah, my jeans tend to get rolled up a bit at the bottom if I wear athletic-style shoes instead of proper boots. Makes me laugh when it happens to me, too. Especially since I wear those really short socks and my lily-white ankles become a high-visibility accessory. I have forward controls.
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: The Colony, Tx
Funny thing about this, there are thousands of riders and each has specific need/opinion regarding thier style. You can try going to your local shop and trying out the fitment program, there are multiple seats/handlebar/foot peg/control positions, in most cases they can allow you to try. Better yet go to your local watering hole and check out the variety there. Often if you speak with the owner you may even get to sit/try out what they have. For every rider thier are certain needs/wants for each.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: .
