I have never owned a Harley with forword controls. I am interested in buying a 2005 Softail Standard that has them. How much of an adjustment is there. I feel that with the forward controls, your reaction to hitting the brake will be slower. Maybe its just me.

 

Just like any bike, you will have to ride it and figure out the bikes quarks. But I have not had any problems stopping my bike when I needed in an emergancy. I have rode the touring models and I prefer the foward controls of my softail..

Hope this helps..

 

I wouldn't get a bike without them any more, i'm so use to them. I don't see why brake reaction would change, it's still right in front of your foot.

 

In the 30+ years I have been riding bikes this is the first bike I have ever owned, or ridden for that matter with forward controls on it.
Funny thing is that I at first though that I wasn't going to like them because I was so used to mid, and even rear controls. But I have to say they are VERY easy to get used to, and very comfortable. Much more so then the mids, or even the rear set. I get cramps in my legs from mids and need highway bars to go any kind of distance. Riding with rear set controls is a total nightmare. I need help to get off a bike after more than 75 to 100 miles.

 

My new ride is my first with forward controls.They'd always seemed sort of senseless to me until I realized almost every HD I was considering had 'em.

Tried 'em'liked 'em and I'm never going back.

Brake response ? It still seems like forwards should be a split second slower,but in reality once you're familiar with them it's business as usual.

If you get a new bike (any new bike) Harley Davidson recommends that you go easy on the brakes for a few hundred miles,but after that I think its a great idea to practice a few panic stops to get familiar with how you and your ride's going to respond.

Good luck and let us know how it all works out for you.

 

only con in my situtaion was my pant legs winding up over my knees at speeds above 45 MPH

since then i got some straps for my pants though

i have to wear pants that are a little loose though as my legs are friggin tree stumps

normal pants look like tights on me seriously


rode a few dynas with mid mounts, they were OK
only bike i ever owned is my night train so i am accustomed to forwards, and i prefer them

 

Hi,

I had a Sportster with mid controls, and I liked them. When I swapped bike (for a Nigh train) i was very concerned about the forward controls. After 5 minutes you ride the new bike, you are used to them, and will never want to go back..........

 

I am 6'3" tall and have a 36" inseam...the stock forwards on my Standard felt like mid controls...I installed a set of Ness 3" forward adapters and I'm much more comfortable now. On my first ride the extra room felt a little strange but I adjusted to them pretty quick. If you're a shorter rider, you'll like the stock Standard forwards.

 

Test rode a VRod with mids.. Most uncomfortable 45 minutes of my life!.. not counting the ride back home 5 hours on a barhopper seat. [:@] Can't see how the sport riders do it.. Guess it's riding for the curves, rather than for the ride.

Stock forwards are too me a little more bunched up than floorboards on my fatty.. If I went to forwards, they'd have to be extended.