Just got back from a quick test ride after installing the Cycle Visions Go-Forward kit to relocate my footboards and controls forward 2 inches on the Slim.

I'm 6'2", and was feeling a bit cramped up on the bike. I kept putting my heels on the very front corners of the boards, and riding over 100 miles was a stone bitch. My butt hurt, my jewels were numb, my back was aching, but I knew the bike could be changed.

My initial list was:

1. to find a way to move the controls forward, which was initially looking to ditch the boards and put forwards on - probably around $1k, but then I found out about this kit, which I scored for $90.
2. change the seat, probably Corbin or Mustang solo seat, $300-$500.
3. add a mustache bar to put some highway pegs out there so I could stretch out for longer rides.

After putting these on, I'm unlikely to add the mustache bar - just no need, nor any room. Also, the seat already seems more comfortable, as I can sit down in the seat instead of feeling like I need to slide up to the back edge, so I may not need to replace it, either. Bonus - I was able to use the stock brake line, but needed cut the tie wrap just forward of the swing arm to gain me a couple of inches of line, and to unbolt the brake switch and move that forward and secure it again. I'll need to build a mini wiring harness to hook that switch back up - 2 male, 2 female spade connectors, 4 inches of wire, and a little shrink wrap. Eventually, I'll replace the line 'cause I don't like the way it's routed and the fittings on the front of the line are kind of hanging out there in space. One last thing I'll need to do is to add a button of rubber to the bumper on the foot peg, to push it out from the primary cover. Moving the controls forward also moved the foot peg forward, and it tucks under the cover and is a pain to kick down. It also comes REALLY close to vibrating on the cover, so I don't want to cause any damage. Again, that's a simple, simple fix - a piece of rubber and some Barge Cement and it'll be done.



Install was really almost a joke. On the lift, unbolt three bolts per side, measure the distance between the jam nuts on the original shift linkage rod, remove the linkage rod, bolt the plates on to either side with supplied hardware, bolt the controls to the plates with 3 bolts each. Put the longer linkage rod back in at the initial measurement plus 2 inches, and tie-wrap the brake line back down. The wiring harness extension will take about 5 minutes to make, once I get those components, and about 30 seconds to install. The rubber bumper will be probably another 5 minutes... Whole process was probably an hour and a half, but I had to go back and forth for tools a few times...



The look of the bike really didn't change much, but I seem to have plenty of room, can now use the heel shifter, and all is good!



Initial estimate to get this result was about $1800. I'll have about $220 in it with a custom brake line, and I'm hoping I'll be set! I'm happy, wife's happy. Looks like the next mod might be affordable sooner than I had initially thought!

 

No pictures...?

 

Sorry for the "no pics" in a "check this mod out!" post. it got late and the camera was dead... so here's a few to illustrate.

Before anyone calls me on it, yes, there are two bikes in the pics - the "before" are of the Lo, which is effectively the same bike for the parts we're looking at, and the "after", of course, are the Slim.

First two are profile photos to show how much forward the controls moved:



Brake side, before and after. In the after photo, you can see how the original brake line is kind of hanging out in space. I wasn't going to unbend bent tubing... :


Transmission side, before and after:


Kick stand, before and after. You can see how the ball and extension are almost resting on the cover - pain in the *** to deploy, and it could vibrate and rub on the face of the cover. This will be fixed first thing tomorrow morning. :


And an oblique view to kind of better show where the extension plate goes. The controls were moved 2 inches forward, and about 3/8 inch out due to thickness of the plates. :




I did go ahead and spec out a custom brake line, 'cause I'm just not too happy about the front line being exposed to potential damage and stress. It's just too critical a part to leave in this condition for very long. Hopefully within the next week or two, it'll be corrected.

 

Looks good. Sometimes the little things make a big difference. I am 5'11" with a short 30" inseam. The stock location is good for me. To stretch out I put pegs on my engine guard. This gives me a couple of options for foot rest. Heels over pegs, foot on pegs and heel on floorboard with front of foot on the pegs. It's nice to have options.

 

I was REALLY surprised just how much of a difference that 2 inches wound up actually making. I'm more comfortable, and the bike rides a bit differently, too - I can get leverage on the boards and put my hips into the turns, too...

... and, my butt isn't killing me after a bit of a ride, either. We'll see about a longer ride soon, and see just how much of a score this actually turned out to be, but I'm happy.

I did pick up a sheet of 1/8 thick hard rubber that I'll punch out a "coin" from and attach it to the bumper on the kickstand. Might have to go a couple of layers or even 3 to get the stand pushed out to a good distance from the primary, but this is an EASY fix.

 

Mr Ragnar, Looking forward to do this. Hows the clearance in regards to the front wheel and is there more room to lean without sparking the boards? Thanx in advance

 

No restrictions. You could put a 3 inch extension kit on without interfering with it, but the kick stand would be really forward. One thing you will notice after putting this kit on is that the bike sits differently on the side stand. It's still perfectly secure, but the first time you lean it over, you'll kind of go... ... until it sets in place.


Maybe a little bit, but not enough to speak of. A little difficult for me to answer, since I have the shotgun on the bike and the ride height changes at my whim.

Since I did this mod, there are more options that either came out or I became aware of. Some come with brake lines, some don't. The Drag Specialties catalog has a number of them listed. Either way, you have to replace the brake line. The OEM one can stretch, but the way the front banjo fitting and hard line is bent, it just doesn't fit well and looks like hell if you stretch it out.

 

So you are saying that this kit won't work if you have the mustache bar from HD on the bike?

Thanks for info.

 

Will these work with crash bars?

 

Nevermind. Just checked their website and these wont work with crash bars bummer