Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 248
Likes: 2
From: Shenandoah Valley, VA
RE: Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
ORIGINAL: Sammi
I have a 30" inseam and find forward controls more comfortable than the mid-controls.
The mids would camp my legs and give my hips a pain after a long ride.
Wasn't too keen about using the highway pegs because of the distance from the peg to the brake pedal.
Switched to forwards and no regrets.
Sammi
I have a 30" inseam and find forward controls more comfortable than the mid-controls.
The mids would camp my legs and give my hips a pain after a long ride.
Wasn't too keen about using the highway pegs because of the distance from the peg to the brake pedal.
Switched to forwards and no regrets.
Sammi
Nice ride by the way--considering a Dyna Lowrider as my next bike.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 50
From: A barrier island in NJ
RE: Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
ORIGINAL: cst010
...one thing I did notice is that the extenstions that I used on the engine guard make the pegs a reach, in retrospect I would have used longer extensions.
Nice ride by the way--considering a Dyna Lowrider as my next bike.
...one thing I did notice is that the extenstions that I used on the engine guard make the pegs a reach, in retrospect I would have used longer extensions.
Nice ride by the way--considering a Dyna Lowrider as my next bike.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
ORIGINAL: Road Head
Comfort, best I can tell, but I had mids and I didn't lose any control going with forwards. The gains were way better for me. Honestly, forwards really aren't that far forward on a Sporty. I still have a good bend to the knee on mine, not all stretched out like some of the bigger bikes you see out there.
Comfort, best I can tell, but I had mids and I didn't lose any control going with forwards. The gains were way better for me. Honestly, forwards really aren't that far forward on a Sporty. I still have a good bend to the knee on mine, not all stretched out like some of the bigger bikes you see out there.
For some reason, when Harley made all the changes to the 2004+ Sportsters, they also decided to move the forward control position closer to the rider. Not sure why, unless they did it for people with shorter inseams.
From the pictures below, you can see that the forward controls (shown on the 2005 1200C I owned) aren't all that far from the where the mid controls would be mounted. For comparison, you can see that even the floorboards on my Softail allow for much more leg extension, not even considering the cruise arms which are mounted even further forward. The bottom picture is of the forward controls on my Dyna WideGlide, and you can see they are also much further forward than those on the Sportster.
I have a 33/34 inch inseam, and the forward controls on my 1200C weren't that comfortable. If I had kept the bike I had plans for have extensions fabricated to allow for an additional 3 or so inches of leg room.
As you are "better control" when comparing mid controls vs forward controls, it's all in what you are use to. All the Harley's that I've owned since the early 1970's have had forward controls, and because of that I have a hard time with mid controls.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 2
From: Appling GA
RE: Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
I have owed a lot of bikes over the years and they all had mid controls. My first sportster had mids also. I have forwards now and like them immensely. I rode an 883 the other day
and it had mids, it felt cramped and a bit wierd. I'll never go back to mids. And I can ride the bike just as well with the forwards even if I need to stand up for potholes/roadwork.
my 2 cents...
and it had mids, it felt cramped and a bit wierd. I'll never go back to mids. And I can ride the bike just as well with the forwards even if I need to stand up for potholes/roadwork.
my 2 cents...
ORIGINAL: davemweber
Greetings to all HD Riders. I hope to join the club in a couple months when I purchase a Sportster. I have a question and I'm sure there will be more to come. I try to do my research first to find an answer on the internet, but on this one, I'm stumped.
What is the benefit/purpose of forward foot controls?
Is it just for appearance?
Thanks so much for the help.
Greetings to all HD Riders. I hope to join the club in a couple months when I purchase a Sportster. I have a question and I'm sure there will be more to come. I try to do my research first to find an answer on the internet, but on this one, I'm stumped.
What is the benefit/purpose of forward foot controls?
Is it just for appearance?
Thanks so much for the help.
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
I've had mids on my first bike and forwards on my current bike.I'm 5'11" and I prefer the forwards over the mids by a lot.The only way to find out which is best for you is to try both types of controls.You can probably do this by taking a few test rides at the dealer.Then you can go with what fits you best.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
I don't have much knowledge with motorcyles, this one being my first, however I can assure you - test a bike with forwards and test a bike without.
I'm willing to bet you will end up with forwards if you do. (unless you are just short with short lil' stubby legs)
I'm willing to bet you will end up with forwards if you do. (unless you are just short with short lil' stubby legs)
Banned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,082
Likes: 8
RE: Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
I have a Custom model, so forwards are the deal, however, if I had it to do over, I would want mid controls with Hiway pegs, anyone position gets old after miles and miles.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
RE: Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
My 883 had mids and highway pegs. I'd get hip cramps while even moving my feet to the mids. Also, I was always tripping over the controls when putting my feet down at a stop.
Now I got a 1200c with forwards and I love them!
Now I got a 1200c with forwards and I love them!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 0
From: southern new jersey
RE: Benefit/Purpose of Forward Foot Controls
my old kawasaki had mids on it..i had problems with them.(i broke my tailbone when i crashed my 3 wheeler when i was about 15 years old)because of the position i had to sit with the mids i put constant pressure on the tailbone..i had problems the whole time i had that bike..sciatic nerve and cramps in my a$$..now that i have the sportster im in a much better position and havent had the problem in over a year now..if i had mids on the sportster im betting i would be hobbling around again..
