Explain mid versus forward please?
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,754
Likes: 2
From: Fort Worth, TX
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
Is it possible to put an adjustable and lockable 2" offset to the pegs to either bring the mid pegs forward a little, or to bring the forward controls back a little, such as iscommon on highway mounts? Refabricating the shifter and brake linkages would be necessary, and there must not be any danger of the offsets pivoting or breakingfrom the full weight of the rider under stress. But I'm wondering if it can be done safely? Would thecrankcase or pipes be in in the way of this? Can someone tell me why this is a bad idea?
Teek
Teek
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
Apologies to those who find me harsh and unimaginative, but the mid controls are one reason why I like the Sportster xl. I also prefer the tall stance of the bike. To each his own.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 921
Likes: 0
From: Alamogordo, NM
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
If you are 5'3 1/2", have you riddenfor any distanceon a bike that had forward controls? Being stretched out for distances can be as bad as being cramped IMO. I got the frame mounted highway pegs to allow me to change positions. That, to me, was a much better option than having forward controls.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 6
From: Greenfield, Massachusetts
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
Thanks to all for your comments. Actually, this weekend I got to sit on (not ride, though) an 883 Custom that a new club chapter member has and it has the forward controls. I liked the feel, so I'm going to have them put on my XL883 Low. One problem I have, and I'm sure it's because Iam still relatively inexperienced,is thatwe ride in a lot of twisty turnies in the Green Mountains,and although I have the highway pegs, I am more comfortable having my feet right near my controls, and so I find I have my feet on the regular pegs,not the highway pegs, and I am getting serious cramps in my right leg. (I never used to on my old bike which I won't mention here because it was a JAP bike).
As for why I wouldn't know the Custom comes with Forward controls 1) they didn't have one at the dealer, and I didn't even know I was going to buy a new bike that day, 2) the seat is higher on the Custom and I need to be as low as possible, 3) the Custom is more expensive and I wasn't even sure I'd pass the credit check on the cheapest bike. If those aren't good enough reasons, well TS, I guess I'm just dumb.
As for why I wouldn't know the Custom comes with Forward controls 1) they didn't have one at the dealer, and I didn't even know I was going to buy a new bike that day, 2) the seat is higher on the Custom and I need to be as low as possible, 3) the Custom is more expensive and I wasn't even sure I'd pass the credit check on the cheapest bike. If those aren't good enough reasons, well TS, I guess I'm just dumb.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 24
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
ORIGINAL: Teek
Is it possible to put an adjustable and lockable 2" offset to the pegs to either bring the mid pegs forward a little, or to bring the forward controls back a little, such as iscommon on highway mounts? Re fabricating the shifter and brake linkages would be necessary, and there must not be any danger of the offsets pivoting or breakingfrom the full weight of the rider under stress. But I'm wondering if it can be done safely? Would thecrankcase or pipes be in in the way of this? Can someone tell me why this is a bad idea?
Teek
Is it possible to put an adjustable and lockable 2" offset to the pegs to either bring the mid pegs forward a little, or to bring the forward controls back a little, such as iscommon on highway mounts? Re fabricating the shifter and brake linkages would be necessary, and there must not be any danger of the offsets pivoting or breakingfrom the full weight of the rider under stress. But I'm wondering if it can be done safely? Would thecrankcase or pipes be in in the way of this? Can someone tell me why this is a bad idea?
Teek
I recently swapped out my forward controls for mid controls and then switched them back again, I was trying to make the wife more comfortable when she rides it. There isn't much room to work around the stock pipes (2005 1200 Custom) but if you had aftermarket units you may have more options. Maybe you could find some adjustable highway pegs and figure out some way to adapt them to work, but like you said modifying the controls would be a necessity not to mentionthose are pretty spendy, especially if you have to hack on them and then they don't work...Good luck!
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 233
From:
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
forward controls on customs that come stock are not as stretched out as mine. i added forward controls and i get alot more room to stretch, riding a custom makes me feel all cramped up even with the forward controls.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Just north of Chicago
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
ORIGINAL: Perch
we ride in a lot of twisty turnies in the Green Mountains,and although I have the highway pegs, I am more comfortable having my feet right near my controls, and so I find I have my feet on the regular pegs,not the highway pegs, and I am getting serious cramps in my right leg. (I never used to on my old bike which I won't mention here because it was a JAP bike).
we ride in a lot of twisty turnies in the Green Mountains,and although I have the highway pegs, I am more comfortable having my feet right near my controls, and so I find I have my feet on the regular pegs,not the highway pegs, and I am getting serious cramps in my right leg. (I never used to on my old bike which I won't mention here because it was a JAP bike).
Has anyone taken a Roadster or Nightster and added highway pegs? Thoughts on this idea? Does this get me the best of both worlds or is this simply a bad idea?
Thanks
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Gilbertsville, Pa
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
Twists and turns with forward controls is not an issue at all. I am 5'-6" for the record. Even at my height I sometimes wish the controls were just an inch or so longer. Had mine not come with the forward controls, it would have proably been my first change.
troutspinner
troutspinner
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
Perch - if you have a standard 883L, you have mids. A female friend of mine is 5'1" and she wanted a C rather than an L but couldn't reach the forwards comfortably, so she had the stealer move the controls to mid before taking delivery of the C. You're probably just tall enough for forwards, but it might still be a bit of a stretch for you. If your mids are comfortable for you, stick with them.
On the other hand, I'm 5'11" and I would like to move my forwards more forward. I road my bud's R this weekend and I felt really uncomfortable with the mids. Before I got my C I was slightly worried about the forwards and was concerned that I wouldn't be comfortable, but now I can't imagine owning another bike with mids. Where the forwards feel really natural and comfortable to me, the mids just feel completely unnatural and cramped now.
On the other hand, I'm 5'11" and I would like to move my forwards more forward. I road my bud's R this weekend and I felt really uncomfortable with the mids. Before I got my C I was slightly worried about the forwards and was concerned that I wouldn't be comfortable, but now I can't imagine owning another bike with mids. Where the forwards feel really natural and comfortable to me, the mids just feel completely unnatural and cramped now.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Just north of Chicago
RE: Explain mid versus forward please?
ORIGINAL: Superstylin
I road my bud's R this weekend and I felt really uncomfortable with the mids. Before I got my C I was slightly worried about the forwards and was concerned that I wouldn't be comfortable, but now I can't imagine owning another bike with mids. Where the forwards feel really natural and comfortable to me, the mids just feel completely unnatural and cramped now.
I road my bud's R this weekend and I felt really uncomfortable with the mids. Before I got my C I was slightly worried about the forwards and was concerned that I wouldn't be comfortable, but now I can't imagine owning another bike with mids. Where the forwards feel really natural and comfortable to me, the mids just feel completely unnatural and cramped now.
Rich