Forward control or mid-control?
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: The Tuckey-of-Brick New Jersey
I like my forward controls...they are just the right length for my legs. I am 5' 10" and my inseam is 30". So it's more or less like I am sitting in a chair, I am not stretched out and I can still lean forward to get my body weight over the tank to improve the weight distribution for cornering and all that jazz...though I do think that the mids would go a long way to helping with that aspect. I have sat on a Dyna Super Glide and Soft Tails and I do know that I can not use forwards on those bikes...I am just too short in the legs department. The sporty is just the right size for me.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 791
From: Heart of Dixie
Mids for motorcycle riding, forwards for motorcycle cruising, and mids with highway pegs for the best of both worlds. I prefer to really ride, so mids win for me. If I'm taking a long one with a lot of highways involved, I'll bolt on the highway pegs, too. The mids on a Sportster are a little too high in relation to the seat, and the problem is compounded by fitting lower seats. A taller seat is an option, but that solution doesn't look cool enough for many...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,541
Likes: 1
From: Nuevo México, Los Estados Unidos de América
Mids for motorcycle riding, forwards for motorcycle cruising, and mids with highway pegs for the best of both worlds. I prefer to really ride, so mids win for me. If I'm taking a long one with a lot of highways involved, I'll bolt on the highway pegs, too. The mids on a Sportster are a little too high in relation to the seat, and the problem is compounded by fitting lower seats. A taller seat is an option, but that solution doesn't look cool enough for many...
You said it more politely than I did. But much of HD land is fantasy land, so the facts are often ill-received.
Keep the mids on the Nightster or trade it in for a Nightrain if what you want is a black cruiser.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,122
Likes: 43
From: Boise Idaho
I used forwards for years because everyone thinks they are cool, but when I put a set of mids back on one of my Sportsters I couldn't believe how much harder you can ride the bike and how much longer you can ride.
Mids are for people that ride the crap out there bike and forwards are for cruising.
Ride your bike for at least a few months before changing and then ride someones 1200 custom before deciding.
Mids are the new black!!!!!!!!!
Mids are for people that ride the crap out there bike and forwards are for cruising.
Ride your bike for at least a few months before changing and then ride someones 1200 custom before deciding.
Mids are the new black!!!!!!!!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 791
From: Heart of Dixie
Danke, Herr Monk. Facts are facts. If you want handling, mids are better than forwards, and rearsets are better than mids. I like handling more than looks, hence the long shocks and fork brace.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 447
Likes: 1
From: St. Louis
SORRY, That's just plain silly. Do yourself a favor and ignore posts like the above. Not trying to be a dick, but it's about rider fit and comfort, NOT necessarily Style and Performance. Style is for Bar Hoppers and Performance is always relative to a particular application, ie. running the 1/4 mile vs. riding an Iron Butt are totally different scenarios and bike configurations.
I ride over 20,000 miles a year on my Sporty which includes everything from 500+ mile days on an interstate to several 2-3 week vacation trips to the twisties each year where I do nothing but log a couple of thousand miles grinding pegs.
There is no right "one size fits all answer". You need to evaluate both your size and how you intend to use the bike.
.
I ride over 20,000 miles a year on my Sporty which includes everything from 500+ mile days on an interstate to several 2-3 week vacation trips to the twisties each year where I do nothing but log a couple of thousand miles grinding pegs.
There is no right "one size fits all answer". You need to evaluate both your size and how you intend to use the bike.
.
Last edited by tinman67; Aug 6, 2009 at 05:26 PM.
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