Just got a set of forward controls for my Iron, on a scale from 1 to 10(1 being filling the gas tank and 10 being total engine rebuild) how hard is it to install. And do I need anything else other then what comes in the package. Thanks.

 

I would give it a 4 on that scale. You might have to remove the pipes and that will be the part that take le longest. 2 hours if you are good with a wrench and 3 to 4 if you take your time.

 

That's a pretty short scale if 1 is filling gas and 10 is building an engine! Using that scale I'd call it a 1.5. Pretty easy to do. Removing the pipes will make it easier (also about a 1 on your scale).

 

removing one pipe is all you really need that is a bitch putting header nuts back on is the real problem

 

Leave the header pipe alone and just take the muffler off. It's the bolt on the master cylinder end of the brake rod that is hard to reach.

 

All I did is loosen it and use an "L" shaped torx tool (like a allen wrench with a torx end) on that bolt. I didn't have to remove the muffler.

 

Yeah, I did the same but without messing with the exhaust at all. I just cut the torx and used a ratcheting wrench that fit it.

But the L-torx is a cool tool. Would have made life simpler on several things other than the fwd controls.

 

i went the other way, taking the previous owner's forwards off and putting mid controls on my 1200r. i found a ball end allen wrench works well for the clearance and did not remove any exhaust parts. use blue locktite, after all it is your brakes!

 

I Had to remove the forward exhaust and the bottom bolt had been cruched by the the tar so i had to lift the bike to grind off the bolt.so a 2 became a 4.5.

 

The fastener I'm talking about is a torx head. Don't muck it up with an allen wrench.