i have an iron on mids ...
i rode the 48 with forwards fell in love ...so now im ordering forward controls for my iron ....

 

No, you can't. My thighs are longer than my calfs, by a fair margin, as they should be. In fact, they are approximately 1.618 times as long, as are every other human's.

No, it isn't. I've put many 300+ mile days on mids. If mids are so bad for long rides, why do touring bikes have their floorboards essentially in the mid position (they certainly aren't "forward")? What you get used to is what feels "good." Doesn't mean it's "right." Moreover, what's right for one person isn't necessarily right for another. It is "too cramped" for you, because you want to justify forwards, or because you have mostly ridden with forwards, or because you want to feel good about your own bike, or... but it isn't because it's "too cramped" in reality.

No, it isn't. You like it, cool! That doesn't make it "perfect." "Perfect for all kinds of riding???" Drag racing, road racing, canyon carving, city, long-distance touring, motocross, flat track, bar hopping... one setup is "perfect" for all that? Gee, you should tell all the manufacturers about that, as their are a whole boatload of them throwing their money away developing other riding positions for the various tasks.

If forwards are the be-all and end-all, then why would you need to put your legs up on them? If they are the "perfect for all kinds of riding" position, then you'd never need to move them. The truth is that nothing is "perfect" for everything.

Doubt it. It's called the divine ratio, or the golden mean. Nature is full of it, and the human body fits into it perfectly.

Yeah, okay...

Forwards have their place. They can be very comfortable, depending on a whole lot of other variables. They are not, however, "perfect" for everything. You have to figure out what type of riding you are going to do the most, and set up your bike for that, and deal with the shortcomings the rest of the time. Everyone who has ridden for a long time has come to expect a certain set of ergonomics from their bike, and that will always feel "right" to them, and they will be loyal to that feel. Doesn't make it "right" for everyone else. I like forwards, I like mids, I like rearsets. They are all fantastic for their intended purpose. Mids are intended to be the best compromise for the greatest variety of conditions. Forwards are intended for boulevard cruising. Touring floorboards are intended for long distance freeway touring. Rearsets are intended for racing.

I'm not telling you that you have to get mids. I'm not telling you that forwards are horrible. All I'm saying is that forwards aren't the greatest thing since sliced bread, as some would have you believe. They have serious shortcomings in many areas, but they do have their benefits.

The best answer may well be what so many people do: keep the mids, but get highway pegs and passenger pegs. This gives you three different places to put your feet. Better yet, it will allow you to "test" the foot position so that you will better know which fits the way you ride. We can't tell you what you should have, we can only give you advice based on our own experiences.

 

Some people crack me up!
1st) What does a "butt to knee" measurement have to do with calves being longer than thighs?
2nd) Yes, the divine ratio is described as 1.618. So what?
3rd) Thighs versus calves are not assumed to be a divine ratio.
4th) Show me, on the chart below where it supports your statements?



From the illustration above, we can see several occurrences of the golden ratio found in the human body



Sole to navel (1) : Sole to crown (Phi)

Sole to knee : Sole to navel

Navel to shoulder : Navel to crown

Knees to calf muscle : Knees to sole

Navel to mid-thigh : Navel to knees

Navel to sternum or mid-chest : Navel to base of throat

Throat base to temple or brow bone : Throat base to crown

End of calf muscle down to ankle : Calf muscle to sole

Mid-thigh to start of kneecap : Mid-thigh to end of kneecap

Navel to crotch : Navel to mid-thigh

Navel to sternum base : Navel to sternum or mid-chest

Throat base to earlobe : Throat base to top of ear or brow bone

Brow bone to hairline : Brow bone to crown

Nose to chin : Nose to base of throat

LOL Actually, I don't remember you ever coming to measure mine!

But thighs being longer than calves is NOT an equation included in the divine ratios of the human body. At least not by the experts. So I'm not sure where you are getting this information from?

And anyway, the first quote in this reply ;

He just says he bets he has longer legs/thighs than others posting here preferring mid controls. LOL. But you say you "Doubt it". LOL. Do you know how tall he is, versus the others who posted replies?? Because without that information, no sensible conclusion can be determined.

 

I do however agree with most of these statements.
Although your assumptions that each type of footrests are "intended" for a certain purpose seems a bit over the top. "Intended"?? Not so sure. Again butt to knee.....oops, I meant to say height and riding style can also be a factor for each of these.

But generally I can agree with much of that statement.

 

TEK - Calm down! LOL

 

Sometimes I even crack myself up, with the wild crazy, over-the-top replies!!

 

You're absolutely right. I enjoy a good argument, and disagreed with his point, but "spoke" too quickly without double-checking my facts. I remembered some of the ratios, but mis-remembered the leg-thigh one. Oops, sorry.

Thanks, me too. :-)

You're right, too. I get a little worked up when people talk about forwards being "right" for every type of riding.

Me, too. I should try reading my responses before I hit "submit reply." But on the other hand, if I do that, what'll we do for entertainment? Oh, yeah, there's still plenty of stupidity out there to laugh at...

 

I am going to give you "points" for being a good sport too! I was sitting here thinking that most people would take my post as too argumentative, and lash back with a sour response. So, kudos to you for that!



ps.....I like forward controls.

 

I'm a shortie 5'7' with a 30' inseam so forwards on the sportster for me is comfortable. I can take the twisties fine. Also, too me going from a stop throwing my feet forward feels comfortable to me.

 

thanks.

pps... me, too. I just don't think they're a panacea, they aren't right for all people for all purposes.