Height and forward controls
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Bush, La
Im 5'11" my bike has forwards I like em, just bought my wife an 883 it has mids probably gonna change hers to forwards as well once she gets riding good, with the mids it feels like im riding a minibike or something the way my knees are bent. Shes like 5'9 or so I think the forwards will work for her too but we'll see.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
if you're used to mids, it can take a bit of time to get used to forwards, you don't feel that you have the same control or balance. But within a few hours, they will feel just fine.
the other option you have, is to get a reduced reach seat. That'll pull you forward an inch or so, you might fit the forwards a bit better that way.
I was running mids with highway pegs on my 883/1200L. I found I wanted to keep my feet on the highway pegs all the time, the mids just weren't as comfortable. So I'm switching to forwards.I'm 5'7" btw.
I picked up a set of OEM forwards from a forum member. I like the quality of OEM.
the other option you have, is to get a reduced reach seat. That'll pull you forward an inch or so, you might fit the forwards a bit better that way.
I was running mids with highway pegs on my 883/1200L. I found I wanted to keep my feet on the highway pegs all the time, the mids just weren't as comfortable. So I'm switching to forwards.I'm 5'7" btw.
I picked up a set of OEM forwards from a forum member. I like the quality of OEM.
Thanks. With the factory seat on my low I am already sitting on top of the gas tank. I can reach the forwards on my brothers bike with no problem. You are right I did not feel I had the same control over the bike as I do with mids. That is probably because I haven rode with nothing but mids for the last 40 years or more. Old habits are hard to break. It is kind of like getting use to the Harley after riding an inline four for many years. Just doesn't feel the same for sure. I think I will try it with the mids and the hiway pegs for a while and see how that goes. With my knees so high up it is hard to get my feet off the floor board mini pegs fwd controls just might be in my future.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Kelowna, BC
Forward controls
For my 05 XL883L, I just went to Harley and got the forward control kit. I'm 6'1" and 230 lbs. With the mid mounts the bike came with my knees were up pretty close to my ears, lol... The forward controls made the bike fun to ride!
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Im 6', 195lbs. I added forward controls on my iron. But I think I will be swapping back to mids. After riding a bit on the forwards i dont feel like I have as much control on the bike. Roads are kinda rough and sometimes I need to come up off the seat to avoid one, its kinda tough with forwards. No problems with the controls though i can shift/brake no problem.
Plus the forwards shifts my weight, so that I have to sit on my tailbone and causes soreness with stock seat. Once I go back to mids, Ill probably figure out a way to get some highway bars or something to stretch my legs out.
Plus the forwards shifts my weight, so that I have to sit on my tailbone and causes soreness with stock seat. Once I go back to mids, Ill probably figure out a way to get some highway bars or something to stretch my legs out.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 804
Likes: 105
From: Charlotte, NC/Greenville, SC
I found some first class controls at Demon's cycles for under 3 bills. They are big twin controls and I had to fabricate everything I needed to mount them so the design could change a little to extend them past the stock position. I drew the mounting plates on cad and found a small local machine shop who CNC'ed them so now I have the program. The mounting plates could probably be slightly redesigned to extend them. My front end has been rake about 5 deg. To extend them 2" you would need to make sure you would have plenty of room for your feet. In the picture you can see the master cylinder is now up front instead of in the stock Sportster position which is one reason I wanted to change the controls. I had to replaced the brake lines and the brake light switch. The master cylinder is 5/8" which is the same as my '98 had the caliper work fine. On the shifter side I rotated the shift lever 180 deg which puts it pointing upward and I fabricated a new brass rod. The existing exhaust wouldn't clear so I had to build a new exhaust to clear.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
Seat height
Just bought a used sundowner. Has a couple of small nicks along the passenger edge of seat but I got it at a good price. Hope it helps as you right, the stock seat sucks.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 804
Likes: 105
From: Charlotte, NC/Greenville, SC
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Don't have very good pics. They were taken with my iPhone. I will take some with a real camera and post them. I have since relocated my coil by making a small bracket from a piece of 1" steel angle and some simple mods to the upper motor mount.
Don't have very good pics. They were taken with my iPhone. I will take some with a real camera and post them. I have since relocated my coil by making a small bracket from a piece of 1" steel angle and some simple mods to the upper motor mount.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Athens, Greece
Just installed the forward controls and took a first ride......WOW!
This is really much better, don't feel cramped, don't hit my legs on the mids when I park the bike, my wife told me I look better and more like a Harley style.
You were all right!
This is really much better, don't feel cramped, don't hit my legs on the mids when I park the bike, my wife told me I look better and more like a Harley style.
You were all right!