Hey guys... we just picked up a 97 sporty 883 for the wife... it currently has fwd controls on it but shes to short for them. is there an easy way to switch them back to mid controls? Are there kits? or part numbers? can I modify the fwd. controls? Thanks!

 

wife has 2008 low with mids if instered in trade pm me

 

Your 08 bike has a totally different frame than the 2003 and earlier Sporties, the controls are not interchangeable.

 

Yeah I didnt think so.... thanks!

 

yea i had a brainfart

 

You need different peg brackets, shift lever, brake rod, and maybe brake pedal. I changed forward to mid on my '00 883, lot of wrenching. Because of the crossover, have to pull the whole exhaust, can't just take off the rear pipe. Have to do that to get the front drive sprocket cover off to get to the nut on the back of the bolt that goes through. Have to move the master cylinder a bit, but I was able to do that without disconnecting it. Left side is easy. If you do it, I'd recommend putting new exhaust gaskets when you put the pipes back on. That bolt through the sprocket cover - even though it has a cotter pin through the nut, use plenty of blue locktite; if it comes loose just a little, the peg will rotate. I left the forward mount on, use it for highway pegs; took the shift/brake levers off.

It'll not only fit your wife better, but give her way better balance, too. Will handle like a different bike - in a good way.

The left side is a simple bolt on.



Not so simple right side. Poor design in my opinion, and a pita having a nut on the back of that cover for the peg stud. Don't put the cotter pin in the pin holding the rod to the brake lever till you're sure you've got it in the right position, can be difficult to pull out sometimes.



At first I thought I could get the cover off without removing the exhaust, but wasn't able to. You can see it's a tight fit.



Don't have the part numbers handy, but you'll need a shift lever, brake lever (one on my forwards wouldn't fit the mid mount, maybe yours does), shorter brake rod, brake clevis/stud (holds the brake pedal and foot peg) and left peg bracket. A lot of times these are takeoffs on ebay. If you don't have a torque wrench or two, I'd really advise getting them, a lot less grief than stripping one of those small cover bolts or the peg bracket bolts that thread into aluminum. I'd use blue locktite on everything but the manifold nuts - those get so hot the locktite would be too soft to hold anyway; I use anti seize on those. The torca clamps clamping the mufflers to the pipes are 45-65 ft lbs torque in my manual; I had one snap around 50 ft lbs, so I don't go over 45 ft lbs; that's plenty tight anyway.

It's just wrenching, takes some patience getting to that cover, and hopefully your exhaust nuts aren't rusted on (a WD40 soaking the night before won't hurt), but there's no great skill required. Even if you pull the forward mount, I'd hang onto it, could be a selling point if you ever find a rubber mounted sporty you feel a need for - those solid mounts at highway speeds tingle after a while. Good luck.

 

Awesome write up.. thanks!!

 

Forward controls tend to be more in demand than mids. It might be a good idea to start a new thread titled "Anyone want to swap forward controls for mids".

Just a thought.

 

Did that.. Hope I get some responses... Thanks!

 

Is it only because she’s too short or does she just like mid controls better? The only reason I ask is because maybe a reduced reach seat might help. I think you can get one that sits you forward 3 inches if that would help.