Everyone who bought factory forward controls for a 04-06 Sportster should be given new mounts and new rods that put them back where they were prior to 04.
The current setup should be renamed 3/4 forward controls or reach forwards.

How about girl's bike controls, to go with the post 03 brakes, grips, seat and springs. I'm turning mine back into a guy's bike.

While sitting on my first rubbermount in the showroom I asked to sit on one with forward controls. I was then told that I was sitting on a bike with forwards. Wow, they are close.

I was hoping a decent fix to extend the forwards on the 04+ would have been out by now.
Still waiting....:(

Everyone who bought factory forward controls for a 04-06 Sportster should be given new mounts and new rods that put them back where they were prior to 04.
Why? They seem to fit me perfectly, and put my feet forward as intended.
Maybe you're too tall and should amputate your legs mid-calf? :dunno



How about girl's bike controls, to go with the post 03 brakes, grips, seat and springs. I'm turning mine back into a guy's bike.
Why turn it into a guy's bike? You won't be able to ride it anymore... :smackh





It amazes me that people actually spend money on purchasing machines that they don't even like.

Everyone who bought factory forward controls for a 04-06 Sportster should be given new mounts and new rods that put them back where they were prior to 04.I like them just where they are.

It amazes me that people actually spend money on purchasing machines that they don't even like.Me too. :rolleyes:

When I bought my bike it had mids so I couldn't try them out. I know, I could have sat on a bike with forwards but I already rode a buddy's pre-04 bike with forwards so I didn't think much about it. After installing my forwards I was surprised that they weren't as forward as I anticipated. I don't have a problem with 3/4 forwards being out there just TELL ME they are 3/4 so I can make a decision. Harley put them out as if nothing changed and didn't say anything.
Now I'm faced with changing my controls once again because my current setup wasn't what it was supposed to be.
Believe me, I feel for the people who are of short stature too and I have a friend who is short and going through the opposite problem so we are modding his bike for his height. Wouldn't you be pissed if you paid for a reach seat and it made very little difference?

I need mine right where they are at. If not I need to go back to mids.

When I bought my bike it had mids so I couldn't try them out. I know, I could have sat on a bike with forwards but I already rode a buddy's pre-04 bike with forwards so I didn't think much about it. After installing my forwards I was surprised that they weren't as forward as I anticipated. I don't have a problem with 3/4 forwards being out there just TELL ME they are 3/4 so I can make a decision. Harley put them out as if nothing changed and didn't say anything.
Now I'm faced with changing my controls once again because my current setup wasn't what it was supposed to be.
Believe me, I feel for the people who are of short stature too and I have a friend who is short and going through the opposite problem so we are modding his bike for his height. Wouldn't you be pissed if you paid for a reach seat and it made very little difference?

Your post is an admission that you didn't do your homework first and made assumptions as to how something would fit/work. I hardly think its fair to expect HD to hold your hand and point out every minute difference between pre-04's and the rubbermounts. That forward control setup has been out for FIVE YEARS now. That'd be like me riding my friend's ironhead and expecting my 01 1200S to be the same.

I really find it amusing how people post about how they feel HD should have designed their bike with X instead of Y- as if they're going to make 1000's of different models to suite every rider. If you don't like how something fits- make it fit. If you don't have the metal working ability (I know I don't), find someone who does.

Cheers,

Luke

P.S. Who rides w/ forwards anyway? It is a sportster after all:)

.......... I know, I could have sat on a bike with forwards but I already rode a buddy's pre-04 bike with forwards ..................... ...Wouldn't you be pissed if you paid for a reach seat and it made very little difference?


I think we must all really do our homework before buying after-market parts, even parts from HD. Go to see the parts at the sellers (if you can), phone the dealer and ask questions and look for pictures of the part mounted on bikes on the web. The '03 and '04 are different frames, Jimmyess you made an assumption about the part fitting different models the same way and it didn't work out right. You should at least accept some of the heat, don't you think?

Koot

That forward control setup has been out for FIVE YEARS now.
04-06 is only 2 years, maybe 3 if you count the fall of 03. I bought the controls shortly after buying the bike.
Nonetheless, accepting the heat is all there's left to do. Changing the seat, moving the controls, I'll get it right. Sometimes ya gotta vent.
Thank goodness I found this forum though. Now it's easier to keep up on these things.:doh

Everyone knows that real motorcycles have mids anyway. ;)

I bought my 06 XL1200C with the standard equiped "Forward Controls". I was not even aware of pre 03 models having further forward "Forward Controls". If they were much futher away, I would not fit them comfortably and would have had to have chosen a different model or changed to mids. The foot pegs are situated perfectly for me and my 30" inseam.:smoke

I was hoping they would eventually make kits for for the 04-06 Sportsters like they do for Dynas:
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i50/jimmyess333/forwardkit.jpg
... but they never materialized.
Actually, I'd prefer new mounts over the plates but if the plates worked jut as good, that's fine.
I'm quite surprised they don't make revised mounts, I've seen chrome replacement mounts.
I contacted a few of the manufacturers but none of them seemed to show interest in the Sportster.

My forwards fit me just fine. I put an after market set on the 97 I had and they were in the same position and fit me just fine. I haven't sat on a 04-05 and didn't know there was a difference.

Everyone knows that real motorcycles have mids anyway. ;)

But real choppers use forwards!

KongBastard

04-06 is only 2 years, maybe 3 if you count the fall of 03. I bought the controls shortly after buying the bike.
Nonetheless, accepting the heat is all there's left to do. Changing the seat, moving the controls, I'll get it right. Sometimes ya gotta vent.
Thank goodness I found this forum though. Now it's easier to keep up on these things.:doh

WOW. 2004, 2005, 2006= THREE YEARS. Even if you math was correct on that, you're still wrong. The 2007's and new 2008's use the rubbermount frame/motor setup so any differnces in the placement of the controls would be negligible- most likely just mounting points if any difference at all. I don't see how adding EFI would change the foot controls.

Anyway: 04,05,06,07,08= 5 model years

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=39020&highlight=forward+control+extension

WOW. 2004, 2005, 2006= THREE YEARS. Even if you math was correct on that, you're still wrong. The 2007's and new 2008's use the rubbermount frame/motor setup so any differnces in the placement of the controls would be negligible- most likely just mounting points if any difference at all. I don't see how adding EFI would change the foot controls.

Anyway: 04,05,06,07,08= 5 model years

I bought and installed the controls in 06 so 07 and 08 had no bearing on the situation. Those years were in the FUTURE. So I stand firm on my math, thank you.

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=39020&highlight=forward+control+extension

THAT'S what I'm talking about!
Is he making any more?

(Never settle for less than you want)

But real choppers use forwards!

KongBastard


Forward controls on a Sportster is like lipstick on a pig. :p

Were the J&P ones, that I posted a link to a way back, any good for you?

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=39020 (http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=39020&highlight=forward+control+extension)
THAT'S what I'm talking about!
Is he making any more?

(Never settle for less than you want)Could you make them yourself? It looks doable.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f262/paulie420/100_1286.jpg

Note what Paulie says about the exhaust. That's why J&P say that on theirs the brake pedal can't be moved forward.

OK, here's the thing: Every body is calling in to the XLF about how this is too long, or this is too short, or you're a girl, but I'm not, and so on.
Maybe the real issue here is that the manufacturers should be building in some adustability to suit a range of physique. We all seem to realise the importance of ergonomics, yet any given model is designed for a rider of "average" proportions. It's a 'one size fits all' philosophy and, if we don't happen to fit our bikes correctly, they want us to spend more of our hard earned money on aftermarket devices to suit. Give me a break!

That makes about as much sense as a shoe manufacturer that makes only one size shoe.
"Here are your new shoes, sir. Size 9. What? Too big? No problem. For another $150 we'll supply you with these inserts.
Oh, too small?! Well, that's still OK--for $200 we'll set you up with our new Official Harley-Davidson 'Foot Shortening Kit'! See, you just take this here cheeze grater and shave a bit off your heels and toes. Now you can try this at home, but we recommend you stop in and have our certified tech persons do the job." :yikes

But seriously folks-- Seems to me all MoCo would need to do is design a way to move the contact points around just a bit, say 1"-2" to fit all but the most extreme cases. Grips, seat height and fore and aft, both pilot's and passengers pegs. Now that may add a bit to the price tag of the bike, and the company would lose revenue from decreases in accessory sales....
Hey... you don't suppose.... :smackh :angry

If they were much futher away, I would not fit them comfortably and would have had to have chosen a different model or changed to mids. The foot pegs are situated perfectly for me and my 30" inseam.:smokeMe too. In fact my Mustang seat, which sits you a bit higher and maybe a bit futher back, made it a bit more of a reach than I'd like to the pegs. Something I'm aiming to recify with a lower seat.

Were the J&P ones, that I posted a link to a way back, any good for you?

Thanks Folkie, I DO appreciate that and it IS a solution. I'm just weighing the other options as well.
So far it looks like the +2 setup you sent me info on, combined with a different seat should work.
The +4's look real nice but as Paulie 420 mentioned, I would have to change my exhaust which I'm on the fence about since I'm very happy with the exhaust I have.
I'm just thinking about it carefully since I only want to do this once..more.

I appreciate the input everyone has given on the matter.
Thank You