Forward controls nightmare !!! and I'm sick of it !!!

[gruss]

"HERD"
I was an inch away from picking up a set of extended forward controls for the sporty. I'm 73 inches tall, and all of you can picture how my seating position is without forwards. (highway bar excluded)(and now removed because I hate the damn thing)...

I was 10 minutes away from the buy, and decided to ask the seller a little more info. He took some measurements for me, and needless to say the extended forwards are gaining a "fair" amount of length from the seated position, but not near enough to get the job done.

The sale fell through, and he was very understanding...

I'm too tall for the extended forward controls on either a dyna, or sporty, and I'm gonna venture way out there to you fabricator types for some serious advice.

I work in a fabrication shop, and can bend, fit, weld, cut and destroy just about anything I want to.

Is it a doable thing to create a set of custom forward controls, using the existing hardware perches, and re-locating them on the sporty ??
I can lengthen the rods and such very easily.

The mount point will be the bottom section of the down tubes where the highway bar was bolted on...By creating a new bracket assembly, I can mount the factory hardware to the new bracket system, and miss the exhaust..( I think ) those babies will be stretched out roughly 38 inches from the seat position, diagonal to the lower down tube mount plate..

After careful examination laying on my back for 2 hours on the garage floor, I honestly think it is, and I'm willing to create a unique set of forward controls just for me....

If anyone has done this over the years, or has knowledge of this type of fabrication, please reply to this thread...( and If you dont, reply anyway..)

I'm not worried about a chrome finish (yet) as I can chrome it later, but need to create a workable, and durable solution...(no, I'm not buying another bike cause thats cheating)...

Your thoughts ?????...........g

[Ironhead]

can be done, it's done all the time. maybe you could also look at the approach a little differently, use the extended forwards, then maybe a different seat that moves your body back a couple inches. you also have to worry about if the extended controlls are too far forward, will it interfere with cornering, or just your front wheel turning?

[Unimoose]

Gruss; I'm 72" and my inseam is about 36". I put 2" forwards on my old WG and had my seat redone to move me back 1". It wasn't great but it was much much better. Lastly I put Kury swingwing pegs on the bike and could actually put my legs out straight. The new WG I have has the Kury 3" extended forwards on it and with the stock seat it's more comfortable than the 2" extensions. Next up is a Danny Gray seat that should move me back just a bit as well.

[gruss]

can be done, it's done all the time. maybe you could also look at the approach a little differently, use the extended forwards, then maybe a different seat that moves your body back a couple inches. you also have to worry about if the extended controlls are too far forward, will it interfere with cornering, or just your front wheel turning?

Cant do much with the seat, the bike is a two up system, so the seat position has gotta stay the same. I did consider the turning radius, and with the narrow fork setup, I should clear (If I do it right)...LOL

[gruss]

Gruss; I'm 72" and my inseam is about 36". I put 2" forwards on my old WG and had my seat redone to move me back 1". It wasn't great but it was much much better. Lastly I put Kury swingwing pegs on the bike and could actually put my legs out straight. The new WG I have has the Kury 3" extended forwards on it and with the stock seat it's more comfortable than the 2" extensions. Next up is a Danny Gray seat that should move me back just a bit as well.

Being tall sucks doesnt it ?
Every time I try to get back further I cant, and then the leg aches start.....I'm gonna do whatever it takes to correct this nightmare position....

[Unimoose]

Being tall sucks doesnt it ?
Every time I try to get back further I cant, and then the leg aches start.....I'm gonna do whatever it takes to correct this nightmare position....

It does but the 3" made a world of difference as did moving the bars forward. When I first took my new bike out for a test ride they had heel rests on it, I felt like I was on my old Virago I was so cramped up. Then I went to try to shift and the heel rest kept me from being able to lift my foot enough to get it out of first! Needless to say those are G-O-N-E.

[gruss]

I'm going to do some heavy measuring over the weekend, and come up with a plan to build....Its gonna take a bit of time to do, but the results should pay off...

[autotec]

gruss, I've been trying to figure this out on my Softail for the last year or so. I'm 78" tall with a size 16 shoe, so all of the controls are in the wrong place for me. They just don't build bike/cars for people our size.

[Crocodile56]

The only problem your going to have is the front pipe gets in the way.......at least everytime I've done Forward controls, just take your time, measure twice and cut and weld once! Take pic's and post em!

[yochanon]

Try http://meancitycycles.com/ and I bet they can modify your seat to get you another inch or two back, even if it is a two-up seat. From all I've read and heard, these guys can work miracles on seats and are very reasonable on the prices. Can't hurt nothin' to call them up and ask.

[Unimoose]

Try http://meancitycycles.com/ and I bet they can modify your seat to get you another inch or two back, even if it is a two-up seat. From all I've read and heard, these guys can work miracles on seats and are very reasonable on the prices. Can't hurt nothin' to call them up and ask.

They redid my seat, worked great and wasn't a bad price either

[vlade]

Hell!!! stretch the bike Gruss. Then you wont have to worry bout yur feet gettin caught in the front wheel spokes.

[Blackdog 15]

Greg, I'm 72 " with a 34 " inseam....have 3" forwards on the Bagger Train...works well for me.....anything is possible....fabrication wise.....

[Dixiecrat]

Gruss you said highway bars are out. Take a look at Geespots bike and look at the mustase bar, itll move move your feet forward 5inches futher than a highway bar and looks damn good, I have them on my bike and love em. you can also get forward extendion for the mustace bat that ll put your feet almost as far out as the tire.

[Dan]