Motorcycle forward controls are an aftermarket addition to your motorcycle. Most often seen on cruisers, these items replace the motorcycle’s standard shifter and rear brake lever with versions located in a forward position. The choice to install forward controls is sometimes a matter of aesthetics, but can also enhance long-distance riding by allowing the leg to stretch out.
Forward controls place the foot controls at the front of the bike. The distance between foot peg and controls is the same: Only the position alters. The primary benefit is that there is less stiffness from the unnatural position. For the rider who does not quite fit a bike, forward controls may be one way of improving that fit. Certainly, the ergonomics change and some riders may find that the new position is an improvement.
Forward Controls Alter the Ergonomics of a Motorcycle
The regular motorcycle riding position is one where the feet are located beneath the hips. The knees are bent and the position may become cramped. If the leg can stretch out, there is more leeway for “wiggling” out a cramp.
On a typical motorcycle, the rider’s feet are positioned beneath the hips, with knees bent. Forward controls move the foot controls to the front of the bike, allowing a rider to shift and brake with legs outstretched. The distance between the foot peg and the controls is preserved.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Motorcycle Forward Controls
Getting used to forward controls can take some time. The riding position changes the center of balance and requires re-training in the controls. On standard controls, shifting and braking is done with an up-down motion. With forward controls, the movement is more of a push-pull action. It also becomes impossible to stand up on the pegs.
A common compromise is to install highway pegs. These bolt to the motorcycle’s front frame and allow the rider to stretch out his or her legs on long highway runs while still having the option of shifting normally and standing on the pegs. There is a learning curve for the switch between an extended or a regular riding position, but this option does somewhat offer the best of both worlds. Highway pegs are also quite inexpensive, at least when compared to forward control kits.
Obtaining and Installing Motorcycle Forward Controls.
The rider has a choice of installing forward controls himself, or to have them added manually. She purchases a kit from a vendor such as JC Whitney or JP Cycles, and does the work himself. The task requires some mechanical skill and can take from two to six hours.
A kit, tailored to a specific motorcycle model, consists of extensions to the shifter level and rear brake. These bolt onto the original foot-peg mount, then the stock shifter and rear brake are replaced with the extended versions.
