The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Attorney

Improve Your Bikes Comfort with Forward Controls or Floorboards
October 9, 2009

Motorcycles are great fun but sometimes motorcycles are not as comfortable as most avid bikers would like. Unlike a car with adjustable seats and steering wheels, motorcycles are fairly basic. For the most part, motorcycles are made in one size and the biker has to adjust to the bike.

There are aftermarket parts to make motorcycles more comfortable and two of the best are Floorboards and Forward Controls. Both accessories help the biker gain comfort by alleviating pressure on the feet and giving more leg room. These are especially great attributes for taller riders.

Comfort on a motorcycle is very important for rider enjoyment and safety. Motorcycles that are not comfortable make riding a hassle. Much like a tall person in a very small car, too little leg room makes the car ride miserable. Motorcycles that are comfortable and size appropriate for the rider also adds to biker confidence and control. It’s much easier to control a motorcycle that works together with the biker’s size.

Floorboards are flat panels large enough for a biker to place his feet on them like they were on the ground. These boards take pressure off the feet that would normally rest on a peg; which can sometimes cause foot irritation. Also, floorboards allow the legs to rest because they allow the rider to relax their legs. Coupled with a heel/toe shifter, floorboards make a motorcycle as close to an armchair as possible.

Forward controls are particularly great for taller riders. Forward controls move the foot brake and the shifter forward 4-6 inches allowing the rider to extend his legs forward in a more relaxed position. While forward controls have pegs for foot rests, extending the legs can be great comfort to tall riders.

Floorboards and forward controls are both fairly expensive motorcycle accessories and can cost as much as $500-700 installed. It’s important to consider the fit of the bike you want before purchasing so you can factor in the cost of accessories to make the bike as comfortable as possible.

Motorcycle comfort is all about feel. There is no exact science to what makes a bike comfortable other than the preference of the rider. Both floorboard and forward controls require adjustments from the traditional riding positions which can make the ride of a motorcycle seem awkward at first. If possible, test ride a bike with forward controls or floorboards to determine if they are right for you.