I know... A noob question.. I guess I haven't figured out what defines a bike with forward vs mid controls... I'm looking at possibly getting a bike soon, and being short with a 30" inseam, I'm worried I won't fit some of my options... Here's a pic of my friends bike, does he have forward or mid controls:



It's a 2001 Yamaha V-star 650 Classic... I don't know if he's modded it at all. I'd ask him but I'd look like an idiot... lol

 

Floorboards which are not exactly forwards, but they are in front of you. Not mids. Softails don't come with Mids. FLST softails all have "forwards"

Drew

 

Those are forward controls.

With a 30" inseam, forwards will fit you just fine. I know as I have a 30" inseam.

 

I'd say that's about midway between the two. "Forwards" mean your feet are stretched out, generally to the frame downtubes. Mid controls generally put your feet right under your ***.

 

That bike is a Yamaha V-star 650 Classic with floorboards in the stock location. It only came with floorboards after 1999. The V-star 650 Custom, which is the same bike with different fenders, came with pegs. Based on where the floorboards/pegs mount to the frame they would be considered "forward controls."

The best way to see the difference between "mids" and "forwards" is to look at a stock H-D Super Glide or Super Glide Custom (FXD or FXDC) and compare that to a stock Wide Glide (FXDWG). The FXD and FXDC come stock with mids, and the FXDWG comes stock with forward controls. The same is true if you compare a stock Sportster Low (883 or 1200), which has mids, to a stock Sportster Custom (883 or 1200), which has forwards.

I have forward controls on my FXD and with a 34" inseam I wish they pegs were about 2" farther forward. Mids were horribly uncomfortable for me. The best thing to do is ride a bike with forwards and one with mids to see what you like.

 

I have a 30 inch inseam also and have forward controls on my Dyna . I reach them fine , you'll have no problem .

 

Who cares?!

Get some pics of that Viper in the background..!!

 

Put me down as another with a 30" inseam who loves his forwards. I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Sit on the bike and decide. V-Stars forwards are nothing like Harley forward controls. I could reach my XLC1200's forwards and V-Star forwards without any problems and with bent knees.

For the life of me, I can't reach Dyna forwards at all hence why I bought a FXDB.

Every bike is different, at least sit on it before you commit the cash.

 

Definitely ride it not just sit on it . Sat an a fat bob felt great, but when I rode it for 15 miles , I was definitely uncomfortable. Wide Glide forwards also but felt great during the ride.