Though I love my 97 Magna, Im 6'0" tall, and it got a little cramped on trips. I already had highway pegs, but I wanted forward controls. So I found these through Biker.com.
Description: Forward Control Kit with FOLDING FOOTPEGS
Part #: HM2041PVF7
Fits: Honda VF750C 94'up
Features:
New line of forward controls from the well-known brand "Restyling", perfectly chromed with billet aluminum folding foot pegs. Includes all necessary mounting hardware for a perfect fit and a quick installation. Exclusive design and studied finishes. Matching passenger foot pegs are available (part no. HM1033G).
These are just 220 bucks. Lots cheaper than Jardines, somewhat cheaper than Highway Hawk brand. So I ordered a set. I was a little concerned about quality, but not when I took them out of the box. This is first-rate equipment! Heavy chrome on the steel mounting plate, stainless steel control rods and heavy aluminum foot pegs. Lots better than the Honda controls that came stock on the bike!
They're Italian, sold in Spain. The shipping is a little steep, $40 UPS. No tax.
I ordered them Tuesday morning, and by Friday noon I had them on the bike. I tried to order them Monday, but when that out-of-the-country charge hit my Mastercard, it locked it right up. Some kind of security thing. It took me all day to figure out what happened, clear the card and get them paid through PayPal. Total $257.28 delivered to my door.
Ive been riding them around all afternoon, and they're everything I could wish for. The round pegs are a little more slippery, but I really like the way I can rock my foot up and back to shift, instead of the toe flipping action the old controls required. So I wouldn't change the type of peg if I could. It makes it easier to shift, and I can better nail second gear, instead of raking second gear like I did with the old Honda controls. The old controls are going up for sale, cause I'm never going back to them.
The kit came complete, but with no instructions. They can only go on one way, though.
But here are a couple of tips:
One pair of longer bolts didn't come with the kit. On my bike, someone had replaced one pair of motor mount bolts with foot pegs and threaded (SAE) rods. I think I was supposed to reuse the front motor mount bolts in the rear holes, and put the new longer bolts in the front holes. In any case, you'll need FOUR longer bolts. TWO come with the kit. I wound up making a couple of long bolts with some old head bolts and a welder. Other than that the kit was absolutely complete, and I suspect the discrepancy was my fault.
Installing the new brake linkage. It will seem like the new linkage is going to be about an inch short. It's not. Halfway back to the rear wheel is a lever on a pivot that connects the front linkage to the rear linkage. Just take it off, and turn it about 15° toward the front to give all the linkage you'll need. NOTE: To get this little lever off of its splined shaft, take the bolt all the way out. The bolt rides in a groove, and the lever won't come off unless you take the bolt all the way out.
Other than that, its just turning wrenches.
Yeah, the shadows getting pretty long so maybe it was later than noon. I was just counting off the time I spent messing with the bolt.
Finished! Time to go for a ride!
P.S.
P.P.S.
We received the following tip from Joe Weese after this page was posted:
I have had a machine shop make a new part for these controls since mine broke. The shift lever that they send with the unit is a short piece that screws into the existing shift lever on the bike. Mine broke at this joint. Therefore the new one is also ⅜" stainless steel but is the full length required to replace the two shorter pieces. This is an exact replacement for a Magna.
