Footboards or pegs?

[T in NC]

If one of the variables between two similar modles you were considering boards or pegs which would you prefer? I haven't road anything with footboard except my 44 Chief and that was 30 years ago.

[rideerr]

Personal preference rules, that being said mine is without a doubt footboards. 

[cpallen]

The floorboards on my EV definitely have taken some getting used to. I think it has to do with the riding position - if it's not pretty upright, it's going to feel more cramped because your feet have to remain pretty much level. This became apparent after I changed the bars from the stock buckhorns to the Stone Touring bars. I modified the rear brake pedal and adjusted the gear shifter and now there is more room to move feet back and forth on the boards.
 
I know that they are not similar models, but my knees on my V11 don't come anywhere near the cylinder heads while on my EV they rest against the pads. I think overall I am more confortable on the V11.

Bottom line, I would probably swap someone my boards for their pegs, but probably would not spend any money to do it as it's not that big an issue.

Sorry I guess this is not much help. YMMV!

[Seagondollar]

Footboards don't seem to fit well with sport bikes.

[fotoguzzi]

I put the boards on my first Bassa thinking it was the most comfy.. 2nd Bassa came w/pegs so I got the whole set up for the swap and never did it.. I've grown to like the pegs fine.

[nilknarf]

 **C I changed to floorboards on my Bassa, and like them much better. They let me move my feet around quite a bit, and if I really need to stretch my legs out I have a set of highway pegs off of a Goldwing that are highly adjustable. That said, it's what everyone else has said in that it's personal preference, and I agree they would look odd on a sport bike.

Ride Safe !

 **C Dave  ;-T

[Sasquatch Jim]

  For a two wheeler , Pegs are best for control.
 For a sidecar rig where scraping them in corners is not a problem, boards offer more comfort in the you can change the position of your feet.

[Rotten Ralph]

  For a two wheeler , Pegs are best for control.
 For a sidecar rig where scraping them in corners is not a problem, boards offer more comfort in the you can change the position of your feet.

 :+1

[spreadeagle]

I too grew up with pegs. Once I tried floor boards, I hope to never go back!

[QCGoose]

Depends on the type of bike and the riding position/ergos.

For bikes that put the rider at a more forward lean, pegs for sure. Otherwise, it definitely comes down to personal preference.

I will say that I absolutely love the footboards on my EV. Even with my big ol' feet (US size 13), I never feel cramped or stuck in one position on those things.

[Sheepdog]

Indeed, it really does depend on the bike.  However, even with my Vintage, it took a while for me to get the setup right. I had to adjust my shifter to allow the toe of my boot to fit underneath, I installed An Advanced brake pedal to create more space on the right side, and I had the seat redone with a 1" higher surface to reduce my knee angle.  These measures combined to make my bike super-comfortable for travel.  It is a luxury to be able to move your feet around on those footboards...I hardly ever get sore knees from keeping my legs in one position too long.  On the other hand, I love my Norman Hyde rearsets on my Bonneville...

[rocketcaptain]

I've got pegs on 3 bikes, boards on the big Rocket.  I prefer the boards, but I'd never put them on the other bikes.  The only drawback to boards (at least the ones I've got), is that you can't get a toe under the shifter...you're locked into heel/toe shifting.  Of course, that could be fixed if you wanted to, and by ditching the heel part of the shifter, you'd have even more room for shuffling your foot around as you ride.

[Tom]

Boards on cruisers.  Pegs on the sporting models.

[Vince in Milwaukee]

Boards on cruisers.  Pegs on the sporting models.

My friend's Cal II had floor boards.  Once you got the hang of it, the bike was an absolute pleasure to ride.  Now, on my LM3, I couldn't imagine having floor boards.  Not only would it look weird, it would defeat the whole purpose. 

[rodekyll]

I have floorboards and like them.  I have a set of rear footpegs conveniently positioned for a more tucked-up posture when I want it.  My trike will definitely have boards.

[T in NC]

Thanks for the input.

[Joliet Jim]

kuryakyn iso wings and extenders, best of both worlds

[Carlo DeSantis]

I tried for a year to get used to the boards on my EV, and just couldn't do it. 

Luckily I was able to find a Bassa owner (Chicago Mark before he was Chicago Mark) who wanted boards as much as I wanted pegs.  We swapped whole lower end frame assemblies and we were both happy with the outcome.

And since I was mucking around anyway, I de-integrated my brakes at about the same time.

I'm still happy with both mods, though I understand that they are not for everyone.  Your mileage WILL vary :)

Carlo

[youcanrunnaked]

For spirited riding, pegs.  For relaxed riding, floorboards.  If you're going to tour and hit some twisties along the way, I'd say either is fine, but personal preference would be for floorboards.

When I got my EV, I thought for sure I would hate the floorboards.  It took me some time to get used to them, but now I like them.  They make long rides and casual rides more comfortable, and, at least on my California, the lean angles and feeling of control through my legs is fine for aggressive cornering.  When I press my knees on the tank and get up on the balls of my feet, it's not too different from cornering with foot pegs.

[cj750]

Not to hijack the thread, but if anyone has stock pegs/foot pedals for a Tonti frame they'd like to get rid of, I'm looking for a set.

Jay

[rideerr]

After reading the replies on here, I got to modify my original preference for footboards.  Best for comfort and long distance crusing.  Strictly sport-biking, I'll agree with pegs.  And of course, plenty of people have ridden long distances with pegs.  I have done it as well and only a minor discomfort compared to the boards.

[QCGoose]

...on my California, the lean angles and feeling of control through my legs is fine for aggressive cornering.  When I press my knees on the tank and get up on the balls of my feet, it's not too different from cornering with foot pegs.

 :+1 Bingo. One of the things I love about the footboards on my EV is that when it comes time to whick it up in the twisties, the footboards do nothing to hinder lean angle or aggressive body positioning when attacking curves. I can get as much lean as I'll ever want on a bike like the EV, and I can position myself/my feet on the boards in a way that has never made me wish they were pegs.

[rocketcaptain]

Floorboards or pegs?...why does it have to be one or the other?  Bikes have two sides, and we have two feet (most of us, anyway), so why not mix it up a little?

I recently decided that I was getting too old and set in my ways, so I decided to get with the times and explore some alternate lifestyles.  I decided to leave my wife and moved in with Malcolm, an interior designer.  Malcolm had no interest at all in my motorcycle, but I begged him to go for a ride.  Now, I was used to my ex-wife riding pillion, and she was damn good at it...she knew when we got to the twisties that it was time to put her helmet right between my shoulder blades, and maintain an exact lean with me.  But Malcolm had no clue.  About a half block down the road, I knew something was wrong and discovered Malcolm was sitting side saddle.  This led to big dramatic tiff and Malcolm said the only way he would go riding again was if I would let him do some designing to the bike.
He replaced the seat with one fashioned like an old timey love seat, with an "S" shaped back rest that runs from the front to rear.  He covered it with a floral damask fabric.  Rather than pegs or boards, we now had needlepoint footcushions, with mine mounted on the left, and his on the right.  The footcushions have a gold lame banding around the bottom edge, and doilies cleverly secured atop the needlepoint.  Braking and gear selection are now a fun thing we do together.
Malcolm says to ask if anybody would be interested in having him come up with ideas for your bike?

[Mike A.]

If you ride in Cold WX, then floorboards are the only smart way to go. I'm a believer...

[T in NC]

If you ride in Cold WX, then floorboards are the only smart way to go. I'm a believer...

Just get back from the ABC Store Capt'n? :BEER:

[rocketcaptain]

Just get back from the ABC Store Capt'n? :BEER:

Not the ABC store...Oleen's Lounge on South Blvd.  Remember that place from way back when?

[Kev m]

I LOVED the floorboards on my RK - it was right for the bike.

But I prefer pegs on MOST other bikes.

That said, part of the reason I think I liked the RK boards was the configuration was smart. The heel and toe shifters were separate pieces, both mounted on splines at the pivot points using a set-screw. As such one could remove the heel, and reposition the toe as necessary to allow easy up or down shifts with the front of your foot.

 ;-T

[keithl]

Floorboards or pegs?...why does it have to be one or the other?  Bikes have two sides, and we have two feet (most of us, anyway), so why not mix it up a little?

I recently decided that I was getting too old and set in my ways, so I decided to get with the times and explore some alternate lifestyles.  I decided to leave my wife and moved in with Malcolm, an interior designer.  Malcolm had no interest at all in my motorcycle, but I begged him to go for a ride.  Now, I was used to my ex-wife riding pillion, and she was damn good at it...she knew when we got to the twisties that it was time to put her helmet right between my shoulder blades, and maintain an exact lean with me.  But Malcolm had no clue.  About a half block down the road, I knew something was wrong and discovered Malcolm was sitting side saddle.  This led to big dramatic tiff and Malcolm said the only way he would go riding again was if I would let him do some designing to the bike.
He replaced the seat with one fashioned like an old timey love seat, with an "S" shaped back rest that runs from the front to rear.  He covered it with a floral damask fabric.  Rather than pegs or boards, we now had needlepoint footcushions, with mine mounted on the left, and his on the right.  The footcushions have a gold lame banding around the bottom edge, and doilies cleverly secured atop the needlepoint.  Braking and gear selection are now a fun thing we do together.
Malcolm says to ask if anybody would be interested in having him come up with ideas for your bike?

Clever.

[myway]

touring all day floorboards without a doubt..don't like my feet on a peg all day..Dan

[hidn45]

Even though I've only ridden it a couple times, I can't see myself ever getting comfortable with the boards on our "new" Cali II.  One reason (but not the only one) is that my right toe is not over the brake pedal.  Yes, I probably could get used to moving to the pedal, & no, I don't keep my foot over the brake when I'm driving, but I just can't bring myself to want to get used to 'boards. 

Obviously, if I can't find a set of footpeg bits to change it over I'll have to learn to live with it.  So, I'm in line, too, if someone should have [another] set of peg rails & parts for our Cali.  I'm up for a trade, if anyone would be interested.  Oh, & we're still hoping to go the other way ('boards) for the little woman....

randy