Touring bikes are the pinnacle of comfort. They welcome riders with wide, plush armchair-like seats, a relaxed riding position, and all the additions that make long hauls on highways an absolute pleasure. Though newcomers to the category are trying to break ground, staples like the Harley Davidson Touring range, including the Road King, Road and Street Glide, the Ultra Limited, and the visually appealing CVO bikes are the traditional choices for most riders.
These bikes won’t put out monstrous horsepower figures or have ridiculously fast straight-line top speeds but are tuned for effortless touring with all the low-down pulling power you’ll need. They’re meant for highway cruising and straight stretches of roads, for hours on end. The ultimate aim is comfort and no signs of rider fatigue.
Harleys are known for countless customisation options, with more parts available than any other bike brand. Riders can give their bikes a personal touch and change anything that’s not to their liking. The big tourers have the geometry and space that inherently put riders in a more natural posture. No arched backs, or chins scraping gas tanks. Instead, arms are relaxed, and legs are slightly forward and resting on mid-controls. Still, if this causes cramps or soreness, it’s easy to make some changes.
Mid vs. Forward Controls
Bigger bikes benefit from being able to position the levers that control the clutch and rear brake for a more relaxing and natural stance. Stock tourers and some adventure bikes have these in the ‘normal’ or mid position and are suited to most riders and riding styles. The knees are slightly bent, and the feet are in line with the shoulders. Riders sit square in the middle of the bike. This posture will undoubtedly be more comfortable than the forward and cowered position on small sports bikes. And this relieves bikers of pains and strains in longer rides, something tourers do without fault.
To get even comfier, there are Harley Davidson forward controls that move the levers forward. A forward control kit moves the clutch and brake levers and footrests several inches to the front of the bike, so the legs are more stretched out. And this changes the rider’s posture, bringing the body slightly forward. There’s less bend in the knees, less strain in the arms, and the back is eased out of the upright posture as with the mids.
Installing Forward Controls
Harley riders can remove stock mids and have complete forward control kits installed relatively easily. The parts include extensions and linkages with new pedals and levers that are simply bolted in place to the original footpeg mounts. And, generally, no other adjustments are needed (master cylinders stay in place) or parts changed out.
Finding what suits your bike and you as a rider is also simple. Kits are sold in different sizes, and riders with longer legs and inseams can finally get comfy on longer rides. And since there’s a lot to choose from for Harleys, you’ll find forward control conversion kits specifically built for your bike. These can be OEM kits from Harley Davidson, or aftermarket kits supplied from trusted brands.
There’s also a choice of materials and finishes that adhere to the high standards of the Harley brand. Parts are high-quality billet aluminium or laser-cut stainless steel and can come in satin black or chrome plating to suit the bike and different rider tastes.
If you’re not comfortable with changing the kit while the motorcycle is on the ground, you can use a jack for Harley Davidson to lift it up. This will ensure that the process moves smoothly.
What You Get with Forward Controls
In short, better all-around comfort and improved bike looks. With legs further forward, there’ll be less cramping on longer rides. This removes rider fatigue from the equation, so also ups safety.
Stock mid controls have the levers and pedals just below the hips. This is good on shorter rides where there’ll be more shifting and braking, and regular changes to body position on the bike when sifting through traffic. On highways and regular speeds, though, you’ll want the comfiest riding position possible. With legs stretched out, and no awkward bending. This helps all riders, particularly anyone with bad knees, or riders over 6 feet. There’ll be no lower back pain or stiffness in the legs. What’s of note is that gear changes and brakes aren’t affected and you still have complete control over the bike.
The reclined position of the rider and bike also helps with aesthetics. Relaxed riding is what tourers are all about, and Harley Davidson does this best. With forward controls, there’s the old-school vibe harking back to the legendary cruiser bikes of the 1960s and 70s. You’ll be getting nods of approval from fellow riders sooner than you thought.
Increasing Comfort Levels Further
Riders that install Harley Davidson forward controls also have the choice of other mods that make riding that extra bit comfier. Here simple changes to the stock seats or adding a little warmth to the wrists with heated grips go a long way in rider enjoyment over longer distances.
Touring Seats
Touring seats from Harley Davidson come in a few variants. Consider the deep bucket designs and a generous amount of padding in the Sundowner seats that help with lower back support on more distant rides. Optioned in smooth black leather, these can be solo seats or extend into a wider pillion seat for better passenger comfort.
Harley’s patented Hammock seats, with internal suspension, smooth out road imperfections and are something to consider on Britain’s pot-hole-ridden backroads. These can also be optioned with heating for colder months.
Another touring-specific seat design is the Road Zeppelin, with adjustable air bladders, essentially able to inflate or deflate particular areas to remove pressure points and ‘hot spots’ and get the blood circulating. No numbness to the backside, or discomfort on long hauls. Additionally, the seat can be fitted with a backrest for riders and a passenger rail grab.
Heated Grips
Combine forward controls, your choice of touring seats, and the simple functionality of heated grips, and you’re ready for any ride. Most newer tourers will have these as standard, but if your bike is missing out, heated grip kits are available for all Harleys.
Better variants have several temperature settings, fit stock handlebars in terms of diameters and throttle and clutch controls, and even have vibration dampening for rougher roads. They don’t look out of place either. Clean, metal finishes in black or chrome go well with the rest of the bike.
Final Word
Comfort additions for Harley bikes are widely available. Most are also quick and easy to install with basic bike tools. The options listed here are on the more affordable side of the pricing range, but the comfort changes they offer from stock will see you riding more. Regardless of weather or the length of the journey.
