imported post

I have pegs on my GL1100, but my husband's GL1100 came with floorboards. We both hated the boards. We got rid of them fast. I prefer pegs because I can get my feet closer to the bike to manuever it back and forth and so on. This subject has been discussed often on this forum, but I'm sure you will get some great responses too.

Jen :waving:

 

imported post

All of the negative things you mention are why I do not like floor boards on a bike.

Also, I just do not feel like I have as much control over the bike with the floor boards. Things are in the "wrong place", ie foot position relative to the controls.

I tried it, don't like it. JMHO

 

imported post

1800 wing ,floorboards all the way ... 1500 wing ..forget them stick to pegs ..

It has to do with the ride height ,the 1800 are a much lower bike and the type of boards and heel toe shifter for them are excellent ,but the 1500 I found dangerous to ride in traffic with boards and heel toe shifter ,, Ciaran

 

imported post

I think floor boards are a nice idea in theory, but generally are not so good in practice.I had them on my 1100 and would have changed them out if I had kept the bike long enough to be bothered. They were razor sharp on the edge and cut my ankles more than once and they grounded way sooner than I have found pegs do on a Wing. I had pegs on the 1500 and was pleased I did. The 1500 pegs are quite broad and well positioned and since you have cruiser pegs, for stretching out, I would be inclined to go for pegs.

Either way,you should be able to sell the ones you prefer least, so you should buy pegs and standard shifter to see which you like best.

 

imported post

I really like my floorboards........but they are on an 1800. To me they are great, and I do have smaller feet size 9. I use them in conjunction with some highway pegs that have a heel rest and have the heel rest set at the same height as the boards, I can actually have my heel on the floorboard and my toe on the heel rest of the highway peg, and can shift my feet around to many different positions.

Kit

I think a lot of folks have problems with getting used to a wing. I know I did. I came off other bikes that have a lot of foot and leg room. I am quite used to it now but it did take a bit of time to adapt to the controls on a wing. It is somewhat of a sport bike set up, not the easy rider style I was used to.

I do feel the wing is very superior to other bikes, once you get the feel of it, you sit at the right posture and in the right position to use the controls, up straight, balanced, and not all laid back and reaching up with a toe to get to the rear brake. Just takes a bit of time to adjust.

I have been toying with the idea of getting a steel toed boot for the shift control and smacking the toe with a post mall, to make more room to get it tucked under the valve cover.....I need to cut the shifter lever back......weld it and have it re-chromed I think.

 

imported post

Pegs for me, I have never (from my first CD175) been able to get to grips with the heel toe gearchange. I am dangerous on a bike with floorboards. :shock:

 

imported post

Pegs for me also, Have never tried boards but I like my pegs so no need to change.

 

imported post

Boards for me but to make it habitable, I got rid of the pre-98 engine guards and put on the much nicer looking and less interfering 98 guards.

Then I extended the front shift lever arm by 1.25" outwards and then adjusted the shift linkage so that the board acted as a stop for the forward shift arm. That way it is not over pressuring the shifter fork and yet right at the perfect shift point.

No problems at all after that and a lot more comfortable for me than pegs. Pegs ride too high for me and I hate feeling like my knees are crammed up.

 

imported post

In case you haven't noticed - it's pretty much a personal preference thing.

Boards are the only way to go, though.

(1200 boards have wee steel skids on the bottom, so you don't "sharpen" the aluminum)

 

imported post

Wildweasel7648:
I just tolerated the markland's on my GL1500 for a full year. Actually went on two tripswith them installed. It was not the heel/toe shifter that bothered me most but theheel pedestal for the brake pedal. For me it made slow speed manuevering and stop and go traffic totally miserable. That is what I spend most of my time in anyway.
Went back to pegs now life if much better, however on trips the boards are more
comfortable. Would prefer them for trips but in any kind of traffic forget it. One of the previous posters pretty much said it "Personal Preference". Overall I will not go back
to boards but if they are on the bike that is ok too. After not riding for over 20 years
they were quite and adjustment for me upon getting a bike with them on it.

We stopped in Alliance,coming home from Mt Rushmore in July, stopped in on main street and we snacked a bit before heading south. Your post and location is what prompted me to respond.

 

imported post

TXRLGL1500 wrote:

Wildweasel7648: It was not the heel/toe shifter that bothered me most but theheel pedestal for the brake pedal. For me it made slow speed manuevering and stop and go traffic totally miserable. That is what I spend most of my time in anyway.

I agree. If you ever see my heel pedestal, you will notice it's getting rusty and not worn at all. If I could get it cut off and get the bar rechromed, I would.

I solved that problem by adding Kuryakin pegs just ahead of the brake pedal and just a little higher than the pedal at rest on each side.

I simply rest the balls of my feet on the pegs and do the foot brake and downshifting using my heels.
Works great and it has the effect of extended controls without having to make any mods.

Very comfortable.

 

imported post

I had Markland floorboards on my 83 Aspy, and they where sharp on the edges, but I loved them (size 8 feet) and I thought they looked good. So when I bought my 08 1800, I also purchased floorboards, Kuyakan style and installed them as soon as I got home. They are a much better quality than the Marklands of yester-year. The height and feel is great for me and I don't have any control problems...I don't think!

 

imported post

Well, I've had boards, and I've had pegs, and the pegs win. The boards are in the way, when I need to get my feet down, makes it harder to get the kickstand down, and are always scrapping around the corners and curves. Also, the heel-toe shifter is a pain most of the time. I guess they are ok for the cruiser type bikes, because they are farther forward, but for the wings, with the cylinders in the way, there just isn't really enough room for them properly, in my book. I'll stick with the pegs.

Gene:waving:

 

imported post

When I bought my 1500 it had the markland floorboards on it. I'm only 5'7" with a 28" inseam so always had balance problems when stopped. I also found the use of the rear brake very very awkward.

Fortunately the previous owner had included the stock pegs and hardware with the bike.

After 3,000 miles I put the stock pegs back on and wow, what a difference it made for me.

• able to reach the ground easier at stops
• cornering was much smoother at all speeds (made me feel more a part of the bike)
• braking in stop and go traffic gave me much better control since I didn't have to raise my right foot so high.

Personally, on the 1500 I really felt more comfortable and confident with the stock pegs.

On the 1800 is has the stock pegs so I have nothing to compare with. :waving:

 

imported post

the only thing that puts me off boards is the heel/toe shift, had that on an old Honda 175 way back in the day and hated it, so i'm sticking with the pegs which are comfortable and allow for more control at slow/traffic speeds

 

imported post

Seems to me that the problem is with the Markland boards reading the posts above.I've had boards on my 75 1000 and on my 84I(neither were Markland)and liked them both.Not sure of the make but they did not have a peg to sit your foot on to run the brake.My 85 Aspy came with a set of Markland boards and I didn't care for them either.I think the ones on the 75 were Drag Specialty as were most of the access. on it and the ones on the 84I looked almost identical,but had a different name.

 

imported post

I prefer to keep the stock flat pegs and added ergo II Kuryakin Cruiseboards out on the engine guards. Did this on both my 1500 (not Kuryakin though - some other one I gorget at the moment) and now the 1800.That gives me all the options I need. I need to be able to stretch out once in awhile and appreciate the ingenuity of the full circle adjustment on the Kuryakins - but for most riding I use the stock flat pegs - they have grown on me and it took me awhile to figure out why - but I did.

I think ONE of theMANY reasons that the Goldwings over time have been the most comfortable most distance tourable bikes has been the position that you sit in. Lots of people (myself included) don't like it until you get used to it. Never liked "shoulders back, chest out, chin up eyes straight ahead" either - :shock:. Mum and my teachers always stressed "good posture". If one sits up in the seat and has your foot on the stock pegs it generally helps enforce the "good posture" thing - backrest helps too.

Another thing is the springloaded swivel in the peg. I sometimes drop my legs down and let the wind press them back against the springloaded peg so they bendslightly. Just for a few seconds to stretch and change position and aid in circulation - just need to be careful not to drop so low the road kick them back too far - :goofygrin:LOL Also, the flat peg is plenty suportive of my foot - unlike a round peg on many cruisers. That "flatness" gives you something to reach for and supports the foot.

Generally for me running boards would not last more than a week anyway - 'cuzathe "grindoff" :cheeky1:-

 

imported post

I've had a bike with floorboards and a heel/toe shifter. Since it was my first Goldwing, I lived with it for a while until I got fed up with the boards scraping in the turns. I put the stock pegs on and I liked it much better.
As much as I scrape the pegs on my 1500, I can't imagine how many sparks I'd be throwing if I had floorboards!

 

imported post

pegs for sure. much more foot movement for me. never could keep my feet in one place anyway.

 

imported post

Thanks for the help folks. Seems to me it is a personal preference thing. I think I will try the pegs - you can get 'em cheap on e-bay and if I don't like 'em, I'll try some of the suggestions made and go back to boards. Sense I do like to buzz around curves a little, I think the pegs will be more my style. Who knows, maybe I will invent a quick change system so I can have both!

 

imported post

WOW, I started with the floorboards and never really thought it could make a huge difference. I'm like wildweasel, I may buy a set of pegs and see for myself

 

imported post

For me it's a peg on one side and a floorboard on the other side!

 

imported post

FUNNY!!!! I actually rode that way for a week or so waiting for my shifter pedal to come in!!!! Heel/Toe floorboard on one
side and peg with new brake pedal on the other. Did it feel odd? yup it shore did

 

imported post

Everybody keeps talking about scraping the floorboards. While I agree with my 83 Aspy and the Markland boards I did touch a couple of times, but I was pretty far over. On the 1800, I haven't come close yet. Maybe I'm just wiser and more careful (translates to "older")!

 

imported post

Or.....................Maybe you just weight less than some of us!! :cheeky1::cheeky1::cheeky1: