forward controls question

[ron bayless]

Banjoman who is no longer psting to this forum made some beautiful forward controls and posted pictures here.My question is this...I am making some for my gs 1000 based on his pictures. Do you suppose the outer tube that has the brake pedal welded on one side and the shift lever welded on the other side is actually a tube over a smaller tube within it and it is metal to metal rotation forward and backwards during the shifting or braking motion that actuates whichever lever you are using? If so, do you think the outer tube would roll back and forth freely or should there be some sort of bearing put in somewhere to make the rolling motion easier?Any feedback appreciated.

[Cat Man]

You should not need a bearing. But you should use a non-detergent grease for lubrication. Also, you will need to occassionally re-lube those components. How often will depend on many factors, mainly, the amount of time you use the bike. Most likely, everytime you do an oil change, take the forward controls apart, and re-lube. Should last the life time of the bike.

[ron bayless]

Thanks man, appreciate the response.I kinda figured the same way you did,use axle grease on the inner rod, make the outer tube removeable so relube can be done.sounds like you saw it the same way. I am wondering if i was to come up with a way to make several of these if people here on the forum would be interested in buying them.I have heard the stainless pieces would be kinda pricey, but say if you added a hundred bucks to the cost and sold the finished product for that amount i figure some folks here would be interested in buying them.I for one need forward controls or else i cant ride at all due to a less flexible right knee secondary to a bike accident, but even without that problem to me the feet forward seems more ergonimically appropriate and comfortable.

[ron bayless]

I dont have any pictures because I am making them with a friend of mine.Banjoman has his pictures posted here under the post forward controls, and you go to page 2 to see what he did.I could do the same thing, but if anyone else was interested you would have to have their old parts to make the new ones out of or else go to a salvage yard and buy the stock controls to convert.I already have the connection for the brake side.They actually look like a chrome barrel fitted over the serrated portion of the shaft from either the brake or transmission side extending outward enough where the new extended length rods can be attached. I am going to use the brake side piece i have to take to a machinist to use as a pattern for the transmission side. The shaft protruding from the rear brake side is much larger than on the shifter side but the serrations follow the same size and pattern.I think any machinist could figure this out and make these 2 parts. Then anyone with a gs 1000 could hook them up after i make the other pieces in probably only a few minutes.This would make the whole kit marketable.No downtime for the would be buyers while their stock parts are being modified.