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[Glenno]

I’m fairly new to Harleys, I bought a CVO Limited because it’s comfortable with a serving of mucho on the side. What I can’t understand is the placement of the foot boards. Because the tank is so wide I have my legs splayed out at an angle but the foot boards don’t follow that angle. So I need to point my feet in (like I’m riding a barrel), otherwise they stick out over the sides.
So I can live with that even if it doesn't make ergonomic sense - but why not follow the natural angle of the foot instead of straight (like Victory does).
But it gets better…. if I want to change gears I have to twist my foot in, to point at an angle altogether different that my leg wants to go. Gawd you’d think someone would have spotted this over the last hundred years or so - Or is it the elephant in the room?

[skratch]

I’m fairly new to Harleys.....

there are a myriad of ways to solve this.  from just getting used to it, to adding floorboard extenders.  many folks will tell you thats why there is a heel shifter there.  myself, i hate the heel shifter, i like to be able to reposition my feet more.

here's what worked for me.

first, i put 3/4'' floorboard extenders on to move the floorboards out a touch.
then, i removed the heel shifter
and finally, i added a spacer that moved my toe shifter from the inner position to the outer position

all of these combined make it very comfortable for me.

[JCZ]

I'm assuming you're shorter.  But in any case, you're feet don't have to follow the floorboard exactly.  I see many guys riding with the toes of their boots kind of hanging off the outside edges of the running boards.

I'm taller and so I just lowered my highway pegs all the way down.  I rest my heel on the running boards and my toes on the highway pegs....a very comfortable position.

[Jswerve]

I'm 5'6" and I added extenders, removed the heel shifter, and put the shifter on the outside of the shaft. I also keep long angled highway peg extenders all the way down in the front of the footboards and ride with my heels on the boards and the balls of my feet on the highway pegs. Very comfy.

[fastfreddy]

I'm assuming you're shorter.  But in any case, you're feet don't have to follow the floorboard exactly.  I see many guys riding with the toes of their boots kind of hanging off the outside edges of the running boards.

I'm taller and so I just lowered my highway pegs all the way down.  I rest my heel on the running boards and my toes on the highway pegs....a very comfortable position.

x2 and here is an example of a handsome fellow riding like that

[Supershooter]

Unfortunately for those of us that don't fit into the 180#, 5'9" average male size, Mother Harley has many options for us to alter our bike to more comfortable. Find some extra cash in the couch and head down to the local parts shop and get to work modifing
Supershooter

[JCZ]

Supershooter.....that was average for a high school kid in 1995.   In 2002 the average American male was 5'9 1/2" tall.  I couldn't find anything for the average in 2015 but has me curious.      Quite a jump 1997 to 2002.  I'm betting the average is over 5'10" now and closer to 190 lbs.

On the more serious side....the floor board extenders were becoming popular with members of this forum briefly.  However, after several members posted mishaps due to the greatly diminished lean angle, many of the members got rid of them.

I posted pics here on the forum.  A group of the Nor Cal members from this forum were riding through the mountains and one of our shorter members had the floor board extenders.  He leaned into the curve that all the bikes in front of him had just gone through and he was directly in front of me.  I ride with my Nikon around my neck so pics were quick and easy.  I watched him lean into the curve and the next thing I realize, he and the bike jerked hard (the floorboard hardware caused the back tire to loose traction) and then slid off the road and into the hillside straight ahead.  Fortunately for him, we weren't going that fast and so he didn't get hurt badly.....just road rash.   Others have posted their experiences.....so just a word of caution when using those extenders.

[grc]

The floorboards are designed so that they will "fold up" if they touch the ground while cornering, thus preventing the kind of solid contact that can cause a quick and violent crash.  However, the actual supports those floorboards attach to do not fold or retract, and when they grab onto something solid all hell can break loose.  Lowering the bike makes it easier to drag those supports, and adding spacers does the same.  Lowering the bike and adding spacers makes it even worse.  So just be aware there are reasons why those parts are located where they are, and don't go nuts adding huge spacers to the floorboard supports.  I've seen adds for two inch extensions, which is way too much.

Jerry

[Royalroadie]

I'm 5'6" and I added extenders, removed the heel shifter, and put the shifter on the outside of the shaft. I also keep long angled highway peg extenders all the way down in the front of the footboards and ride with my heels on the boards and the balls of my feet on the highway pegs. Very comfy.

I have done the exact same set up.  5'10" and it works very well.  I brake with my heal and shift toe but ride with heals on the boards and balls of the foot on the highway pegs.  It should solve your problem.  I have a bad knee and riding without this set up would kill me.  I came off a Roadstar on which the boards were 1 1\2" lower and 2" farther apart but I still used the same setup mentioned above because it was much more comfortable.

[Jswerve]

I've been to Sturgis and the smokey mountains with floorboard extenders and I've never touched my floorboards on the asphalt. If you are an aggressive rider I'd stay away. I'll be keeping mine though.

Also, my bike is stock height.

Jesse

[krypto2011]

Heed Jesse's advice if you are an aggressive rider. My bike is lowered and I have extensions. I drag boards quite often in the twisties. Kill boy has some great shots of me dragging sparks on the Tail of the Dragon, not only from my boards, but my V&H x pipe too!!

[Jswerve]

Heed Jesse's advice if you are an aggressive rider. My bike is lowered and I have extensions. I drag boards quite often in the twisties. Kill boy has some great shots of me dragging sparks on the Tail of the Dragon, not only from my boards, but my V&H x pipe too!!

Haha good 'ol killboy. I looked at all our pics from the Dragon we never touched. Did quite a bit of more challenging roads around the blueridge parkway area and never scraped. My wife and I weigh less than 300 combined so that may have something to do with it

[tweeter13]

I am only 5' 7". I have a 32" inseam but I have some ungodly bigazz feet. I wear a size 13 or 14 depending on the boot.  So I cant even get my foot between the heel to shifter.  But I like the heal to shifter.  I have to make sure I wear the right pants and the right boot so I don't look like a freaking clown.  So I do ride with my heal sitting on the floor board.  They make extended shifters but just never purchased them. 

Todd

[MightyTharg]

5' 10" and all I've needed to do was remove the heel shifter on my Street Glide..  Can't get on with it anyway.

[Royalroadie]

I am only 5' 7. I wear a size 13 or 14 depending on the boot. 

Todd

Quit your bragging,  you make me feel so inadequate!