Hi all

After advice from the forum I have made a decision to go with 2013 Sportster XL1200C. 
Need some help here, I have chosen 2 new 2013 models, one has forward controls the other mid controls, I have a bad back & neck and require an upright position. 
Which control position is easier on the back & neck? 
The bike with forward controls has a better handle bar position allowing me to sit up straight, however I am concerned that this position may put stress on my spine. 

ps never had a bike with forward controls and my height is 175cm.
Appreciate any help that may assist me in making my decision.
Thanks in advance

Welcome , see if you can test ride both . Lot easier to change bars than foot controls , well it is on a Dyna .

Welcome

Only you can answer that question as you are the only one who knows how your back feels.  I agree with Tim S.G. and test ride both bikes.  You want to know what forward and mid controls feel like and same with the different handle bars.  You may want to buy the bike you like the look of the most and change whatever you need to make yourself comfortable.  Hope this helps and good luck.

 

 

Welcome aboard avandr enjoy the ride, like the other blokes have said best to test both out, Cheers bloke.

G'day and welcome mate, I see you already have an intro so it may have served you better to put your query elsewhere????

You can test ride to get an idea but only a long time on each bike will tell as to which is best for your back. Personally mid controls would be my pick as they distribute weight better and less support required on your back and core, especially with long rides. Not too much effort changing controls on a sporty anyway. To get a really comfy ride you need to get the right bars, controls and seat to suit you. Good luck

Have a look at where BMW tourers have their controls/pegs. They have researched the hell out of ergonomics to find the position enabling riders to do 1000km days on their bikes.

Footboards provide a good compromise to think about too

avandr,

plenty of good advice here, I am about the same height and also have a crook back, I have a 2012 Sporty with mid controls and find it just right, due to my short arse stature the forward controls felt like a stretch and didn't feel right.

just my opinion but as many of the others have said, best to try before you buy.

Cheers.

Sportster forwards are not much of a stretch unless your very short, nothing like on the Dyna/Softail, i had the forwards on my sporty they were great would not consider on the Dyna, have hwy pegs never use them prefer the mids, mids on a Sporty tho might be cramped.

but all depend on your size and shape, try first

Have you made a decision ?

No decision as yet, test ride wont tell me much as the back and neck problem sets in after a good hour on the bike.
Checked some other forums and there was a lot of debate regarding better handling on curves with mid mounts.
I am not too worried about this as I am not about to hang over on each corner I hit, just negotiating the traffic and getting the feet on the ground when I need to may be a problem.
Dealer tells me mid mounts can always be upgraded to forward, however forward cannot be changed to mid?
Thanks for the input guys
Cheers

Welcome avandr - another worn-out biker here.
Everybody is different my friend.
I can't handle mid mounts - but that's because my knees are rooted as well.
All said - reckon mid mounts give slightly better low speed handling, and may offer more "stretching" options when things start to go sore.
You can always get some highway pegs fitted (quite cheaply) if u want to stretch out