Lilia got forward controls in March 2023. This was one of the more complicated upgrades I've done on the bike. The forward control kit also came bundled with passenger pegs.
What had to come off
The hardest part of this job is how much has to come off just to get to where the controls mount. I had to undo the O2 sensor wire and pull the exhaust.
The bracket mix-up
The install took about two hours, and a big chunk of that was our own fault. The forward control brackets for each side are different lengths. The brake side bracket is slightly longer than the shift side. We got them backwards. Then we stood there wondering why the brake wasn't reaching the rear brake master cylinder.
As soon as we figured that out, we had to take everything back off and switch the mounts around.
Seized exhaust nuts
A few of the nuts holding the exhaust on were seized. We had to replace those nuts before the bike could be ridden again.
Lessons
- Check the bracket lengths before you mount anything. The slightly longer bracket goes on the brake side.
- Expect seized exhaust nuts. Have replacements on hand before you start.
- Unplug the O2 sensor wire before pulling the exhaust.
The rest of what's been done to Lilia is here: 2018 Iron 883 Build List: Mods Done and Planned (And Why)
