Anyone tried the "sparky" highway pegs ?

[macx]

http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=2748

They apparently replace the plug covers and attach inside the channel
where the plug wire runs so the valve cover itself supports them.

They flip out when you want to use them, and flip back into position in
the plug wire channel when you don't.

A neat solution, but a pretty costly one!

just wondering if anyone's tried them and opinions?
I guess they do fit with head protectors, which I am
getting shortly.

Thx

[Buckster]

I have some that are similar but I don't know who they are made by as they were on the bike from the previous owner. They do come in handy on long trips. I actually used them yesterday taking a long way home from a friends house- about hour and a half. The riding position you are in while using them is only tollerable for about 15-20 minutes because of the clamshell position of your body. I have only used them about 10 times in the 2 1/2 years I.ve had the bike.
I wouldn't pay that kind of money for them.

[Gabe]

I installed some pegs on my r1150r. Very helpfull in keeping my old legs from cramping on me on long trips. They allow me to move my legs from the normal ride position to a more relaxed leg position and then back again.

[mcollect]

I picked up a set on Fleabay, tried them and took them off. They were real uncomfortable for me, I rode a sportbike for thirty years so that was awkward. Now for longish rides I use the passenger pegs.

[macx]

I installed some pegs on my r1150r. Very helpfull in keeping my old legs from cramping on me on long trips. They allow me to move my legs from the normal ride position to a more relaxed leg position and then back again.

That's my situation, knees not the best, get real uncomfortable bent at that steep of an angle after awhile. Never rode a bike with hiway pegs before, but never had this style of bike before either. Going on my first longish ride this Sunday, we'll see. Took my very first ride this afternoon (finally!) and altho it was only about 15 minutes of mostly starting to get familiar with how the controls feel etc methinks a different seat is definitely on the list, even at the cost. After doing some research, I think I'm headed toward the Day Long seats (can't remember the mfg actual name right off the top), not concerned as much about looks as I am about my butt! Also have bar setbacks coming, had them on an older 81 Suzuki and even on there they helped my back.

Thanks to all for the input!!

[suzuki]

Use them on 2 hour or longer rides. ( Trips ) 1 leg at a time. Sometimes both legs but not often. Gives you lots of options for stretching. Makes a 500 mile day alot easier. I love em

[Airman]

If I feel some discomfort on longer rides I will sometimes just prop my boots up on the cylinder heads for a while. This seems to work perfectly fine for me and might even be better then highway pegs because it does not spread your legs out as much. I also use the rear pegs, ride with feet off the pegs, stand up, anything for a brief position change to get the blod flowing again. I don't like to make a habit of the feet forward position because it seems to me it makes control awkward.

[MattPie]

If I feel some discomfort on longer rides I will sometimes just prop my boots up on the cylinder heads for a while. This seems to work perfectly fine for me and might even be better then highway pegs because it does not spread your legs out as much. I also use the rear pegs, ride with feet off the pegs, stand up, anything for a brief position change to get the blod flowing again. I don't like to make a habit of the feet forward position because it seems to me it makes control awkward.

+1 on standing up. After watching some of the GS Adventure friends stand on the pegs, I tried it and it's the best method to stretch out. Just do it in 'safe' places (straights, etc.), and practice turning a before you need to. I only stand for a minute at most, but it works wonders.

[macx]

Had a chance to put some miles on last Sunday and use the pegs.

My legs are maybe medium long (30" inseam) so did help relieve
the discomfort in the old knees.

I did the one leg at a time trick, seemed to work well.

These pegs are just forward of the center of the valve cover,
so my feet don't get quite as low as I think might be comfortable -
I'm still sitting on the point of my butt instead of the weight being
spread out more on my upper thighs like it would if my feet could
be a little lower.

Kind of thinking of making my own flat plate to mount to the vc bolts
and positioning some pegs closer to the bottom and forward edge of
the covers.

My knees don't tolerate being bent so sharply for very long, and looked
at what's available for lowering the footrests. Expensive!! Might just
try getting some alum bar stock and making some myself for $25 worth
of aluminum (online "small quantity" vendor). Basically just some cutting
and drilling. Besides, I'm one of those natural born tinkerers

[suzuki]

If you come up with somthing let us Know. I would be interested in a pair of some if they work. The more you can move your legs around the longer you can ride without stopping.

[REFFI]

When I bought my 2004 R1150R, I was over 500 miles from home. Thankfully, I didn't have to coverthat distance in one ride. The PO had installed bar risers and a Cee Bailey windshield. The ride home proved to me that the seat was inadequate and the pegs were too high for my old knees. By the time I got home, the bike was due for its 12000 mile service. I brought it in to my local dealer and had him install the peg lowering kit, the cylinder head guards and the highway pegs. Not long thereafter I "rode in" for a custom Bill Mayer Saddle. The lowering of the pegs and the new seat have gone the furthest to make me comfortable on the bike. I have to be careful in turns, though because my feet scrape and it doesn't take much of a lean (I have big feet). I concur that the highway pegs are best used one at a time. I sometimes ride with my toes on the foot pegs and my heels on the passenger pegs (I have big feet). The Bill Mayer Saddle is very good. The Russell Day Long Saddle (invented by Bill Mayer's dad) may be even better. If I was going to ride a really long day (500 miles +), I might want to trade up to a Russell. SItting more erect due to the risers has caused me to add a Laminar Lip to the Cee Bailer shield (this past Friday). It does improve airflow.

Ralph

[Photoguy]

I sometimes ride with my toes on the foot pegs and my heels on the passenger pegs (I have big feet). :
Ralph

Wow...I'd have to agree!

[macx]

If you come up with somthing let us Know. I would be interested in a pair of some if they work. The more you can move your legs around the longer you can ride without stopping.

Will do - I'll post on here if I get something working.

I've got a set of those valve cover guards that I'm going to put on probly this week, then I'd have to work around those.
Even thought about attaching some pegs to those, but after getting them don't feel there's maybe enuf material there to work with and keep things sturdy. Will look closer at this option when I install them, but probly will end up with a separate plate.

I also have been seriously thinking of lowering my pegs (via some aluminum bar stock using a few straight cuts and drilling a few holes I think is maybe all it would take after looking at what I could find for pics on various online accessory catalogues that show peg lowering brackets - I found an online "small quantity" vendor of various types of metals incl aluminum bar stock, a piece large enough would only be about $25 + shipping, a far cry from the exhorbitant $100+++ for the machined ones!)

And after riding just a few hours with several breaks last Sunday, I'm definitely in the market for a Day Long seat next spring.

The seat (and the lowered pegs) will probly come first, then I'll see where I sit with highway peg location after the seat as that will probly change my seating position and get me off the point of my butt which is the major concern regarding the whole situation.

[REFFI]

Be advised, when you lower the pegs the left peg and shifter will bracket the centerstand tang. My foot won't fit in to push down on the tang. I now carry a carpenter's folding rule in my tank bag that I use to push the centerstand down far enough to get my boot on it to push down the rest of the way.

Ralph

[REFFI]

Be advised, when you lower the pegs the left peg and shifter will bracket the centerstand tang. My foot won't fit in to push down on the tang. I now carry a carpenter's folding rule in my tank bag that I use to push the centerstand down far enough to get my boot on it to push down the rest of the way.

Ralph

[macx]

Thanks for the heads up, I would most likely not have noticed that.

[MotoDiva]

WOW!!! That's a lot of mulah for 2 little beautifully machined and cleverly engineered pieces of metal. Check these out. Not as pretty, but clever and wayyyyy cheaper. http://www.hawksproducts.com/

[Westy]

Can't say that I have tried them yet but I just bought a set of the BMW MOA for 175 bucks shipped. When they arrived they looked brand new. If you are seriously thinking about picking up a pair, I would advise you to keep your eyes open for a lightly used set. Another riding buddy of mine picked up a set for his 04 RT for 175 shipped as well.

I'll post some pictures and some reviews after I get them installed this week!

[macx]

Those Hawks Products pegs look like a decent deal - I wonder if they could be mounted on the bottom
to get the feet lower and help get the knees down so one isn't sitting quite as much on the point of
the butt?

I splurged for the Sparky pegs and am not really thrilled - feet too high for one thing.
Further forward and lower would be a whole lot more comfortable -

[wncbmw]

Since this old thread has been revived, I will add my 2 cents. Too many years behind the plate in baseball caused me to suffer some of the same knee pain. I did not want the peg lowering route due to concerns about ground clearance in the curves. So I settled for propping my leg on the cylinder heads for relief. Long runs on the interstate were agony and stops were more often needed for my knees than my butt or bladder!

Last fall, I acquired a Sargent's seat used. Raised the seat height over an inch (although their website says 0.85"). What a dramatic difference! First ride, I was in the saddle for a good 75 miles and realized I had not had to stretch my legs! If you go the custom route on a seat instead, raising the height some can make a big difference in knee pain. Makes it worth the slight loss of the 'flat-footing' I had on the lower seat!

It is pricey but you get the added benefit of a nicer seat for other parts of your anatomy too!