passenger floor boards

[mack]

Has anyone tried to install floor board style foot rests for the passenger. My youngest daughter is afraid to ride because she thinks her feet may slip and get burned on the pipe. My wife melted a heel on a pair of boots. I'm thinking of putting fold down floor board style foot rests on back there but I don't know what will work best.

[natemoen]

I have a set that I bought off ebay that were on an XS. I will be putting them.on at some point. Some mods are required though for the ones I have.

[Jerry]

The HD set I bought is adjustable for height, angle, and fore-and-aft movement. Price is about $125.00 now. They are made by Drag Specialties. These were used to replace the main footpegs, not pasenger, but would work as passenger mounts as well.

Here is a link to an eBay add for one of these sets:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRAG-BOLT-ON...8a8741&vxp=mtr

Quite a few less-expensive units out there, not as adjustable, also used sets on ebay. In any event, look for units that use an HD male footpeg mount, also known as a clevis-style mount.

[scoot]

Another angle:

Hey Mack,
When my kids are hesitant due to fear, I tend to see if there is a teachable moment presenting itself.
In this instance, if my 8 yr. old daughter was afraid of burning herself on the hot pipe, I'd work thru it with her by first doing the following: with the bike COLD, I'd ask her to help me with doing a bulb check around the bike. Since Daddy needs her help, she'd be right there. No attention towards the pipes. She would "spot", yes it's blinking, I would flick switches. Then we would change places. Climbing onto the driver's seat would raise her anxiety level a little, and I would reassure her thru the steps of mounting the bike and then manipulating the switches. I would expect we would be joking and laughing a bit thru the anxiety as she became more comfortable in the driver's seat. If stretching for the rear brake pedal is a bit of a reach, I'd coax her to move a bit off the seat while she holds the handlebars like it's no big deal. It's all casual and fun. Thanking her for her help, I really appreciate this, you rock, stuff like that.
After the thorough light check, I'd ask her to wipe the dust or water spots off the chrome. Headlight, fender, air box, mufflers, rear fender, done. if she speaks of the hot pipes, I'd explain how a rider's boots protect from burns, and hey, remember Mom burned her boot heel? Yeah, she didn't even know it, never felt a thing.
Then with the bike up on the center stand, I'd ask her to help me check the rear suspension by having her get on the passenger seat and just sitting there. Cause I need her weight there to check sag and suspension tuning. The goal here is to get her in her seat using her pegs for a while to build her comfort level. I would use a tape measure, write numbers on a clipboard, wrench on a bolt or two, stretch it out with busy work all while talking about school or sports or her friends, whatever interests her.
Now I need her standing up on the pegs for a bit to check unsprung weight height. Bounce on the pegs. Ok, can you step onto the forward pegs, I need to measure that, too. Ok, back to the rear pegs please. Hmmm... this stiction is interesting. Do it again.
She's building her familiarity with the machine and her place upon it without me being on the bike with her. This raises her confidence and self awareness. Gives her the tools to find her courage to face her fear. I'd discuss the stability and security of her pegs. Point out they do their job very well. Does she agree? What's her thoughts on the pegs?
Ask where do your legs reach to if you take them off the pegs? Ankles then touch the pipes, hey, cool, your boots will protect you. if your foot comes off the peg, just put it back on the peg. Try it. Easy-peasy!
Then good boots would be the physical and mental shield she would rely on to beat this fear. (At least here in my little story it would.)

I hope it works out for your daughter and you. Mine started riding with me at 8, she's 13 now and continues to ride.

scoot

[mack]

Parenting

Well Scoot, it sounds good in theory, however seeing her mothers boot heel melted to the pipe left a visual impression that I can't overcome.

[scoot]

Well those floor boards Jerry brought up look pretty fine.

[Jerry]

The HD clevis mount is a little thinner than the XS mount. I shimmed the HD mount to make a tighter fit in the XJ's socket, adding a small washer on either side of the mount. No big deal.

These can be flipped up, but there is no spring or mechanism in place to keep them there. They were really designed for use in the down position. I used them as a means to replace and lower the stock driver footpegs, and have found this resulted a more comforatable arrangement for long trips. They do drag easier, though, being lower than the stock pegs. For rear set use this should not be a problem.

[crazy steve]

These can be flipped up, but there is no spring or mechanism in place to keep them there. They were really designed for use in the down position...

Harley uses wave washers to provide the friction needed so they'l stay up (or down) without flopping. Most better-stocked hardware stores should have these...

[GutSlasher]

Back rest/luggage rack

Mack,
I saw you have a back rest and luggage rack on one of your bikes. I have the 81 SH and also want to add floor boards. My overall plan is to get a solo seat, remove the current sissy bar, and find/make a removable queen seat with back rest and luggage rack. Was wondering where you got yours, if its Yamaha specific, or if you had to create a custom mount? (It kinda looks like the sissy bar bolt hole is floating as though you drilled a new one?)

-The only XS in the Yukon.

[mack]

Back rest

No that was put on by the dealer back in 79. That, the seat and the engine guard were all upgrades on the day it was turned over to me.