Baron Adjustable Passenger Floorboards

[Tartan Terror]

I already sent them a link to this thread in my response to their response.

 

When I get the money I was really looking forward to buying the V Four chrome timing and water pump covers from Baron Accessories.

I already have those covers on my bike and they are great. Chrome is nice and they are well made. Unlike many companies they are willing to put in time on the phone to make sure things are right. I think you will be satisfied when you are done.

[juggler]

I just got off the phone with John "Baron" Vaughan-Chaldy of Baron Customizing.

 

He is shipping me a different set of boards. The Short Boards.

http://www.baronscustom.com/catalog/display/795/index.html

 

They have more adjustability and DO move the foot position forward 2.5 to 3 inches. He sent me photos from the RSTD they installed them on this morning.

 

Also, he did find out that the design for the mounting brackets DID CHANGE and do cause the fitment problems I pointed out. They were unaware of the change and the problems caused. They are researching and taking corrective action.

 

By this Friday I should have the new boards to tryout.

 

Their test fitment of the Short Boards.

Edited September 8, 2008 by juggler

[Cerviperus]

Definitely a significant difference. Glad to hear they're going to get things straightened out for you.

[Sleeperhawk]

If the Baron guys can deliver on that statement, I would be ecstatic! Considering the fact that we are going on a week long trip at the end of this month, and I was really looking forward to more legroom with the new boards.

 

I have been following this thread with interest. Mechanic is long legged too, and I so far none of the adjustable passenger boards lower, they all seem to come up.. I guess they think the ladies like having their knees in their face.

[MAINEAC]

WOW!! That's the way to fix a problem...

Way to go Baron's

I wonder if that would work with Kuryakan? My new Riders chrome floorboard covers are blistering in a few spots from underneath.

[juggler]

Mr Baron sent me a different set of passenger floorboards to try out. These are the "short Boards". http://www.baronscustom.com/catalog/display/795/index.html

 

But don't let the name fool you. They are longer by 1/2 inch than the stock passenger boards. These still use the same mounting bracket as the first set I tried so these are still positioned higher than the stock boards. However, these are adjustable forward and backwards. When moved completely forward they are a a full 3 inches forward from stock.

 

The photos sort of show the difference.

 

My wife still isn't happy. She really does not want any board that moves her feet higher. She keeps muttering something about feeling like she's in the doctor's office.

 

I have put them on the bike for now and I hope to get her out on a short ride one evening this week to decide if these will work.

 

Mr. Baron has been great, but I think I will ask about different mounting brackets. I think if they had brackets that mounted these at the same height as the stock boards we might have a winner. If they moved the boards 1 inch lower then we'd have a jackpot.

 

As far as the forward position they do get in the way of my legs when down, but folded up they're ok. Now the see how the fit when my wife's feet are on them.

[ventureblue]

[ventureblue]

iT SEEMS TO ME, THAT EVEN WITH THE INCREASE IN HEIGHT, THAT IF YOU CAN TILT THAT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE. IF YOU WERE ABLE TO TILT DOWN YOU COULD ALMOST STRETCH OUT STRAIGHT.

[juggler]

Well, it's been 7 weeks since I ordered these Baron's floorboards from Cruisercustomizing.com (08/01/208) and 3 weeks since I received the first set of floorboards. After the first set did not mount in the manner in which Baron's marketing clearly states, John "Baron" got on the phone with me and sent me different boards no charge. The problem is these new boards while more adjustable still use the same mounting brackets as the first set.

 

The issue is the mounting brackets and not the boards. They mount the boards about an inch or more higher than stock. For you short legged women this may be fine, but for my wife with her longer legs this is the exact opposite direction she needed. LOWER, LOWER, LOWER is where the boards need to move. Maybe by about an inch or two.

 

If you wanted to make your own brackets then I bet you could easily put these boards in any position you wanted. I might still have the machining skills (it's been a long time), but I certainly do not have the tools to make my own brackets.

 

So the final answer is everything is boxed up ready for shipping back to Baron's. They are sending me shipping info so I do not have to pay for return shipping and they will have Cruiser Customizing credit my card when they get the boards.

 

Both companies have been very helpful and responsive. I've purchased many things from Cruiser Customizing and will continue to do so.

 

While Baron's has treated me well, I am more concerned about their claims of part fitment. They told me the mounting bracket changed at some point in time and they didn't know when or that it change the mounting position. To me that says they lack quality control. The new bracket should have been tested to see if it still met the marketing claims then adjusted one of the two to match the other. I think at this point Baron's is going to modify their marketing for this product as it relates to the RSTD and RSV. John said in his email to me today that they were not going to make a different mounting bracket.

 

So I will get my money back and I (my wife) is still stuck with the stock floorboards.

[pegscraper]

Sounds like there's a market for someone to make brackets that put the floorboards actually lower. My wife would like some too. I'll eventually weld up some brackets one day.

[juggler]

Sounds like there's a market for someone to make brackets that put the floorboards actually lower. My wife would like some too. I'll eventually weld up some brackets one day.

 

In my final email to John "Baron" I mention that many of us are looking to lower the passenger floorboards. He responded with "I appreciate your further thoughts on the need for the extended legroom and we will consider it. We’d first have to determine just what the demand would be and the reasonable cost expected to make the product viable as a solution that would sell in qty enough to pay for development, tooling, production etc… etc…"

 

My suggestion is to create some demand. And then if they do come up with a new mounting bracket spend the money to prove the demand. I know I will (again) if they ever make the correct mounting bracket.

 

Cheers,

[Eck]

If I remember correctly, Muffinman had a set of adjustable passenger floor boards on his 1st gen.

Now I am not all that familur with 1st gens, but this may have been a stock floor board on 1st gens for all I know..

Not sure if one could adapt it to the 2nd gen..