Nov 12, 2009 Foot Pegs & Brackets

 My major and perhaps most singular complaint about Red Dog is the seating position. Part of this is due to the limited room you have for resting your feet and part is the saddle configuration. Read that last as not enough room to scoot my fat butt back, the solution for which will be covered in a future report. For now I’ll address the issue of where to put my feet when it’s time to stretch.

One of the guys on the scooter forum I frequent has entered into the manufacturing game by introduction of his foot peg brackets. Made of heavy stainless steel, they’re stronger than the scooter base you mount them on. Point in fact Jeff, the company owner cautions against standing or pushing on them to reposition your feet as the underlying material might break. Probably good advice.

I ordered a set and they arrived before he’d even cashed my check which Just goes to illustrate how some guys are of a trusting nature. They turned out to be every bit as nice as I’d expected and the installation was simple.

As furnished the brackets are well made but not buffed or polished and it was my desire to improve on their appearance. At first I was smitten with the idea of having them “engine turned” or what we used to have done to our firewalls and rifle bolts back when such things were in vogue. It’s a sort of swirly looking pattern that’s engraved into the metal surface and it’s cool looking as all get out. Not being of artistic bent I took the brackets to our local fabrication outfit for their opinion on such matters where it was suggested I have a go at it myself. Thanks a lot guys.

After having a look at what there was available at our local hardware store I decided to do with what I had on hand, namely my Moto tool outfit. I attacked the backside of one of the brackets with a flourish, but it soon became evident that my limited skills would not produce the masterpiece I wanted and I settled for a mediocre polishing job that eliminated most of the fabricator’s marks. So be it.

At the same time as I’d placed my order for the mounting brackets I’d ordered a set of pivoting foot pegs from an on-line purveyor of motorcycle farkles. As it turned out there was a 1-day lag between receiving the mounting brackets and the foot pegs which gave me time to do the install in two easy steps. Like two screws… how hard is that?

After that it was simple enough to hang the foot pegs from Drag Specialties and the job was done. They fold up easily enough and when in the down position they provide a nice place for resting my feet.

I just don’t know if I can stand all this excitement….