Hello all. I am new to this board and fairly new to HD. A few months ago a purchased a 92 883 sportster from a friend and am now in the process of customizing it a little. I purchased a Custom Chrome brand forward control kit and have encoutered a problem. The exhaust pipes on the bike are not original. They are drag pipes. And they will not allow me to install the bracket that holds the brake in place. It bolts to the motor mount with 2 spacers and the shaft that the lever goes on to hits the pipe. Its not even a tight fit. Pipe is right where the shaft needs to be.
Are there some drag pipes that just will not work with forward controls?? Is there a particular brand of exaust that will work with the Custom Chrome controls? And lastly, if I do have to replace the pipes......are they difficult to remove?? This would be my first Harley project!! Thank you very much for your help.

 

first thing i would do is look into getting the mechanics manual for your HD, they rock because they give you diagrams and pictures on taking and putting things off/on.

then from there you probably can judge for yourself.

 

Welcome and enjoy the ride!

 

I also fairly recently installed forward controls on my 97 Sportster, it will take a couple of hours and the exhaust system had to come off, its a tight squeeze, trying to get the nuts off, but it can be done. I had Vance & Hines pipes and my controls fit just fine, but yes there are some exhaust systems that are not compatable with forward controls, so I'm sorry to bring the bad news, but looks like you will need new pipes, if you want the controls, and Let me add that I recommend the forward controls,
my rides now are so much more comfortable.
Also I agree with tekman, if you don't have a service manual, get one, they always come in handy.
Good luck wrenching and ride safe!