How to Install Harley Davidson Floorboards

Harley-Davidson is synonymous with ‘comfortable’ when it comes to motorcycles. The company brands its motorbikes as one of the most comfortable bikes for highway cruising and long-distance riding. Without a doubt, Harley has proved itself to be the most plush and relaxing ride, serving the American riders for more than a century.

One such element or feature that improves the long-distance comfort manyfolds is the floorboards. Installing floorboards on a Harley bike can bring a lot of change in the riding comfort. Riders feel more relaxed and at ease, especially while riding their Harleys on long-haul journeys.

However, not every Harley bike comes with stock floorboards. Only the touring model features standard Harley floorboards. You can still add them to even a Harley cruiser if you prefer going long miles.

If you are looking for how to install Harley Davidson floorboards and want to do it yourself, this article is the right place for you. Continue reading this article to learn how to install both riders and passenger floorboards, along with the support kit, on your Harley motorbikes.

Floorboards installed on your bikes, especially Harley touring bikes, are designed for riders so they can comfortably place their feet on them. They are ideal for long-distance riding, highway cruising, and cross-country rides.

Unlike the normal footpegs, these floorboards have a wide surface area for riders to adjust their feet comfortably. They usually come as a stock option on most Harley touring bikes. However, you can also install floorboards on your Harley cruiser bikes by making a few changes or by installing the floorboard kits first.

We are going to start the article with installing mini floorboards/pegs on your Harley cruiser bike, having simple footpegs installed on it. This is one of the easiest, as it does not include installing a footpeg kit.

Mini floorboards or pegs are easier to install as they do not require an additional installation kit. They are installed using the same mounts on your Harley bike.

These mini floorboards or pegs are good for Harley cruisers as they provide enough surface to rest your legs. They do not provide adequate surface area for riders to rest their feet, but they are good enough for cruiser bikes.

You will require the following tools:

• Screwdriver

• Plyer

• Adjustable wrench

• Auto screwdriver/drill driver (optional)

• Loctite

Now let’s start installing the mini floorboards on your Harley bike:

• The stock footpegs installed on your Harley cruiser can be removed easily.

• There is usually a single bolt and nut that keep the footpeg attached to the frame of the bike.

• All you need to do is simply remove the nut and the bolt to remove the footpeg.

• You need to have a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, and an adjustable wrench to remove the footpeg already installed on your bike.

• It will be easier if you have an auto screwdriver or drill driver. However, it is not necessary.

• Just keep the nut in place by holding it tight with a pair of pliers or a wrench.

• Use the screwdriver to unbolt the pin/bolt from the other side.

• You can also unbolt the pin using an auto screwdriver.

• The footpeg will come off as soon as the nut and the bolt are removed.

• At the time of installing the mini floorboard on your Harley cruiser bike, make sure to insert a washer or shim in there to avoid the floorboard rattling.

• It will help keep the mini floorboard tight and in one place.

• Now put the nut and the bolt through the holes.

• Apply some loctite on the bolt and then screw the nut on it.

• To tighten up, hold the nut using a plyer and then use a screw driver from the other side.

• There is also a nut and bolt in the center of these mini floorboards to adjust the angle of the floorboards. 

• You can open this bolt, apply some Loctite on it, put it back in the hole, adjust the mini floorboard as per your preferences, and then tighten it up.

• Make sure it is tight enough. The angle of the floorboard must not change.

• Repeat the same process on the other side.

Similarly, if you want to install passenger mini floorboards as well on your Harley cruiser bike, go ahead. Follow the same procedure and make your Harley bike more comfortable for yourself and your ride partner.

If your stock floorboards on your Harley touring bike have become old or worn out, you can replace them easily with aftermarket ones. Also, you can replace the stock Harley floorboards if you don’t find them comfortable enough.

Replacing the stock Harley floorboards with aftermarket ones is also easy, as it does not include installing the kit. However, you will have to unscrew and screw more number of bolts as it is a proper floorboard for a touring model. It has a long base for riders to place their feet comfortably.

To withstand the weight and long size, there is more than one mount for these floorboards for better support.

Let’s move on to the process of replacing/installing Harley floorboards for your Harley touring model:

• First up, unbox your new Harley floorboards that you want to install on your Harley tourer.

• You will see two clamps or clips on each rider's floorboard.

• Remove the fasteners on each clamp one by one using a screwdriver.

• Make sure to store the fasteners in a safe place so you don’t lose them.

• Most of these aftermarket Harley floorboards have some adjustability. You can move them a few inches forward or backward, depending on your preferences.

• You can move these clamps a bit forward or backward. However, keep the position of the clamps the same on both the floorboards.

• Remove the fasteners from the clamps mounted on the other floorboard as well.

• You will find two bolts installed that hold the floorboards.

• Remove the bolts by simply holding the nut tight in one place and unscrewing the bolt.

• After you have unscrewed the bolts, place the nuts and bolts in a safe place.

• The old floorboard will come off easily now.

• Now, it is time to install the new floorboards.

• You can use the same bolts and nuts if they fit the new floorboards.

• Otherwise, there must be new nuts and bolts in the box that you can use.

• Apply some Loctite to the bolts to ensure a strong bond.

• First, put the bolts through the holes one by one.

• Now, put the nuts on them and tighten them up using your hands.

• Now, hold the nut using a pair of pliers, or you can also hold the bolt in one place using the Allen key.

• Start fastening the nut using a wrench to tighten it up.

• Repeat the same for both mounts to firmly attach the floorboard on the bike.

• Now, repeat the same procedure on the other side of your Harley touring bike to install the other floorboard.

To install passenger floorboards, you will need to do some more effort. In the stock form, most Harley bikes, even the touring models, come with simple footpegs. These footpegs are not very comfortable for passengers, especially on long rides.

If you love to go on long motorbike journeys with your ride partner, you must keep them comfortable and happy. This is not possible without the passenger floorboards. You must also opt for installing the backrest for both yourself and the passenger to recline against it on the cross-country ride.

While installing the passenger floorboards on a Harley bike, you will also need to unmount the existing mount assembly and install the new kit.

Let's find out how you can install passenger floorboards on a Harley bike:

First of all, unbox the new passenger floorboards’ box. You will find the bolts, nuts, mounts, floorboards, and an instruction manual regarding how to install them.

• Now, it is time to remove the single footpegs on the bike.

• It has either been installed through a nut and a bolt or a snap ring.

• If it is attached using a nut and bolt, you will need to remove them to remove the footpeg.

• If it is a snap ring, use a snap ring plier to remove the ring.

• After removing it, tap the pin or bolt out of the hole. It will come off easily.

• Now hold the footpeg and pull it towards you gently.

• It will also come off easily.

• Now, remove the footpeg mount attached to the frame of the bike to install the new kit for the passenger floorboards.

• It will usually have two bolts holding the bracket in place.

• Use a wrench to remove these bolts and unmount the bracket.

• You will see at least four holes on the frame to adjust the height of the pegs/floorboards.

• Decide where you want to mount the passenger floorboards as per your passenger’s height and inseam.

• Get the mounts/brackets from the box and install them on the frame.

• Apply the loctite before screwing the bolts inside the holes.

• Use the adjustable wrench to screw the bolts.

• Make sure the bolts are properly screwed and the mount doesn’t move.

• Now, it is time to install the passenger floorboards on the support brackets you just installed.

• In some floorboards, you will find Allen heads and a small spherical space to place the tiny ball bearing.

• On the support bracket, you will find two clamps to install the floorboards with the help of the pins.

• Once the floorboard is placed on the bracket such that the clamps face the tube present on the floorboard, the pins are inserted on either side.

• Make sure that the ball bearing is placed at the center. You will get to know from the markings on both the floorboard and the support bracket.

• You will need to put a bit of pressure on the clamps on the bracket adjacent to the tube on the floorboard.

• Now, tighten up the Allen heads using the Allen key of the same size.

• This will tighten up the pins as well for a secure mounting of the floorboards.

• Repeat the same procedure on the other side.

Harley-Davidson specializes in making cruisers and touring bikes. These bikes are meant for long-distance rides and highway cruising. You expect them to be the most comfortable rides. These bikes feel incomplete without the floorboards. Floorboards have become an integral part of Harleys.

So, don’t worry if your Harley doesn’t come with stock floorboards. You can always replace your stock footpegs with Harley Davidson floorboards. You can also install Harley passenger floorboards to keep your ride partner happy while traveling with you.