Side Mirrors

e-sarvelmk3 · Apr 25, 2012

I'm looking to get some side mirrors for my bike but the problem is i don't want end mirrors. Ones i have in mind i cant find, maby you guys can help. I want the mirror to be right in front of the grip but not protruding past the end of the bars, and just above my hand when holding the bars. Problem is the stand for the mirror needs to be tucked clean and out of the way (sleek like). Iv seen something like this before but cant place where, If i could get some help finding something that would be great, iv pored over lots of links on this site and cant find something thats close.

So help me out narrowing it down to something that works.

Hobot · Apr 25, 2012

I tend to use something similar to this but in smooth contour chrome and short crooked stems worn under slung on the bars so get clear full view w/o moving my head of arms. Harley size stems fit out bikes. I used to get them at JCWhitney but their prices are same or more than I find in Harley or online catalogs.

swooshdave · Apr 25, 2012

Under the bars works much better than over.

Hobot · Apr 26, 2012

DogT · Apr 26, 2012

Short stemmed mirrors above the bar are useless. Put it below where you can use it. Trouble is with anything larger than a Roadster tank it gets hard to place it so it doesn't hit the tank. This is about as un-obtrusive as you can get. I need to whack off that bolt that's sticking through.

Dave
69S

rick in seattle · Apr 26, 2012

As long as you've fitted flat bars or clip-ons, and ride with your chin a few inches above the tank, under-the-bar mirrors work great, requiring little head movement to get a full view of traffic. My own Mk3 is fitted with convex bar-end mirrors. However, many of us "mature" riders have adopted a more upright position (and higher pull-backs) over time to save our lower backs and wrists. If you find youself in this catagory, you'll find that the head-dip needed to use under-the-bar mirrors is too great to be safely used when merging into high-speed traffic on a crowded highway. After a few close calls, I added a conventional lollipop on the left side; not as slick looking now, but I'm a lot more comfortable in a merge.

Hobot · Apr 26, 2012

I find my under slung mirrors work better to see behind with least head/eye shifting on both my Roadster and IS tanks. If you run drag bars or clip on I can see it'd be a bother to align sight but check ole Peel hi bars for old fart gentleman at his desk full upright puppy posture. A number of us enjoy the under slung sleekness and traffic awareness so reconsider the blunt denial its workable as can be.

e-sarvelmk3 · Apr 26, 2012

Iv never been on a bike that has the mirrors under the bars so ill need to look into it, plus if it works better then great. Are there some out there that use the same mounting as stock or are they all bolt on because thats all iv seen.

Hobot · Apr 26, 2012

I put LH mirror stem in factory hole and on RH I open up the brake lever pivot a bit. BEWARE not too tighten the brake lever mirror so much it pinches the lever to prevent full return off brake. A better way on RH would be a spacer/bush in the hole to clamp on rather than weak alloy tabs.

ILLF8ED · Apr 26, 2012

hobot said:
I put LH mirror stem in factory hole and on RH I open up the brake lever pivot a bit. BEWARE not too tighten the brake lever mirror so much it pinches the lever to prevent full return off brake. A better way on RH would be a spacer/bush in the hole to clamp on rather than weak alloy tabs.

The '73 and newer brake pivot/master cylinder has a threaded boss for a mirror. I bought one that needs to be rebuilt (with 13mm piston), but have not done that yet. The '72 and earlier didn't have a provision for right side mirror unless clamped on.
Nice to have two mirrors in traffic. I don't typically ride in traffic, though.

Hobot · Apr 27, 2012

Yes early models used a RH bar clamp on mirror, ughly unstable. Its pretty darn important to me to have two mirrors on when in city traffic or 4 lane hwys. Trixie lost her last RH mirror on trailer trip to Empire rally but don't miss it as long as I stick to single lane hyw's and towns. Norton factory issue might be the ughliest mirrors ever put on mc's. Am shopping again for more mirrors, usually in the $50 a pair range. I almost got caught out by the brake lever trapping but caught it in shop sensing slight lack of full return and almost ignored it. Likely non issue of mild drag on pavement but not on THE Gravel.

cmessenk · Apr 27, 2012

I've always thought that "low slung" mirrors would be potentially hazardous 'cause you have to take your eyes so far off of your forward view...things happen in front of you at speed. I use the CRG bar-end mirrors which only take a momentary glance to see what's beside your or coming up beside you...

Of course, IMHO, you should never change lanes without a full head turn to confirm what your mirrors are telling you. Mirrors are great for an initial determination, but the head-turn confirms it's OK to change lanes...relying solely on mirrors alone is a gamble I'm not willing to take...

DogT · Apr 27, 2012

I only use mirrors to generally keep track of what's around me. I always look when changing lanes or turning. But it's good to have some history of what's been happening.

Dave
69S

Side Mirrors

Similar threads