View Full Version : Rear View Mirrors
paterick4o8 April 21st, 2009, 01:02 PM Has anyone found any replacement mirrors that fit our bikes, but don't stick out as much? Like, aftermarket rear view mirrors or even any other mirrors from another bike, that will fit our bikes, and also don't stick out as far..
Reason being is I've actually tapped a couple cars with my mirrors when splitting lanes. Those damn mirrors just stick out so more than I think, so sometimes it's hard to tell if I can split cleanly, and in some cases, have tapped a couple cars.
The only one's I've seen so far that seem to fit my search are the A-Tech ones, but they cost about $400 USD.
If you guys know of any, please post.
OldGuy April 21st, 2009, 01:12 PM I've actually tapped a couple cars with my mirrors when splitting lanes. Those damn mirrors just stick out so more than I think, so sometimes it's hard to tell if I can split cleanly, and in some cases, have tapped a couple cars.
:eek: Why would you split lanes in a parking lot? :rolleyes:
Seriously if you're tapping the mirrors that's got to be way too close. Might also want to consider what message you are sending to cagers about bikers.
Not flaming on you just suggesting -
SteveL April 21st, 2009, 01:21 PM The mirrors don’t stick out far enough to see much anyway and if you are hitting cars with them you will not live long.:eek:
Steve
Snake April 21st, 2009, 01:24 PM I think he gets the point.
paterick4o8 April 21st, 2009, 01:25 PM haha this is just going to turn into a thread to bag on me.
whatevs tho. My splitting skills are clean, if those mirrors weren't as far out, it'd be perfect.
And Steve, unless you're God Himself, I don't believe that.
But if you all insist.. never mind and ignore this thread since I'M GOING TO DIE!!!!!.. someday
Viper-Byte April 21st, 2009, 01:45 PM IMO and I am not saying this to offend anyone.
I was splitting lanes this morning and got went past some cars where there was less than an inch on either side of my mirrors, sure if I hit the mirrors, then they will fold in, but if the mirrors were shorter, then the chances of them being the first thing to hit a car is reduced and will possibly be you knees that hit the car instead. Also, I find the mirrors too short as they are to be able to see behind properly.
paterick4o8 April 21st, 2009, 01:53 PM let me clarify this.. when I say "tap" it's my mirror tapping the car's side view mirror, NOT the actual body of the car.
This happens because side view mirrors on a car are what stick out the most. and if you take your bike and put it next to a sedan for example, you'll notice that our 250R mirrors are at a close enough height to hit a car's side view mirror if you were to split. I never hit a car's window, or side panel, etc.
OldGuy April 21st, 2009, 01:54 PM haha this is just going to turn into a thread to bag on me.
whatevs tho. My splitting skills are clean, if those mirrors weren't as far out, it'd be perfect.
And Steve, unless you're God Himself, I don't believe that.
But if you all insist.. never mind and ignore this thread since I'M GOING TO DIE!!!!!.. someday
Patrick since you haven't been on this particular forum that long you might want to put the shields down for a minute. I don't think any of us are bagging on you personally; if we were you'd see the flame throwers out in full force.
I won't speak for the others just for my self - if someone is splitting lanes and clipping their mirrors I think that is just way to close. Not safe for the rider and just give cagers one more reason to go off about bikers. Just my opinion.
Good luck and I hope I don't read a follow-up on you someday that will be sad.
END THREAD
paterick4o8 April 21st, 2009, 02:10 PM Patrick since you haven't been on this particular forum that long you might want to put the shields down for a minute. I don't think any of us are bagging on you personally; if we were you'd see the flame throwers out in full force.
I won't speak for the others just for my self - if someone is splitting lanes and clipping their mirrors I think that is just way to close. Not safe for the rider and just give cagers one more reason to go off about bikers. Just my opinion.
Good luck and I hope I don't read a follow-up on you someday that will be sad.
END THREAD
No worries oldguy. out of the replies posted, I respect yours the most.
I can see how this thread just makes me sound like a reckless dumbass, but I assure you I am not. My other friend who's a skilled rider took off his mirrors from his Daytona, because he knows how it helps for splitting, although illegal.
And you won't be seeing me on a sad follow-up, you can believe that.
zail April 21st, 2009, 03:52 PM I can see what you are saying about the mirrors - I think it's a height thing that puts them at the same height as car mirror when filtering (as we call lane spliting in the UK!) and when moving through gaps in stationary traffic I have to be careful not to clip car mirrors sometimes but as I'm moving slowly (usually walking speed with 2 rows of stopped traffic) manovering around them is usually no problem.. if it becomes a problem I stop filtering and slip into a convienient gap.... As the rear view in the 250 mirrors is pretty poor anyway I can't see how you'd be able to shorten them and retain any rear view at all - I've out extenders on mine to combat the poor rear view issue. Just my 2p worth.... Good luck whatever you decide to do....
Alex April 21st, 2009, 04:09 PM No way around it, tapping car mirrors is bad form. Not sure moving them in an inch or two will help if you already can't judge whether you're going to hit something. As has already been stated, most owners would like them to be out further to provide a better rear view, and the ninjette's mirrors are by no means wide. As I regularly see Gold Wings split cleanly, and I've never had an issue splitting at speed on my BMW, I'd suggest you just try and be more careful rather than looking for a physical change to the bike.
Jiu Jitsu Player April 21st, 2009, 04:54 PM The only "smaller" mirrors I've seen are the a-techs like you mentioned. Im not sure if those are even smaller or just a different shape. I agree with Alex's comment. Not to doubt your skills or anything but if you misjudge the mirror size enough to tap car mirrors, you're pretty damn close already! I hardly ever split lanes since there are way too many cigarette butts, spit cans being dumped, doors opened suddenly, or combinations of any of these going on to outweigh any benefit of splitting. The other day I almost got into it with a guy who dumped his damn spit can out the window right as I was pulling up next to him. It barely missed my front tire by about a millisecond. I know sometimes accidents happen, but he just started laughing instead of apologizing. Anyways, riding is dangerous enough. No need to take on additional risk from cagers with no regard for bikers safety.
Viper-Byte April 21st, 2009, 05:18 PM Patrick, nobody here is flaming you or bagging you or anything like that, we are just looking out for our own, we are already vulnerable as it is and getting close enough to cars to touch mirors while moving is very dangerous if the cars were to move towards you a little more, you could be seriously hurt, or worse. I really doubt that anyone here would want to see that. :2cents:
Alex April 21st, 2009, 05:42 PM Patrick, nobody here is flaming you or bagging you or anything like that,
Speak for yourself. In a sense he's admitting to multiple hit and run instances, admittedly with likely limited damage. I certainly wish no harm or ill will on Patrick or anyone else for that matter, but the fix here should be a determination to become a better and more alert rider, which will bring him much greater benefits than smaller mirrors. For that to happen, there needs to be some realization that what has already happened isn't "OK". :2cents:
Viper-Byte April 21st, 2009, 05:52 PM Alex, I agree that hitting mirrors is a bad thing and I am not condoning it or anything. I am just saying that we do not want to see anyone of our own (or anyone for that matter) hurt with this as the cause. I fully agree that the fix is to become a better and more alert rider and not a physical change to the bike.
hackeron December 14th, 2010, 07:59 AM Huh? - I don't really understand the flames in this thread. Maybe this is a UK/London thing... I seem to clip my mirrors from time to time, especially against the bigger van mirrors that stick out a hell of a lot.
It seems the biggest problem with the 250r mirrors is they are too high - if they were a tiny bit lower, they would clear the car/van mirrors and I wouldn't keep clipping them.
We are talking about filtering through stationary traffic here or lane splitting maybe 10% faster than very slow moving traffic. In London, filtering is perfectly legal and is the main reason many of us get a bike in the first place. I cut my travel time into London from 3 hours to 40 minutes...
Being a new rider (4 months or so), I am very cautious and don't take risks, I wait to see how 5-10 other riders do it before I attempt it... so after seeing riders on bikes raging from scooters to naked to supersports far larger than mine squeeze through, I follow in my little ninja and occasionally do clip the edge of my mirrors against the mirrors of cars/vans.
I noticed some remove their mirrors altogether, others do something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKYFu4JMGtM - but many bikes seem to have either lower/higher mirrors, or mirrors attached to the handle bar and squeeze through just fine, while I clip the mirrors on my 250R :(
cal95050 December 14th, 2010, 08:58 AM Also, I find the mirrors too short as they are to be able to see behind properly.
I was going to say, I've been thinking about mirrors, but only because I cannot properly see behind me, and I would like to be able to see danger coming up behind me at a light, just in case I can do something about it. I was thinking of moving the mirrors lower, so the view was not obstructed by the arm area, but in tight so that the mirrors don't stick out from the fairings too much. I'm sure Kawasaki engineered the mirrors where they are for a reason, but they don't do much for seeing behind you.
want1sobad December 14th, 2010, 09:05 AM get some cheap, convex "blind spot" mirrors from your local auto parts store. mount them as far out on the corners of the stock mirrors as possible. adjust mirrors approprately. 5 bucks, works for me.
CThunder-blue December 14th, 2010, 09:15 AM I was going to say, I've been thinking about mirrors, but only because I cannot properly see behind me, and I would like to be able to see danger coming up behind me at a light, just in case I can do something about it. I was thinking of moving the mirrors lower, so the view was not obstructed by the arm area, but in tight so that the mirrors don't stick out from the fairings too much. I'm sure Kawasaki engineered the mirrors where they are for a reason, but they don't do much for seeing behind you.
Try positioning the mirror facing your helmet a bit more instead of facing towards the rear traffic area. I found that when I did that, the reflection improved a lot. So much that I barely need to move my arm to see the entire lane behind me within 20'. That's my clutch lever side mirror. My right is an aftermarket mirror that's not convex and doesn't do much. I point it towards my right to catch the cars coming up on my right side in the lane next to me.
I know this thread is old, but I agree with Alex on lane splitting. If you aren't able to judge distances to squeeze between objects, don't do it. There are times when I will come to a complete stop between cars if I feel that there's just not enough room for me to get by without touching their cars. I know that if I'm in my car and some jerk rode by too close and hit my mirror, I'd be pretty pissed off. Be happy that you're legally allowed to lane split/filter. Don't take it for granted because there may come a time when a motorcyclist will clip the side of a politician in his/her SUV and that will upset them enough that they start trying to change legislation allowing the freedom of lane splitting. Just ride considerately and be safe.
SVBS December 14th, 2010, 01:02 PM .....Be happy that you're legally allowed to lane split/filter. Don't take it for granted because there may come a time when a motorcyclist will clip the side of a politician in his/her SUV and that will upset them enough that they start trying to change legislation allowing the freedom of lane splitting. Just ride considerately and be safe.
Yep already happening with the whole EPA approved aftermarket exhaust, can you imagined if they illegalized lanes splitting in CA? Our worst nightmare
KJohnson21 December 14th, 2010, 02:28 PM I know this thread is old, but I agree with Alex on lane splitting. If you aren't able to judge distances to squeeze between objects, don't do it. There are times when I will come to a complete stop between cars if I feel that there's just not enough room for me to get by without touching their cars.
Yep, the lanes of the street that I ride to work are narrow enough that I frequently slow to a shuffling pace, put my feet down, and carefully guide my bike past the cage mirrors. If it's too close then I wait behind them until traffic starts moving. Sometimes one of them will see me and adjust their car so that I can pass. When/if they do that, I try to give them a little wave of thanks.
Whenever I'm lane splitting I try to be as reasonably polite as possible. It all works much better if the cage drivers aren't against me, or maybe even trying to help. Me showing attitude is only going to end up giving me problems.
I know that if I'm in my car and some jerk rode by too close and hit my mirror, I'd be pretty pissed off. Be happy that you're legally allowed to lane split/filter. Don't take it for granted because there may come a time when a motorcyclist will clip the side of a politician in his/her SUV and that will upset them enough that they start trying to change legislation allowing the freedom of lane splitting. Just ride considerately and be safe.
Yep already happening with the whole EPA approved aftermarket exhaust, can you imagined if they illegalized lanes splitting in CA? Our worst nightmare
Yes, we've recently seen what happens when enough bikers say, "Who cares what they think!?!" When the public get annoyed enough, they tell their politicians, and then laws get written and voted on. You can call it the ultimate public opinion poll, "Who doesn't like loud exhaust pipes?" Well, the majority of California voters don't like loud exhaust pipes, and now it's law.
California bikers are very fortunate that the CHP likes lane splitting. They like it so much that they've knocked down bills from politicians a couple of times. That's very good for us, because we probably don't want that privilege to ever get put up for the vote of the general public.
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=62&pictureid=1279
Cedilla December 23rd, 2010, 04:47 AM I really wish lane splitting was legal here.
Sailariel December 23rd, 2010, 11:11 AM For $150 you can have your cake and eat it too. Slikdesignsusa.com has telescoping mirrors that are shorter than the stock mirrors when retracted and longer than stock when extended--giving you a terrific view aft.
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