Where Should my Mirrors Point?

Didley · Mar 26th 2018, 05:32 PM

"Behind you."

Ha. I said it first...

I have an issue where I cannot see the vehicle behind me without leaning to one side or the other and tucking my arm in. I don't remember that being the case on my sportbikes, but I was wearing less gear and it was easier to move around.

I feel like I need the mirrors to sit out on the bike more. If I tilt them out more, I just see more of the lanes next to me.

Is this a common modification or am I just not used to having to look around so much?

VeritasImageryNW · Mar 26th 2018, 05:54 PM

Not having a visual of how your bars and mirrors sit on your particular bike it's hard to say. When I installed my very low drag bars on my Street Bob I had to get mirrors with longer stocks so that they would provide rearward visibility. That said, if you are running all stock Harley front controls (bars and mirrors) they do make extensions that move the mirrors up and outward. Another option would to be to go with bar end mirrors. Harley even makes them for your bike, but they aren't cheap.

CaptainAwesome · Mar 26th 2018, 05:56 PM

I've had to tuck an elbow and shift on 3 bikes.

VeritasImageryNW · Mar 26th 2018, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainAwesome

I've had to tuck an elbow and shift on 3 bikes.

Yeah, usually Harley mirror placement is much better than most sport bikes. My son's SV650 was actually the first bike I rode with bar-ends and I fell in love with the visibility they have. Have even been considering getting a set for the Harley.

unicykle · Mar 26th 2018, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainAwesome

I've had to tuck an elbow and shift on 3 bikes.

+1 i almost always have to tuck my elbow to see Behind, i find it easier to just slide My ass over a bit and actually turn and look behind, i tryed bar end mirrors and they flat didnt work for me

VeritasImageryNW · Mar 26th 2018, 06:18 PM

The only positive of the Street Bob's stock "mini apes" was the mirror placement. They were up and out there enough that all I had to move to see was my eyes.

Sent via SM-G950U

SilvieFox · Mar 26th 2018, 06:29 PM

mirror extenders are nice, most the people on the versys forum put them on there bikes... personally i just changed my mirrors for some that stick out further

WarpShatner7 · Mar 26th 2018, 07:16 PM

I test rode a Guzzi V9 Bobber that wouldn't show me anything but my shoulders. If I pointed them outward, just like you said, I saw the other lanes but nothing behind me.

Basically if the mirrors are too close together you need to remount or extend them so they can converge on a point somewhere behind you without your own physical person blocking more than a third of the view in each.

(Dealer told me on a future visit that they'd set the mirrors up wrong. I was the first rider to demo it.)

Didley · Mar 26th 2018, 07:36 PM

I have these mirrors on the bike currently: https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...vision-mirrors

They were on it when I bought the bike and looks like others have the same issues. See below from one of the Reviews:

Quote:

Waste Of Money For Expected Use
Good looking mirror, but there is a design flaw. I bought these for my 07 Road King, I was hoping to cut down the blind spot, just as I've done on my cars and trucks. As is stated by other reviewers, you get two identical views through the mirrors. One is simply larger than the other. I had added mini convex mirrors to my OEM to get the blind spot covered. There is a design flaw, a more convex oval mirror could most likely solve the issue. The oval mirror is tilted inboard. Tilting them outboard, would help. Most likely to put the OEM with the Walmart mini convex stuck on them, back on the bike. Disappointed in these.

VeritasImageryNW · Mar 26th 2018, 08:06 PM

Yeah, those are some pretty short stalks. Look at J&P Cycles website, they have a ton of options with longer stalks. These are what I have.

Sent via SM-G950U

Willow · Mar 26th 2018, 10:13 PM

I'm on my second Ducati 848 and I've never been able to see behind me looking through my mirrors and seeing around the outside of my arms. I've always had to look under my armpit. In fact I'm so used to it, when I ride my DRZ, I'm constantly trying to look under the armpit. I think the newer Ducati's have more of an extension on the mirrors now.

That being said........you can always look under the armpit

Pavement Tested · Mar 27th 2018, 02:45 AM

Out of all the bikes I've owned (that being more than 1 and less than 20), that had mirrors on them, my Consours14 is the only one I don't have to move to see behind me. I've just gotten used to tucking my elbow.

Oh, then there's the oldie but goodie move of turning your head and actually looking behind you. That's an all but lost skill these days, no matter what people are operating.

Sentinel · Mar 27th 2018, 06:45 AM

You could let your OEM mirrors show you traffic in adjacent lanes, and perhaps get yourself one bar-end to point directly behind so you can see the light show, should it occur.

its just rain · Mar 27th 2018, 10:22 AM

Go to your brand of bike's forum and see if anyone knows what aftermarket mirrors willl work. I replaced mine and it's like riding a new bike.

Mar 26th 2018, 05:56 PM	#3
CaptainAwesome Jan 2016 WA Harley Davidson LR-S	I've had to tuck an elbow and shift on 3 bikes. Didley likes this.

Mar 26th 2018, 08:06 PM	#10
VeritasImageryNW Jan 2016 Allyn, WA '06 HD Street Bob, '85 Yamaha FJ600, '99 Honda CBR600f4	Yeah, those are some pretty short stalks. Look at J&P Cycles website, they have a ton of options with longer stalks. These are what I have. Sent via SM-G950U Didley likes this.

Mar 27th 2018, 06:45 AM	#13
Sentinel Jun 2016 Poor Tortured 2015 Kawasaki Concours 14 - The Origame Sea-Dragon	You could let your OEM mirrors show you traffic in adjacent lanes, and perhaps get yourself one bar-end to point directly behind so you can see the light show, should it occur. Didley likes this.

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Mar 26th 2018, 06:18 PM	#6
VeritasImageryNW Jan 2016 Allyn, WA '06 HD Street Bob, '85 Yamaha FJ600, '99 Honda CBR600f4	The only positive of the Street Bob's stock "mini apes" was the mirror placement. They were up and out there enough that all I had to move to see was my eyes. Sent via SM-G950U

Mar 26th 2018, 06:29 PM	#7
SilvieFox Jan 2016 welches, Oregon 08Kawasaki Versys(Sylvester),72Suzuki RV90(vanvan),81Honda TwinStar(Bobber),Yamaha225,Honda Shadow	mirror extenders are nice, most the people on the versys forum put them on there bikes... personally i just changed my mirrors for some that stick out further

Mar 27th 2018, 10:22 AM	#14
its just rain Jan 2016 Bothell, WA	Go to your brand of bike's forum and see if anyone knows what aftermarket mirrors willl work. I replaced mine and it's like riding a new bike.