Dang Mirrors

[ambrose78]

Ever since owning my bike, the only regular major riding annoyance is the mirrors. Mine keep folding in, therefore negating any benefit of being a mirror in the first place.

The right one is okay, It generally will stay put for a while unless adjusted, the left one lasts tops 2 minutes (even after tightening as much as possible) before folding in. I have tried changing washer styles, and combination of washers and lock washers - to no avail. On closer inspection it seems that the left hand side one has come to trouble previous owners as well since the fixing method has been changed to bolt up through the lever into the mirror shaft that has been tapped to accept the bolt.

Either way something needs to be done as it is pretty annoying and dangerous.

  Is better to find a replacement left hand mirror and stalk stalk or get some after market ones? Perhaps a set of cafe racer style bar end mirrors.

Has anyone used these bar end mirrors? Are they as good to use in practice?  Are they difficult to fit?

Or would it be better to keep the mickey mouse ear mirrors?

Cheers

P.

[nhmaf]

I have a set of Napolean bar end mirrors on my R65LS.   Originally my US-market bike had tall/wide handlebars for the US market, which looked kinda silly to me with an otherwise cafe-racer style of bike. I put on shorter Euro-spec bars, and then of course the mirrors that came on the bike with the tall handlebars weren't the right height to see behind me.  I put on the Napoleans and they look sharp, but they may requrie some fiddling to install.  The left mirror goes on fine and pretty much stays in place well.  The right mirror required trimming down the throttle grip and shoving the throttle assembly as far "inboard" as possible so that the mirror's expanding rubber plug (Expands against inside of handlebar tube) wouldn't also expand against and cause drag on the throttle tube.   I didn't want to make the throttle tube any shorter, but managed to achieve a compromise.   The right hand mirror requires a bit of readjustment almost every ride but it isn't too bad.  In generally I like them, the rubber mounting ends up providing a bit clearer image of what's behind me, though they aren't everyone's cup of tea. A good set of taller rearview mirrors might provide better viewing range/area, but the vibration would probably cause greater blurring

[aussie]

I love my bar ends - very little, to no vibration - and you can actually see something other than your arms/shoulders. The bike came with them and I really want to upgrade to Halcyon.

http://www.classicpartsltd.com/classicmotorcyclemirrors.htm

Bit pricey though, but I think well worth it - I'm saving up right now. It is actually cheaper to buy them from England and get them shipped to Oz than it is to buy them here..... Steve H has them on his bike and look quite snappy.

[Darwin_R65]

Mine came with bar end mirrors, and I must say I'm quite impressed in them. At 6'3" and 120KGS, I'm a little larger (wider) than your average rider, but these give me a good clear view rearward. Only problem I have is I need to adjust them every time I ride, but that's more to do with 3 year old son swinging off them as he walks past.

John

[ambrose78]

Thanks guys,

Bar ends it is. Can't wait as I reckon they'll look awesome.  

[ambrose78]

They're on! What a difference. The increased rearward vision is amazing.

old pesky fold em up mirrors


Bar ends in place


love the lower profile

[MrRiden]

Muy Bueno!
A little late but just to confirm, I love my bar end mirrors. Put 'em on every bike I have!!
rich

[Melena]

Ah yes!  Much nicer Aussie Pete!  The bar-end mirrors were on my bike when I got it too.  They work great.  And as others have said, the right mirror does seem to need a bit more adjusting than the left one.  I'll be retightening them when I put on my new grips, whenever I decide which ones to get.

Let us know how they work over time.  I'm interested in knowing how well they stay in place for you.  My old ones would get loose and get blown out of place from the wind.  But my new ones seem to be working just fine.  

[Justin B.]

Pete, your old mirrors don't look to be BMW mirrors...

[ambrose78]

Pete, your old mirrors don't look to be BMW mirrors...

That might explain a bit....

[aussie]

<Does a double take>

Did you change the pictures?

The mirrors look good Pete. What make are they?

And just as a matter of interest, do you have the panniers that go with that frame - I'd love to see 'em. Almost look like an Adventure style....

Are you looking for some side covers?

[ambrose78]

Hey Aussie,

Did you change the pictures?

Well spotted. After reading Justin's post about images and server space, I uploaded some photos to photobucket to put them in as a hyperlink. afterwhich I deleted the original photo's from the post. In the process I swapped one of the images for a better one.

The mirrors look good Pete. What make are they?

I think they are the Nepolean ones shipped in generic MCT packaging. Made in Taiwan.

I bought them from the old british bike shop "Modak Motorcycles" on Elizabeth st in Melbourne as I was in melbourne for a few days over easter and they were the only ones to have them instock.

It is a pretty amazing shop with all the old parts to look at.

And just as a matter of interest, do you have the panniers that go with that frame - I'd love to see 'em. Almost look like an Adventure style....

This is the bike fully dressed.






The frame and the side panniers I bought from ebay. They have the wierdest keys I have ever seen. The top box came with the bike and keyed to suit, along with a black rack. the top box is really super handy so I put it on the chrome rack.

Are you looking for some side covers?

Yes at some stage if they don't cost too much.

Also wondering what I can do about the handle bar dash. Mine is not in the best of conditions and I also wouldn't mind getting something that looks a bit more cafe racer if such a thing will fit the bike.

[nhmaf]

There is a small BMW fairing kit which some folks have on their bikes which was designed to fit the R45, R65 bikes.  Here is a pick - I think that you can still order these but they will be pricey - occasionally they show up used but not too abused on ebay and BMW-specific websites:


There are also S-style fairings (both BMW original and several 3rd party knock-offs) which will work also.  Here is a popular knock-off in the USofA that I've borrowed from one of MrRiden's posts in another thread:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/SPORT-STYLE-FAIRINGS/GP_2000644_N_111+10211+600014200_10111.jcw
 And if you really like, our buddy Trolle in Denmark can tell you how to modify the mounting hardware to fit a whole RS fairing on there if you like...

[Justin B.]

Aussie, there really isn't an issue with storage space anymore as the new hosting package has solved that issue which is why there is now a member phot9o gallery available to post your pics to...

[ambrose78]

Thanks Justin.