Bar End Mirrors

[shonole]

You know why I like the smaller bar end mirrors other than looks? It forces me to shoulder check. I can still see enough behind me in them to get myself outta trouble but changing lanes it is unbelievable how many cars will sit in your blind spot.

With proper sized, properly adjusted mirrors, a shoulder check is not necessary.  That said, I still perform one regardless, as you can never be too careful.  I even perform one in my car.

For those who aren't sure how to properly adjust mirrors:

But the next time you get on your bike, work out where your blind spot is.   To do this correctly, adjust your mirrors and you should get some parallax behind you:  i.e. the view in the mirrors should just cross!  The mirrors should be set high enough for a good view behind, without the need to see the road surface directly behind.   Remember that even Noddy's car is a couple of feet high, so you do not need that too low.  Now get someone to walk from the front of you to the limit of your peripheral vision (whilst you are still looking forward), mark the limit point with a cone, and now get the person to walk from directly behind you towards that spot until you lose them in the mirrors.   Mark this spot with another cone: that area between the two cones is you blind spot.  Remember that you only ever need to turn your head to see the rearmost cone and this can be reduced even more by bending your arms and leaning forward slightly, altering the view into the mirror. 

[mister]

Shoulder checking does more than let you see if a car is in your blind spot, it also alerts the other drivers that you are about to change lanes - they have learned that headcheck means lane change from seeing all riders do it. So, let them know in addition to your indicator.

Michael

[shonole]

Shoulder checking does more than let you see if a car is in your blind spot, it also alerts the other drivers that you are about to change lanes - they have learned that headcheck means lane change from seeing all riders do it. So, let them know in addition to your indicator.

Michael

Not here they haven't.  Indicate/headcheck/hand signal, none of them make a difference.  I'd still suggest performing a headcheck, but it's not an absolute necessity.  Either way, if you're performing a headcheck or not, I'd still prefer larger mirrors to smaller ones.

[slipperymongoose]

Are you fricken insane? Always dude shouldercheck! The time you don't check is the time you swipe into a car or worse. Plus it works with the theory of looking where you want to go.

[shonole]

Are you fricken insane? Always dude shouldercheck! The time you don't check is the time you swipe into a car or worse. Plus it works with the theory of looking where you want to go.

No, I'm not insane.  And yes, it is smart to do.  But it's not an absolute, 100% necessity.  Properly adjusted mirrors will do as much, if not more for you than a shouldercheck will any day of the week.  I'm not saying DON'T shoulder check, more harping on the advantages of properly sized/adjusted mirrors.

[slipperymongoose]

Mirrors never give you 100% rear vision. No matter how you adjust your wings there will always be a blind spot. That's what is drummed into everyone down here and hence shoulder check. Down here don't do a shoulder check while lane changing or pulling into traffic from a parallel park etc, and you fail your test and no license.

[J_Walker]

Mirrors never give you 100% rear vision. No matter how you adjust your wings there will always be a blind spot. That's what is drummed into everyone down here and hence shoulder check. Down here don't do a shoulder check while lane changing or pulling into traffic from a parallel park etc, and you fail your test and no license.

Funny you say this, Actually with my band end mirrors. If I look at the right one, I can see cars in my left hand blind spot, If I look in the left ones I can see my right hand blind spot, its what I actually like about my mirrors.

[Twisted]

Mirrors never give you 100% rear vision. No matter how you adjust your wings there will always be a blind spot. That's what is drummed into everyone down here and hence shoulder check. Down here don't do a shoulder check while lane changing or pulling into traffic from a parallel park etc, and you fail your test and no license.

Yep my instructors last words when we finished our class was "Now remember, shoulder check, shoulder check, shoulder check. Even when you don't need to, shoulder check!"

The more you move on your bike the more visible you become.

[J_Walker]

Mirrors never give you 100% rear vision. No matter how you adjust your wings there will always be a blind spot. That's what is drummed into everyone down here and hence shoulder check. Down here don't do a shoulder check while lane changing or pulling into traffic from a parallel park etc, and you fail your test and no license.

Yep my instructors last words when we finished our class was "Now remember, shoulder check, shoulder check, shoulder check. Even when you don't need to, shoulder check!"

The more you move on your bike the more visible you become.

I even tell my girlfriend to look when she knows I'm turning and if she see's something smack the back of my helmet once. Twice, means I took the wrong turn ^_^

[Charles]

No comments as to mirrors, but that is one of the coolest GS's I've ever seen.  What kind of muffler is that?

[shonole]

No comments as to mirrors, but that is one of the coolest GS's I've ever seen.  What kind of muffler is that?

I wish I knew.  I love it.  I think I'm going to paint mine black with high temp paint.

[shonole]

Very nice throw a pic up and let us know how they go.

Got them in today.  They look to be quite good quality.  They won't be installed until next week, as I'm waiting for my 719s to come in first.  I'll take some pics once they're on.