I want to share how I installed Napoleon bar end mirrors on a 1996 GS500E that does not have hollow bars.
Just a little background on this and why I installed these mirrors. Napoleon bar end mirrors are designed to be installed on hollow bars. They use a bolt attached to a rubber grommet that when tightened will expand inside the bars and hold in place with friction. This would be a quick and extremely easy install if all bikes had hollow bars. There are a few year model GS500E's that do not. I am not sure of which years, but obviously '96 is on the list. With the stock mirrors I could not get a view of the lane behind me. I am not sure if that is a common problem or not, but it made me nervous not being able to see what was behind me, especially when stopping at intersections, etc. I hoped that bar end mirrors would be the most likely cure to this by moving the mirrors further out to the side. This would allow a better view of what is behind me instead of just seeing my elbows.
Now to get the Napoleon mirrors to fit my bars that have a threaded flange just inside the ends of the bars was going to take some conversion of the mirrors. I had found a couple of places where it had been done before but was short on explanation and pictures. I hope that I can explain it better and offer enough photos that others can see how to do it if they are willing to try it.
All that is needed is a set of mirrors, 2 bolt and I used lock washers on the bolts, a Dremel rotary tool with a metal cutting disc, a little patience and at most an hour of time. The bolts you need are 6mm x 40mm and lock washers (optional). If you can find bolts with allen heads would be easier to instill because the hole where the bolts go is narrow and hard to fit a socket into, but it can be done with hex head bolts, which is all that I could find. The most difficult part of this installation is being willing to cut off the excess metal on the mirror. Its not that hard to cut it off, but the hard part is knowing once you start you have just made a $40 item non-returnable. ;)
First, remove the bar end weights and set them aside.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m200/acepharmer/napoleon%20mirrors/IMG_0249.jpg)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m200/acepharmer/napoleon%20mirrors/IMG_0250.jpg)
Next, remove the bolt that comes with the mirror for the normal installation. Remove the rubber grommet and the plastic and metal plate that covers the bottom of the mirror where the adjustment screws are. The adjust screws will be loose, so adjust the stems where you want them and then tighten down the adjustment screws. The next thing I did was to place the little sheet metal cover and the plastic cover back on the bottom of the stem so I could mark where to cut off the metal protrusion. I used a utility knife to score the paint to use a guide where to cut. I came out maybe 1/16" to 1/8' of an inch past the plates then scored the metal.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m200/acepharmer/napoleon%20mirrors/IMG_0254.jpg)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m200/acepharmer/napoleon%20mirrors/IMG_0257.jpg)
Then use your rotary tool with the metal cutting disc and remove the excess metal. Make sure to use your safety glasses of goggles when using the metal cutting discs. These things throw out a lot of sharp metal and occasionally the discs break and the pieces of the disc can cause some serious damage! Then put the 6mm x 40mm bolts thru the hole and thread it into the hole that the bar end weights were attached to. You only need to snug up the bolts to hold them in place. It does not take a lot to hold them where they go and imagine that over tightening the bolts could cause the mirror to break. Then repeat for the other side. It really is that easy!
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m200/acepharmer/napoleon%20mirrors/IMG_0258.jpg)
I hope this helps someone out there that needs to replace their stock mirrors with bar end mirrors.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m200/acepharmer/napoleon%20mirrors/IMG_0263.jpg)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m200/acepharmer/napoleon%20mirrors/IMG_0266.jpg)
Good luck !
Randy
Great write up but the bar inserts come out, they are held in place by a clip.
MODS!!!!!PLEASE STICK THIS OR ADD IT TO THE WIKI UNDER THE MIRROR SECTION.
GREAT HOW TO. :bowdown:
can you take a picture of what those would look like mounted upside down? also, would they provide visibility upside down. I really dislike the stock mirrors on my 2001 and want to go with some bar end mirrors. I saw a ducati with the mounted upside down and liked the look
Quote from: pjm204 on June 01, 2008, 03:02:02 PM
can you take a picture of what those would look like mounted upside down? also, would they provide visibility upside down. I really dislike the stock mirrors on my 2001 and want to go with some bar end mirrors. I saw a ducati with the mounted upside down and liked the look
When you look down you will look directly at your arm.At least I did.
Quote from: erbilabuc on June 01, 2008, 12:26:09 PM
Great write up but the bar inserts come out, they are held in place by a clip.
Can anybody elaborate on this??? Do the bar inserts really come out allowing the mirrors to be mounted without modification?
Thanks in advance!
Quote from: Jerka on June 20, 2008, 11:57:19 AM
Quote from: erbilabuc on June 01, 2008, 12:26:09 PM
Great write up but the bar inserts come out, they are held in place by a clip.
Can anybody elaborate on this??? Do the bar inserts really come out allowing the mirrors to be mounted without modification?
Thanks in advance!
I never saw any clips on mine - looked like the nutserts were welded inside the bars.
Heres what I did for bar ends - kinda ghetto rigged as I just held the weights on my bench grinder and took em down haha. I need to get some roundstock and turn it in a mill and then powdercoat black for a nice finish but ehhh... same result as that for now.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r58/SandInspiredKustomz/99GS500E/DSC06131.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r58/SandInspiredKustomz/99GS500E/DSC06132.jpg)
There are lots of bikes that do not have hollow bars. I do not know why a manufacturer of bar end weights does not make replacements the grooves already on them to attach mirrors like you did.
Good work!!
Randy