Bar end mirrors....

[Nash GT]

Best thing ever or unnecesary ballache?

Looking for reccomendations.

I recently picked up a Bandit 600 commuter, the mirrors are aesthetically ok but functionally dog shit!
they come loose when at any spirited speeds and as such become utterly useles shortly after joining the motorway.
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Suzuki GSF600N

[arry]

[Nash GT]

[raesewell]

What does stetically mean?
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[droog]

Applying some non-permanent thread-lock like Locktite 243 should stop your mirrors from coming loose.

I've never used bar end mirrors - but as mentioned if you filter a lot through tightly packed city traffic then personally I would shy away from anything that made the bars even just a few inches wider.

[Nash GT]

[Nash GT]

[Hong Kong Phooey]

I've never owned a bike with bar end mirrors, filtering would be my main issue.

Single stalk mirrors normally have a locknut arrangement on the bottom. Admittedly it can still come loose on vibey bikes, if you add a second locknut that helps, sometimes you need to extend the thread with a die.
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'81 CG125, '97 FZS600 : '99 CBR600F4, '09 KTM RC8

[droog]

[Tdibs]

I use folding bar ends on my divvy, they are a lot better than stock for me. Wider field of view, filtering is actually easier as they fold in flush, the flag style stock ones were actually wider and were a pain in the ass to get past van mirrors.


Might be a bit of a faff depending on your bar setup though, make sure you keep some kind of bar end weight on there too.
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[stinkwheel]

You can sometimes mount mirrors UNDER the handlebar (depending on how knobbly your knees are and the bike geometry). This can actually give you a better field of view once you get used to them being there.

The newer pan-euros have very low down mirrors on the fairing that look under the handlebars. Keeps your elbows out of the field of view for one thing.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Nash GT]

Thanks all for the various replies, will try a few of the suggestions and report back
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Suzuki GSF600N

[1198]

I spent longer trying to get the bar end mirrors tight and not falling off than I did riding when I had them fitted to my bike. They weren’t the best field of view either being too small, but I thought they looked better. In the end they both dropped off and not replaced (although the mounts / bar end weights are still there).
To be fair though they weren’t the best ones on the market by a long way. Buy cheap, buy twice...
It’s rather awkward riding without them too (though not required for mot time). I ride this particular bike very little in towns / dual carriageway / motorway conditions, but when I’ve ending up doing so it’s been a bit awkward.

[-]

You spelt "bell" wrong in the topic title.
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Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 Sport R, VW Transporter T5 GP LWB Shuttle 140ps DSG.

[matto]

They're an absolute PITA for filtering, an extra couple of inches at exactly the same height as most car door mirrors on my Thruxton.

They do give a really good view of the road behind though.

[Kentol750]

The Pan European mirrors proved that position wasn't important. Bar end mirrors win for the cool hipster look. Don't work for filtering at all. Clip the odd van or car mirror now and again with my normal ones. A wave or a stop to sort out is often enough. Clipping and losing control is my worry with bar fitted ones. (Oh, and the bar weight issue.)
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Some bikes.

[stinkwheel]

[wr6133]

Best bar end mirror I've ever used are the standard fitment on my Continental GT, infact they are the only ones I've ever used that are not just a shit vibrating mess.

£90 to buy though https://accessories.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/32690?ref_page=535%20Continental%20GT

[raesewell]

I always found bar end mirrors OK unless you are filtering, then they are a distraction.
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[grr666]

Oberon.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
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[1198]

[stinkwheel]

[Polarbear]

[c_dug]

Back when I first started commuting through London I had an old Steelie Cbr600F with a single Oberon style mirror on the right hand bar. That thing was an incredible filtering tool, and the single Oberon was considerably narrower than a pair of standard mirrors, also because the bars were quite low it still tended to pass under the vast majority of car mirrors.

I put the other style bar end mirrors (the long thin type) on my Diversion 900. Standing them straight upright kept the width to a minimum and again was an improvement on standard mirrors. I'd turn them 90° for motorways and stuff, but since the majority of my riding was filtering the narrow view behind me wasn't an issue.

Anyway, now I'm doing the exact same commute on an R1200GS which must be getting on for a good 1/3 wider than my CBR. My commute isn't any longer or more stressful, I just ride in a different way. Obviously I won't get through the same width gaps as the CBR, but the turning circle on the GS at walking speed is truly fantastic and I'll often turn across the front of a car in standstill traffic and see the bike behind not make it through the same gap.
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