Bar End Mirrors - The Debate!

[Easy-X]

On the one hand OEM "on a stalk" mirrors are right in your eye line and you can see what's behind you with minimum effort and on the other hand OEM mirrors are right in your eye line and obstruct forward vision

Yes, bar end mirrors might look aesthetically neater than, as the haters say, "antlers" but you will likely have to spend fractionally longer to scrutinise them Comparatively similar to side mirrors on a car though. I'm struggling to find any academic research on the topic specifically for motorbikes.

Are people noticing dangers coming up behind them with peripheral vision? i.e. OEM mirror placement would be better. Or is it solely mirrors are used on an as-needed basis. Personally the only time I'd need to notice what's behind me is around Box Hill as that's the only place anyone's going to overtake me, the Deliveroo boys can eat my dust in the City
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Rob W]

The bar end mirrors I've fitted on the GSX absolutely shit all over the stock ones and they were only some cheap Amazon jobbies. I can actually see what's behind me now, rather than my arms.
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'16 GSX-S1000F

[stinkwheel]

One more for your list. Under the bars. Like they have on the pan euros.
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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.

[Freddyfruitba...]

But there's no debate to be had - why does it have to be one or the other?

Simples:

https://ragtimecyclist.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/mod-scooter-mirrors-photo-greeting-card-3017067-1600.jpg
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[stinkwheel]

[Easy-X]

[Nobby the Bastard]

The reason for bar mirrors or lower mirrors is because most high mirrors just show your elbows if they are just there to deal with the legalities.

They have to stick out a long way and aren't asthetically pleasant or aerodynamic if they don't just show your elbows.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Bhud]

Riding old bikes, I just don't like bar-end mirrors. They give less visibility, they can vibrate and rotate around (if held in by rubber friction cushions) and they introduce uncertainty when filtering. I've had them on a couple of bikes in the past, and I put them on those bikes just for looks. Would high end ones have been better? Probably, but still there would have been less visibility. I don't mind the antlers at all. Really good antlers are unfashionable but have good rear visibility, and you know where the ends of your hands are, so you don't have to inch forward looking side to side when filtering. Big antlers make me feel better when joining an A-road or motorway. Just one or maybe two lifesaver glances over my right shoulder, and I can check it's clear and be safe. Also, when overtaking. These considerations are probably less important on a new and very powerful bike where you need less margin of error. A lot of vintage bike riders go without mirrors altogether, but I think that's the wrong path.

[Easy-X]

Fair enough, the Old Fella's KZ1000 would look a bit odd with bar end mirrors And in my experience vibration felt through handlebars (and in turn affecting the mirrors) is much, much worse on agricultural engines like Harleys or old Triumphs
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[MCN]

I fitted a 'quality' one to a Kwaker I used to play on.
Shyite.

The bar vib on the Kwak parallel twin was too much and the fickung thing vibrated off. Glass pooped out the plastic holder.

ER650F
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[jonquirk]

Both my G310R and R60/7 had mirrors on stalks. I could adjust them to provide a good view behind me but both sets suffered from vibration at some speed or other, when they were effectively useless.

My Trident 660 has bar end mirrors. I can see behind and they don’t vibrate at any speed I have ridden.

I fitted Oxford bar end mirrors to the R60/7. View is good and no vibration. The only criticism I have is that they are a little smaller than I would like. I may seek out a bigger pair soon.
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2021 Triumph Trident660
1978 BMW R60/7

[stinkwheel]

For what it's worth, I have a Bumm bar end mirror on my big Enfield and it's fine. The optics of it are excellent and unlike any other mirrors I've had on an Enfield, I can mostly see things in it even when at higher revs and it's failed to snap itself off within a couple of thousand miles.

Bumm were some of the best mirrors you could get back in the 70's and 80's. The actual mirror glass itself is considered to be of very high optical quality. They still make them, mine is the pivot mirror.
https://www.bumm.de/en/products/spiegel-motorrad-und-moped.html
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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.

[jonquirk]

I had Bumms on my R60/7 (until I broke one). I may replace it and take the too small bar end mirrors off. I do wonder if a small annular mass can be added to the mirror stalk and moved up or down to a point where the worst vibrations are damped out. It may be time to experiment.
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2021 Triumph Trident660
1978 BMW R60/7

[A100man]

[A100man]

[Feasty]

I've considered bar mirrors as I've got extra wide shoulders and antlers never seem to be able to rotate back enough to see round them!

But I do a lot of filtering and most of the time my handlebars will miss car mirrors with mm's to spare, so these would just get in the way.

The TDM900 I've got now has excellent mirrors, far better than most of my previous bikes so I'm happy to stick with these.
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[DaddyStu]

My 'bar-ends' aren't as good as the stock antennae types at being mirrors but they look way cooler! and match for colour. Whats behind me is usually getting smaller anyway.
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Daddystu
Zontes 125-G1 (part-ex'd). Yamaha Tracer 700.

[Easy-X]

[jeffyjeff]

[WD Forte]

I might get some of them Bumm Boi mirrors for my scooty

(jus sayin......)
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bikers smell of wee

[jeffyjeff]

[Skudd]

I've grown up with stalk mirrors, got used to adjusting so that they only clip my elbows and I know my blind spots. Bar end mirrors just look daft. Fixed fairing mirrors are ok. Bar end mirrors are still daft.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Polarbear]

[A100man]

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

Mirrors? Not used them since my Mod 2
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PRESENT: 2018 BMW S1000XR SE Sport.
PAST: 2009 Kawasaki ER-6F. 2021 Zontes ZT-125U.