Just to be clear Im not nervous about changing lanes. I said Im nervous about changing lanes without a clear view behind Of course my bike will leave most cars behind but dropping a cog and pinning it is not an option on a busy dual carriage way when all I want to do is slot into a gap between two cars. Your style of riding may be ok on lanes and b roads but busy multi lane city roads need a more cautious approach. IMHO. It seems we have much in common I too am approaching 59 I started on the road in 1973 (tiger cross) I have never been hit from any direction on a bike
I bought these stick-ons mini mirrors for less than a premium cup of coffee at a local auto store. The tape that is supplied does not last very long, so I recommend getting or using a better quality of 2 sided tape to keep them on. But I find they help a lot more. Otherwise, I agree with Pat. Lift the elbows up and have a quick look. Hope that helps...
On a similar vein, if I want rid of the mirrors for bar end items and blank off the fairing mount holes, what options if any do I have for the front indicators?
I'm not concerned about cars, but other bikes. Was turning right by the old BBC building and just as I checked my mirror a dispatch rider nearly took it off as he over took.... He did look back and wave to say "sorry".
dont blame ya if you feel more comfortable/safer being able to see behind at a glance without doin the funky chicken or trying to physically look over your shoulder in a spur of the moment lane change. Im the same... when i got my first bike 30 odd years back, my mates dad, an old biker who helped me get it running, insisted i fit at least a right hand mirror and i thank him for that to this day! i put bar ends on my 748 (small oberon ones) and find them excellent. looking to do the same on the 749 but will have to sort the indicator thing. i did see bar ends a while back with indicators built in but dammed if i can find em now! There are those out there that insist a mirror is of little importance and if they are comfortable without one fair play, but dont compromise if you dont. after all feeling comfortable and confident are arguably the most important aspects of safe riding
Try here Bar End Motorcycle LED Indicators Or here m-Rear 75, rear view mirror 75 mm - Bar End Mirror m-Rear - At Handle Bar I did see some bar end mirrors with LED indicators built into the stem, but I can't remember who made them.
scratch that just seen the pic, for some reason it wasnt there when i posted..?... how do you get on with those mirrors?
no probs with the mirrors. Although I don't understand as they seem to stick out the same length as the OEM ones, think they are more adjustable.
They are Lightech...LighTech Carbon Mirrors Ducati 1199 Panigale 2012 - 2014 Nice and sleek, although my nose fairing is not stock, it was DP CF race one, with no holes, so I could drill the holes into the best position to mount them. Also ditched the chunky plastic mirror mounts you get with these and made my own.
Ive been using these mirrors and they work and look great, they are expensive though. No cutting or drilling as they install the same way as oem.
I have about 500 miles under my belt now with the 'new to me' standard mirrors and I don't really see the problem. Certainly they are no worse than any of my previous sports bikes. All sports machines have terrible mirrors . A quick chicken impression and a glance behind, the good old life saver look is part of the motorcycle test for a reason.
Good for you. When I was young, flexible and skinny, I may well have felt the same. However, these days, I am none of those things. Add to that the fact I now need to wear varifocal glasses that have fuzzy peripheral vision and neither the funky chicken, nor a quick glance behind works for me. I need at least one mirror that is far enough off the centre-line for me to see immediately behind. The Oberon bar end mirror does that nicely. I don't use it all the time but on those occasions when someone skinnier or more flexible will be doing the funky chicken or twisting round, I just glance at the Oberon.
My point is it is not the mirrors at fault, it is sports machines in general. The mirrors here are no worse than my 10r for example, they are shite too The Oberon one would be the I would pick if I was going to, quite discreet and useful. And I ain't skinny by any means, well unless 17st is considered slim these days, ha, thought not.
