[ilnam]

Just wondering how your side mirrors compare to a cars. And do you like them? The placement of my ’07 GS500F mirrors are good, but the actual mirrors are much worse than my cars. Objects definitely don’t appear closer than they really are, in fact, it’s the opposite. I’m trying to find some better ones, but maybe that’s just how motorcycle mirrors are?

[Andrew]

My Ninja mirrors are not as good as my car. They give me a good view of my elbows though. It has made me realize how much I rely on the rear view mirror, rather than the side mirror, in the car.

[Andrew]

The directly behind me is where I want to be able to see though. I want to know if someone is there.

[Rupmisc]

I have seen some motorcycle mirrors which are OK, but they don’t come close to a car’s. Unless you have a rear pointing camera and a heads up display, that is.

[Andrew]

Dude. Just mount a camera under the rear cowl and have a mini lcd mounted on your handle bars. That would be sweet.

[Munch]

Adjust the mirrors to where you can barely see the outer edge of your arm…. need to see behind ya… get your arm outta the way and slightly adjust your positioning in the lane. If your stopped at an intersection… just assume there is someone there.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Matt]

On my interceptor to ever see anything other than my elbows I had to pull my elbow in against my ribs anytime I made a mirror check. I still do that on my ZZR and I with my mirror setup (elbow taking up about 1/3 of the visible space in the mirror in neutral riding position) and I can see most the way behind me. Simple physics says you’ll never be able to see directly behind you unless your mirrors are pretty far out. But thankfully, cars are pretty big things and take up a lot of space. I have yet to be surprised by a car directly behind me (now, a car passing me at high speed, so much so that I never saw him coming in my side mirror between mirror checks- that has happened a few times).
—
“The two seconds between ‘Oh S**!’ and the crash isn’t a lot of practice time.”

[Andrew]

I was passed at high speed last weekend on a country road and is surprised the crap out of me. I was doing frequent checks to make sure the guy I was riding with was behind me. I saw him but not the Buick that overtook the both of us in one shot.

[ScottyJ]

My mirrors are okay, I guess, but I ALWAYS turn and look before changing lanes, whereas in my big truck with dual mirrors, I very seldom turn to check. Basically I can see everything in the truck mirrors while, unbelievably, it’s very easy NOT to see cars in my motorcycle mirror. So my unsolicited advice is do NOT trust your mirrors alone on your scoot. You risk a lot more than a dent in your fender.

[Munch]

They drill into you in MSF (or atleast mine) and in the licensing tests to do a head check. Not sure why you wouldn’t before lane changes anyway, may as well play Russian roulette. On a bike is not the time to get lazy for the sheer convenience of not turning your head.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Andrew]

I did the arm tuck last night while riding and was very happy with the results. On my Ninja I can practically see everything behind while doing it and moving around the land should get the rest. Great tip.

[Clenzer72]

I can get more behind me by raising my elbow and looking throuch my arm and torsoe.

[Andrew]

I assume you mean look through with your mirror? It can’t be safe to do it using your head.

[Author]

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