New mirrors or mirror extensions?

eBay link to extender

Which is the best way to go?
I like the stock mirrors, but I can't see anything.

So....
New longer and wider mirrors or the extenders?
Close to the same price? Will there be vibration issues?
Will the extensions be enough?
Do they make longer stock looking mirrors?

 

I got the reproduction stock replacements for my '82 XJ750 Maxim from JC Whitney really cheap and I find them way easier to see than the originals. Don't know if it will be the same for you, but they really helped me out.

 

As of right now, all I can see is arms. No good.

If I want to see if cars are behind me, I have to lean off to the side. no good.

 

brother I feel your pain. When I put low bars on my 550 Secas, suddenly the stock mirrors provide me with a good view of... myself. I left the stockers on my '81 until I can figure out longer chrome stalks; for my '83 since I wanted black anyway, I started shopping.

I got a set of nifty-looking EMGO "Long GP" Yamaha-pattern mirrors; they looked great but didn't work so hot. Absolutely would NOT stay put at 70mph; I kept ending up looking at the stripe on the pavement after a few miles. The pictures of the black bike in my gallery show these.

More shopping.

I tried a set of RoadHawk GP mirrors, although they appeared similar to the EMGO "Long GP" they were no wider than stock, just uglier.

More shopping.

I ended up with a set of these: http://www.babbittsonline.com/pages/cat ... irror.aspx

Although a bit "moderne" for my taste, they are nice and wide and give a great field of vision. The adjuster ball is good and stiff and I've had no problems with them creeping out of adjustment.

Unless I find something a little more "traditional" these are keepers.

here they are on the bike:

 

I put FJ600 mirrors on my Seca 900, they stick out more than the stock 900 mirrors and I can see really well behind me now.

 

I really like how the bike is pictured leading the train................

 

I don't really like any of the replacement mirrors.......some nice tall chrome ones would be nice.....help a guy be seen.

I have yet to find any mirrors that would appear to be longer in the stem.

May just have to the the extenders a shot.

 

I have kind of the same problem... I'm probably a bit wider in the upper body than Yama's engineers had in mind when they designed the mirrors. I was almost getting used to leaning to see behind me, until I rode my dad's Fat Boy for a couple of days and felt like I had eyes in the back of my head all of a sudden.

I might try the extenders; I haven't seen an aftermarket mirror yet that feels as secure as the OEM ones, but the extensions look solid enough that they just might work...

 

I just saw some that come straight up......
More Extenders

 

I had the same problem. looked at my elbows for years.
The only mirrors I could find that had longer stems were 10" as apposed to 7" and had 3" round mirrors on them.
I couldn't see my XJ with these perched up front.
So I went with bar end mirrors.
Above 5K everything turns to a colored mosh in the mirror.
Below 5K they work great.

 

I bought the extensions. We'll see how that works. I will report back.

If that doesn't, bar ends will be my next choice.

(nice zappa avatar!)

 

Please do, I'm very interested. I was looking at bar end mirrors too, except that all of the reports I've heard on those said, at best, the same thing as TheHound re: the vibration issues, and at worst, that they wouldn't stay in place at all.

 

82xj: I bought a set of bar ends for my bike, since the stock mirrors couldn't see anything once I put clubmans on. They work great, I've never had an issue with them moving out of adjustment or vibrating, and having them on cuts down on the vibrations I get through the handlebars so my hands don't tingle. I bought a set from a local motorcycle shop, they cost about twice as much as the ones for sale on e-bay but they are heavy, and have a good solid feel to them.

 

Jon, did you get them at Dillon's Power Sports? I may need to make a trip to Omaha if so.

 

If you decide to go with bar end mirrors you should consider the Napolean brand bar end mirrors. If you do wind up getting them your poor visibility to the rear days will be over. And they look pretty cool too.

 

Greg, I did. They used to be to the back left hand corner of the store but I have no idea where they moved everything when they got out to their new location.

 

Well, the extenders showed up today......from overseas. Pretty quick considering.

Just installed them. Can't ride, since it's raining pretty good.
Installation was cake. nice big allen heads on the screws, and tight fitting threads on the extender. They include the left handed thread for the right mirror.

Anyway, from how I had them set in the garage....I set up a garbage can directly behind me about 6 ft away. I could actually see the entire garbage can via both mirrors (about half in each). Before all I could see was my arms, and I had to lean to see behind me. Great improvement.

As for vibration, I can't really say....since I haven't ridden yet. I rev'd up to 4k-ish and didn't notice any blur in the mirror.

So far, A+. I'll report back after I get a ride in.

Here are some terrible pics....

You can see the garbage can.

 

After much WD40 and a belt sander, I managed to get bar end mirrors on my XJ. Looks great and I really feel like I have better vision all around. Thought you might want to have a look: