Bar end mirrors....the CORRECT way to mount them

Bar end mirrors are pretty cool and can make an older bike appear more sporty. You get what you pay for when buying them. Cheap=crappy mirrors and so on.
The main caveat of most bar end mirrors is how they mount to the bike. Generally, you get an expanding style widget that you would assume would be adequate to hold the mirrors in place. The majority of the time, it's not.
The mirrors are prone to a lot of constant vibration through the handlebars which, sooner or later, shakes them loose.
The only way to mount them, once and for all, safely, correctly and permanently is to tap out the handlebar end and use an aluminim threaded insert to hold them. You can easily find the tapping kits from multiple vendors. This is the same system used on enduro or dual sport bikes to attach brush/ hand guards on the bars. It honestly works. Done deal.

this is the kit with a 5/8" tap, aluminum or nylon inserts and stainless steel fastening bolts $20.00


Tap out your aluminum bars about an inch and a quarter in

install the aluminum insert with thread locker


Bar end mirror mount with thread
locker

mount, position and tighten real good. Assure that your throttle isn't hanging up and operates freely.


Install your mirror.

I have another bike with aluminum clip-ons and the bar end mirrors loosening up on a regular basis was beyond annoying. Tapping the ends out was the fix, once and for all.
This method works great. They stay put, period. No more lost or useless mirrors and one less thing to f#$< with.

NOTE: THE PICTURED KIT STATES IT ONLY WORKS ON 7/8" ALUMINUM HANDLEBARS. TAPPING KITS FOR STEEL BARS MAY REQUIRE A DIFFERENT SIZE TAP AND INSERT.

 

Good writeup. Thank you.

Your note of caution is only partially correct. That method only works on bars that have plugs welded into each end. You can drill and tap steel bars just as easily as aluminum.
The factory Yamaha bars are only plugged on the throttle end. A plug could be welded in to the other side easily enough however.
The aftermarket aluminum bars I have are hollow the whole way through. I've been telling myself for 20 years that I'll save up for a spool gun so I can quickly change over to weld aluminum, but I probably never will.

 

Right you are.
I stand corrected and edited my post to be more correcterorish.

 

You didn't need to change anything about your post.

 

Good idea

I've always bought the Halcyon bar end mirrors, ran them on three different bikes so far, they do use a expanding thingy but once done up I haven't had to adjust it or had them come loose, you can also fold them in to squeeze past things
http://classicpartsltd.com/classic-...cycle-mirrors/830-halcyon-bar-end-mirror.html

 

I've been running with the black Oberon Performance Streetfigher bar end mirrors on two of my bikes. I like them because they are solid, the mirror size (60mm) and the multiple mounting positions.



FYI:
I guess the expanding widget thingy has a technical name, which is "collet".

 

i just made this up as i went
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ntluADWE5ruCCNVpms2cabXJca95KuuQ
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1B4IlaLy_-mQgwz8K-_NkqjkCZNALU5VI

i don't know what to collet