Single mirror vs. Two mirror

Just looking for some operating experience here. I'm swapping the buckhorn bars on my xj650 for some Daytona bars. I'm not turning it into a cafe racer or bobbing it or anything, I just didn't like the riding position of the buckhorns.

I'm pretty much done with the conversion, save for one thing. I only have a bar end mirror fitted to the left side. I have two on hand, I could fit a mirror to the right, but I am apprehensive about the throttle sticking due to rubbing on the mirror. Does anyone have experience running with only one mirror? I've checked state laws and they mandate "at least one", so I'm fine legally, but has anyone done this and really wished they still had two?

What have you found to be your experience with just one? I check mirrors and then shoulder check anytime I change lanes, so I'm pretty confident it won't take me by surprise.

If there is an aftermarket throttle grip or grip pair I could spring for, I'm not opposed to it.

 

Two mirrors can be adjusted so you can see the entire road behind you. A single mirror cannot. I prefer two mirrors, and check my mirrors as part of my normal scan of the road while riding. Only checking before changing lanes is denying you a lot of information about your surroundings.

Normally the throttle side bar end mirror will be installed with a gap between the bar end and the grip. If you need to you can trim the end of the right grip (and the throttle tube if needed) so the mirror does not rub on it.

 

@k-moe I thought about cutting it, but if I'm going that route I'd almost rather buy another set of grips so I can always go back to stock. I don't want to hack up original equipment too much.

Not terribly sure why I'm so hung up on that, so many parts have been replaced on this so it's not like the bike is purely from 1981, but most of what I've done has been in the spirit of keeping it looking and acting like it did when it was made.

 

Well you do have to cut out the end of the grip anyway don't you?
Do a search for Grand Turismo grips. There are a few places that sell replicas. Using those was a period modification, so you can cut them and save your original grips (the nubs on the end of the throttle tube will need to be shaved off, but nobody will ever see them).

 

you can slide the grip on the throttle tube a little after you cut the end off. if you need to you can loosen the whole right control and move it farther up the bars.
don't push the mirror into the bar all the way. spray some silicone on the bar so the tube spins easily, and how can the throttle stick if you have your hand on it.

 

I spend a fair amount of time in some rough parts of Pittsburgh. By which I mean the streets have craters and not pot holes. I've been bounced out of my seat more times than I can count, and I've had my grip shaken a few times. I like that the throttle returns to null instead of keeping revs up after that. If all goes well, keeping control is simple. I'd like the bike to slow down if my control of it is ever shaky for safety's sake. That way I can live to shake my fist at road maintenance another day.

@k-moe I think I'll order a pair to cut down. The ones I've been seeing are very affordable, so I don't think it is a silly expense. Thanks for the direction on that.

 

I run with one small bar end mirror and it's not an issue for me. I've always ridden (and taught) with the mindset that mirrors are for seeing things that are a long way behind you. You need to look over your shoulder on both sides if you want to see what's close regardless of how many mirrors you have. When I see people just checking their mirrors and changing lanes I know it's just a matter of time before they slam into that car in the blind-spot they didn't see. I've heard people say they don't want to move their heads on the highway but this is when it's even move important - speeds is higher and with wider roads the blind spot area increases exponentially.

The process should be - check mirror for anything coming at you fast from distance - blinker on - shoulder check - mirror again - shoulder again - move over - blinker off - other shoulder check. One mistake I see all the time is people moving over while slowing down. When you change lanes even if you're going from fast to slow you should always try and accelerate into the lane you're moving into - unless there's no room but if you're in that situation you made a mistake already.

I also make a habit of trying to only move from outside lane to inside lane after overtaking a car. That way you know there's nothing coming up fast on your inside. Obviously I still check and give the car driver a courtesy wave after I get over cos drivers often don't understand why a bike would go past them and then cut over and a simple wave can prevent road rage.

One issue you might find though is that by just having only one the bar's aren't balanced. I found this caused some steering wobble so I put a "black" on the other side. Basically just the bar-end that holds the mirror turned upside-down without the mirror in it. I had to trim the grip and I did experience rubbing and throttle stick like you mention however this is easily fixed with either just some WD-40 between the grip and the bar-end (which tends to last about 2-3 days) or some silicone grease that I used recently and has been keeping the throttle nice and springy for about a week now.

 

I ended up ordering a second pair of grips. I'll chop them up and fit the right side mirror too. @Ribo I agree with you that shoulder checks are not optional any time I change lanes, but I also think K-moe has a good point, those mirrors are an excellent source of information around me while I ride, and the more information I have and aware of the road I can be, the safer a rider I can be.

 

first, i suggest you slow down. original grips on a 30+ year old bike is silly. you can put a extra return spring on the throttle but it's not necessary. if you're careful trimming the grip it will never touch the bars. consider a bit more air pressure in your tires

 

Typically I'm just keeping with the speed of traffic. Morning commute on some 40 mph roads would not uncommonly be 70 mph. I drove the speed limit the first few times until the number of angry drivers and the huge speed differential convinced me it was safer to keep with traffic. Pittsburgh road maintenance is pretty bad, and I commute (or used to anyway) on streets where the speed limit was roundly disregarded. Usually I was pretty good at road positioning to avoid the potholes I knew where there, but every so often I'd be surprised by a new one.

I know it's silly and nostalgic to try and keep some of the parts as original as possible, but that's what I want to do with my bike. I've already got another set of grips ordered that I can chop up. You're welcome to think I'm silly, odd, daft, what have you, but I'll thank you to let me embrace the style I want to on my bike.

 

you've go a lot to learn, hope your around long enough to learn it.
have fun on your motorcycle

 

Help me out then. What should I take away from this?

 

I think he was just commenting on you trying to keep the original grips. I understand trying to keep things original but grips are kinda like underwear - you can use the same ones for a while especially without skid marks but eventually they'll wear out. I believe yamaha still have the "original" grips for sale so holding onto them is kinda like putting your college Y-fronts in a drawer for your grandkids.

 

Ah, I see. I didn't realize that. I guess it is rather silly of me then to be so intent on preserving them for stylistic reasons.

 

Your going to find that when those cars hit a hole at 70 they spend two hours at Flynn's. You spend two months at UPMC.
You should find another route.
You should put a few more psi's in the tires and check the steering head bearings. You need two mirrors, period.
Take your time and trim the grip right and there's no problem. If you feel the need, a spring on the carb end of the cable isn't hard to do. For your kind of riding the shocks and forks should be rebuilt or replaced. Original stuff is old worn out stuff, no room for nostalgia.
Once again get off those main roads, take the long way home.

 

Your advice is well noted. Thankfully, I am off those roads and don't travel them as much anymore. I go the opposite direction for work now.

Even so, I'll spend some time going over the suspension. It's been "ok" since I got the bike, so like you point out, it's probably worn and can use some tuning up.

One thing I'm puzzled over though is the suggestion to put some more air in the tires. I was under the impression that overinflating tires led to a firmer ride, not a more forgiving one.

For the grips, I get to have my silly cake and eat it too. A replacement set of grips showed up today that I'll probably get installed tomorrow with the second mirror following right after. I'm completely convinced at this point that two mirrors is the only acceptable option for riding in regular traffic.

Thanks again Polock.

 

More air (to point) helps keep the rims from getting damaged on the pothole edges.

 

Ah, I see. It's less shock absorption then as it is damage control. That makes sense.

Also, tomorrow be damned. I got that mirror on tonight. This way I'll be safer on my way to work tomorrow.