Mirror positioning

I've got about 500 miles under my belt with my all stock '06. I am not convinced I have my mirrors placed in the best spot yet. It's not like I can adjust them when I'm riding. I have a good view of the immediate lane on both sides but I would be happier if seeing behind me were not such a challenge. Currently I have to twist my body away from the mirror and hold my arm in close while peeking at the mirror to check my 6 for a quick second.

Anyone have tips or tricks to getting a good sight picture from your stock mirrors?

Thanks,

Gunzer

 

Why cant you adjust them while riding....? Take a slow ride down the street and adjust them if you don't like trying to do so on the highway. Pull in the clutch and coast while adjusting either mirror with your right hand, at least thats how i do it lol.

 

Perhaps I will give that a try. Reaching with my right way over to grab the left mirror does'nt sound like much fun:unsure:

 

I adjusted mine while riding as well, use my left hand for the left and pull in the clutch and adjust the right with the right hand.

Now if i was smarter i would put the bike on the center stand..but hey.

that said.

I have mine positioned so about 5-10% of the mirror views my shoulders. the reason for this is that when i shrug my shoulders forward i can now see behind me. Not optimal as i do have a bit of a blind spot but i know this.
I am 6'1 and fairly broad shouldered.

I do note that in an extreme tuck(hey when it's -7 deg C the wind is cold!!!!)i can't see anything and if doing so i often adjust the left mirror to see and leave the right. Don't do this often but Some times and i can't stand to be without mirrors. I may get a wide angle thing for the left one eventually but tucking is rare for me.

 

There are multiple riding positions and hard to place the mirrors effectively for each. For example, when riding slowly through traffic (such as lane splitting), I sit up, or when on the freeway, I’m in a crouched position or all the way down on the tank. For me, one mirror (right) is more suited for up riding while the other (left) is more suited for the down position.

As far as rear view, since the mirrors are close together, my shoulders block the view depending upon the position. I try to keep the right mirror with a 6 o'clock view in the up position. My shoulder doesn't block the view while in this position. The left mirror gets a rear view also; however, my shoulder usually blocks it when I'm hunched forward. To compensate, I tend to look to rearward on left-hand sweepers or sit up a little to see using the right mirror. If I'm really down on the tank, then I have to lift my head up into the wind to get a good rear view. No part of my body blocks the view, but my helmet is now getting buffeted by the wind.

I tend to use the mirrors more for rear view than side view. For side view, head check first, then mirror for far back and side.

 

As you can tell from my post, I'm in the "set the mirrors once camp." If they do get out of whack, then I adjust them: left one on the freeway, right one on city roads.

 

I checked out derstuka's link to the previous discussion about using extender blocks--sounds like it might be worth a try. After putting on about 5K on my '06 Vtech I've not yet found a perfect positioning for the mirrors--adequate--yes, but I have to use a lot of body english to see what's coming up behind.

 

Left hand to adjust left mirror, right for the right. My mirrors are half 'covered' by my arms; if i want to see behind me, i have to pull my elbows in or turn and look back.

 

The other thing you can do is put it on the centerstand, sit on the bike and adjust the mirrors

 

Not sure why i said use the right for the left in my first reply lol....definitely just coast and use the appropriate hand to adjust.

 

Gen Mar mirror extenders will quickly and easily resolve your view issues, readily available on ebay or go to Gen Mars website and order directly.

 

I'm with pvancle on this. I primarily treat them as rear view mirrors. Since I primarily ride on the Washington Capitol Beltway, I do a head check 99% of the time.

I did find it helpful to just go to a parking lot, sit on the bike in between two cars walk it out so many yards and adjust that way.

 

I have my left one set high so I can see traffic behind when I'm sitting up and the right one set low for when I'm stretched out on the motorway. Normally I get to something other than me in at least one of them!

 

i turn my head and body to change lanesthe stock mirrows are ok but still i move my upper body to look on both sides