I hate these mirrors: Difference between revisions

Not being able to see behind you is a common complaint, especially from those new to the Ninjette, but some long-time riders will say that the stock 250 mirrors are better than on other bikes. If you're trying to see behind you as well as you can in a car, you're bound to be disappointed.  

There are some tweaks you can do to your Ninja to improve rearward visibility; these are listed below. In reality, though, the simplest fix is to tuck in your elbows and turn your head. That's why you have a neck. Motorcycle mirrors should never be completely trusted.  

These mirrors will give you more visibility to the rear. [http://www.emgo.com/main_layout.html Emgo mirrors] (available at nearly any bike shop) are ridiculously cheap and are very reliable. If you prefer the curved glass type, go with the [http://www.parkeryamaha.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=24966 Ken Sean] or the even pricier [http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/product~pf_id~4760659~section_dept_id~1170244~terrain_dept_id~1185730~cat_dept_id~1426257~product_dept_id~1426257~mfr_name~Napoleon~selection_Path~4.asp  Napoleon mirrors]. (Search online or see a dealer.) [http://www.classicpartsltd.com/classicmotorcyclemirrors.htm  Halcyon] also makes a pricey bar-end mirror for the cafe racer crowd. All of these mirrors fold up for easy maneuvering in tight spaces.  

The main advantage to bar-end mirrors is that you do not need to move your body or your head to glance at them, and even with flat glass they give an unobstructed view of what is behind and to the side of you. Another advantage is that you can turn your bars while you're stopped and get a better view of what's coming up from behind.  

The Ken Sean brand bar end mirror, part number 920030, is $17.95 each. It looks a lot like the Napoleon and mounts the same way. Cut off the piece that is intended to go inside the bar and grind smooth. Use the Kawasaki supplied bar end minus the stupid soft phillips screw. The bolt that comes with the mirrors is a perfect fit. It goes through the mirror and the bar weight into the stock threaded boss inside the bars, so it's a simple bolt-on.

There are different kinds of bar-end mirrors. Some replace the stock bar ends, some are designed to fit around bar ends, and some use the bolt used to hold bar ends onto non-hollow bars (meaning, they don't work for aftermarket bars). Try to get a mirror that will preserve your bar-ends, as they are there to reduce handlebar vibration.

*[http://www.constructorsrg.com/mirrors/index.html CRG] makes very nice billet mirrors. They're kind of expensive but are much better-made than the ones that look the same on eBay.   

*[http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/product.jsp?store=Main&catId=115&leafCatId=11508&skuId=391929&productId=p391929&mmyId= Cipa] makes a teardrop-shaped mirror that's a little out of the ordinary.

*[http://www.rkexcelamerica.com/street_ken_sean.html Ken Sean] mirrors are affordable and widely available.  

*eBay often has many dealers selling bar end mirrors. These may come without a brand name (many of them are distributed by Emgo) but the price is right. These are shown below. They are available at dozens of places on eBay (just search 'bar end mirror') or from [http://www.d2moto.com/p-5498-universal-honda-kawasaki-suzuki-yamaha-black-billet-motorcycle-bar-end-mirrors-street.aspx D2MOTO].  

[[image:5498.jpg|150px]]

To install, remove the silver insert and put a longer stainless steel bolt in. These are shown with 14 oz [[Removing & replacing bar ends|HVMP bar ends]].

The 'body' mounted mirrors of the Ninja are a bit forward of mirrors that would be mounted in the more traditional handlebar mount method.

 

Traditional bar-mounted mirrors are further back and make it easier to get a little more of a view behind you without necessarily going wider. They are also easier to make wider without having to resort to fabricating or other more drastic methods. They might not look as good as body mounted mirrors, but if you are more interested in function than appearance they may be worth considering.

If you want to put your mirrors on the bars there are plenty of options. Later 250's have mounts on the brake and clutch perches for mirrors. Most have at least the one on the clutch side. Handlebar-mount mirrors are available from [http://emgo.com/main_layout.html EMGO] (see a local shop) and nearly every parts house on the web.

If you want to try to make your own extensions, you can take a look at this [[Toolmaker's mirror extensions|not-exactly-a-how-to]] for some ideas. You're gonna need some tools...