Topic: Eliminate Dangerous Blind Spots in Your Mirrors - $2.00 CONVEX MIRRORS

[Gaither]

FWIW     CONVEX MIRRORS WORK!

I hope some may already be doing this. For years I've used small, CONVEX "stick on" mirrors on the exterior mirrors of all our cars (auto parts stores). It's the first thing I do when I acquire another vehicle. These little $2.00 mirrors have saved my fenders (and maybe my life) many, many times over the years.

They completely, dependably eliminate the blind spots in standard exterior mirrors. They're small so any image is also very small. However, if there is anything showing in them - don't change lanes, there WILL be another vehicle there for sure!

It didn't take long to learn the stock mirrors on the 550 had severe, dangerous blind spots.
(The Motorcycle Safety Course covers blind spots well saying, "always look back" which, in itself is a very dangerous "catch 22".) I immediately put a pair of these convex mirrors on the bike. They completely eliminated ANY blind spots on BOTH sides of the bike. They ain't very pretty but they sure do their job!

For about $4.00/pair, I wont ride without 'em.

They are "stick on". I put one at 9 o'clock on the outer edge of the left mirror and at 3 o'clock on the outer edge of the right mirror. Small and hardly noticable - unless you're riding the bike.

'Saved me more than once on the bike! ***As you know, we don't always have time to look back to check what's behind (or almost beside) us in an emergency situation. With these you'll NEVER have to "wonder if something is there" - WITHOUT turning your head. If properly mounted, they're TOTALLY dependable, inexpensive added safety!

They're so good if you pull up to a drive in window, along with seeing behind you, you can also see right into the restaurant! OK, you wont believe it til you see it. Neither did I!
 
IMHO they should be mandatory on all vehicles. (You see convex mirrors on most trucks.)

Someone else may want to try 'em. If you do, bet you'll never take 'em off. (They come off clean.)

Like I said FWIW.






 

[Nortstudio]

I'm getting these tomw!  Glad you reminded me.  I tour working with a band.  I have traveled in a sprinter van about 100,000 miles in the past couple years with these, and they have saved me many, many times.  Before that, when the van was rented, I used to stick them on the rental too (and they never penalized us for it). 

Don't know why I didn't think about this for the bike.  Especially in the traffic here in NYC, they will be handy when looking back (even quickly) gives you a 50/50 chance of smacking into the car ahead of you (cabs!).

Thanks for reminder. 

[dna_level_c7]

Same here... I'm a new rider and with my leather and doing 65 on the highway it just feel so unsafe to turn my head to change a lane. I'll pick up a set after work tomorrow! 

[Retro Rocket]

These should be used in conjunction with common sense. You will NOT see everything with these and should always glance over your shoulder to be certain. My peripheral vision is good and i always use all my mirrors whether in a car or bike but i always look over my shoulder as well. Don't be mistaken by the belief that you will see everything in your mirrors, its just not the case..

Mick

[Nortstudio]

Agreed.  Even in the van I always looked back.  Always!  Then again, I really didn't want to kill the band.  At least not THAT way

But having an extra little bit of help is always welcome.  If nothing else, in traffic, it can let you know "don't even bother looking back" because that car is spotted in the mirror already.   No lane change for you.

[swellguy]

But they'll really #$%* up the cool look I'm trying to get with my 3", short stem, view of my armpit mirrors!

[Gordon]

But having an extra little bit of help is always welcome.  If nothing else, in traffic, it can let you know "don't even bother looking back" because that car is spotted in the mirror already.   No lane change for you.

+1

Like Gaither, putting these blind spot mirrors on is one of the first things I do when I get any new-to-me vehichle.  They don't replace turning my head to look, but they let me know if it's not even worth a look, which can be extremely helpful in dense, fast-moving traffic situations where taking my eyes off the road in front of me even for a half second can be very bad. 

[dna_level_c7]

Point taken! 

[MCRider]

Yeah they don't replace a head check, but since putting on some, I've found I look there easier then on the big mirror. At first i couldn't look into them at all, too weird, but quickly caught on.

[tlbranth]

I've found that leaning forward before changing lanes gives me a pretty good view of what's there. But I am considering those little stick-ons too.

[swellguy]

I have a mirror on my bedroom ceiling that says "objects in this mirror are larger than they appear"

[drones76]

Whatever helps you out for those nights alone.    

[Don R]

Show car secret, I use em for center caps on my american mags. Napa silverline have the best foam tape. Nobody knows what they are, looks like really good chrome!

[Gaither]

Don, good idea on your wheels.

Thanks! (Yep, I'm getting old!) You made me think of a significant OMISSION in my post!

I should have said, "RECTANGULAR CONVEX MIRRORS"!   (NOT the round ones!)

I should have mentioned, I ALWAYS use the rectangular shaped convex mirrors (on cars or the bike). IMO they give a FAR BETTER RANGE OF VISION when compared to the round ones. They have more curve than the round ones and therefore cover a much broader range of vision. (I've tried both.) Also, they don't cover as much of the stock mirror.

Bet that is why a lot of folks who have tried convex stick-ons still look back. With the round ones, you'd still have to look back. IMHO, the round ones are better than nothing but the rectangular ones will show you a LOT more of what is behind and beside you.

For years, I've used ONLY the rectangular ones. When I get in the car or on the bike, I check the mirrors immediately, to make sure they are right - before I start 'em up.

***Of course everyone must be guided by their own judgement, individually.

However, in many years of use - with the rectangular convex mirrors properly applied and mirrors properly adjusted, I don't look back. (I did to begin with years ago.) If there is something there, one or both of the mirrors will reveal it. I mount 'em and adjust the mirrors in a position where I can trust 'em. Then, I don't need to look back. Looking back could get me killed. And, the few times I have looked back, I found nothing that the two mirrors (together) had not already revealed.


I APOLOGIZE, guys. I should have said "RECTANGULAR" to start with - there is a vast difference in the two shapes.

Further, with either type, if you still feel the need to look back, please do so. I make no attempt to change your mind. I'm just sharing my experience FWIW. But if you decide to try 'em, please seriously consider the rectangular stick-ons.

Thanks, Don 

[seaweb11]

I like the round ones.

[dave500]

im with retro,i have a little stick on on my right mirror but still do a head check,you cant be sure otherwise,always head check fellas,,in a country with right side driving id have the stick on mirror on the left,im driving a brand new little mitsubishi truck at work and both mirrors are convex fully,i dont like them and they should be illegal,i cant judge actual distance in the distorted view,i drive a skip bin truck and do plenty of reversing,i have been in trucks for years and love the "spotter mirrors" but dont like the entire mirror in this type,like most new suvs have,along with the driver on the phone and tinted glass,it only adds to miss judgement,this little truck also has four wheel disc brakes with abs and two air bags,great,too bad the park brake is only a tail shaft drum brake, all skip trucks have stabilizer legs to square up the rear on angles or to support the suspension with heavier loaded bins,lift one wheel or close to it and the truck will roll,excellent design for 2010,and world legal?or is it just australian design rules im not sure.

[kirkn]

One of my pet peeves - aftermarket mirrors with FLAT glass.  What a waste!  Even marketed as 'Tru-Vison' or 'Accu-View' or other nonsense.  Every OEM mirror I've ever seen has had mildly convex lenses.  I've got a couple pair on the shelf that have come to me one way or another with FLAT glass.  Better than nothing for a project bike with no mirrors at all, but jeez it's getting to be a pain to NOT buy flat glass mirrors...

[dave500]

im not sure what you mean kirkn,?flat mirrors are not good?or not,i guess its a personal thing,ive seen plenty of oem mirrors that arent convex,ill agree with with your anti marketing hype,true vue etc,i think im pretty experienced with reversing,ive reversed for the same company for eight years alone,after six months in the new truck with convex mirrors i still stop six feet away from where i think i am,i just cant judge it,its not natural,im all for the blind spot mirrors though.,its a bit like wearing someones glasses when you dont need glasses.

[kirkn]

Flat mirrors are not good, in my opinion.

Every OEM motorcycle mirror I've ever seen was NOT flat.  Not as convex as the little stick-on mirrors you can buy, to be sure, but NOT flat.  Unless it was an aftermarket (Emgo or the like) replica.

But, as I say, it's just my own pet peeve.