Mirror Blind Spots

[JPTL]

I love everything about the mirrors on my '07 ST, with the exception of one minor thing:
There's a blind spot between 4 & 5 o'clock and on my right side; and 7 & 8 o'clock on my left. This is with the mirrors angled out as far as they'll go. Maybe it's my riding position, I dunno. Anyway, it's enough of a blind spot that it renders a car flanking either side of my bike to be invisible - front to back.
This wouldn't be a problem if I weren't so used to having mirrors without a blind spot of any kind on my previous bike. I was finding myself glancing in my mirror and starting a lane change only to find that there's a car to the left or right of my ass! A false sense of security like this is dangerous as hell. Fortunately I'm starting to crane my head before I make a lane change. I don't prefer doing this however, as I'd like to have full view of what's beside me, especially in a snap-reaction situation.
Does anyone else here have the same complaint?
Anyone find some small but effective fish-eye/convex stick-ons that work but don't look too crappy?

[BigDanUK]

Umm... they do call a shoulder check a "life saver" for a reason you know.

[kubbie]

Have to agree with BigDan.

Sprint mirrors do show a great view of your elbows though!

I prefer to go a little faster than traffic I feel its easier to keep track of potential hazards that way.

[XL1200R]

My GT has the same mirrors and I have no complaints - best mirrors I've had on a bike, in fact. I don't notice any real blind spot, either...

[CharlieS]

Originally Posted by BigDanUK

Umm... they do call a shoulder check a "life saver" for a reason you know.

BigDanUK is right.
Get in the HABIT of using a head check on lane changes.

[Billbikes]

Never noticed a blind spot, and I guess my elbows are "narrow", because they don't block my view either? I do a head check often, just to be sure....


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[vitesse]

Originally Posted by BigDanUK

Umm... they do call a shoulder check a "life saver" for a reason you know.

That is exactly what they teach ( if you don't already know ddooowp) for BikeSafe at the Ace, two police riders follow you around and assess your skills.
The previous owner of my 06 ST put those little circular RV type mirrors in the lower corners of my mirrors. They are a great help BUT the over the shoulder is a must ALWAYS.

[JohnD]

I'm 6'4" (1.94m) with wide shoulders and long arms. I don't know if that's what causes the problem, but the ONLY thing I see in my GT's mirrors are my elbows. So to use my mirrors I must crane my neck to the side and/or tuck my arm in, and I ALWAYS perform a shoulder check too. Maybe I will add those little fisheye mirrors too.

[bmcdonaldii]

Originally Posted by JohnD

I'm 6'4" (1.94m) with wide shoulders and long arms. I don't know if that's what causes the problem, but the ONLY thing I see in my GT's mirrors are my elbows. So to use my mirrors I must crane my neck to the side and/or tuck my arm in, and I ALWAYS perform a shoulder check too. Maybe I will add those little fisheye mirrors too.

I'm nearly as tall as JohnD and so I bought the liter Daytona aka Sprint also. I can't see anything useful in the mirrors of my 2011 Sprint GT, just my elbow pads in most riding positions. I have put the bike on the center stand on the driveway in front of my other vehicles and played with the mirrors. Basically, I have them set so that I can see pillion's knees when I'm sitting up fully. This allows me to see backwards down the interstate if I hold my arm up and sort of look under my raised elbow. They make great looking turn signal holders? I'm exaggerating of course because I can see a little bit in them, but mostly I have to move my elbows to see. Pillion says my helmet moves like a barn owl when riding so I guess while my neck is still good we'll go with the over the shoulder checks too...

[JPTL]

Even though I've been riding for 35+ years, I'll heed the shoulder-check advice as it comes from folks who likely have many more miles under their belt than I.
The shoulder-check will take some getting used to however, because I've always ridden the way I drive: with the mirrors set so that there are no blind-spots on the sides whatsoever. With good mirror coverage, I ride knowing who/what is beside me at all times with a mirror scan every few seconds. By adjusting the mirrors outward as far as they'll go, I sacrifice seeing directly behind me since I feel that's much less critical than the sides.
Shoulder-check or not, I find that riding with a blind spot in the most critical area - left and right corners and sides - is very unnerving. This has been solved with a pair of silver dollar sized adhesive fish-eye mirrors. Now a quick glance of my mirror reveals what's in the lane next to me. The place where many non-motorcyclist drivers like to travel for some reason; and an area that was previously invisible to me.