Mirror Adjustment Advice

[Keyzer1980]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone had come across any studies/advice columns that suggested the correct mirror position for street riding, and if so, did they suggest a good way to position the mirrors?

I am currently running the stock mirrors (12' Street Triple R) and they occasionally get bumped in the bike parking area at work. I was riding home the other day (frustrated at trying to get the mirrors positioned back to exactly where I like them) when I thought - is "where I like them" actually a "correct" position for the mirrors? Is there even a "correct" position? Logic would tell me that it is a what works for you scenario. But still?

Two things came to mind - with the infinite number of adjustment positions available to the stock mirrors - has anyone come up with a guide as to positioning the mirrors? For example, is there anything floating about on road safety suggesting that, for example, you should be able to see a complete car (equally) in both mirrors when they are directly behind you at 30 yards?

The second point leads me back to the mirrors being bumped and the frustration of getting them back to "where I like them". Does anyone mark their mirrors/stems with small lines at axis points so when they are bumped you simply just need to line up the markings to get them back into the "right" spot?

Cheers!

[01xj]

I just point them so I can behind myself and to either side.

[Lush_trucker]

I'm not as concerned with directly behind me as I am behind and to the sides, I try to get as little overlap in what they show as possible.

[SLY DVL]

The mirrors on my Sprint have a detent built into the stalk so if they do get bumped it's simply a matter of moving them back to the detented position.

As for placement, I like to be able to see just the edges of my arms. That gives me a reference point when trying to decide where an object in the mirror actually is. I've tried pointing them right at the blind spot but just can trust what I see since I have no point of ref. to compare it to.

Having said that, I've done this to several of my bikes...

[Keyzer1980]

Hey Sly,

That is a good idea with the blind spot mirror - there is a reason why trucks use them!

I think I will just stick to what works for me if there is no consensus on the 'best' positioning for mirrors. I thought it would be the case I have to say!

[zyhano]

use one for behind and one to give you a view on the fast line for when you're starting to overtake.

use one to monitor traffic that might get you from the same lane, the other to get a look if its ok to start overtaking. always use your head to look at the blind spot sideways/behind you when overtaking

as said earlier, try to not get any overlap and use the mirror for overtaking on the side you're going to move into.

adjust to what works for you, depending on speed and position adjust them sccording to riding style


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