Mirror Extensions

[Studybaker Bob]

I just installed my new $145 2" mirror extensions yesterday and am very impressed with how much better I can see to the rear!! They should have marked the mirrors "left" & "right", because I probably got them on wrong 9 times!!:roflblack:

 

[RoadHammer]

what xtentions did you buy?

 

[MizMuffet]

If it's the Kewlmetal ones, they must have just raised their prices! Or perhaps he's including shipping.
I'm very happy with this mod too. I really couldn't see much of nothing before. Now I have a clear view.

 

[Tom in NM]

Glad it works for you, but . . . .

. . . . I am always perplexed when people add the mirror extensions - my stock ones show everything behind me - I can see the passenger handgrips and the Spyder's 'tail' and at least two lanes from there in each mirror.

I am sure the extensions give a different perspective, but if I do anything, it would be to add one of those small convex mirrors to help with the blind spot around 4 O'clock - which is primarily from my helmet.

Tom

 

[BillGargan]

. . . . I am always perplexed when people add the mirror extensions - my stock ones show everything behind me - I can see the passenger handgrips and the Spyder's 'tail' and at least two lanes from there in each mirror.

I am sure the extensions give a different perspective, but if I do anything, it would be to add one of those small convex mirrors to help with the blind spot around 4 O'clock - which is primarily from my helmet.

Tom

Perhaps you are skinny as Olive Oyl! It appears that until you see the impact you will not understand. Once installed you have a far better perspective of that which is behind and outside your unmodified view!

 

[MizMuffet]

What's perplexing? People come in all different heights and have different combinations of risers, pullbacks, and seats.
I tried the little convex mirror and it didn't work for me. Even though it was adjustable, it still didn't improve the view, and things looked so far away (and tiny) in it, I felt it was very misleading and dangerous. At least trying it first didn t waste a large sum of money.

 

[Some Guy]

I am sure the extensions give a different perspective, but if I do anything, it would be to add one of those small convex mirrors to help with the blind spot around 4 O'clock - which is primarily from my helmet.

Tom

:agree: I did this with two 1.5" adjustable convex mirrors and can see everything behind me (and beside me!) very well. So, for me, it was "spend $145 or $2"...

But, that's just me. I'm glad you like your extensions. :thumbup:

 

[Tom in NM]

Not Olive !!!!!!!

Perhaps you are skinny as Olive Oyl! It appears that until you see the impact you will not understand. Once installed you have a far better perspective of that which is behind and outside your unmodified view!

I yam what I yam. A lot more like Popeye than Brutus. Yes, I am a short guy, 5'7" and a 30" waist 40" chest. I also tend to lean forward instead of sitting straight up or leaning back. I also noticed that after I stopped wearing the cape, the mirrors worked much better.

Anyway, before I got my Spyder, I had read a lot of complaints about the mirrors and how great the extensions worked. I was surprised when I got my Spyder and adjusted the mirrors how well they worked. I have been riding for years and the stock mirrors work just great for me.

Tom

 

[BLACK WIDOW]

Mirrors

. . . . I am always perplexed when people add the mirror extensions - my stock ones show everything behind me - I can see the passenger handgrips and the Spyder's 'tail' and at least two lanes from there in each mirror.

I am sure the extensions give a different perspective, but if I do anything, it would be to add one of those small convex mirrors to help with the blind spot around 4 O'clock - which is primarily from my helmet.

Tom

I have both (mirror extensions & Small convex mirrors). Got to watch for those owls Tom.


Michael:doorag:

 

[wyliec]

:agree: I did this with two 1.5" adjustable convex mirrors and can see everything behind me (and beside me!) very well. So, for me, it was "spend $145 or $2"...

But, that's just me. I'm glad you like your extensions. :thumbup:

I put the convex mirrors on yesterday. It increases your field of vision, but everything is so small.

 

[Dochands]

I put mine on backwards about 10 times so maybe we both can get government jobs. LOL

I love my extensions but think I might try the little stick on convexs too. It never hurts to be more seen or see more. IMHO.

 

[FANG]

I have both (mirror extensions & Small convex mirrors). Got to watch for those owls Tom.


Michael:doorag:

Me Too!! Really a help if you have the NMN risers. :2thumbs:

 

[BLACK WIDOW]

Feds

I put mine on backwards about 10 times so maybe we both can get government jobs. LOL

I love my extensions but think I might try the little stick on convexs too. It never hurts to be more seen or see more. IMHO.

I resemble that statement.


Michael:doorag:

 

[widowmaker1]

I have the BRP 1 " riser and the 3" handlebar risers. Since adding the risers I can't see anything but my hands. Got the little convex mirrors and it improved things only slightly, but like someone else noted...everything is TOO SMALL.

I have been considering the mirror extensions, but dang they look stupid. Why can't they just make a replacement arm that is 2" longer rather than adding that crazy little piece in the middle? A nice solid cast piece would be so much better.

 

[BumbleBee]

I got the 4" risers and the mirror extenders, had them installed in the same day. Great improvement :thumbup:

:congrats: on your mirror extenders!

 

[3wheeldemon]

. . . . I am always perplexed when people add the mirror extensions - my stock ones show everything behind me - I can see the passenger handgrips and the Spyder's 'tail' and at least two lanes from there in each mirror.

I am sure the extensions give a different perspective, but if I do anything, it would be to add one of those small convex mirrors to help with the blind spot around 4 O'clock - which is primarily from my helmet.

Tom

I am with you on this one. Funny, when I was young, the first thing I would do to my bikes was to take out the mirrors, so they woul look like a race bike . I got used to look around and keep a mental picture of the traffic around me. My stock mirrors in the Spyder plus one 2 inch convex mirror in the right one on feels like having an AWAC system now!

3WD

 

[wyliec]

I am with you on this one. Funny, when I was young, the first thing I would do to my bikes was to take out the mirrors, so they woul look like a race bike . I got used to look around and keep a mental picture of the traffic around me. My stock mirrors in the Spyder plus one 2 inch convex mirror in the right one on feels like having an AWAC system now!

3WD

I would have agreed with both of you, but so many say they can't see behind them that I realized my hands take up quite a bit of the view in the mirrors. I don't know why I went so long before realizing that.

 

[NancysToy]

I have the BRP 1 " riser and the 3" handlebar risers. Since adding the risers I can't see anything but my hands. Got the little convex mirrors and it improved things only slightly, but like someone else noted...everything is TOO SMALL.

I have been considering the mirror extensions, but dang they look stupid. Why can't they just make a replacement arm that is 2" longer rather than adding that crazy little piece in the middle? A nice solid cast piece would be so much better.

:agree: I would buy longer arms in a heartbeat. Something that was angled slightly lower or maybe even adjustable would be nice, too.

 

[Tom in NM]

Small changes . . . . .

. . . . make a big difference.

Well, it has now hit me, mirror extensions or some modification are probably in my future.

As I said, the stock mirrors worked great. I added the NMN 4" risers and they were still good - different and not as good, but good. Then yesterday I put on a pair of Throttlemeisters (not the booze 3wheeldemon drinks). They are not big, but they do occlude traffic that is behind me. Cars that are back beyond 500 feet are not seen unless I move both my head and shoulders and look around the Throttlemeisters. If the Throttlemeisters were not such a PITA to install on the risers, I would really consider taking them off.

The Throttlemeisters are a quality item, but I would have never guessed they would have all the impacts that they do. Besides getting in the mirror view, they significantly changed the Spyder's steering - it is now super-sensitive - nojoke steering is so easy, it can be done with just the lightest touch from my pinky. I actually count that as a negative. My Spyder, as stock, was just fine steering. The DPS update made it a little more sensitive. The NMN Risers made it significantly easier. Now with the Throttlemeisters, it barely takes any effort at all. The steering seems "overreactive". I will probably get used to it, but I miss the feel of steering the Spyder.

The Throttlemeisters do just what they are supposed to and the throttle, which always felt too springy to me, now works with the same level of effort and snap-back as the rest of motorcycles I have rode. I only installed them because I got a good deal on a used pair from someone selling their Spyder - I was going to do one of the simple throttle locks - just for the very few times I needed to free up my right hand. My hand never got tired on long rides and just setting the speed and relaxing my throttle hand is/was really something I was not that interested in or needed.

I will play with the mirrors some more, but I don't think they will have the range to compensate for what the Throttlemeisters hide. If the Throttlemeisters were not such a pain to get in the NMN Risers (it took a rubber mallet and some pretty good hits) I would take them off, but I think they are in there for good and ever now.

I am always amazed how one little thing can make such a big change - and usually start a chain of unforeseen consequences requiring more adjustments. At the moment, I am considering layering on a larger/taller mirror surface to the existing mirrors - not much, just an 1 & 1/2 or 2 inches - that should do it. And probably a lot of other things I didn't intend.

Tom

 

[NancysToy]

. . . . make a big difference.

Well, it has now hit me, mirror extensions or some modification are probably in my future.

As I said, the stock mirrors worked great. I added the NMN 4" risers and they were still good - different and not as good, but good. Then yesterday I put on a pair of Throttlemeisters (not the booze 3wheeldemon drinks). They are not big, but they do occlude traffic that is behind me. Cars that are back beyond 500 feet are not seen unless I move both my hear and shoulders and look around the Throttlemeisters. If the Throttlemeisters were not such a PITA to install on the risers, I would really consider taking them off.

The Throttlemeisters are a quality item, but I would have never guessed they would have all the impacts that they do. Besides getting in the mirror view, they significantly changed the Spyder's steering - it is now super-sensitive - nojoke steering is so easy, it can be done with just the lightest touch from my pinky. I actually count that as a negative. My Spyder, as stock, was just fine steering. The DPS update made it a little more sensitive. The NMN Risers made it significantly easier. Now with the Throttlemeisters, it barely takes any effort at all. The steering seems "overreactive". I will probably get used to it, but I miss the feel of steering the Spyder.

The Throttlemeisters do just what they are supposed to and the throttle, which always felt too springy to me, now works with the same level of effort and snap-back as the rest of motorcycles I have rode. I only installed them because I got a good deal on a used pair from someone selling their Spyder - I was going to do one of the simple throttle locks - just for the very few times I needed to free up my right hand. My hand never got tired on long rides and just setting the speed and relaxing my throttle hand is/was really something I was not that interested in or needed.

I will play with the mirrors some more, but I don't think they will have the range to compensate for what the Throttlemeisters hide. If the Throttlemeisters were not such a pain to get in the NMN Risers (it took a rubber mallet and some pretty good hits) I would take them off, but I think they are in there for good and ever now.

I am always amazed how one little thing can make such a big change - and usually start a chain of unforeseen consequences requiring more adjustments. At the moment, I am considering layering on a larger/taller mirror surface to the existing mirrors - not much, just an 1 & 1/2 or 2 inches - that should do it. And probably a lot of other things I didn't intend.

Tom

Kind of surprised at your change in steering. I'm not sure how the Throttlemeister would do that unless you moved your hand position all the way out to the end of them. That isn't necessary, if you are. Keeping the hands tucked in at the normal place on the grips works fine for me and my wife. I have seen no change in steering with the Throttlemeister on the Spyder...or on my BMW either. The risers themselves, on the other hand, do significantly reduce steering effort. They took a bit of getting used to.

The Throttlemeisters do go in hard on the riser bars. That is because of the precise machining and the closed-end space. They airlock. A small bleed hole in the bars would help a great deal. No matter how much you loosen the Throttlemeister, it won't bleed off much air. On the other hand, they come out very readily, just loosen and pull. I had mine on and off a couple of times, and there was difficulty only in the insertion into the riser bars, not the removal. Of course if the air bled off over time, it could be just as hard to remove the Throttlemeister due to the suction. We'd have to ask MM if drilling a small bleed hole in the bars would compromise their strength.

As to the mirror obstruction, they do block the view much more. If you have the heavy version, it will be worse. I don't want to get rid of the Throttlemeister, though, so I just talked to Magic Man about his new ESI (NMN) Spyder Mirror Extensions. They move the mirrors out as well as allow vertical adjustment. Looks like just the ticket!