Do you need mirrors on a motorcycle?

[londonbabe]

Hi - search not working so apologies if this is a commonly asked question:

What are the laws in the UK regarding mirrors?
My 1983 Vespa doesn't have any (they always used to vibrate too much to use, then vibrate loose, and then fall off) and it always passed its MoT

My new Triumph Thruxton on the other hand has bar end mirrors which, while looking incredibly cool, make the handlebars 8 miles wide and I can't filter through half the gaps everyone else can! I am therefore considering removing them. Would this be illegal or is the law purely about what's on it when it's sold?

[Hooli]

i think mirrors & indicators are only required post 1986 on bikes that can take pillions. so loose the pilly pegs at the same time.

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

I'm fairly certain that it's completely illegal not to have them…



… photos of your Thruxton, that is.

[jo'bo]

not a legal requirement

are you allowed to overtake on them thruxton things, they are usually sat in the traffic admiring themselves in shop windows

[milf hunter]

well just had me montesa trails bike mot and no mirrors or lights fitted to it

[Fubles]

Regulation 33 of construction and use 1986 stipulates the type of mirrors required for each class of motor vehicle.

unfortunately I don't have a copy of the regs to hand. funny that

[Shay HTFC]

Its legal I think.
For the MOT you need either both mirrors or no mirrors. Would suggest that its fine. I have been riding around with only one mirror for a year now with no problems.

[Hooli]

Shay HTFC said:

Its legal I think.
For the MOT you need either both mirrors or no mirrors. Would suggest that its fine. I have been riding around with only one mirror for a year now with no problems.

odd as my triumph passed MOTs for 6 years before i got it with one mirror. its now mirrorless & still passes because its almost as old as me.

[welshbikerduck]

No legal requirement to have either indicators or mirrors.

Infact except a brake light there is no legal requirement for lights either. However you will be restricted to daylight hours only then.

[Livid]

londonbabe said:

Hi - search not working so apologies if this is a commonly asked question:

What are the laws in the UK regarding mirrors?
My 1983 Vespa doesn't have any (they always used to vibrate too much to use, then vibrate loose, and then fall off) and it always passed its MoT

My new Triumph Thruxton on the other hand has bar end mirrors which, while looking incredibly cool, make the handlebars 8 miles wide and I can't filter through half the gaps everyone else can! I am therefore considering removing them. Would this be illegal or is the law purely about what's on it when it's sold?

Damn you, everytime i think your a chick and i click your profile!

[Badgerboy]

Regardless of the requirement for mirrors, I would fit them regardless. My NC30 has race fairings and no mirrors, and it's pretty bloody scary not knowing what is going on behind you. Overtakes on the motorway dual carriageway are the most troublesome.

I will be fitting my mirrors this weekend before I kill myself!

[moto_traxport]

welshbikerduck said:

No legal requirement to have either indicators or mirrors.

Infact except a brake light there is no legal requirement for lights either. However you will be restricted to daylight hours only then.

Seconded - rode an ex-race FZR600 about for a year with neither mirrors nor indicators. It is legal but it is literally a pain in the neck. In traffic you do get good at watching the reflection in the vehicle in front to save yet another turn around.

Can't you get one of these little round ones that goes in place of the handlebar end weight?

P.S. Technically you cannot have an indicator switch if you haven't got any indicators - you need to blank it out.

P.P.S. I think it has been argued by people who read stuff too closely and don't mind trying to prove their case every 10 mins with the police that all you need is a rear reflector.

[Hooli]

Badgerboy said:

Regardless of the requirement for mirrors, I would fit them regardless. My NC30 has race fairings and no mirrors, and it's pretty bloody scary not knowing what is going on behind you. Overtakes on the motorway dual carriageway are the most troublesome.

I will be fitting my mirrors this weekend before I kill myself!

its not nearly such a problem with normal bars. leaning forwards on a sportsbike limits where you can turn your head at lot. i couldnt have ridden my old RF safely without mirrors but i have no problems at all on stroppy, because on stroppy im sat up. it means when i turn my head i see beside & behind me, lent forwards you turn your head & see your shoulder or the road under your knee.

[londonbabe]

Well, it turns out the bar ends give pretty good vision without the extra width if you flip them over so they are underneath the bars. Sorted.

ETA - got a picture in my profile now.

Edited by londonbabe on Thursday 19th March 21:16

[Schmeeky]

Livid said:

Damn you, everytime i think your a chick and i click your profile!

ETA - On my last bike, a Bandit 1200, I ditched the mirrors cos they looked crap and put on a bar-end jobbie..... never realised just how crap these things are until I got my present bike, with proper mirrors that don't look gash.... You can actually see what occurring behind, and that's great for peace of mind. Those bar-end jobbies are built really badly anyway - the glass kept trying to escape!

Edited by Schmeeky on Thursday 19th March 21:39

[catso]

I've had bikes with no mirrors pass MOT no problem and AFAIK there is no legal requirement which is just as well because for what good my mirrors are I may as well not have them (along with the rear brake).

[BaronVonVTEC]

Reference bar end mirrors. If you buy cheap tat of course it's going to be crap. However, if you spend £60 on a CRG Lanesplitter mirror you will find that it's not only beautifully made, but a million times more usable than most OEM mirrors. I had a single mirror on my Speed Triple and had no problems at all, both practically and legally.

[Schmeeky]

Interesting, I've not heard of these Lanesplitter jobbies....

Whips his Google out...

[untruth]

Schmeeky said:

Interesting, I've not heard of these Lanesplitter jobbies....

Whips his Google out...

Is that because you haven't yet found someone who'd suggest you buy a 50 quid makeup mirror?

Today is your lucky day!

[x6661313]

I bought a Suzuki RF 900 off Ebay last year, I "Bought it Now" and the seller delivered it. It's a great bike and had just passed a full MOT. The Bike was not original, the fairing had been removed and upright handle bars had been fitted. I didn't realize until afterward that there were no mirrors. I don't like looking over my shoulder so what I did was buy two of those little plastic fisheye mirrors and with the super sticky "NASA" grade, double sided tape, stuck them to the backs of my riding gloves. Need a look? Just raise a glove and see what's behind you. It also signals to the person behind that you're aware of them. I was amazed how well it worked and how long they stayed on and I ride in all weather. Sure, I could have bought billeted aluminium adapters, but I'm a cheap "single parented person" that doesn't know his father. Not a perfect solution, but it worked for me. I also get to admire my beautiful face when I'm at traffic lights.....Blimey, I have a massive head !