Riding without mirrors?

Riding without mirrors?

Author
Discussion

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

217 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Anyone run their bikes without mirrors? Or at least a single bar end mirror?

Last weekend on a run with a few friends there was someone who didn't have mirrors on their FZ1, someone who uses the bike all the time as they don't even have a car license. AFAIK there's no legal requirement for have mirrors fitted?

As I had the mirrors off my Street Triple when working on it last night, I thought I'd leave them off for going to work today...

Upsides
  • The bike looks better/cleaner
  • Good 'hater blockers' for any morons behind me
  • It looks cool
  • Encourage me to look around more rather than rely on the mirrors (avoid blind spots?)
  • Less air resistance so I might be able to go quicker than 140mph I'll use less fuel and save all the fluffy penguins and pandas.
  • Narrower so easier to get bike out, between my house and car etc.
Downsides
  • Inability to see previously mentioned haters/morons might be a wee safety issue
  • It won't look cool if I'm lying on the ground with my bike/a car on top of me because I couldn't see said car because of lack of mirrors.
  • Plod might have a word with me even if not illegal, waste our time, go over my bike with a fine tooth comb etc.
  • Turning around a lot to see what's going on might literately be a pain in the neck.
  • On runs out with friends, it's good the know if the person behind is far behind, stuck behind traffic, trying to light a cigarette on your rear tyre etc.
As an alternative I might get a single bar end mirror, preferably a cheap one as it's likely to get scraped when getting the bike in/out. I'm not after a detailed view - just enough to see if there's a car/bike behind and how far back it is. Is this viable?

LiamB

7,923 posts

142 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Ive had mirrors on one of my five or something bikes, they were on the RS and completely useless. Much prefer just looking over my shoulder.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Mirror/s are required for the MOT if the bike is newer than August 1986 & has provision for a pillion.

My Triumph has no mirrors & it doesn't bother me as the visibility from an open face is great. I don't think it'd be as easy on a sports bike when your shoulders are in the way of checking behind though.

mike-r

1,539 posts

190 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Always good to have a right hand one from experience. Don't use them religiously but I like a habitual mirror check every now and then.

SAS Tom

3,398 posts

173 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
My experience of riding without mirrors always ends up with me going to look in the mirror but it not being there. I suppose of you did it long enough you'd get out of the habit of doing that.

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Ive done it once because id taken them off to soak the hinge in oil rather than getting my bike covered in it.

It was the first and last time i do. You cant see much out of mine anyway but id rather be able to see that little bit than nothing.

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

217 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Hooli said:
Mirror/s are required for the MOT if the bike is newer than August 1986 & has provision for a pillion.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regul...

Mentions this
A two-wheeled motor cycle with or without a sidecar attached - No requirement

Assuming I've read it right?

Doesn't mention mirrors on this too
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

DrDoofenshmirtz

15,187 posts

199 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
The life saver is a very quick glance to the side just to check nothing is there before manoeuvring. This is usually done after checking the rear mirrors. This is a spit second safety thing, that is actually inherently dangerous because you're taking you eyes off the road in front of you...and many things can happen in those split seconds.
If you don't have any mirrors, you won't have any idea what is approaching - and your riding will be hindered more because you'll never really know what's going on behind you, and you won't be able to properly (safely) set up any overtakes or lane changes on the Mway.
Bar end mirrors will hinder filtering, don't work, and just look completely stupid.
As for 'hater blockers and 'morons behind' ...WTF? confused

Your post is very 'I have no idea what I'm doing'... I think you need some rider training (not joking). Do you wear a camera when you're riding, and post vids to YouTube? wink

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
MarkRSi said:
Hooli said:
Mirror/s are required for the MOT if the bike is newer than August 1986 & has provision for a pillion.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regul...

Mentions this
A two-wheeled motor cycle with or without a sidecar attached - No requirement

Assuming I've read it right?

Doesn't mention mirrors on this too
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
I can't find it now either. I do remember reading it a few years ago, maybe it's changed?

LiamB

7,923 posts

142 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Hooli said:
Mirror/s are required for the MOT if the bike is newer than August 1986 & has provision for a pillion.
You sure? I thought it was if you had mirrors on the bike they had to be fully functioning (I.e not smashed) but if you didn't have any on, it was no problem..? I never had a problem when I took a mirrorless bike for MOT

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
LiamB said:
Hooli said:
Mirror/s are required for the MOT if the bike is newer than August 1986 & has provision for a pillion.
You sure? I thought it was if you had mirrors on the bike they had to be fully functioning (I.e not smashed) but if you didn't have any on, it was no problem..? I never had a problem when I took a mirrorless bike for MOT
See above. I'm sure it used to be the case, but I can't find it in the current regs.

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
I rode for a year with only a right mirror as I was too tight to pay for a left one.

I barely used the right, and I generally used a thing called spatial awareness.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
I generally used a thing called spastical awareness.
wink

MarkRSi

Original Poster:

5,782 posts

217 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
DrDoofenshmirtz said:
As for 'hater blockers and 'morons behind' ...WTF? confused

Your post is very 'I have no idea what I'm doing'... I think you need some rider training (not joking). Do you wear a camera when you're riding, and post vids to YouTube? wink
hehewink

I just like to be aware of whats around me and assume that everyone is an idiot and out to get me (okay in reality they're not but that won't stop them doing stupid things!). As a result without mirrors it was rather disconcerting not being able to see behind without turning around (and of course you won't see the road ahead briefly when doing so), hence the suggestion of the single bar end if I decide to keep the main ones off. The ride this morning at least made me aware how much I use my mirrors.

Yeah I have an action camera (SVC200 which I'd recommend - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esqcF0f_2r0 - flame me) but I've only used it a couple of times.

Edited by MarkRSi on Tuesday 23 September 12:59

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Hooli said:
moanthebairns said:
I generally used a thing called spastical awareness.
wink
I had to look up that id spelt it correctly. What a fking stupid language English is.

I mean to day I called a company called, Cockburn. Yes COCK BURN. But its pronounced Co-burn.

I MEAN WTF!!!!

Tim85

1,742 posts

134 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
I had to look up that id spelt it correctly. What a fking stupid language English is.

I mean to day I called a company called, Cockburn. Yes COCK BURN. But its pronounced Co-burn.

I MEAN WTF!!!!
Hey! Your a part of this country forever now. You will respect our cock burns

MrKipling43

5,788 posts

215 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Tim85 said:
Hey! Your a part of this country forever now. You will respect our cock burns
Lol

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Hooli said:
See above. I'm sure it used to be the case, but I can't find it in the current regs.
I don't think so mate. I took them off my bike for its MOT and it's a 1999 plate. The insurance company wanted to be advised however.

The pillion rule applies to lights legislation doesn't it? Even then most MOT stations I rang when getting a "daylight MOT" didn't care.





Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
Hooli said:
moanthebairns said:
I generally used a thing called spastical awareness.
wink
I had to look up that id spelt it correctly. What a fking stupid language English is.

I mean to day I called a company called, Cockburn. Yes COCK BURN. But its pronounced Co-burn.

I MEAN WTF!!!!
hehe

Ok, so what does it sound like in Gaelic?

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Hooli said:
moanthebairns said:
Hooli said:
moanthebairns said:
I generally used a thing called spastical awareness.
wink
I had to look up that id spelt it correctly. What a fking stupid language English is.

I mean to day I called a company called, Cockburn. Yes COCK BURN. But its pronounced Co-burn.

I MEAN WTF!!!!
hehe

Ok, so what does it sound like in Gaelic?
eh, Cockburn.

Gaelic is a fking stupid language as well, I often watch BBC Alba for the football where games are commentated on in Gaelic, it goes something like this.

Fàilte gu làrach-lìn TERRIBLE Chomhairle nan Leabhraichean PARTICK THISTLE, am prìomh POTATOE bhuidheann a tha a’ cur taic FOOTBALL ri sgrìobhadairean agus ri UMBRELLA foillsichearan Gàidhlig na h-Alba, GOOOOOAL agus a tha ag àrdachadh OFFSIDE ìomhaigh agus ruigsinneachd ST MIRREN leabhraichean Gàidhlig ann an Alba agus gu JIM LESHMAN h-eadar-nàiseanta ahole.