Riding without mirrors?

[balls-out]

Whilst this is bit "I once rode without mirrors and died within minutes", I think its pretty dumb to have such a limited source of information on what is happening behind you.

I find that a life saver isn't often necessary - you should know what is behind and if you position right there is no where to look. a life saver takes you eye away from what is in front of you, which is added danger.

I would not want to do many m'way miles without being able to keep an eye on what is behind me.

Edited by balls-out on Tuesday 23 September 14:04

[Deranged Granny]

moanthebairns said:

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.

Ah, the good old Gaelic Books Council annual charity match, eh?

[jackh707]

The only time I don't want mirrors is on track.

[Hammerhead]

Wouldn't be happy with just the one mirror, myself...


Joking aside, 2 mirrors as I have two sides, each side being possible places other road users may be in behind or to the side of me, coupled with lifesavers. Picking up on a point made about not needing to do lifesavers due to excellent special awareness afforded by an open face helmet, I don't think there'd be as many surviving Spitfire/Hurricane pilots left after the war if they'd not swivelled their heads whilst taking on the Luftwaffe. Give yourself plenty of room on the road and you can do lifesavers without turning back and wondering why you're now part of the number 53 bus

[DrDoofenshmirtz]

moanthebairns said:

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

EFA.

[andy tims]

jackh707 said:

The only time I don't want mirrors is on track.

This

[Mad Jock]

Would anyone drive a car without any mirrors? Legal or otherwise, I'm not sure that I would be happy about that. You might not see that biker approaching at warp speed, or the cop car/bike with only his blues on. The same applies to a bike, I would have thought. A lifesaver really only covers about a 60 degree angle behind you. You would have to twist your body to see completely behind you, so you are still vulnerable to odd lunatic who comes up very fast behind you, especially one that wasn't there the last time you made a lifesaver.

Mirrors at least give you some warning, even if it's just a flicker in your peripheral vision.

I'm sure there are plenty of road warriors who might claim that no-one will be going faster than them, or have some kind of ability to use the force, but "spastical" (sic) awareness is not enough these days. If the car drivers can't see you with dayglo and lights, what makes you any different if you ride without all the aids that can be provided.

Anyway, if you don't like the mirrors supplied, you can always try one of these: http://www.huntercreate.com/

[sjtscott]

Each to their own but my mirrors are invaluable to my road riding esp for me when commuting. Additionally on my current bike they are the widest part of the bike for judging if I can fit through a gap without coming to a stop or not.

[creampuff]

It sounds like a bad idea.

The thought of it and applying it to my RoSPA-inspired riding style of rear observation gives me the heebie geebies.

Infact one of the reasons why I have a Pan Euro and not an FJR is that the Pan mirrors are outstandingly good. That and I don't have £5k floating around at the moment to swap.

[moanthebairns]

Deranged Granny said:

moanthebairns said:

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.

Ah, the good old Gaelic Books Council annual charity match, eh?

do you read Gaelic

[dirkgently]

1978, I had just been stopped by the police for the first time and given a well deserved bking. As he sent me on my way the Sargent said to me "Get some mirrors son, and use them" I took the advice and have never regretted it.

[CBR JGWRR]

Hooli said:

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.

According to my MoT place after the baby CBR spat me off, if mirrors are fitted, they must be complete. If mirrors aren't fitted doesn't matter, if mirrors are fitted but are broken, fail.

Same with electrics, if fitted, must work.

[CaptainMorgan]

My brother doesnt have any. One broke after his bike was kicked over and he took the other off. He seems to spend an awful lot of time twisting around to look at whats going on behind him, taking his eyes off the road ahead for longer than I'd like to be. I rode it for about 5 min and was doing the same, I have a quick glance every few seconds out of habit so that was strange. My mirrors on my bike are pretty crap and offer a limited view behind but I'd rather have that than nothing at all.

[MarkRSi]

Well I made it back home mirrorless without embedding myself under an HGV or any other "oh cock" incidents/near misses.

Regardless, it was rather more disconcerting than this morning with more traffic around and bit of filtering (half expecting another biker behind to starting revving their engine to get my attention). Likewise with making lane changes on a dual carriageway and making overtakes on a single carriageway road. I do look around of course but this time having to crane around to get good look behind and not looking ahead for a moment etc. As it was just beginning to get dark other vehicles having their lights on did help but obviously not something to rely on. Not sure how my FZ1 friend or anyone else manages it.

Might be willing to try using the single bar end mirror (as per the second post on this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=108... ). Of course two would be better but it's quite narrow getting my bike in and out of my garage as it is.

[John D.]

DrDoofenshmirtz said:

moanthebairns said:

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

EFA.

Indeed. There's a reason they drill mirror checks into you when training for the license test.

Would do my nut having to turn around all the time anyway. Or can you maintain 'spatial awareness' whilst looking where you are going?

[Prof Prolapse]

If there was any truth in it being simply luck that keeps you safe, I think the insurance companies would be able to demonstrate it, and the police keen to have it banned when they looked into it as the cause of accidents.

[Simes205]

The mirrors on my NC are there for decoration, you can't see a thing with them. Quite the opposite to the vespa which are simply useable

[Herman Toothrot]

The only times I have ever been pissed off with other bikers on the road are those I've caught up having no mirrors. They absolutely obviously had no idea at all I'd caught them or that they had anything behind them, they'd have been fked if I was plod. Pissed me off as they were not passing cars where I would have, so I was sat there thinking are you going to go or not?? Making it too unsafe for me to go by them and the car, they could have pulled out on to me leaving the only option for me to sit behind them thinking dick head.

[WTFWT]

I have mirrors on my sports bikes - useful on motorway or going for an A road blast.

Around town I have taken them off my uprights as they interfere with filtering and by constantly moving forward through traffic your spatial awareness is high. That said, lifesavers become doubly crucial and a quick look when on a trailing throttle in open space is useful to check some Nigel isn't late braking / lane changing inexplicably.

My bikes have been through MOTs for 12 years without mirrors, no problem. Never been pulled by the Police for it either.

[Hooli]

moanthebairns said:

Hooli said:

moanthebairns said:

Hooli said:

moanthebairns said:

I generally used a thing called spastical awareness.

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!!!!

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.

I used to know a lass in Aberdoom, if her kids turned on Gaelic tv she'd respond with 'turn off that furrien shyte'. Made me laugh as she was very proud to be Scottish.