Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I am still taking riding lessons and one thing which I can get myself to use is the mirrors. Before I get flamed let me explain

I'm finding the visibility offered by the mirrors to be extremely limited when compared to cars no matter how much I adjust them and many times when I have to change lanes or take a turn I completely ignore the mirrors and look directly behind before making my move.

The instructor always keeps harping that I have to use the mirrors but on their own are not enough. I think I'm doing half a right thing coz there might be situations where I can't afford to take my eyes off the road in front.

Anyone of you had this problem? Any tips on how you dealt with it?

Not quite sure if I understood you correctly, but even if you use your mirrors, you should still do a head check before changing lanes. Then again, you should be doing that in your car too.

hmm, maybe you could try bigger mirrors? hell, attach some car mirrors to your bike. that was be hysterical! no but seriously, Bike mirrors dont offer the visibility a car offers and i always do a head check before changing lanes ALWAYS. using those methods you really should be fine. you will basically have to adjust.

What I'm saying is I'm not trusting the limited visibility offered by the mirrors and I'm ignoring them completely and I'doing a head-check only.

I also always look back when switching lanes. I'll check the mirrors initialy, but will look back before I leap.

xk wrote:What I'm saying is I'm not trusting the limited visibility offered by the mirrors and I'm ignoring them completely and I'doing a head-check only.

if you do any interstate riding there will be times that you wont be able to do a head check especially if someone has got sideways and you have to find a hole to go through.you will have to learn to use the mirrors.

If for nothing else, you need the mirrors for situational awareness. I may do a head check, but I usually have a pretty good idea what's going on behind me because I'm checking the mirrors regularly. It's important even if you're not turning or changing lanes.

Changing the mirrors sounds like a good idea if it can be done correctly.

Yeah, makes sense to change to bigger mirrors.

Silly post Apologies

i don't depend on my mirrors. i use head checks more.

also, when i tuck in, it becomes useless.

xk wrote:Yeah, makes sense to change to bigger mirrors.

Silly post Apologies

There are no silly posts... ask away if you have questions, we're here to help.