How to Position motorcycle mirror?
By Lilli Seleem
Can you ride a blindfold. Or take a trip with blinders to hide your peripheral vision (like horses wear). The answer will be deathly. However, many contestants keep the right and left mirrors set in a way that provides the narrowest view (including an excellent view of the elbows).
The next time you jump on your bike, before you pull out, take a closer look at each mirror. what do you see? Is the view in the left mirror the same as in the right mirror? How much of a scene behind you can see in both mirrors? If the scene is highly repetitive for each, try moving both mirror out to expand the overall view.
The perfect adjustment allows you to see the car directly behind you in any mirror but with little overlap of that image. You should now have a clearly different vision from the outside of the mirror as well. The left mirror should reveal more space next to your bike on the left (where cars pass), and the right mirror should expand the width of the space to the right of your bike (where the compact cars appear), expanding your total rear view.
If we're talking about mirrors, it's a good time to look at what other drivers see. Motorists have a rearview mirror installed on the windshield that provides exactly what the name implies: rear view.
The cars also have two side-view mirrors mounted on the exterior of the vehicle on the left and right side. Unfortunately, these mirrors are usually adjusted inward to take the same rear view as the interior mirror. This means that cars - including our motorcycles - are easily blocked from the driver's point of view.
L&A Motorcycle Safety recommend to be aware as you ride alongside other vehicles; if you can't see their reflection in the mirror, they won't be able to see you!
By Lilli Seleem
Can you ride a blindfold. Or take a trip with blinders to hide your peripheral vision (like horses wear). The answer will be deathly. However, many contestants keep the right and left mirrors set in a way that provides the narrowest view (including an excellent view of the elbows).
Most riders put their mirrors to provide the same rear view, resulting in a duplicate image and a much narrower overall width. But by moving the mirrors out, the field of view becomes clearer and the rear view improves to see what's behind you.
The next time you jump on your bike, before you pull out, take a closer look at each mirror. what do you see? Is the view in the left mirror the same as in the right mirror? How much of a scene behind you can see in both mirrors? If the scene is highly repetitive for each, try moving both mirror out to expand the overall view.
The perfect adjustment allows you to see the car directly behind you in any mirror but with little overlap of that image. You should now have a clearly different vision from the outside of the mirror as well. The left mirror should reveal more space next to your bike on the left (where cars pass), and the right mirror should expand the width of the space to the right of your bike (where the compact cars appear), expanding your total rear view.
If we're talking about mirrors, it's a good time to look at what other drivers see. Motorists have a rearview mirror installed on the windshield that provides exactly what the name implies: rear view.
The cars also have two side-view mirrors mounted on the exterior of the vehicle on the left and right side. Unfortunately, these mirrors are usually adjusted inward to take the same rear view as the interior mirror. This means that cars - including our motorcycles - are easily blocked from the driver's point of view.
