Toolmaker's mirror extensions - Revision history

Bokonon at 05:23, 18 January 2011

2011-01-18T05:23:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:23, 18 January 2011
Line 2:		Line 2:
	By [http://www.ninja250.org/ToolMaker ToolMaker]		By [http://www.ninja250.org/ToolMaker ToolMaker]

	For the continuation of this project, see [Toolmaker's mirror extensions v3].		For the continuation of this project, see [[Toolmaker's mirror extensions v3]].

	I haven't been happy with the mirror setup on the 250. Not being able to see directly behind me without moving my elbows is dangerous, I think. Twice in the last year or so I haven't seen a motorcycle coming up behind me on a highway and passing me in my lane. Both times I had checked my mirror a moment before. I think they were in the blind spot between my elbows. Even when I pull my elbows in, I do it one side at a time, which takes more time than I think it should.		I haven't been happy with the mirror setup on the 250. Not being able to see directly behind me without moving my elbows is dangerous, I think. Twice in the last year or so I haven't seen a motorcycle coming up behind me on a highway and passing me in my lane. Both times I had checked my mirror a moment before. I think they were in the blind spot between my elbows. Even when I pull my elbows in, I do it one side at a time, which takes more time than I think it should.

Bokonon at 05:23, 18 January 2011

2011-01-18T05:23:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:23, 18 January 2011
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category: Bodywork & Frame]]		[[Category: Bodywork & Frame]]
	By [http://www.ninja250.org/ToolMaker ToolMaker]		By [http://www.ninja250.org/ToolMaker ToolMaker]

			For the continuation of this project, see [Toolmaker's mirror extensions v3].

	I haven't been happy with the mirror setup on the 250. Not being able to see directly behind me without moving my elbows is dangerous, I think. Twice in the last year or so I haven't seen a motorcycle coming up behind me on a highway and passing me in my lane. Both times I had checked my mirror a moment before. I think they were in the blind spot between my elbows. Even when I pull my elbows in, I do it one side at a time, which takes more time than I think it should.		I haven't been happy with the mirror setup on the 250. Not being able to see directly behind me without moving my elbows is dangerous, I think. Twice in the last year or so I haven't seen a motorcycle coming up behind me on a highway and passing me in my lane. Both times I had checked my mirror a moment before. I think they were in the blind spot between my elbows. Even when I pull my elbows in, I do it one side at a time, which takes more time than I think it should.

Bokonon at 12:12, 9 May 2010

2010-05-09T12:12:05Z

Bokonon at 12:01, 9 May 2010

2010-05-09T12:01:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:01, 9 May 2010
Line 18:		Line 18:
	The right side uses the original mount, with a bit of hardware to hold the mirror from the left side further out, upside down and more or less horizontal:		The right side uses the original mount, with a bit of hardware to hold the mirror from the left side further out, upside down and more or less horizontal:

	[[image:StbdMirrorOver.jpg\|~~150px~~]]		[[image:StbdMirrorOver.jpg\|120px]]
	[[image:StbdMirrorUnder.jpg\|150px]]		[[image:StbdMirrorUnder.jpg\|150px]]

	The only trick for this side is that the cross bar has to be angled so that the mirror will tilt up far enough to be useful. You can sort of see that here:		The only trick for this side is that the cross bar has to be angled so that the mirror will tilt up far enough to be useful. You can sort of see that here:

	[[image:StbdAssembly1.jpg\|~~150px~~]]		[[image:StbdAssembly1.jpg\|120px]]
	[[image:StbdAssembly2.jpg\|150px]]		[[image:StbdAssembly2.jpg\|150px]]

Line 34:		Line 34:

	[[image:PortMirror.jpg\|150px]]		[[image:PortMirror.jpg\|150px]]
	[[image:PortAssembly1.jpg\|~~150px~~]]		[[image:PortAssembly1.jpg\|120px]]
	[[image:PortAssembly2.jpg\|~~150px~~]]		[[image:PortAssembly2.jpg\|140px]]

Bokonon at 11:50, 9 May 2010

2010-05-09T11:50:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:50, 9 May 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category: Bodywork & Frame]]		[[Category: Bodywork & Frame]]
	By [[http://www.ninja250.org/ToolMaker ToolMaker]]		By [http://www.ninja250.org/ToolMaker ToolMaker]

	I haven't been happy with the mirror set up on the 250. Not being able to see directly behind me without moving my elbows is dangerous, I think. Twice in the last year or so I haven't seen a motorcycle coming up behind me on a highway and passing me in my lane and freaking me out. Both times I had checked my mirror a moment before. I think they were in the blind spot between my elbows. Even when I pull my elbows in, I do it one side at a time, which takes more time than I think it should.		I haven't been happy with the mirror set up on the 250. Not being able to see directly behind me without moving my elbows is dangerous, I think. Twice in the last year or so I haven't seen a motorcycle coming up behind me on a highway and passing me in my lane and freaking me out. Both times I had checked my mirror a moment before. I think they were in the blind spot between my elbows. Even when I pull my elbows in, I do it one side at a time, which takes more time than I think it should.

Bokonon at 11:48, 9 May 2010

2010-05-09T11:48:55Z

New page

[[Category: Bodywork & Frame]]
By [[http://www.ninja250.org/ToolMaker ToolMaker]]

I haven't been happy with the mirror set up on the 250. Not being able to see directly behind me without moving my elbows is dangerous, I think. Twice in the last year or so I haven't seen a motorcycle coming up behind me on a highway and passing me in my lane and freaking me out. Both times I had checked my mirror a moment before. I think they were in the blind spot between my elbows. Even when I pull my elbows in, I do it one side at a time, which takes more time than I think it should.

I've tried a few things; the upside-down setup was the best. It allows me to see below the handlebars, and I can still see over the saddlebags I generally ride with, but I don't like the fact that they're about 45 degrees off horizontal, so they have a reduced width of view.

So, why does Kawasaki put them where they do? I think it's because they're pretty close to your line of sight, that is, you don't have to move your eyes very far nor refocus, and moving them further outboard wouldn't suit the aesthetic. In other words; to avoid lawsuits and not look ugly.

I'd trade ease of viewing access and looks for a safer setup.

My theory was that if the mirrors were horizontal and low, like the upside down setup, and perhaps a bit further out, I'd have a better field of view that wouldn't need any extra body movements. So I built two different mounts to test.

Here's a look at the setup from the front:

[[image:FullFrontal.jpg|150px]]

The right side uses the original mount, with a bit of hardware to hold the mirror from the left side further out, upside down and more or less horizontal:

[[image:StbdMirrorOver.jpg|150px]]
[[image:StbdMirrorUnder.jpg|150px]]

The only trick for this side is that the cross bar has to be angled so that the mirror will tilt up far enough to be useful. You can sort of see that here:

[[image:StbdAssembly1.jpg|150px]]
[[image:StbdAssembly2.jpg|150px]]

Here are the parts for the right side:

[[image:StbdBlowup1.jpg|150px]]
[[image:StbdBlowup2.jpg|150px]]

For the left side I built a new mount that holds the left side mirror upside down, slightly further out from stock, and horizontal:

[[image:PortMirror.jpg|150px]]
[[image:PortAssembly1.jpg|150px]]
[[image:PortAssembly2.jpg|150px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:12, 9 May 2010
Line 2:		Line 2:
	By [http://www.ninja250.org/ToolMaker ToolMaker]		By [http://www.ninja250.org/ToolMaker ToolMaker]

	I haven't been happy with the mirror ~~set up~~ on the 250. Not being able to see directly behind me without moving my elbows is dangerous, I think. Twice in the last year or so I haven't seen a motorcycle coming up behind me on a highway and passing me in my lane ~~and freaking me out~~. Both times I had checked my mirror a moment before. I think they were in the blind spot between my elbows. Even when I pull my elbows in, I do it one side at a time, which takes more time than I think it should.		I haven't been happy with the mirror setup on the 250. Not being able to see directly behind me without moving my elbows is dangerous, I think. Twice in the last year or so I haven't seen a motorcycle coming up behind me on a highway and passing me in my lane. Both times I had checked my mirror a moment before. I think they were in the blind spot between my elbows. Even when I pull my elbows in, I do it one side at a time, which takes more time than I think it should.

	I've tried a few things; the upside-down setup was the best. It allows me to see below the handlebars, and I can still see over the saddlebags I generally ride with, but I don't like the fact that they're about 45 degrees off horizontal, so they have a reduced width of view.		I've tried a few things; the upside-down setup was the best. It allows me to see below the handlebars, and I can still see over the saddlebags I generally ride with, but I don't like the fact that they're about 45 degrees off horizontal, so they have a reduced width of view.

	So, why does Kawasaki put them where they do? I think it's because they're pretty close to your line of sight, that is, you don't have to move your eyes very far nor refocus, and moving them further outboard wouldn't suit the aesthetic. In other words; to avoid lawsuits and not look ugly.		So, why does Kawasaki put them where they do? I think it's because they're pretty close to your line of sight; that is, you don't have to move your eyes very far nor refocus, and moving them further outboard wouldn't suit the aesthetic. In other words; to avoid lawsuits and not look ugly.

	I'd trade ease of viewing access and looks for a safer setup.		I'd trade ease of viewing access and looks for a safer setup.
Line 16:		Line 16:
	[[image:FullFrontal.jpg\|150px]]		[[image:FullFrontal.jpg\|150px]]

	The right side uses the original mount, with a bit of hardware to hold the mirror from the left side further out, upside down and more or less horizontal:		The right side uses the original mount, with a bit of hardware to hold the mirror that was swapped over from the left side further out, upside down, and more or less horizontal:

	[[image:StbdMirrorOver.jpg\|120px]]		[[image:StbdMirrorOver.jpg\|120px]]
Line 31:		Line 31:
	[[image:StbdBlowup2.jpg\|150px]]		[[image:StbdBlowup2.jpg\|150px]]

	For the left side I built a new mount that holds the ~~left side~~ mirror upside down, slightly further out from stock, and horizontal:		For the left side I built a new mount that holds the mirror upside down, slightly further out from stock, and horizontal:

	[[image:PortMirror.jpg\|150px]]		[[image:PortMirror.jpg\|150px]]
	[[image:PortAssembly1.jpg\|120px]]		[[image:PortAssembly1.jpg\|120px]]
	[[image:PortAssembly2.jpg\|140px]]		[[image:PortAssembly2.jpg\|140px]]