I just wanted to write a quick review about some mirrors I purchased a few months ago.
When I purchased my Buell, it came with a set of cheapo $20 convex (the image distort to provide a wide angle view) mirrors. They were mounted low, so I had to look below my elbow to catch a glimpse of traffic behind me. The convex design completely distorts space, so you have no idea how close a car is behind you. So, I searched around for a mirror that would provide me a good view of traffic not only behind me but also in adjacent lanes. I needed a mirror that was durable (I have a clipped a mirror or two while lane splitting.
) and good looking.
I had looked around for a few weeks. Other brands I considered were Rizoma, CRG, and Joker Machine. While I liked the Rizoma, I thought they were too bling bling blingy. I considered the Reverse Retro model (pictured below), but was concerned about the brake and clutch levers hitting the mounting arms. I also wanted a little more cockpit room and I felt that these would make me feel cramped.
I then found these mirrors.
They were everything I was looking for. They were adjustable so I could mount them high or low. They were basic and didn't draw too much attention to themselves. I want people to look at the bike, not the mirrors. Most importantly, they were functional. Their flat (non-convex) oblong shape promised to provide a much better view than the cheapos I had.
I ordered them from the UK and they took about one week to arrive on in Los Angeles. They were nicely packaged and came with all of the necessary hardware. Installation was straightforward, but required a bit of tweaking and fine tuning. Since they are non-adjustable once tightened down (a feature I wish they had...please please Oberon, make future versions adjustable), they required several test rides to get the view just right.
By trial and error, I learned the easiest way to get them generally lined up was to park the bike on flat level pavement and pick an object about 30 feet behind you and adjust the mirrors around that object. Make sure the horizon level in each mirror matches the other. Go for a quick test ride and make micro adjustments until all is well. And then.....TIGHTEN THE HELL OUT OF EVERYTHING. When I first installed the mirrors, I went for test rides and vibrations from my bike would move them out of position. So, I had to repeat the process several times before I got it right. One note about the throttle side mirror is that you can't tighten the mirror too tight or it will lock your throttle in place. Too loose, and your mirror will fall out of adjustment. This problem plagued me for a couple of weeks. I eventually stripped a couple of the tightening screws. A solution I eventually discovered was to wrap two layers of duct tape around the brass spreader thingy. This provided enough grip so that the mirror would stay in place but still allowed smooth throttle operation.
I e-mailed Oberon about the difficulties I was having they actually spoke with them over the phone (they are in the UK, so plan your phone call accordingly). They were extremely helpful and replaced the tightening screws for free even though I offered to pay for them. They also send out a few replacement collets. Great service and they are very friendly and easy to deal with.
The results? The mirrors are absolutely amazing. The oblong shape allows me to see three lanes of traffic on either side of me. Mirror vibration is non existent. I can discern the make and model of cars behind me (important if you have a LEO trailing you). I can even tell what brand of cigarette a driver is smoking. OK, maybe not, but you get the idea. They compliment the look of the bike without drawing any unnecessary attention to themselves.
If you have any further questions about these mirrors, feel free to contact me.
When I purchased my Buell, it came with a set of cheapo $20 convex (the image distort to provide a wide angle view) mirrors. They were mounted low, so I had to look below my elbow to catch a glimpse of traffic behind me. The convex design completely distorts space, so you have no idea how close a car is behind you. So, I searched around for a mirror that would provide me a good view of traffic not only behind me but also in adjacent lanes. I needed a mirror that was durable (I have a clipped a mirror or two while lane splitting.
) and good looking. I had looked around for a few weeks. Other brands I considered were Rizoma, CRG, and Joker Machine. While I liked the Rizoma, I thought they were too bling bling blingy. I considered the Reverse Retro model (pictured below), but was concerned about the brake and clutch levers hitting the mounting arms. I also wanted a little more cockpit room and I felt that these would make me feel cramped.
I then found these mirrors.
They were everything I was looking for. They were adjustable so I could mount them high or low. They were basic and didn't draw too much attention to themselves. I want people to look at the bike, not the mirrors. Most importantly, they were functional. Their flat (non-convex) oblong shape promised to provide a much better view than the cheapos I had.
I ordered them from the UK and they took about one week to arrive on in Los Angeles. They were nicely packaged and came with all of the necessary hardware. Installation was straightforward, but required a bit of tweaking and fine tuning. Since they are non-adjustable once tightened down (a feature I wish they had...please please Oberon, make future versions adjustable), they required several test rides to get the view just right.
By trial and error, I learned the easiest way to get them generally lined up was to park the bike on flat level pavement and pick an object about 30 feet behind you and adjust the mirrors around that object. Make sure the horizon level in each mirror matches the other. Go for a quick test ride and make micro adjustments until all is well. And then.....TIGHTEN THE HELL OUT OF EVERYTHING. When I first installed the mirrors, I went for test rides and vibrations from my bike would move them out of position. So, I had to repeat the process several times before I got it right. One note about the throttle side mirror is that you can't tighten the mirror too tight or it will lock your throttle in place. Too loose, and your mirror will fall out of adjustment. This problem plagued me for a couple of weeks. I eventually stripped a couple of the tightening screws. A solution I eventually discovered was to wrap two layers of duct tape around the brass spreader thingy. This provided enough grip so that the mirror would stay in place but still allowed smooth throttle operation.
I e-mailed Oberon about the difficulties I was having they actually spoke with them over the phone (they are in the UK, so plan your phone call accordingly). They were extremely helpful and replaced the tightening screws for free even though I offered to pay for them. They also send out a few replacement collets. Great service and they are very friendly and easy to deal with.
The results? The mirrors are absolutely amazing. The oblong shape allows me to see three lanes of traffic on either side of me. Mirror vibration is non existent. I can discern the make and model of cars behind me (important if you have a LEO trailing you). I can even tell what brand of cigarette a driver is smoking. OK, maybe not, but you get the idea. They compliment the look of the bike without drawing any unnecessary attention to themselves.
If you have any further questions about these mirrors, feel free to contact me.
