One of the most common changes riders make to their bikes is a change of mirrors. People often find the stock mirrors either too big or ugly. I had a problem with my wide stock mirrors. The stock mirrors make the bike wider than it actually is, which makes it impossible to pass through the doorway when parking my bike in the storage. That was one of the reasons for me to look into bar end mirrors.
Many riders mount these little mirrors at the end of their handlebars called “bar end mirrors”. I found very little information about them, so I decided to share my experience in this guide.
This is a complete guide for those who think of replacing their stock mirrors with some fine bar end mirrors. I’ll explain what they are, what you have to think of when replacing them, if they are safe and legal and which bar end mirrors are best to buy.
Some people don’t want to read this whole article, so let me tell you what the best bar end mirrors are first.
These are the best bar end mirrors available
- The best bar end mirrors for cafe racers, cruisers and off-roaders are the CRG Hindsight Lanesplitter Bar End Mirrors (Amazon). They are round shaped and have been the best-sold bar end mirrors for the past years (and probably for years to come).
- The best bar end mirrors for sports bikes and naked bikes are the CRG Arrow Bar End Mirrors (Amazon). They are arrow-shaped and are the second best-sold bar end mirrors. They look a little more aggressive, which fits the look of a sports bike or naked bike.
What is a bar end mirror
Let me start by explaining the definition of bar end mirrors. Bar end mirrors is a short version for “Handlebar end mirrors”. They are (usually small) mirrors that can be mounted to the end of the handlebars.
Some of them are at placed at the exact end of the handlebar, making the bike slightly wider. Others are placed either under or above the handlebar. This really depends on the mirror model and personal preferences, since some mirrors can be mounted in more than one position.
I’ll go further into detail later in the article, explaining why people use bar end mirrors and sharing if they are safe and legal.
Why do people use bar end mirrors
Bar end mirrors are increasingly popular for multiple reasons. Allow me to explain why people choose to go for bar end mirrors in the first place.
- Easier to lane split: One of the reasons for people to replace their stock mirrors for bar end mirrors, is to be able to lane split more easily. Some countries and states allow you to drive in between two lanes of cars, to pass a queue or traffic jam. The bar end mirrors make the bike less wide, making it easier to pass these cars without hitting them on your way.
- They often look better than the stock mirror: This might be the biggest reason of all. Most bar end mirror users chose these mirrors because they look better than the stock mirrors that come with the bike. I personally think this really depends on the type of bike you are riding. The modern bikes typically have nice looking mirrors, whereas the older bikes have mirrors that do not always fit the bike itself. An example is
the picture below. - Fitting the bike through a door: This is my personal reason for looking into bar end mirrors. I store my bike in a storage room underneath my apartment building. My bike fits through the door, but the mirrors don’t. This leaves me no choice than to fold the mirrors in, every time I’m putting my bike into storage. This is the reason I’ve been looking into bar end mirrors, and also the reason to write this article. I found very little information about them and decided to make this guide.
- Replacing the handlebars:
A last reason for replacing the mirrors is actually replacing the handlebar. Do you get me? Some riders decide to replace their handlebars, which often means that the mount for the stock mirrors will be gone. They have to look into alternatives, often ending up with bar end mirrors.
Are bar end mirrors safe?
The first question that popped into my mind whiles researching about these mirrors was: “Are bar end mirrors safe?”. The answer is that it depends. There are several things to look for when looking for safe bar end mirrors. I’ll sum them up for you.
- Size: The smaller your mirrors are, the less you can see. It’s not some stupid saying, but a real fact. You can only see as much as the surface of the mirror itself. Most people prefer smaller mirrors since they look better. But safety should be your first concern, looks come later. You won’t be able to show off your pretty bike when it’s all wrecked because you missed this one car in your mirror right?
- Adjustability: As said, you can only see as much as the surface of your mirror. An important thing is being able to adjust your mirror. Every rider sees things from a different perspective. Some are tall, others are small. Some sit up, others hang forward. Make sure your mirror is completely adjustable, allowing you to adjust it in order to see as much as possible.
- Vibrations: This is another important thing. (Cheap) bar end mirrors can be subjected to vibrations. Nothing is as bad as a vibrating mirror. Your mirror can be 10″ in diameter, but you won’t be able to see anything if it constantly vibrates. Make sure you buy high-quality mirrors that are designed to absorb vibration. I’ll tell you more about that further up in this article.
Bar end mirrors can be safe if you keep all these things in mind. Reasonably sized, non-vibrating and adjustable bar end mirrors can look good AND be safe to drive. Just don’t try to safe money on parts that make or break your rider safety.
Are these mirrors legal?
This question is hard to answer, since my readers come from all around the world. Some states/countries only allow stock mirrors, others say you have to have at least one mirror on the driver side.
An example from the state of California’s vehicle code, division 12 chapter 4: Windshields and mirrors.
Every motor vehicle registered in a foreign jurisdiction and every motorcycle subject to registration in this state shall be equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect
What this means is that you’ll need to be able to view at least 200 feet of distance behind your motorcycle. The rest of this law explains how California registered vehicles need at least two mirrors (left and right), but this doesn’t seem to apply to motorcycles. However, I strongly advise you to always mount two mirrors and not just one. Your safety is the most important thing there is when it comes to riding a bike!
Cheap mirrors from China or eBay
This is a topic that I want to discuss. I told you which mirrors are
The thing is, that you will get what you pay for. These cheaper mirrors often fail big time. I started with buying a pair from Aliexpress and they
They were also made of cheap materials. The bracket was made out of metal, but the mirror itself seemed to be some kind of painted plastic with a glass mirror inside. I ended up throwing them away after a month or two because they were just unusable and they started to wear down already.
I’m not saying that all the cheap mirrors out there are bad. As a matter of fact, I’ve read articles from people who are happy with their 15 dollar mirrors. But it’s just a guess and there is a big chance to end up with worthless junk.
I value my safety and that’s why I decided to invest a little bit more into these CRG mirrors. They look better, they are made in the USA, they are heavy build and I never ever have to adjust them. They just do the trick for me.
What about bar end mirrors with turn signals?
Some bar end mirrors have an extra feature. They include integrated turn signals. These indicators are often integrated in the bracket of the mirror. Installing them will be a little bit more work than installing the bar end mirrors without turn signals.
The indicators are fine, but most riders see it as a replacement for the original indicators. I’m personally not a big fan of that. They turn signals are often only noticable from the front and/or back (like in the picutre below). Traffic from your right or left can barely see the indicators in that case.
There are also mirrors with a turn signal in the bar end, but problem with that is that they are very small. Same goes here as for the safety issues before. Safety should always be your number one! I wouldn’t recommend to replace your turn signals for bar end mirrors with turn signals.
Placement of your mirrors
Choosing the right type of mirror is one, but placing them is a whole different story. Some bar end mirrors can be placed in several positions, as shown in the image below. This is an example of the CRG arrow mirrors.
High vs. low placement
The mirrors can either be placed high or low (or in between). All these positions will be lower than your OEM mirrors in most cases. The problem with that is that you have to lower your head to see in the mirror properly.
I would suggest you put your mirrors in the high position since this is the easiest way to be able to see in your mirror without moving your head too much. Putting the mirror in the lower position will force you to tilt your head in order to see anything. This doesn’t feel natural and it makes riding your bike a little less comfortable.
Some mirrors even allow you to move your mirror all the way to the bottom, underneath you handlebar. In this case, it would mean that the ‘arrow shaped mirror’ would point to the inside of the motorcycle. Same goes for this position, it feels less natural and it will affect your comfort.
Are you looking for the safest option? Go for the high placement.
Horizontal vs vertical mirrors
Another choice you have to make is whether you place your mirrors horizontally or vertically. Placing them horizontally allows you to see more in your mirror. Some riders choose to turn it 90 degrees, mounting it vertically. This means you’ll see more sky and less road behind. The main reason to do this is to keep the bike narrow. This makes lane splitting much easier.
Are bar end mirrors good with any type of bike?
Some motorcycles look better with bar end mirrors than others. It’s a matter of personal tast, but you’ll fine more cafe racers with bar end mirrors than modern sportsbikes (for example).
Cafe racer
A cafe racer goes very well with bar end mirrors. It gives the bike an old fashioned look and it suits the bike well. The first bikes didn’t have any mirrors, so the bar end mirrors are a good alternative for big ugly OEM mirrors. They are small and don’t draw too much attention. Most cafe racer owners go for the round-shaped bar end mirrors.
Off-road motorcycle
Off-roaders can go with bar end mirrors. Most off-road riders choose for the round-shaped option. Just keep in mind that your mirror is much lower than the OEM mirrors. Do ride off road regularly? In that case, you might reconsider using bar end mirrors. They tend to gather a lot of dirt at this lower position, making it impossible to see anything in your mirrors.
Sports bike
Sportsbikes will do well with bar end mirrors. I personally don’t like the looks of it, but that’s just a matter of taste. Keep in mind that sports bike handlebars are differently shaped than the regular handlebars. You want to buy mirrors that can be adjusted far enough, to be able to put them in the right angle.
Naked bike
Naked bikes go well with bar end mirrors as well. As seen in the picture on the top of this article. I personally like them best when the mirror is above the handlebar, in the inward position. It keeps the bike narrow and looks pretty good to me.
How to install your mirrors
I cannot give you specific instruction on how to mount your bar end mirrors since every type is different. Some clamp around the handlebar, whiles others have to be inserted into the handlebars.
Just make sure to follow the instruction of your mirrors carefully. In most cases you’ll have to remove your bar end weights, so be aware of that. This may affect your feeling to the handlebar a little bit, but you’ll get used to the new situation in no time.
Are bar end mirrors any good? My personal summary
Let me summerize if bar end mirrors are any good;
Bar end mirrors are placed at the end of your handlebar and often replace the OEM mirrors. People use them to make the bike less wide, or because they like the looks of these kinds of mirrors. They are safe as long as you buy a pair of high quality. I would personally skip the cheap Chinese options since they have an impact on your safety. Also, make sure to mount them correctly so that you are able to check your mirrors easily.
The safest way to mount your bar end mirrors is as high as possible, in a horizontal position. An example can be found in the first picture of this article.
Bar end mirrors can go with any type of bike, but look extra good on cafe racers. Mounting them isn’t very hard, but you’ll have to follow the instructions carefully.
I hope this helped you to choose if you should go for bar end mirrors or not. Do you have any more questions or do you want to