Mirror Mod on a budget..
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Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Covington, Ga.
Mirror Mod on a budget..
I didn't see a good fit for another location to post this, except perhaps the paint and bodywork section. So if it moves, it's due to the wisdom of our moderators..
Anyway, for a long time I've been struggling with the factory location of the stock mirrors on my Ultra. Seems no matter what I did, my elbows were always front and center in the mirror and there was just no good adjustment that worked.
I bought little stick on convex mirrors to add and that helped a lot, but still the view was less than acceptable.
This week, I had yet another car whiz past me on my left because my arm was blocking the view yet again and I got mad..not at the cager, but at myself for allowing such an unsafe condition to continue for so long..
I knew that if I could just get the mirrors up a bit higher, I would be able to see unobstructed and perhaps save my own hide..
I thought about it awhile and came up with a nifty solution, that is actually reasonably attractive. Attractive or not, it WORKS !!
Visually, the bike does not look much different. That is to say that it does not look like a metric bike from the 80's with radio antenna mirror stalks rising out of the bars.
Using the parts listed below, I raised my mirrors about 2 3/8", which may or may not sound like a lot, but the view is a thousand times better.
Here's my budget fix for the problem (with pics)
CLICKY for Photobucket link
Go to your local ACE hardware (any good hardware will do, but Home depot and lowe's ain't gonna have what you want)
Obtain the following items:
~ 1" long x 5/16" chrome spacer - 2
~ 1/4" long x 5/16" chrome spacer - 2
~ 1/8" thick chrome washers - 4
~ 5/16" x 24 x 1 3/4" long chrome bolt - 2
~ 5/16" x 24 threaded rod coupler - 2 (unfortunately not available in chrome, but ok looking anyway)
Because it's all chrome, it's a bit spendy, but should fall in at roughly 25$
The process is simple -
Thanks for letting me share!
Anyway, for a long time I've been struggling with the factory location of the stock mirrors on my Ultra. Seems no matter what I did, my elbows were always front and center in the mirror and there was just no good adjustment that worked.
I bought little stick on convex mirrors to add and that helped a lot, but still the view was less than acceptable.
This week, I had yet another car whiz past me on my left because my arm was blocking the view yet again and I got mad..not at the cager, but at myself for allowing such an unsafe condition to continue for so long..
I knew that if I could just get the mirrors up a bit higher, I would be able to see unobstructed and perhaps save my own hide..
I thought about it awhile and came up with a nifty solution, that is actually reasonably attractive. Attractive or not, it WORKS !!
Visually, the bike does not look much different. That is to say that it does not look like a metric bike from the 80's with radio antenna mirror stalks rising out of the bars.
Using the parts listed below, I raised my mirrors about 2 3/8", which may or may not sound like a lot, but the view is a thousand times better.
Here's my budget fix for the problem (with pics)
CLICKY for Photobucket link
Go to your local ACE hardware (any good hardware will do, but Home depot and lowe's ain't gonna have what you want)
Obtain the following items:
~ 1" long x 5/16" chrome spacer - 2
~ 1/4" long x 5/16" chrome spacer - 2
~ 1/8" thick chrome washers - 4
~ 5/16" x 24 x 1 3/4" long chrome bolt - 2
~ 5/16" x 24 threaded rod coupler - 2 (unfortunately not available in chrome, but ok looking anyway)
Because it's all chrome, it's a bit spendy, but should fall in at roughly 25$
The process is simple -
- Remove acorn nut from mirror stalk and remove mirror from perch
- slide 1" and 1/4" spacers onto stalk
- screw on the coupler and tighten against the spacers
- put thick washer on bolt, slide it up through the perch, add second thick washer, screw into coupler
- tighten and adjust for proper viewing angle
- ride safe!
Thanks for letting me share!
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Covington, Ga.
I've seen them too, can't remember where, but ACE didn't have them.
With patience and time I could probably find the chrome ones, but I'm short on both some days..
Fortunately, the coupling sits in such a place/way that they pretty much disappear behind the switch housings and such. On a show bike it would be far from acceptable, but for my daily rider, I don't think anyone will ever notice unless they are looking for it. Aside from coupler not being chrome, it looks like a factory install.
In a perfect world, I'd take the time to go to the machine shop and have Charlie or McGoo turn out some stock and drill/tap for me..again the budget, time , patience thing beat me down..
With patience and time I could probably find the chrome ones, but I'm short on both some days..
Fortunately, the coupling sits in such a place/way that they pretty much disappear behind the switch housings and such. On a show bike it would be far from acceptable, but for my daily rider, I don't think anyone will ever notice unless they are looking for it. Aside from coupler not being chrome, it looks like a factory install.
In a perfect world, I'd take the time to go to the machine shop and have Charlie or McGoo turn out some stock and drill/tap for me..again the budget, time , patience thing beat me down..
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Covington, Ga.
Yup, that woulda done it.... but I'm cheap and didn't wanna wait for the guy in the little brown truck...
On the plus side, I got to spend some quality time with my 13 yr old driving to town, hunting for parts, and figuring out a nifty solution....Hard to beat that these days.
On the plus side, I got to spend some quality time with my 13 yr old driving to town, hunting for parts, and figuring out a nifty solution....Hard to beat that these days.
Tom from http://harleygoodies.com/ here. Necessity is the mother of invention. I would rather find a way to do it on my own as well as opposed to picking up the HD part. Good job and glad you got it all sorted out.
Regards,
Tom
Harley Goodies
Regards,
Tom
Harley Goodies
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 830
Likes: 34
From: Missouri
Do you know if the coupling is available in stainless? If so, it could easily be polished to an almost chrome like finish.
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