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**antz.bin** · 03-13-2013, 12:17 PM

GBD Approved

Totally agree with the observation. I feel that the P220ers are the most likely to fold their mirrors purely because the stock mirrors are pretty much useless. I have modified the mirror stalk suitably to work around the problem, even sent feedback to Bajaj but there was no further improvement in design. Anyways, reminding people to use their mirrors is a good initiative. Even if you change the habit of one person per month, the roads would be that tiny bit safer for everyone.

**Centaur** · 03-13-2013, 12:27 PM

Mountain, Antz.. totally agree with you and yes, Antz, 220 ers are the major culprits, at least in Bombay.
What I've done for my mirrors is that I've attached those blind spot mirrors that you get for cars...gives me a fish eye view of what's behind me... works for me

**abhimanyu31** · 03-13-2013, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by The Mountain View Post

Hey all, I wanted to share an experience I had today: This morning coming to work (I work at a University in Bhubaneswar) I encountered a young man on a green Ninja, who had the mirrors on his bike folded against the fairing. I followed him until he had parked, and reminded him that he really ought to fold them out and use them, as it would be a shame if his new bike were in a wreck because he couldn't see someone coming up behind him. I see riders like this every day, mainly on Pulsar 220s, Fazers, R15s, Apaches, and Ninjas, though there are plenty of "smaller" bikes out there missing their mirrors as well.

Please, all of you, find one rider other than yourself whose bike has the mirrors folded down, or missing, and urge them to put the mirrors back in working order (and if you're among that group, shame on you!). Folding your mirrors in doesn't make you "cool" or a "rebel", and it doesn't make your bike go faster or be more aerodynamic. Mirrors are an important safety device, particularly on a bike where the vehicle doesn't provide you any protection apart from agility. Learn to use them, teach your friends and riding buddies how to use them. That goes for cars too; just because you have the rearview mirror on the inside of the windshield, you still need the side mirrors ON BOTH SIDES to properly see what traffic around you is doing.

And if one of you here knows the guy I met on the Ninja this morning (black plate, last three numbers I think are 515) in Bhubaneswar, please hunt him down and reinforce my reminder. It would be a real shame to see a new pride-and-joy bike like that wrecked because the pilot couldn't see what traffic was doing, and of course it would be a tragedy if the rider himself was injured.

Absolutely agree with you. Its pretty frightening to see people riding without mirrors. Its like they are riding in La-la land with no situational awareness. I would also like to add that even if you have mirrors one must always check their '5' and '7' O'clock before making any direction changes. All it takes is moving your head to the right or left as required and checking and clearing the blind area.

Your post reminds me of an incident that left me aghast about the state of affairs. I was at the Yamaha Factory Shop to take delivery of my bike after its 3 service. While waiting for the bike, I noticed a guy (must be around 18 - 19 years old college student) asking one of the service guy to remove the mirrors on his bike. His bike was brand new, just 2 days old. I asked him why he wanted to remove the mirrors. His reply was that he did not like how the bike looks with mirrors. When I pointed out to him that mirrors are not only required for safety but are also a legal requirement on any street bike, he sets off on an argument of how its a sports bike and how looks are more important in a sports bike. He most stunning argument was 'Explain to me why Motogp bikes do not have mirrors???'

...

What do you say to such people and how do you get through their thick skulls that safety come first?

**The Monk** · 03-13-2013, 01:51 PM

Totally agree with Abhimanyu. Was going to say the same. Fix those mirrors on the bike and use them properly. But one still needs to keep their heads moving. Mirrors are meant to complement the rotating head and not to replace the need to move your head around.

**The Mountain** · 03-13-2013, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by abhimanyu31 View Post

Absolutely agree with you. Its pretty frightening to see people riding without mirrors. Its like they are riding in La-la land with no situational awareness. I would also like to add that even if you have mirrors one must always check their '5' and '7' O'clock before making any direction changes. All it takes is moving your head to the right or left as required and checking and clearing the blind area.

Your post reminds me of an incident that left me aghast about the state of affairs. I was at the Yamaha Factory Shop to take delivery of my bike after its 3 service. While waiting for the bike, I noticed a guy (must be around 18 - 19 years old college student) asking one of the service guy to remove the mirrors on his bike. His bike was brand new, just 2 days old. I asked him why he wanted to remove the mirrors. His reply was that he did not like how the bike looks with mirrors. When I pointed out to him that mirrors are not only required for safety but are also a legal requirement on any street bike, he sets off on an argument of how its a sports bike and how looks are more important in a sports bike. He most stunning argument was 'Explain to me why Motogp bikes do not have mirrors???'

...

What do you say to such people and how do you get through their thick skulls that safety come first?

You first make it clear that anyone who thinks looks are more important than safety is an idiot, particularly when talking about motorcycles. People like that comprise the VAST majority of severe injuries due to improper or absent gear (usually helmets). A good way of doing this, I've found, is by example; most people like that have absolutely no idea how to ride their bike, and will easily demonstrate their lack of ability, at which time you can start pointing out the result of riding "for looks". Bikes are unlike the high-end sports cars that people sometimes buy as status symbols, because you actually have to know what you're doing on a bike.

Second, you have to be able to clearly, explicitly, and succinctly refute any "argument" they try to foist on you. His feeble motogp example is easily refuted by pointing out that motogp bikes don't have to deal with normal traffic, and that the sacrifice of mirrors does have consequences when a racer cuts another racer off and causes a wreck. Indeed many other forms of racing, including F1, do require mirrors.

**incipient** · 03-13-2013, 11:55 PM

Originally posted by abhimanyu31 View Post

I was at the Yamaha Factory Shop to take delivery of my bike after its 3 service. While waiting for the bike, I noticed a guy (must be around 18 - 19 years old college student) asking one of the service guy to remove the mirrors on his bike. His bike was brand new, just 2 days old. I asked him why he wanted to remove the mirrors. His reply was that he did not like how the bike looks with mirrors. When I pointed out to him that mirrors are not only required for safety but are also a legal requirement on any street bike, he sets off on an argument of how its a sports bike and how looks are more important in a sports bike. He most stunning argument was 'Explain to me why Motogp bikes do not have mirrors???'

...

What do you say to such people and how do you get through their thick skulls that safety come first?

yeah the R15 is a weapon of choice for idiots like these. where i live its the usaual stereotype: scrawny young guy riding an r15 with no mirrors, the windshield blackened with probably his name inscribed on it, no helmet (this is compulsory for all posers!), arms completely locked, nuts against the tank cruising around town lugging the engine.

its really an annoying sight everytime i come across one, especially since i happen to be riding the same bike. :-P

but i thank god these guys are just posers, if they were racing on the street we would be seeing mangled, blood splattered remains on the road with more frequency.

BTW, good point about the 5 and 7 oclock position.

**princesirohi** · 03-14-2013, 03:38 AM

nobody can agree more that ... those riding without mirrors or proper safety gear like helmet are morons....but it is very hard to convince them. even with mirrors, one should be aware of the blind spots and make it a habit to regularly see the rear view mirrors and increase the situational awareness. it also helps it you adjust your both mirros differently like i adjust my right side mirror for highway riding & very slightly crouched position, and left side mirror for city riding & upright seating posture, this way blind spot is reduced to a great extent.

**Touseef Ahmed Mohammed** · 03-14-2013, 09:47 AM

Mirrors infact save life. Those who realize their value will never ever take them off .
Many people ride without mirrors, & meet with accidents & some even die getting hit by cars/ lorries.
INCIDENT WHICH TOOK AWAY LIFE OF 2 M.TECH STUDENTS FEW DAYS BACK NEAR BY MY HOME : Recently in my town, 2 boys on a Hero Honda Glamour were riding on a highway, they were on a good speed. As the road widening was being done on the left side, they suddenly moved the bike towards right. But a lorry loaded with cement bags was on a very high speed. And when they turned the bike towards right, the lorry ran over one of boy's Head & one's chest.
Both of them Died on the spot.

If they would use a rear view mirror, and check out whats coming from the right, would this take place???
Several cases occur everyday like this in our country. People who dont have rear view mirrors are running at a MAXIMUM risk of accidents.
Many people even while taking a U-turn, from the middle of the road, they dont even see whats behind them. They simply take a turn suddenly, which makes them involved in a major accident & in return when a car dashed them, they say its a CAR DRIVER'S FAULT.

I have seen some Idiots who have rear view mirrors but while taking a turn, they look back

Some have them & dont use them

Lets promote the safety for Rear view mirrors

Cheers...!!

**The Mountain** · 03-14-2013, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by Touseef Ahmed Mohammed View Post

I have seen some Idiots who have rear view mirrors but while taking a turn, they look back

Some have them & dont use them

Lets promote the safety for Rear view mirrors

Cheers...!!

This is the correct thing to do, even *with* mirrors, because bike mirrors are convex, and so do not show distance properly and unfortunately are usually not very large and so also do not do a good job of showing everything around you. Check your mirror first, but then turn your head as Monk points out. Turning your head lets you accurately judge distance and speed of oncoming traffic so you don't get squashed. This applies *any* time you're doing something other than riding straight within a traffic lane (you do always ride in one lane, and not straddling the lane divider, right?). When you change lanes, when you pull out from the side of the road, when you enter a main road from a side road, when you prepare to turn, always check both mirrors first, then turn your head and look.

**Touseef Ahmed Mohammed** · 03-14-2013, 10:06 AM

Ya thats true point.
But atleast seeing in a mirror is better than having mirror & not at all seeing.

Mod Note: Please do use bold for the entire text. Thanks

**Rakesh Rok** · 03-19-2013, 03:40 PM

sure guys, I am one of those who doesn't use mirrors, after the sayings from all of you, I am going today itself to buy a new mirror and get it fixed instantly. . . Thank you all guys. . .

**bbsrailfan** · 03-19-2013, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by Rakesh Rok View Post

sure guys, I am one of those who doesn't use mirrors, after the sayings from all of you, I am going today itself to buy a new mirror and get it fixed instantly. . . Thank you all guys. . .

Good going Rakesh - better late then never. Don't keep this improvement just to yourself - make it a point to pass on this insight to your friends who might be still unaware.

**abhiiceman** · 03-19-2013, 04:12 PM

Its been about 1.2yrs since I bought my bike in that first month drove with it then folded till 2k odo and removed it for about 1 and half month then again put it back on as I started to use NICE road from then on never folded them even once

Sent From My Google Phone

**princesirohi** · 03-20-2013, 01:28 AM

Originally posted by The Mountain View Post

This is the correct thing to do, even *with* mirrors, because bike mirrors are convex, and so do not show distance properly and unfortunately are usually not very large and so also do not do a good job of showing everything around you. Check your mirror first, but then turn your head as Monk points out. Turning your head lets you accurately judge distance and speed of oncoming traffic so you don't get squashed. This applies *any* time you're doing something other than riding straight within a traffic lane (you do always ride in one lane, and not straddling the lane divider, right?). When you change lanes, when you pull out from the side of the road, when you enter a main road from a side road, when you prepare to turn, always check both mirrors first, then turn your head and look.

i beg to differ.

although there are some blind spots, that rear view mirrors do not show, but with correctly adjusting them, and making a habit of regularly keeping an eye on rear view mirrors at regular short intervals, and increasing your situational awareness, coupled with safe riding habits like indicators etc, you can avoid turning your head.

the basic purpose of rear view mirrors is that you should not turn your head to see whats happening behind you, coz for that time you are not looking ahead, and riding completely blind. and chances of you crashing into something/someone ahead is much more than crashing into some vehicle in you mirror's blind zone.

also, if you wear a full face helmet, you have to turn your head much more as compared to without helmet or a open face helmet, to see at 5 o'clock or 7 o'clock position, and it is a considerable amount of time for any mishap to happen.

@ Toushif: plz do not post in bold letters. it is not required.

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Safety: Use Your Mirrors!

Safety: Use Your Mirrors!

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