MOTRAX Mini Billet Bar-End Mirrors
Several months ago a new Cycle Gear store opened not far from me. I stopped in opening weekend even though I didn't actually need anything. Or more precisely, I didn't know what I needed. I grabbed the "Grand Opening Sale" flyer upon arrival and flipped through it before wandering the aisles. There on the last page was a pair of little round bar end mirrors on sale for a mere $25.00. Suddenly, my much more expensive, 7 year old Napoleon mirrors were starting to look a little rough around the edges. To be honest, the black Napoleons have turned an ashy gray and the friction joint is a little loose making them fall out of adjustment pretty frequently. I think I paid $35.00 for each Napoleon. $25.00 for the pair of Motraxes seemed worth the gamble.
The new mirrors mount easily. Just like the Napoleons. In fact just like changing the bar end weights on your sport bike. Insert and twist a 5mm allen bolt a couple times and you're done. Well, almost done. Once installed you have to adjust them. Unlike most mirrors, the initial adjustment requires tools. My pair came out of the package very loose. I had to tighten the two adjustment points so that they would hold position while I got on the bike to check my look. The adjustment points are fastened with 4mm allen bolts meaning that I have to add 2 wrenches to my on board tool kit. Fortunately allen wrenches don't take up much room but as any SV rider will tell you, space is at a premium under the pillion seat. Once the adjustment is complete it's back off the bike to snug everything down and then back on the bike make sure noting moved in the process. I did back the bolts off a tiny bit so I can make small adjustments on the road. Even in this state adjustment seems to be largely immune to vibration. They stay where you put them. The advantage to this design is that if they do start to wiggle a little bit I can just dig my trusty 4mm allen wrench out and tighten them some more.
The Motrax mirrors feel much lighter the my old bar end mirrors or your typical bar end weights. I was concerned that I this would result in more hand numbing, vision blurring vibration through the bars. I'm happy to report that that did not turn out to be the case. My hands are still fine as long as I wear the right gloves and if anything the Motrax's shorter stalks seem to maintain a clearer image as the RPMs increase.
The little glass discs are positioned perfectly for me. I can see everything behind me while keeping my elbows out of the picture. The OEM provided insect antennae were pretty useless in this regard. They produced a perfect image of my elbows or shoulders but not much else. I suppose that's why we have an after market. Those little glass discs however are very convex. This can take a little getting used to. I never change lanes with out a head check but it can be a little disconcerting to find that the Buick at your 7 O'Clock is MUCH CLOSER then you thought it was!
While I have a few minor complaints, these mirrors really are an excellent value even at the full price of $60.00 per pair. They may not be as trick as the CRG Hindsights that they are a clear copy of but they're also not $75.00 each (plus $20.00 a piece the internal bar end adapter). The allen bolt adjustment really isn't that big a deal and will hopefully extend the usable life of the mirrors. I would recommend these bargain priced gems for anyone who can adjust to the idea that "objects in mirror are MUCH CLOSER then they appear".
Update
The new mirrors mount easily. Just like the Napoleons. In fact just like changing the bar end weights on your sport bike. Insert and twist a 5mm allen bolt a couple times and you're done. Well, almost done. Once installed you have to adjust them. Unlike most mirrors, the initial adjustment requires tools. My pair came out of the package very loose. I had to tighten the two adjustment points so that they would hold position while I got on the bike to check my look. The adjustment points are fastened with 4mm allen bolts meaning that I have to add 2 wrenches to my on board tool kit. Fortunately allen wrenches don't take up much room but as any SV rider will tell you, space is at a premium under the pillion seat. Once the adjustment is complete it's back off the bike to snug everything down and then back on the bike make sure noting moved in the process. I did back the bolts off a tiny bit so I can make small adjustments on the road. Even in this state adjustment seems to be largely immune to vibration. They stay where you put them. The advantage to this design is that if they do start to wiggle a little bit I can just dig my trusty 4mm allen wrench out and tighten them some more.
The Motrax mirrors feel much lighter the my old bar end mirrors or your typical bar end weights. I was concerned that I this would result in more hand numbing, vision blurring vibration through the bars. I'm happy to report that that did not turn out to be the case. My hands are still fine as long as I wear the right gloves and if anything the Motrax's shorter stalks seem to maintain a clearer image as the RPMs increase.
The little glass discs are positioned perfectly for me. I can see everything behind me while keeping my elbows out of the picture. The OEM provided insect antennae were pretty useless in this regard. They produced a perfect image of my elbows or shoulders but not much else. I suppose that's why we have an after market. Those little glass discs however are very convex. This can take a little getting used to. I never change lanes with out a head check but it can be a little disconcerting to find that the Buick at your 7 O'Clock is MUCH CLOSER then you thought it was!
While I have a few minor complaints, these mirrors really are an excellent value even at the full price of $60.00 per pair. They may not be as trick as the CRG Hindsights that they are a clear copy of but they're also not $75.00 each (plus $20.00 a piece the internal bar end adapter). The allen bolt adjustment really isn't that big a deal and will hopefully extend the usable life of the mirrors. I would recommend these bargain priced gems for anyone who can adjust to the idea that "objects in mirror are MUCH CLOSER then they appear".
Update
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