Page 1 of Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

General Forum

Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

slipperysam (Elite) posted this on Saturday, 29th October 2005, 15:31

As in the heading.

My son has sheared the thread on one of his mirrors (Honda SFX50 scooter) so that the threaded section is now stuck in the handlebar mounting. Can I get it out?? Now way - tried everything, now have a sheared stud extractor stuck in the hole that I drilled to try to get it out :(

Anyway, so "Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??"

Thanks in advance..

Sam.

RE: Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

marksparks999 (Elite) posted this on Saturday, 29th October 2005, 16:41

i belive they are and are covered by construction and use regulations... however i would suggest for the sake of a few quid, your sons life would be worth spending a little to get this fixed.



`I am going to live forever, or die trying`...

This item was edited on Saturday, 29th October 2005, 17:42

RE: Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

slipperysam (Elite) posted this on Saturday, 29th October 2005, 17:33

Thanks marksparks999. He has the near side mirror still and fully intend to get it fixed, I have been trying all day. As it is compulsory I will stop him riding it until it is sorted out.

Thanks again.

Sam.

RE: Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

HD462 (Elite) posted this on Monday, 31st October 2005, 08:56

I don`t think they`re compulsory on a bike (if anything it`ll be the offside one that`s compulsory), but it`s strongly advisable to have them, at least the offside one which is the most important (for overtaking etc- I know it`s only a 50 but he still has to move out to pass parked cars, buses etc).

Also he should also be doing `lifesavers`, a last minute look back over your shoulder just before making a manouvre to make sure you haven`t missed anyone in your blind spots.

The handlebar should be repairable, although it might be harder now you`ve snapped an easy-out in the hole, I`ve rarely had one of those things work in all the years I`ve been in the trade.

What I would have done is centre pop the broken thread (so the drill doesn`t run off centre when starting to drill) and drill it out to just less than the diameter of the broken thread (so say it`s an 8mm thread drill it out to 6mm first). Then get a tap of the correct size for the original thread (8mm or 10mm rings a bell I think), and tap the hole out. The tap should break up the remaining bits of broken thread and clean it out leaving the thread intact. I`ve done it this way loads of times, much more successful than easy-outs.

I`d definately do something though, as he`s not safe with no offside mirror. You might be able to shatter the easy-out with something to get it out, as they`re quite brittle. Then go for drilling and tapping.

This item was edited on Monday, 31st October 2005, 08:57

RE: Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

slipperysam (Elite) posted this on Monday, 31st October 2005, 09:59

HD462

Many thanks for the detailed reply, I will try your suggestion this evening.

Sam.

RE: Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

bowfer (Elite) posted this on Monday, 31st October 2005, 10:27

I don`t believe they`re compulsory.
Indeed,on most bikes I`ve owned,they`re next to utterly useless anyway.
Either all you see is your own elbows (especially when wearing leathers with the,now compulsory,body armour) or vibration makes everything a blur.
I`ve removed mirrors on several bikes,for track use,and not bothered putting them back on for road use.
Never been stopped by the coppers for it either and they will often,believe me,look for any excuse to stop a bike.
I often laugh at the fact that,as they check the legal markings on my exhaust,several Corsas with exhausts louder than a plane will have driven past.

Of course the difference is,they don`t have to get their knees dirty to check the legality of a bike exhaust...

RE: Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

admars (Elite) posted this on Monday, 31st October 2005, 17:17

From what my dad said once they`re not.

I don`t recommend this, but I remember seeing a wing mirror to his motorbike, in the house, and asked if it had come off. He said he took it off, because the other had got knocked off a while ago, and his bike was due its MOT. Apprently, a motorbike has to have either both, or neither mirror! That was a few years ago though, so may have changed!

Al

www.admars.co.uk

RE: Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

Haste (Competent) posted this on Monday, 31st October 2005, 20:13

Hello all!

Mirrors are optional on motorcycles, but if fitted on motorcycles first used on or after 1 October 1978 - must meet British Standard/ EC Directives.

As others have said, better with them (Motorcyclist myself!) than without.

Del


This item was edited on Monday, 31st October 2005, 20:14

RE: Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

nice1 (Elite) posted this on Monday, 31st October 2005, 20:25

Quote:
Apprently, a motorbike has to have either both, or neither mirror!

I don`t think you`re quite right there Del.
Mirrors are not required - it is lawful to have just one, two (or more - scooter style) or none.
If having only one however it would be sensible to have the offside mirror fitted - for obvious reasons.

It is worth noting also that even if fitted, bike riders should never rely on the use of their mirrors in the way car drivers are permitted in carrying out manoeuvres. A glance over the shoulder is required at all times - and a failure to do so during the driving test will result in a fail. Reason why we all took our mirrors off our bikes when taking the test years ago!

This item was edited on Monday, 31st October 2005, 21:16

RE: Are rear view mirrors compulsory on a motorcycle ??

slipperysam (Elite) posted this on Monday, 31st October 2005, 21:12

Well I`ve just given up trying to get the easy-out out, it`s rock hard, way beyond the capabilities of my drill/bits. Off to the local Honda dealer tomorrow to order a replacement part - it`s gonna be expensive as it also has the hydraulic brake fluid reservoir built into it :/

Thanks for all of your advice, I agree two mirrors are better than one.

Sam.

Go back to General Forum threads, or All Forum threads