Modern Vespa

I recently purchased an MP3 500 after a 12 year lapse in motorcyclish transport.

Starting in 1976 I always had folding bar-end mirrors, first on a Honda CB-400F and later on a BMW R-90/6. The Honda was definitely a sport bike (rear set pegs, narrow bars), and I used the "Euro" bars on the BMW. No fairings or windscreens on either and I rode that Honda from Central California to DC in 1978.

I find the MP3 mirrors a bit goofy, but some of that reaction might be that I'm just not used to the scooter yet. (I'm surprised at how much motorcycle muscle memory survived the years.) So I've been considering bar-ends to replace the stock mirrors.

Searching and reading this forum, and it appears that the CRG Hindsight bar-end mirrors are fairly well regarded. At least one member installed bar-ends almost out of habit - his bikes always have them.

So...does anyone who has installed bar-ends (and especially the Hindsights) regret it? Are the bar-ends as natural with the seated-upright scooter riding position? Do the Hindsights clamp directly to the end weights?

Thanks for your indulgence.

Larry

I wanted some - then actually made a point of trying to look where they would be....fail. I honestly can't see 'em being much use.

Thanks...But what I'm looking for is observations from folks who have actually used them on MP3s.

Nothing wrong with that -- you should totally do it, man!

(On my 50cc) I tried a couple of styles from Cyclegear; but they were plagued by optical distortion or shakiness, in short, neither worked.

I finally ended up with this inexpensive solution made for bicycle -- the damping is excellent; and the slightly convex mirror gives you a crisp and clear wide-angled view that is quite desirable.



Good luck! Those CRG's are nice; only if I had a few more bucks...

No useable input, but I think it could at least look cool, and would love to see photos when you are done.

I did. I mocked up a pair to see if I could actually look at them safely. Fail - just on the usability alone. But that's me - I like to be able to have rear vision in my field of vision. The minute you start staring at stuff off to the side sure as hell some ninny will meander in front of you. I always physically turn my head to the left before changing lanes - TWICE yesterday while I did that quick glance some idiot on a phone was encroaching on my space - both times I was changing lanes to the left and they were coming at me from the right. Good thing my coast was clear and I was moving over already.
So - my intent was to actually see if a mirror on the bar ends would help by eliminating the need to glance - I really wanted a fold-out set like on the Ducati's. My opinion from my mockup is that mounting a bar end mirror boils down to the same thing as a glance to left or right. So for myself, I'm looking for those tiny button convex stickons that I can put someplace actually useful.

My bad. I didn't realize you had made a mockup and had actually driven your MP3 with the mockup bar-ends. That puts your comments in a different light.

But different strokes...In over 20 years of riding motorcycles with bar-ends I found them more effective than regular mirrors (compared to those short periods of time when the bikes had regular mirrors).

Riding the MP3 I find myself wanting to glance down to a point that hovers just above and outboard of my hands. (Thus the earlier comment about M/C muscle memory.)

I may just have to pop for the mirrors and find out for myself -- already ordered longer bolts from Bolt Depot.

I put some on my 250, I find the I really only look at my left side.

Looks much better too if you ask me.

I used a pair of barend mirrors and the result was amazing. But i love my special bar end mirrors or crg arrows!!!
Folding Hypermotard bar end mirror mod for Fuoco

I would hate bar-ends. Would be folded in often (i commute through London filtering) and it's a long way to look over. I use convex blind spot mirrors stuck on the existing ones where you normally see your shoulder. Works very well.

I've never used bar end mirrors, so I can't really help you out there. I have seen pictures of someone using them, so I know you won't be alone. And being in Virgina, you probably won't have to even think about lane splitting.

I'd say that if you're more comfortable using bar end mirrors than the stock ones, then for you they're a better choice. I have to think that anything that improves driver comfort also improves their situational awareness and therefore their safety.

Good luck, and welcome!

Mark