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Mirror Swap

46K views 45 replies 23 participants last post by  open1mind  
#1 ·
Well I've quickly grew tired of the stock KLR mickey mouse ear mirrors. I've seen on here a few have swapped to the new Versys mirrors. Well the cheapest I found a set of them for was 50 bucks each. So I found some generic mirrors on ebay for $25 a set. My only concern is that they may be kind of low quality and vibrate worse than factory ones even. However, I went ahead and bought them since they were only $25.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e.../ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190403902345&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT
 
#46 ·
Neverland thumbs up

The neverland mirrors noted in the posts above just arrived and I took them out for a spin. Im satisfied. Actually, if I factor in the dirt cheap price, Im very satisfied.

Way better looking and more functional than stock. A fraction of the price of some other offerings....

Lets see if they hold up.
 
#40 ·
I have some just like the OP. They do vibrate a bit, but not enough for me to look at other alternatives.
 
#41 ·
Have you found a source for these in North America?? Actually not even sure where you are located. Maybe the Aussie connection works for you.
 
#35 ·
Anybody know what mirrors thoses are in post #18 of this thread?

I'm looking at the Neverlandback mirrors on Amazon but they are not the same. The one's in the picture have smoother edges and appear taller???


tia
Unfortunately that person is no longer on this Forum so unless someone else recognizes those mirrors you may be having to do a bit of Googling.
 
#30 ·
Mirrors look great man! I searched on google for options and hit this thread.

I gotta ask though, what type of wind screen mount is that? Looks really cool!
 
#26 ·
Hell, I'm still used to the term "candlepower." About the only light you see that uses that reference anymore are the hand-held spotlights sold at said Wal-Marts, so I guess it still bears some vague meaning for hillbillies like myself who hoop and holler, "Cover your eyes, boys! This baby's got 3 million candlepower!"
 
#27 ·
hell, i'm still used to the term "candlepower." about the only light you see that uses that reference anymore are the hand-held spotlights sold at said wal-marts, so i guess it still bears some vague meaning for hillbillies like myself who hoop and holler, "cover your eyes, boys! This baby's got 3 million candlepower!"
lol :)
 
#25 ·
I'm not doubting your observations TR, I just don't care for the marketing hype for this product. What exactly is "watt optical output?" I'm sure the bulb is substantially brighter and more focused than a standard bulb but you can't sgueeze 190 watts of light out of an 80 watt halogen bulb. Unless of course they are using a completely different type of light, like an HID for instance which consumes less power (watts) but produces more light (lumens).
 
#29 · (Edited)
I just don't care for the marketing hype for this product. What exactly is "watt optical output?"
I hear you, SLO-KLR; I think marketing hype, surely, is involved.

Conjecture on my part, but--if the figure is valid, I imagine the output of the headlight bulb in the direction of the steradians of illumination, is the same as the output over the same solid angle emAnating from a 195-watt isotropic light source.

I'd have to go someplace like the Cal Poly optical physics lab, or perhaps Madison Avenue, to confirm or deny my supposition!

-----------------------------

Not much direct application obvious to me, but Wikipedia points out the lumens-per-watt for incandescent sources appears low, compared to, for example, LED's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_efficacy#Luminous_efficacy_of_radiation
 
#22 ·
Of course it is going to appear different, it's putting out a bunch of additional light. How much we really don't now. We do now it's consuming an additional 25 watts over a regualr halogen lamp. I hate it when wattage is used as a light output measurement. 190wt optical output gives little correlation to how much light is really being produced.
 
#24 ·
I hate it when wattage is used as a light output measurement. 190wt optical output gives little correlation to how much light is really being produced.
I regret you find the quantification offensive; a function of the marketer, not of mine.

I'm wondering if the optical output wattage stated relates to the "gain" of the focusing mechanism, expressed in terms of the equivalent isotropic light source power necessary to produce the same intensity. Analogous to the gain of a radio-frequency antenna, conventionally expressed in terms of an isotropic antenna.

Ask some of those techno-guys at Cal Poly!

I notice the flashlights on the shelf at Wal-Mart express their intensity in LUMENS on their packages, nowadays.

Happy New Year!
 
#18 ·
Well, you gave it a good try, but I've been a farkling nut on my KLR for almost 10 years..:)

I have an Eastern Beaver headlight harness, and it makes a huge difference!! Getting power straight from the battery, rather than through a bunch of relays, switches, and thin wire makes for a LOT more light!!

And to top it off, I bought a set of LED's this last spring.. Wired so they come on with my high beam, it's the difference between night and day.. :) One flood, one spot, and the stock Silverstar headlight make for eyeball burning..

Image


But, as you and I both have found out, there's nothing like being able to see at night.. Hopefully someone else will find this info helpful when purchasing additional light for the KLR!!
 
#19 ·
Well, you gave it a good try, but I've been a farkling nut on my KLR for almost 10 years..:)

I have an Eastern Beaver headlight harness, and it makes a huge difference!! Getting power straight from the battery, rather than through a bunch of relays, switches, and thin wire makes for a LOT more light!!

And to top it off, I bought a set of LED's this last spring.. Wired so they come on with my high beam, it's the difference between night and day.. :) One flood, one spot, and the stock Silverstar headlight make for eyeball burning..

But, as you and I both have found out, there's nothing like being able to see at night.. Hopefully someone else will find this info helpful when purchasing additional light for the KLR!!
Most impressive, yet, IMHO, you can profit further by exchanging your Silver Star bulb with TPI's Canadian Wildlife number; its main advantage, to me, becomes apparent on LOW beam, 80 watts, I think, and . . . focused so it doesn't blind on-coming motorists.
 
#16 ·
Lone Rider,
Thanks for digging this back up, and showing those from TPI.. Mostly for mentioning that they're Ken Sean mirrors!! Ken Sean has been making quality mirrors for decades, and I'm looking to replace the cheapo Chinese mirrors that I bought on eBay a few years ago.. They fold in the wind, and I'm looking for something that doesn't fold so easily.

I know I could quit being cheap and just buy XR650 mirrors from Honda, but that goes against being a KLR owner. :)

What else does TPI have that I can't live without??
 
#17 · (Edited)
Lone Rider,
What else does TPI have that I can't live without??
O.K.; while branded by Ken Sean, and in my view adequate, the mirrors shown remain austere in materials and workmanship, but . . . THEY'RE ONLY ABOUT $ 12 EACH! Not Baush & Lomb optical quality, perhaps, but--more effective than the OEM round jobs IMHO; that is, if you really want to see what's behind you.

Country of origin? Couldn't say; the blank for this information on the package was occupied by a BAR CODE, unreadable by me!

TPI carries lots of neat KLR stuff; as to MANDATORY goodies, if 1) You have a Generation 1 KLR; and 2) If you ever ride at night, the trick TPI headlight bulb offers a "night-and-day" (pun intended) difference, in comparison with the OEM lighting.

Safe, usable beam focusing, especially at LOW beam, actually illuminates obstacles before you, in my experience. TPI's website marketing pitch tells all about it; "truth-in-advertising," as far as I'm concerned.

Ideally, the bulb should be combined with the relay harness. The harness insures maximum voltage to the filaments, and--sends only low-amperage control voltage through the handlebar switchgear, when connected (main power runs directly from the battery through the harness wiring and its relays).

While the bulb can be used with the OEM wiring ("plug-and-play"), a more complete setup will involve the relay harness; a possible later upgrade, if you want to go one step at a time.

One thing: If you go with the relay harness, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A TIGHT AND CLEAN GROUND CONNECTION AT THE BULB SOCKET! Lots of amps flow through the bulb; needs a good low-resistance return path.

Bob, at TPI, offers excellent customer service and stands behind his products and sales, again, in my own direct primary personal experience.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Kinda old thread, but . . . these TPI mirrors (5-1/4" wide, "Ken Sean" brand, I think) cost about $ 12 each:

Image


(Tusk winter shrouds not included!)

With dampers (available from KLR.com, I believe), I guarantee reduced vibration (speaking Generation 1; don't know if dampers fittable to Generation 2 bikes). I'd expect less vibration from the aftermarket mirrors alone, without dampers. Don't expect optic laboratory precision from the TPI mirrors, but . . . definitely wider-angle rear vision is available.

TPI products at http://www.klrparts.com
 
#14 ·
WC417 if you're still around how are the mirrors doing? They look great, but don't want them if they're not very functional. Please LMK. Thank you!
 
#11 ·
They look cool. The phrase 'trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear' does come to mind :) but they do look better.

The fact that they move would bug me though. Mine already blow back over or around 80 mph.
 
#7 ·
I would just like to find some mirrors that have wider stalks. Half of what I see in my mirrors is my arms. My preference in mirror shape would be simple round mirrors or rectangular.

I think they look pretty good.

T