Replace handlebar mount mirrors

[Paul1965]

So I did some searching on the forum and found lots of posts about replacing the fairing mounted mirrors on new FJ's, but couldn't find anything about replacing handlebar mounted mirrors with fairing mounted ones. I have an 84 and can't stand the bar mounted mirrors. Has anyone removed them and drilled/bolted either factory or aftermarket mirrors to their fairing? If so, any suggestions on what mirrors to use (I see lot's of posts say the CBR600 is good).

[Pat Conlon]

Yep..I also did not like the oem mirrors on my '84.
They caused a lot of wind noise (buffeting) at speed and they looked like the ears off of Mickey Mouse, although they did match the look of the oem shoe box turn signals.
I looked at fairing mounted mirrors but decided that it was too much work. You can't just bolt the mirrors to the thin ABS fairing (you know that right?) you need to weld some plates on the fairing subframe (called the fairing stay) located under the skin of the fairing.
Instead, I bought some sexy Italian Rizoma Radial mirrors (in black) that mounted to my bars.
They were $$ but worth it. The blue glass optics are beautiful.
The longer mirror arms moved the mirrors out over the hand grips which did 2 things, 1) improved the view and 2) reduced the buffeting wind noise.

Cheers.

[Paul1965]

Thanks for the reply Pat. I didn't expect to be able to just drill holes and bolt some mirrors onto the fairing as I know it's too thin. But I also didn't know what it might take to make it work and you've helped point me in the right direction.

[oldktmdude]

I've mounted CBR600RR mirrors to my '85. With the fairing removed I roughened up the inner surface of the ABS with a wire wheel, cut some 3mm aluminium plate to the correct dimensions and fibreglassed them in position. Drilled holes to suit the CBR mountings and bolted them into place. These mirrors work very well. I originally bought some cheap replica mirrors but were useless because of the excessive vibrations. Genuine Honda mirrors bought cheaply from ebay are much much better.               Regards, Pete.                                                               

[fj11.5]

I've fitted but not yet ridden with,  bar end mirrors on my 84, may vibrate too much to see anything but ill find out  

[JPaganel]

I've fitted but not yet ridden with,  bar end mirrors on my 84, may vibrate too much to see anything but ill find out  

I bought my 86 with bar end mirrors and I can't wait to get rid of them.

First of all, it's annoying to keep looking down. Second, I'm pretty sure that the lightweight mirrors instead of the weights are making the bars vibrate more.

The mirrors themselves don't vibrate that much, it's more an annoyance to hoding the bars than to seeing.

[fj11.5]

The bars definitly vibrate more without the end weights as I've rode effie once without them,  so ill probably scrap the idea too, 

[Paul1965]

I've mounted CBR600RR mirrors to my '85. With the fairing removed I roughened up the inner surface of the ABS with a wire wheel, cut some 3mm aluminium plate to the correct dimensions and fibreglassed them in position. Drilled holes to suit the CBR mountings and bolted them into place. These mirrors work very well. I originally bought some cheap replica mirrors but were useless because of the excessive vibrations. Genuine Honda mirrors bought cheaply from ebay are much much better.               Regards, Pete.                                                               

Great info oldktmdude, thanks!

[Hersey289]

Check out the FJ Modifications files section, topic "Suzuki GSXR 00-03 Mirrors on FJ1100". I've mounted these on my 2 FJ1100's with no problems.

Rob

[Paul1965]

Check out the FJ Modifications files section, topic "Suzuki GSXR 00-03 Mirrors on FJ1100". I've mounted these on my 2 FJ1100's with no problems.

Rob

Rob I think that's exactly what I'm looking for. Did you do anything to reinforce the fairing before you mounted them? I was thinking that as long as there was something to sandwich the fairing between the mirror and mounting hardware (a small aluminum plate maybe?) there would be minimal stress on the fairing at speed.

[Hersey289]

Yes, I installed flat washers on the underside of the fairing but at the attachment point (with nylok nuts). There are already reinforcing plastic ribs as part of the regular fairing, which is a good thing. To mitigate further possible stress on the mirror mounting screws, I tighten the mirror stock screw (ie screw that mounts mirror stock to the mirror mount that attaches to the fairing) just enough so that the mirror does not fold back at "speed", yet will fold if one accidently knocks the mirror. I've "hit" the mirror stock several times and each time, the stock will move with no damage caused to the fairing mounting area at all.

Hope this helps,
Rob

[Paul1965]

Yes, I installed flat washers on the underside of the fairing but at the attachment point (with nylok nuts). There are already reinforcing plastic ribs as part of the regular fairing, which is a good thing. To mitigate further possible stress on the mirror mounting screws, I tighten the mirror stock screw (ie screw that mounts mirror stock to the mirror mount that attaches to the fairing) just enough so that the mirror does not fold back at "speed", yet will fold if one accidently knocks the mirror. I've "hit" the mirror stock several times and each time, the stock will move with no damage caused to the fairing mounting area at all.

Hope this helps,
Rob

Great, thanks again Rob! Just ordered these off Amazon.

[Hersey289]

Note that to get the correct angle of the mirror stocks to clear your clutch and brake levers, you will need to switch the stocks from the right mirror assembly to the left and vice versa. The only issue I encountered doing this was one set of mirrors had red loctite on the mirror stock screw (needed a bit of heat to release it); the other set was fine. Let me know if you have any issues or want further info or pics on this.

Rob

[Paul1965]

Yup, saw that in your write-up; thanks again for the info.

[Paul1965]

Note that to get the correct angle of the mirror stocks to clear your clutch and brake levers, you will need to switch the stocks from the right mirror assembly to the left and vice versa. The only issue I encountered doing this was one set of mirrors had red loctite on the mirror stock screw (needed a bit of heat to release it); the other set was fine. Let me know if you have any issues or want further info or pics on this.

Rob

Rob, can you verify the part numbers you used? Your write up says 20-69721 and 20-69721, but I ordered 20-69721 and 20-69722. I swapped the bases and got everything installed only to realize one of the mirrors has an angled arm, the other doesn't.

UPDATE: Please disregard my stupidity! After looking at a pic I took it dawned on me that I had installed the right side arm upside down on the mount. I just went out to the garage and flipped it around and all is good 

These mirrors are way better than the stock ones and there is next to nothing for vibration. Thanks for the great write up Rob!