ATPATT (All the PARTS, all the time)

[SteveM]

I'm pretty relaxed about what people choose to wear when riding and certainly not an "atgatt saint" myself, but this made me wonder a bit...

As I was filtering into the HOV lane on the VFR this morning, I saw a sportbike about 10 cars back who was accelerating to filter in directly behind me. "Good move," I thought, as we are more visible in groups.

I had the chance to observe the bike and rider as we cruised along at about 45.

Dark Red and Black R6, sounds like an aftermarket pipe, tiny tiny turn signals, helmet, gloves, good jacket. All in all, pretty reasonable for the conditions and the mission.

But something just looked "off" and it took a while for it to register.

No mirrors.

I have to admit I had trouble understanding this one. Keep in mind we're not buzzing a back road, we're commuting on the Southeast expressway and when the HOV lane ends we join 4 lanes of distracted, texting, coffee drinking, newspaper reading cagers.

We can all agree that gear is irrelevant if you don't crash and the prevention of a crash is far superior to an "unscheduled gear test."

Unless this guy has the neck rotation of a barn owl, I can't imagine how not having mirrors helps him keep track of what's going on around him.

Am I crazy or do mirrors just seem like a sensible thing to have while commuting?

[Kazinator]

Isnt it also illegal?

[scubasteveRR]

i just don't understand the whole "no mirror" thing myself. I bought my RR with pig spotters on it. the guy i bought it from was like. "these mirrors are awesome" I didn't like the looks of them at all! But I was like, maybe they're good since they're called pig spotters, some cool product to see behind you clearly and see if there is a police officer behind you??

Boy was I wrong,i rode the bike and all I could see was myself (actually just my shoulders) in the shitty 1 1/2 inch roundmirror thats these things have. I promptly removed them and got stock ones. I then later mounted a set of gsx-r mirrors with blinkers on Honda mirror bases so i would also have more visible blinkers in the front since I also have the flush mounts.

They help A LOT on the higway since people can also spot the blinkers from there rear view mirror and not try to guess what yu are going to do... not sure why all bikes don't have mirror blinkers already. such a great feature!!

that reminds me, anyone want a pair of Pig Spotter 2 mirrors with the blinkers on them.... i'll sell'em to you real cheap... $10, they go for $90 online!

[nhbubba]

My old bike had some crappy crappy mirrors on it. The mirrors weren't so bad, but the mounting mechanism was shit. I tried everything I could do and they would still rattle loose after a 30 min or so on the 'slab. One morning I was merging onto a particularly brutal stretch of commuting insanity and noticed my left mirror was pointed at the ground. I reached over to adjust it and the thing came off in my hand! There I was in rush-hour traffic holding my mirror in my hand.

Worst commute on a bike I've ever experienced. I was sure I was gonna get an F150 up the corn hole that day. Not having that left hand mirror made me 900x more paranoid, which distracted me, which was dangerous as hell.

Can't imagine riding without mirrors intentionally.

I bought my RR with pig spotters on it.

Had to google it.. oh my:

[Kenn157]

The first thing I do is replace the stock oem's when possoble. I need the mirrors... Especially when I did a BoMo track day.. However, Dont' know if its a track rule or a Track Day rule, the mirrors have to be removed. Maybe this guy was late for BoMo track day this morning..

[Sincere]

I deleted my mirrors but in my defense, I have barend mirrors. I also have a mini-cam and monitor that I've been too lazy to install.... Maybe I should get on that asap.........

[Kenn157]

Yeah barends for me as well...

[The Snowman]

I need the mirrors... Especially when I did a BoMo track day.. However, Dont' know if its a track rule or a Track Day rule, the mirrors have to be removed. Maybe this guy was late for BoMo track day this morning..

You're kidding right? You should never be looking backward while on the track. It is the passing rider's responsibility to make a clean, safe pass during a track day, even with unlimited passing rules.

This even goes when pitting out.

As far as no mirrors on the street, I'm in complete agreement with the rest here. I'm usually not happy with stock mirrors, as they tend to allow you to see only your shoulders. YOu usually have to do some sort of move to see behind you.

[burtonboarder23]

I just bought a track bike... thing that puzzles me is there were no blinkers, mirrors, lights, horn etc... how am i suppose to avoid issues with none of these things!!!!!

jk, i had integrated rear blinkers/brake lights installed on the r6 and after looking at them for about ten minutes i turned right around and went back to completely stock, i cant count the number of times some ass hat merging from rt 3 to 128 north has merged into my lane along side of me and then flicked me off when i beep the horn and give him the wtf look

[Kenn157]

You're kidding right? You should never be looking backward while on the track. It is the passing rider's responsibility to make a clean, safe pass during a track day, even with unlimited passing rules.

This even goes when pitting out.

As far as no mirrors on the street, I'm in complete agreement with the rest here. I'm usually not happy with stock mirrors, as they tend to allow you to see only your shoulders. YOu usually have to do some sort of move to see behind you.

Never even thought of it as a "kidding" So I have to trust the rider behind who's never done a track day to make a clean safe pass.. Don't think so. I understand the premiss, dont get me wrong. I just dont trust a rider if I dont know them and they're riding like mad man fast because its a track with no police and no speed limits.

[Pittenger5]

I still always look for a mirror when Im riding down hot pit. Dont know why, habit probably, but never after that.

[Pittenger5]

Never even thought of it as a "kidding" So I have to trust the rider behind who's never done a track day to make a clean safe pass.. Don't think so. I understand the premiss, dont get me wrong. I just dont trust a rider if I dont know them and they're riding like mad man fast because its a track with no police and no speed limits.

Kenn, if you HAD mirrors and someone was doing smething behind you on the track, what exactly would you do to change it? Isnt paying 100% to turn 3 more important than worrying about whats coming up behind you?

[Kenn157]

I'm going to
:offtopic: myself. Thread was probably discussed some other time.

[The Snowman]

Never even thought of it as a "kidding" So I have to trust the rider behind who's never done a track day to make a clean safe pass.. Don't think so. I understand the premiss, dont get me wrong. I just dont trust a rider if I dont know them and they're riding like mad man fast because its a track with no police and no speed limits.

Then it is up to the track day staff to spot an individual who might not be safe.

[Kenn157]

I'm going to
myself. this must have been discussed some other time.

[Jaynnus]

Maybe he had a review camera?

[KawiSmurf]

http://www.reevu.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaMSXgB3PVA

I don't think one of these should be used instead of rearview mirrors, but I'd like to try one out and see how it compares to doing the 'ninja elbow manuever' when I need to check my mirrors. I like the concept, but not the price.

[SteveM]

Anything's possible, but there were definitely no mirrors bar end, pigspotter or traditional.

how did this commuting discussion find its way to the track?

[OreoGaborio]

You're kidding right? You should never be looking backward while on the track. It is the passing rider's responsibility to make a clean, safe pass during a track day, even with unlimited passing rules.

Don't you, like... work for a track day company that encourages taking a quick peek behind you on the straightaways?
The "NEVER EVER EVER LOOK BEHIND YOU NO MATTER WHAT" mentality irks me.

[Jaynnus]

You're kidding right? You should never be looking backward while on the track. It is the passing rider's responsibility to make a clean, safe pass during a track day, even with unlimited passing rules.

This even goes when pitting out.

As far as no mirrors on the street, I'm in complete agreement with the rest here. I'm usually not happy with stock mirrors, as they tend to allow you to see only your shoulders. YOu usually have to do some sort of move to see behind you.

Have you been to our riders meetings??

[The Snowman]

Have you been to our riders meetings??

[Jaynnus]

Maybe you should go to one...and pay attention!

[OreoGaborio]

Poor chuck

[The Snowman]

Maybe you should go to one...and pay attention!

Huh? Tony never says to look over your shoulder when pitting out. Maybe coming out of T12 to see if you're holding up a line of bikes, but's that's about it.

What am I missing here?

[OreoGaborio]

But anyway..... I've ridden on the street a couple of times with no mirrors. HOLY COW! Talk about paranoid!