So yesterday I finally get the chance to give my bike the so badly needed bath that it deserves. I had it all set up and had and was moving my bike to get it to the area i was going to wash it. I put the kickstand down and went to turn on the hose and heard the sound we all dread...BAM....it was followed by an awww shit. I looked over and saw my bike on it's side...and my mirror about 5 feet away..I picked my bike up and noticed that my clutch lever was also taco'd
i am so irritated especially since i don't have the money to repair it right now...i have to learn to adjust my riding style to include only one mirror and using my custom clutch lever.
if anyone happens to have a stock clutch lever and left side mirror laying around for a 2007 vfr800 abs that they might be willing to let go at a very modest price please let me know...maybe i can figure out some way to scrounge some cash together to buy them from you...
Sorry to hear. $hit happens :rolleyes: .
Incidentally, my right mirror flew about 5 ft as well, so there appears to be some consistency :laugh: . I have adjusted and now have to turn my head 150deg to the right in order to make a right turn or not make a right turn at all :unsure: .
If someone has an OEM right 6 gen mirror, lemmeknow.
I was able to bend my clutch lever back with a set of vise grips and channel locks. I had my dad hold the vise grips on the lever and pull it in against the clip on while I grabbed the end with the channel locks and slowly bent it back into position. Worked pretty good, just some small teeth marks in the lever from the tools...
[image: View Post]Mr. Horsepower, on Nov 17 2008, 12:13 PM, said:
I put the kickstand down and went to turn on the hose and heard the sound we all dread...BAM....
Sorry to hear about your bike tipping over, that really sucks. I'm trying to picture what caused it to go over. Was the sidestand not open all the way, was it parked in an inclined area, or ___?
You know, if one of the many mechanically inclined engineers on this forum saw the demand for an after market mirror market they could make a small fortune. Imagine the possibility of having a break away mirror the way that most cars do when someone hits the mirror. If someone could design a fold on contact mirror that didn't look so bad, I would buy a set. Ive already spent $85.00 bucks at the stealer on just one stock mirror.
Foldout mirrors still break when you roll the car, they aren't designed for contact with the ground. I think the stem on the mirror is thin on purpose to allow it to give, so the force isn't transferred to the front end totally....kind of a cusion effect.
If it broke right at the base, I can share with you my quick fix to get you by for a while.
Just get about 4 inches of 1/2 copper tubing from your hardware store. Put the mirror into it about 2/3 of the way, and then carefully flatten and drill the other end so that it will fit in the bracket. You need to put a few washers in between the tubing where the bolt goes so that it can't smash completely flat. A little black tape hides the tubing.
I've been riding around with one of these for about 6 months now. The bolt tends to work loose easier, which is annoying, but I just have to be careful not to adjust it too often and it is fine.
[image: View Post]codeMonkey, on Nov 17 2008, 04:28 PM, said:
If it broke right at the base, I can share with you my quick fix to get you by for a while.
Just get about 4 inches of 1/2 copper tubing from your hardware store. Put the mirror into it about 2/3 of the way, and then carefully flatten and drill the other end so that it will fit in the bracket. You need to put a few washers in between the tubing where the bolt goes so that it can't smash completely flat. A little black tape hides the tubing.
I've been riding around with one of these for about 6 months now. The bolt tends to work loose easier, which is annoying, but I just have to be careful not to adjust it too often and it is fine.
Trying to figure out how to post a picture.
Interesting idea...
to post a picture, host it on ImageShack.us or Photobucket.com, the use the IMG tag code they give you and it will show here
[image: View Post]Tightwad, on Nov 17 2008, 12:46 PM, said:
Sounds like a third person needs to invest in the GSXR lighted mirrors and adapters from Darth Bling and split his mirrors between the two of you.
My mirror only went ~3 feet, I wonder what was wrong with it.
:goofy: LMAO... about the 3 feet comment, not the dropping the bike. Tipping the bike really sucks. I cannot relate (yet .... with the VFR anyway, tipped a couple of others, but not the vfr yet...) but I did have a brain cramp a couple of months ago that made me "step" onto my ZG DB after I kicked the right side mirror (6th gen rs mirror just laying around anyone?). The result is that I have to replace both. In my case it was all my fault. I'm now still considering replacing with the GSXR mirrors with the lights in them, since getting a whole set of those may be as expensive as getting on oem. I'm getting the mirror extenders anyway from Lobster.
In other words, since I have to cough up the money, why not upgrade abit? :rolleyes: I know that money is tight, but maybe you already got a replacement.
I may have a clutch lever in my box of spare parts. I think I bought it for $16 as a spare. Since I don't have the bike anymore I can let it go for cost and shipping. Brb, let me see if I still have it.
EDIT: Looks like we are out of luck. The lever I have is actually a brake lever. :(
Dude, if the mirror stem just snapped right at the point just before where it articulates with the part which is fixed to the bike, then just drill a hole in the end just before where the break now is and bolt it back on, I have done so on two ocassions, and whilst you lose the adjustability/articulation because you have to bolt it on tight to stop it moving freely in the wind, if you do so with it adjusted just right... Bob's your uncle. IF the mirror itself is smashed then I can see why you haven't done so already.
Oh yeah, and take it easy straightening out the lever... it's aluminium and therefore brittle, they snap easily. Heat it up with a paint stripper heat gun or similar (wear heat resistant gloves as the whole thing heats up, you can't hold the other end without getting burnt) and use a nylon mallet and work it into shape slowly on a wooden or rubber surface...
yeah the place was slightly inclined and it just moved a bit...sucked so bad...the mirror snapped right before the the mount...i am trying to figure something out as far as how to fix it.
sorry to hear about the tip over. I have nearly dropped my bike a couple of times due to stopping on an uneven surface or becuase I was on it and I thought the kickstand was all the way down. I really hope I never drop it, but I know it is definately possibly going to happen. Don't feel bad, like they say, it happens to almost all of us. Good luck with your hunt for the parts.
I had great success straightening out a clutch lever. You need to clamp it in a vise between two blocks of wood. Then take a piece of PVC pipe about 4' long and big enough to fit over the end of the lever. You can pull it back to straight without leaving tool marks. Bends like butter, so take it slow. Mine looks like new now.
I haven't had the misfortune of tipping the VFR yet (God knows how - I've come close a couple times. Think I may make it a low-rider... :blink: ), but I've tipped others. I once used a pair of needle-nose vise grips as a clutch lever. Don't ask any more questions - I categorically deny all allegations and otherwise plead the 5th. Looking back, it was hilarious. At the time, it sucked and I was not a happy camper. But it worked until I could aquire a real lever.
Love the wrench lever!
Yeah, you should be able to rig something. Post pics of your problem. Seems like this would be a good group project - see who comes up with the best 'mod'!
Copper tubing fix #1. The paint job doesn't look too hot because I didn't wait long enough to try it out.
http://www.ryansorensen.com/vfr/mirror-1.jpg
After that, I just put tape around it. It is nearly as good as new, except it tends to require the bolt be retightened if you move it around often.
http://www.ryansorensen.com/vfr/mirror-2.jpg
One thing to keep in mind - I'm pretty sure the stock mirrors are designed to break right there, so that they don't act as a lever and crack the fairing. This one would probably just bend at the tubing since the copper is so soft. If you drill a hole in the mirror stalk as someone else was suggesting, there may be a higher possibility of damaging the front fairing should you drop it again.
And it sounds like I'm number four for lighted mirrors.
Why did the bike tip over while leaning on its kickstand? Only case I've seen was parking a bike on a decline without engaging trans in first gear, as the bike moves forward the stand retracts and..
Frame sliders were my first modification, they look very neat if installed correctly and will pay for themselves eventually. My biggest concern was leaving the bike parked outside and finding it on its side in the morning, in this case frame sliders will avoid all damage.
first i would like to say that i think that lobster is awesome. he is sending me a new clutch lever and not even asking for anything in return...
THANK YOU LOBSTER!!! YOU ROCK!!!
second i would like to say that i was probably a little careless and because i can imagine no other reason for the bike tipping over. i must not have set the stand all the way or something.
my mirror snapped right at the base no real way to fix it in any of the ways you have described. I am still trying to figure something out and as soon as i can dig my camera out of my closet i will try to post some pics.
i am glad that all that happened was my mirror and clutch lever. so happy the fairing did not crack or anything else. I will definately be investing in some frame sliders as soon as i get a little extra cash. my birthday is in two days and someone will probably send me some. may not be a lot but it will go to the slider fund.
my bike has had a really hard week...so i work at a bar as a bouncer here in hawaii and i am leaving work two nights ago and walk out to my bike to see it laying on it's side...not the side that was already slightly damaged from the last fall...yep you heard that right the other side....it seems that some jackass or drunken idiot totally knocked my bike over or intentionally pushed it over.
this time i was lucky enough that there was really no damage except for a few scratches. nothing broke...
i really need to invest in a pair of frame sliders...and find a different place to park my bike while at work...
Richie,
Man you are having some realy bad luck. Know all about dropping bikes. Did the washing thing once, center stand drop once, shoe lace caught on foot peg drop was the worst feeling one. Feel your pain. Somebody pushing your bike over they need to feel your pain all over there body. LOL. Just seen this post today. As you know I will be there in Jan. and I have 5th gen clutch and brake levers. Changed mine to Pazzo. If you need them and they fit I could bring them to you... Sorry no mirrors here....
So sorry to hear that * 2. Seeing it on the ground on one side, just isn't right! Look on the bright side though, it was not moving both times so it's minimal damage and it can be fixed and no one will be able to tell. You are having some bad luck though, hopefully it's all over and will not be dropped again.
Could it be someone you "bounced" that night that knocked it over?
I would assume that in your line of work the supply of mad, disgruntled drunks never ends.
You might want to consider looking for a safer place to park your bike during work, cause it gould really get expensive.
Beck
95 VFR
End of thread · 36 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 12 Apr 2010