Search for the perfect touring bike mirror

[Figaro]

Just got my Blackburn brake hood mirror in today. Too cold for me to go out and test it, but I'm hopeful it will prove a better solution for a touring bike mirror than what I have had up to this point. I tired the helmet mount mirror but after one ride stopped using it. I just couldn't get comfortable with it--was more distracting than helpful. My current handlebar mirror is just "ok", but nothing to write home about. The lens isn't that clear and is constantly vibrating out of position. Hopefully the Blackburn will be a significant improvement--just doesn't seem to be that many options with bar-end shifters.

[John Nettles]

No mirror is going to be perfect as the bike/rider are always having slight "bumps" causing the mirror to slightly (or violently) vibrate.  I see you have the same helmet mirror I use.  While it is ugly, I have found it to be by far the best helmet mirror out there.  I would try it again for a least 4-5 rides and maybe then you will get used to it.  I personally will not ride without a helmet mirror and even carry an older traditional eyeglass mirror as a spare in case the helmet mirror breaks.

Hope you find what you are looking for!  John

[Figaro]

Yea, the helmet mirror is one of the best reviewed. I'm not concerned about the looks of it, but I just couldn't get it adjusted properly so I could see anything with it and it was very distracting for me. Hopefully the Blackburn will work well. If not, then I may try the Selle Italia, but that one looks like the same basic concept as the blackburn. If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know. I'm not concerned about looks/style....just want to be able to clearly see behind me. I'm surprised someone hasn't already come out with a rear camera and a small monitor to mount on the handlebar--sort of like a backup camera in your car. If it could be made lightweight with a long battery life, that could be a hit with a lot of tour bikers.

[RussSeaton]

For the past 20 years I have used the Take A Look eyeglass mounted mirror.  Works perfectly on seeing eyeglasses and on sunglasses.  Just need a flat arm on the glasses frame to mount it.  25 years ago I used a mirror that mounted over the brake hood.  It was metal and tough.  Still have it in the parts boxes in the basement.  Had bar end shifters then.  Worked well but the eyeglass mirror works better since I can rotate my head and see anywhere behind me.  Brake hood mounted mirrors, or the ones stuck in the end of handlebars are fixed so can only see certain spots behind.  Don't like helmet mounted mirrors because I take my helmet on and off many times on a ride and its not always treated gently.  So the mirror would get moved every time.  And helmets do not sit in the exact same spot on my head every time I put them on.  Unlike eyeglasses which always hook over my ears and rest on my nose.  Same spot.  Or I push the helmet up and back occasionally when it slides too low.  So I can see always constantly adjusting where the mirror is pointing with helmet mounted mirrors.  Imagine driving a car where you adjusted the side and rear mirror ten times every time you drove the car.  You would get tired of that nonsense after one trip.

[John Nelson]

I tired the helmet mount mirror but after one ride stopped using it. I just couldn't get comfortable with it--was more distracting than helpful.

Mirrors are very personal, and everybody seems to like a different mirror. In my opinion, you didn't give your helmet-mounted mirror a sufficient chance. One ride is not enough. It probably took me three months to fully get used to it, and now I feel naked without it. I never liked handlebar-mounted mirrors because they seem to always vibrate and you can't easily point them, which is a problem when you are on a curve or want to check on the rider behind you. Furthermore, if you're in a country that drives on the right, you want your mirror on the left, which gets in the way when you lay your bike down on the non-drive side.

Don't like helmet mounted mirrors because I take my helmet on and off many times on a ride and its not always treated gently.  So the mirror would get moved every time.

A valid complaint, but it only takes me a second to adjust it. I found that taping the mirror on with electrical tape significant reduced the problem. I don't really like eyeglass-mounted mirrors because I can't get the mirror far enough away from my eyes to be comfortably visible.

[Dullboot]

I have used the Blackburn mirror mounted over the hoods on my touring bike for a few years now. I have found it to work better than many others, but not perfectly. It is better at absorbing vibration than most others. Issues I have had are that gradually the bolt in the center comes loose resulting in the mirror not staying in one place. You need to rotate the whole mirror a full turn to tighten it if this happens. Also, if you drop your bike it will break off, and cannot be put back together. Nevertheless I found it to be better than others. Have not tried a glasses mounted mirror so can’t comment. On my bikes with flat Bars I use a mirracyle mirror, which works better than any other I have tried


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[RussSeaton]

I have used the Blackburn mirror mounted over the hoods on my touring bike for a few years now.

Blackburn!  That's the one I had 25 years ago.  Steel bracket to go over the brake hood and a Velcro strap to wrap around it.  Mine never vibrated loose.  They probably changed it from 25 years ago.

[Molly88]

Anyone use those small mirrors that plug into the ends of drop bars?

[DaveB]

Anyone use those small mirrors that plug into the ends of drop bars?

I use the "Third Eye" bar end mirror which isn't exactly small but works very well.  I've tried about every alternative mirror location and have settled on it.    It is vulnerable to being bumped and prevents the use of bar end shifters but those are minor problems to me.

[Molly88]

Thanks.  I haven't used a mirror but I think it's time.  Hearing may be going, neck is stiff, etc.

[DaveB]

Thanks.  I haven't used a mirror but I think it's time.  Hearing may be going, neck is stiff, etc.

I won't ride without a mirror of some type.  I don't trust the mirror completely so, if it seems there is nothing back of me, I'm not sure and I'll turn around to check but if I see something in it I'm certain it's there.

[Molly88]

Yes, that seems to be the right way to use it.

[GrnMtns]

I didn't like the sunglasses mounted mirror at first but quickly came to rely on it.  The Take A Look mirror offers a remarkably clear view of cars while they're still a long way back.

[DarrenBnYYC]

I didn't like the sunglasses mounted mirror at first but quickly came to rely on it.  The Take A Look mirror offers a remarkably clear view of cars while they're still a long way back.

Another plug for the Take A Look mirror. I mount mine on the visor of my helmet with a zip-tie. A nice feature of this mirror is that it can fold under the visor if I don't need it.

[o2tour]

Take A Look mirror. bought my first one before leaving on the GDMBR. Did not want a bear to sneak up behind me.