When it comes to mirrors we’ve gotten the impression that most are tacked onto our beloved bikes as an afterthought just to get through import requirements. Seems that very little thought is given to how they actually work or look. Most do a good job of showing you what your elbows look like, that is if they don’t vibrate so badly that it seems wiser to just give up all together and turn around to look behind you. Form is good an all, but without function its just bling.
So it was that we found ourselves looking for a better mirror. We are honest with ourselves in that we wanted something that looked better and liked the idea of bar-end mirrors because of how they aesthetically lower the front of the motorcycle. We were perusing the stock of our local dealer, Wrights Parts and Accessories, when we spied two products that looked almost the same but were vastly different in price. The cheaper one was definitely appealing, but we were told the more expensive version was the way to go. Never ones to question the infinate wisdom of Tim at Wrights, we snagged a set of Napoleon Bar End Mirrors for about $30.00 each, and we are glad we did.
Since that fateful day, Napoleons have found their way onto half a dozen bikes that have flowed through the CanyonChasers fleet. They mount to the end of most any tube by way of a rubber damper that expands inside the bar. This system can be easily modified to fit into any size bar we’ve shoved them into and can even be modded to fit into clipons without duress. And did we mention they look good? Where traditional mirrors protrude above the front of the bike like insect antenna, the Napoleons offer a nice clean, sporty look remaniscent of the days of the Ace Cafe.
But we’ve already mentioned that we needed function. The Napoleons offer a fantastic view of what’s going on where you’ve just been. They don’t vibrate, I don’t know how they don’t, but they 
don’t, providing for vibration free rearward viewing. Additionally, the convex plastic lens is free of distortion and has handled the rigors of moto life without hazing, cracking or scratching, even with a few –ehem, tip overs. What’s more, the added width of bar-end mirrors provides for an exceptional field of view and almost completely eliminates blind spots, but can be easily rotated inwards, even on the fly, for occasional lane-splitting (while in California of course).
The only complaint we’ve had with the Napoleons is the black finish. Over time it tends to dull and scouring off bugs with robust (i.e. harsh) cleaners doesn’t do the luster any favors. Putting an occasional coat of wax or even Pledge does wonders for preventing the black mirrors from turning chalky grey. However, we really wish they didn’t require as much attention to keep them looking good.
Overall the Napoleon mirrors have become one of those treasured moto accessories that we’ve come to rely on. Their performance is unmatched by any other motorcycle mirror we’ve looked upon and their simple, understated design works well with most any motorcycle. We definitely recommend this product to anybody in the market for some.
We have a wide assortment of CanyonChasers T-Shirts of which the proceedes go towards maintaining this site. Each T-shirt can be applied to a wide variety of t-shirt colors and styles in both mens, womens and even childrens apparel. Support your local CanyonChaser or show your support for CanyonChasers riding ethics with one of these cool t-shirts! Simply click on the styles below, or check out our t-shirt gallery to see all our designs.
________________
w w w . c a n y o n c h a s e r s . n e t
 |
|
The content of CanyonChasers.Net is for general information purposes only and does not constitute advice. CanyonChasers.Net tries to provide content that is true and accurate as of the date of writing; however, we give no assurance or warranty regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or applicability of any of the contents. Visitors to CanyonChasers.Net should not act upon CanyonChasers.Net's content or information without first seeking appropriate professional advice. More »
