Bar-end mirrors in combination with the stock bar-end weights

[Tom]

A few people have asked me about the bar-end mirrors I installed in combination with the original bar-end weights.
The mirrors I used are from Highsider (same manufacturer that produces the rebranded mirrors sold by Husqvarna); named "Montana Blast bar end mirrors"; other designs with the same mounting type are also available.
The clamps have an inner diameter of 30 mm and come with reducing sleeves for 22 mm and 25 mm handlebars.

The original bar-end weights are relatively heavy, which makes them much more effective at reducing vibrations compared to the often very lightweight end-pieces supplied with most aftermarket bar-end mirrors.
The bar-end weights have an outer diameter of just under 14mm and are secured inside the handlebar tube using an expansion mechanism.

To mount the mirrors onto the bar end weights, I used some custom-made adapter rings (made from aluminum) with an internal diameter of just under 14mm and an external diameter of 25mm; they are fitted with grub screws to clamp them firmly onto the bar-end weights.
This setup has worked perfectly for me for over several thousand kilometers.

I’ve just noticed that you can buy ready-made, universal clamping rings (on Amazon, ebay, ...) for very little money; they are nearly identical to the custom-made adapters I used.
They have an inner diameter of exactly 14mm and an outer diameter of 22mm; this means that they should fit when using the 22mm reducing sleeves supplied with the mirrors.
I haven’t tested them myself, but based on their dimensions, they ought to work just as well as the custom-made adapter rings.

 

[el_capitan]

In fact you can use those mirrors without the deviation of mounting them to the barends by simply moving grips and controls inward by about 1 cm. On my Guzzi I only had the constant problem of the mirrors being twisted back by high speed wind (+140 km/h). I solved that problem by inserting short strips of 600 wet sanding paper that provide sufficient friction even without over-torquing the delicate screws in their even more delicate aluminum threads.
My Vitpilen 801 though came with the overpriced Husqvarna bar-end mirrors already mounted and these feature a mounting with included bar-end-weight.

 

[Tom]

Yes, of course you can mount the bar-end mirrors directly onto the ends of handlebars - that is, after all, what they are actually designed for with the reducing sleeves.
For me, however, the height, sweep, and especially the width of the stock handlebars are absolutely perfect; and the roughly 3 cm difference in width that would result from mounting them directly is definitely noticeable. Therefore, at least for me, mounting them onto the bar-end weights is the better option.

Regarding the twisting at higher speeds: instead of sandpaper, you could also use carbon paste - it is specifically designed to increase the friction at clamping surfaces.

Btw. the mounting ends of the optional Husqvarna bar-end mirrors are not actual bar-end weights. They are very short and made of lightweight aluminum.
The stock bar-end weights are significantly longer and made of quite heavy brass - which allows them to reduce vibrations far more effectively. That’s the reason I wanted to leave them mounted.

 

[el_capitan]

Maybe I´m just insensitive from my 650 single as primary bike, but I never noticed any vibrations from my 801 that would call for action.

 

[Tom]

At high revs and high speed (on the Autobahn) the high-frequency vibrations are quite noticeable; even with the bar-end weights.
It’s not unusual for two-cylinder engines, and it’s not a major issue for me either; but the bar-end weights do help, at least to some extent.