KZ Mirrors

  • TheDude
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KZ Mirrors

06 Jan 2014 17:34
#617575
I've got a KZ550 I picked up a month ago.
Something strange I found was that the right rear view mirror is a magnified type of mirror.
It's not useful at all to show me what's behind me...it reflects more of me then the road.

If this doesn't make sense...my right mirror is similar to the mirrors women use to pluck their eye-brows (hence it's magnified to see more things...useless on a bike IMO).

Anyways, is this standard, or some funky mistake?
1982 Kawasaki KZ550 A3

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  • RonKZ650
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Re: KZ Mirrors

06 Jan 2014 18:37
#617583
Standard aftermarket junk I'm afraid. The stock Kawasaki mirrors were always convex type and worked great other than vibration blur. I'm not sure what came stock on the KZ550, but it uses the same mount system as the 650,750,900,1000 and probably more. Look for any of these motorcycle mirrors. THey will all be round shape. Some are same left/right, some are made to work one or the other side only.
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.

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  • TheDude
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Re: KZ Mirrors

06 Jan 2014 19:21
#617591
They're rectangular shape.
I saw on the diagram that the stock one's are oval.
I'm not sure I want to go to stock...this is one of the less "important" issues I have with the bike right now.
I just wanted to see what the verdict was on these. ;)
Thanks Ron

Actually to add, Ron you mentioned "vibration blur".
Would that make the mirror's a deal breaker?
Because the mirrors I have now work great, except for the magnified right one.
1982 Kawasaki KZ550 A3

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  • martin_csr
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Re: KZ Mirrors

07 Jan 2014 07:28 - 18 Feb 2015 08:04
#617613
Some aftermarket mirrors vibrate, rendering them useless or nearly so.
It could be that someone installed short stem mirrors, so the view could be blocked by the rider's body. Standard style KZs typically have long stem mirrors because of the lower handlebars.

From the 550A3 diagrams the RH mirror is different from the LH as each side has a different part number.
On my 81 650 both mirrors are the same.

Here are a couple of KZRider topics.
KZR - Bitch'n Mirror Hunt
KZR - Best mirrors I have ever bought and used. .
1981 KZ650 Competition Sports and Road
Last edit: 18 Feb 2015 08:04 by martin_csr.

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  • Grumpy Ole Artist
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Re: KZ Mirrors

09 Jan 2014 08:12
#617898
FWIW...I've been rolling with the short "Emgo" mirrors...No vibration problems at all here ! I think they were only around 15 bux each.
1978 KZ650 B2
Former rides...1976 CB360T, 1985 Shadow 700, 1985 GPZ750Turbo

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  • TheDude
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Re: KZ Mirrors

09 Jan 2014 15:48
#617982
Ni e bike!

The mirror I have now have no vibration. Just for some odd reason the right one has a magnified reflection.
Why would you want a magnified reflection on a bike?? :unsure: :laugh:
1982 Kawasaki KZ550 A3

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  • dkoz
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Re: KZ Mirrors

09 Jan 2014 17:16
#618008
TheDude wrote: I've got a KZ550 I picked up a month ago.
Something strange I found was that the right rear view mirror is a magnified type of mirror.
It's not useful at all to show me what's behind me...it reflects more of me then the road.

If this doesn't make sense...my right mirror is similar to the mirrors women use to pluck their eye-brows (hence it's magnified to see more things...useless on a bike IMO).

Anyways, is this standard, or some funky mistake?
Maybe the previous owner had eye sight problems.. I got a buddy with pop bottle eye glasses. something like that might be an option
1978 LTD B2 smashed
1978 Z1R D1
1978 A2

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  • TheDude
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Re: KZ Mirrors

09 Jan 2014 18:40
#618028
dkoz wrote:
TheDude wrote: I've got a KZ550 I picked up a month ago.
Something strange I found was that the right rear view mirror is a magnified type of mirror.
It's not useful at all to show me what's behind me...it reflects more of me then the road.

If this doesn't make sense...my right mirror is similar to the mirrors women use to pluck their eye-brows (hence it's magnified to see more things...useless on a bike IMO).

Anyways, is this standard, or some funky mistake?
Maybe the previous owner had eye sight problems.. I got a buddy with pop bottle eye glasses. something like that might be an option
Deep down I knew there was a reason for it. That could have probably been it.
1982 Kawasaki KZ550 A3

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  • Patton
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Re: KZ Mirrors

09 Jan 2014 20:18 - 09 Jan 2014 20:49
#618040
Am not familiar with an automotive "magnifying" rear view mirror (which would be concave shaped) or it's purpose.

The convex shaped mirrors are of course very common.



Good Fortune! :)
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD

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Last edit: 09 Jan 2014 20:49 by Patton.

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  • koolaid_kid
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Re: KZ Mirrors

09 Jan 2014 20:47
#618043
Patton wrote:

Good Fortune! :)
Now that is funny.
1983 GPz 750
810 Wiseco, Kerker, K&N, DynoJet S3, Accel, Progressive, etc.

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  • Grumpy Ole Artist
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Re: KZ Mirrors

10 Jan 2014 10:26
#618119
Thanx Dude, a work in progress...If I'm not mistaken, the idea behind those mirrors is to afford the vehicle operator a wider field of view.
1978 KZ650 B2
Former rides...1976 CB360T, 1985 Shadow 700, 1985 GPZ750Turbo

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