RS mirrors and speedometer issues.

[georgej]

I have a couple of questions regarding my 1978 R100RS.
1. How the heck do you see anything out of those mirrors? I have the stock ones mounted to the fairing,no matter how I twist or turn them I can't see anything behind me or in the other lane.
2. I need to have my speedo/odometer rebuilt.How does that cable come off? I keep unscrewing it, looks like it's coming off but it's not.Is that post real long that it threads onto? Also how do you disconnect the wire that goes to the tach? I ended up with more than a couple of questions,sorry.
George

[20774]

George -

Speedo...there's a thin jam nut between the knurled cable end and the speedo. You'll need a thin box wrench to turn the jam nut while you use some soft pliers to hold the knurled cable end.

As for the electrical connector, there's a small phillips screw holding the large plug into the back of the pod. You'll need to undo...just loosen...the 3 10mm nuts underneath the pod which holds the pod to the braket. This lets you slide the pod forward and with the small amount of slack in the tach cable, you should be able to get behind the pod and see the small screw.

[kstoo]

Mirrors. (???) They are relatively close inboard so that if I adjust to see behind me I get a lot of my jacket. Other than that, I don't understand the question.
:dunno

.

[tvrla]

The solution for the mirrors is to not worry about what's behind you - it's far more important to know what's in the next lane over. So position them for no blind spot between the mirror and glancing over.

To see behind requires scooting to the side a little.

The little blind spot mirrors never worked for me - especially at night.

I've ridden many thousands of miles this way with no difficulty, even in Los Angeles for three years in rush hour lane splitting.

[lostboy]

The threaded stub of the speedometer frequently spins when you try to remove the cable. A pair of needle nose pliers to hold the stub sometimes works. If that won't do it, cut the cable or pull it out with the instrument pack so you can get it to a workbench. Then if you have to, you can cut the nut off the stub.

[26667]

If yours are 1978 oem mirrors, I believe there is a slightly larger, slightly less frustrating later model mirror available. i think they changed to a larger size when the re-introduced the bikes, mid-80's...that said, I think I have them on mine and still have to shift to the side to see behind. Tho' having shifted my butt, I do actually have good coverage of what's behind. Still, I never do anything w/o the "Messerschmidt Twitch.''

[tghsmith]

having played with RS's for twenty odd(sometimes very odd) years, I use the mirrors to make sure I don't have flashing lights gaining on me, after that any lane changes or like movements I do a full head check (swivel the neck and look) or as the britts call it A LIFE CHECK, more important than ever as more and more drivers can't hange up and drive.....

[jamesdunn]

Mirrors. (???) They are relatively close inboard so that if I adjust to see behind me I get a lot of my jacket. Other than that, I don't understand the question.
:dunno

.

Yeah, to see behind you will get a lot "of your jacket' in the mirror. You'll need a "head check" also, i.e., look over the appropriate shoulder. This should be done with any bike however, just don't look too long.

[orbitangel]

I have a couple of questions regarding my 1978 R100RS.
1. How the heck do you see anything out of those mirrors? I have the stock ones mounted to the fairing,no matter how I twist or turn them I can't see anything behind me or in the other lane.
George

George,

After reading your FIRST question, I found myself rolling in the floor, laughing hysterically!:rofl

I'm currently riding my third R100RS (a '77) after having previously owned another '77, then a '78. I got my first RS right at thirty years ago. :gerg

I have NEVER been able to see diddly squat in ANY of those RS mirrors!:violin

If you adjust them carefully, you can get a pretty good view of your arms/shoulders and a little bit of sky outboard of those. Then (as others have said) you can shift a bit in the saddle to see a little bit more.

No matter WHAT you do, anything you DO see will be a nice blur. I've gotten used to it. :banghead

One respondent said:

"...having played with RS's for twenty odd (sometimes very odd) years, I use the mirrors to make sure I don't have flashing lights gaining on me, after that any lane changes or like movements I do a full head check (swivel the neck and look) or as the Brit's call it A LIFE CHECK, more important than ever as more and more drivers can't hang up and drive..."

That is very good advice for an RS pilot, IMHO. :thumb

Good luck!

[535is]

I have a couple of questions regarding my 1978 R100RS.
1. How the heck do you see anything out of those mirrors? I have the stock ones mounted to the fairing,no matter how I twist or turn them I can't see anything behind me or in the other lane.

My own theory is that they are there primarily to remind you which jacket you're wearing so you know how good you look ... :thumb

[lkchris]

These mirrors require a paradigm shift.

You should stop thinking you're going to get a full mirror view of anything.

These mirrors provide rear vision in the outside 1/3 - 1/2 only.

That's just the way it is.

Moving your body to improve the view is pretty much required, too.

The later ('85-on) mirrors fit fine and are probably an improvement. They sure are on Wife's RT but haven't tried them on my RS.

[georgej]

Thanks,for all the replies.I'm a delivery driver for Fedex and they are always training us in defensive driving, checking the mirrors every few seconds is part of it.I just do it almost second nature. Just like I slow down and scan intersections,even if I have the green light. So I guess I'll just have to do someting different when i ride the RS.
While the speedo is out for repair ,would it hurt anything if i ride the bike with the gauge cluster off?

[lostboy]

Your alternator probably won't work, because you'll have no "Generator" light. I usually reassemble the cluster, minus the speedo and/or tach, and run it that way. If you do this, remove the bulbs for the missing instrument(s) so you're not blinded. You'll also want to remove the inner cable.

[ccolwell]

Proper use of an RS mirror is the same as for Ducati SS's. To use the left hand mirror, shift entire body to the right, bend torso forward, tilt head to left until you have a clear view of your left elbow, raise left elbow. This wil provide a clear view behind you and, depending on your age, increase flexibility or your chiropractor costs.

Or get Napolean bar end mirrors. They won't look as good on your RS as they do on my R90S; but they won't look as strange as they do on my S3.

[bikerfish1100]

bar ends will not fit inside a RS fairing, so forget that option. get used to seeing that your elbows are still connected to your body- and give a good head check all the time.

[Bob_M]

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24874&highlight=r100rs+mirrors

This issue has been discussed earlier on other threads. Here was my solution

[rpeckham136133]

Those are good looking mounts/fairings for the mirror to attach to! Well done!

;)