Mirrors: fairing or handlebar mounted ?

[et]

20+ years ago when I bought my first non-naked motorcycle; a Honda Hurricane.
It felt very weird having stationary, fairing mounted mirrors.
Now 20+ years later after owning only sport bikes; that one Hurricane and then two GSXR's; with fairing mounted mirrors.
I was lusting after the MotoGuzzi Norge. But when I sat on one; the mirrors mounted on the handlebars was a major turnoff for me.

Am I the only one with this bizarre preference ?
What's everyone else's preference ?

[sammyseaman]

You are an odd fella

[TriumphTiger1050]

I like either and can ride either.  I think the fairing mounted make the bike look more finished of course.  As long as you can see behind you to the side is all that matters!

[nater]

Huh?  Bikes with farings have mirrors mounted on the farings.  Bikes without farings have mirrors mounted on the handlebars.

[et]

Huh?  Bikes with farings have mirrors mounted on the farings.  Bikes without farings have mirrors mounted on the handlebars.

Then please explain the Moto Guzzi Norge, Suzuki V-Stroms, Ducati Multistrada, etc ...

[Croak]

One of the first things you want to do with a first-gen Norge is swap the chrome mirrors for the far more functional (and stylish, and sensibly priced) mirrors found on the 1200 Sport, the current Tuono, etc.  

The beauty of handlebar mirrors is they are easy to swap, easy to source, and worst case you can always buy a set of fugly ones from any local motorcycle shop or even WalMart.

That said, I generally prefer the better angles most fairing mirrors provide, and the fact that they're more in your line of sight, less eye-shifting or glancing needed.

[rodm850g]

Guys,
I have both  styles and the mirrors on my ST1300 are by far more stable than the bar mounted one on my GS850...the ones on my VFR well are of not a lot of use....vibrations ....just my observations....
Rod

[sammyseaman]

Fairings are for hippies.

[MadMax96]

Huh?  Bikes with farings have mirrors mounted on the farings.  Bikes without farings have mirrors mounted on the handlebars.

Umm.. almost.  

I've seen people mount mirrors on the fairing of a 1st Gen Bandit - but it looks kinda crappy.

I kinda wish the mirrors were on the fairing, just so they were further forward.  I don't mind the look of them being handlebar mounted.

[Computer Guy]

I have both types and prefer the fairing-mounted mirrors.  I also prefer fairing-mounted instruments.

[phaze5]

my 955 don't stick out far enough and my n/h has bear ends , i like the barends myself till i whack them into my955 that is,then not so much.

[jhawk]

I prefer handle bar mounted mirrors and/or bar-end mirrors or stalk mirrors if the bike has a fairing..... they tend to have a wider field of vision. Fairing mounts like Concours & BMW R bikes have too narrow a filed of vision for me.  

I noticed that a lot of the escort motorcycles on the Tour de France had both fairing mounted and handle bar mounted mirrors

[scott19]

I've always found it easier seeing behind me with handlebar mounted mirrors. I think fairing mounted ones sometimes sacrifice function for style. Sometimes.

[exbanditrider]

My Connie has fairing mounted and the Vee handlebar.  First priority for me is that they work and then that they look good - both bikes' mirrors are fine on both counts for me...

[blackjaxx]

I think they are a necessary evil. None "look good" but ya gotta have em.