I see the mirror in Ron's picture with the flag, is fitted to the headlamp bolt, that's a different place to mount it.

Here's a picture of us at the shrine lats year.



And time for a drink and a snack too

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

For what it's worth I have mirrors on all of my bikes. I can't turn round as I used to and my ability to see what the idiots in the tin boxes are up to is more important then what the rivet counters think.

Here is that bike with flag from the other angle.

You can read 'Pea Soup' on one of the crates.....Specially imported from London.

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Yes one would imagine a nice highly reflective mirror would not be an advantage in field use.
If it is any help, the WD B40's we bought directly from army stores all had a single right mirror , hand painted drab with the exception of the MP's bikes which wore two chromed ones.

email (option): bsansw1@tpg.com.au

I've got an old army round mirror on my WD M20. using it in London you really have to have a mirror and it fits the bill.

By the way the long piece of metal under the white flag isn't that one of those devices that people rigged up so that they couldn't be ambushed with wire across the road taking them or their head off? I've seen photos of those I think at the Imperial War Museum that this reminds me of. all best everyone and Happy New Year and keep up the great work

I have a mirror mounted on the end of the bar...I personally find it more useful than 30 years ago now there's more traffic on the road...

Often people have fitted their field-stand in the wrong location, here a war time paper about how to fit it properly.

Hello Field-stand fitting instructions,

Thanks for the fitting manual, I assume you posted it because of the photo published in my last post. Mine is installed correctly, there are two types of field stands, long and short ones....Originally it would have been secured a bit more horizontally as can be seen in official photograph below from the Orchard and Madden book "British Forces Motorcycles"...





The result of placing a short field stand in the way suggested, it would not function, because the motorcycle would stand in a 45 degree angle ;-).....and then again, I'm not seeking for absolute originality as I'm guessing that they were only once original when they were delivered from the factory to the end-user, after that they were altered in many different ways anyways judging from the many wartime images....another big no-no is the fitting of a Thorspark electronic ignition on both the BSA and the Matchless... ;-)

More information about this can be found halfway the page of this link:

http://www.wdbsa.nl/facts.htm

Hi Maarten,

From what I see in your photo you have a long field-stand. Your field-stand seems to have a disc with a cut off section and those are the long stands and these are fitted as in the paper posted.

Henk

email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl

Hi Henk,

As stated in my previous post, if placed as said in fitting manual (which I did initially) the stand only reach the ground when the bike is at a 45 degree angle... As it is a repro stand from India, it is of course possible that they placed a disc with a cutoff on a short tube.... I rather have it functional than fully "original" look.... I think I can make a lot of comments on my bike in regard of "originality"...but I didn't asked to be commented on the originality of my bike, I only post a comment regarding a "mirror on the handlebar" as it was the original question of this post...furthermore, I like my bike as it is and I own it, in the end that's what counts...😁

This is how it looks now....(btw. the helmet and coat are original..!)

Quite right Maarten! You can do exactly as you please with your bike, you are not in the army or under orders from anyone. But I don't think anyone was criticising your bike, just pointing out some features that you might not have known.

My own bike is an early one with the lug like yours, but since It has panniers fitted now, I fitted one of the long stands under the saddle Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

hi Ron,

Quote: "Not under orders from anyone..." you should meet my wife

In any case...short or long...as long as it does the job...

Can't argue with any of that Maarten Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Greetings Rone - on the link you will find a photo - although it is not BSA but Triumph but the mirror has - the rod is Jeep and mirror Desmo type 36 - photo: "Borderlands": Czechoslovak border - combined Section of the Czechoslovak Armored Brigade http://www.vhu.cz/alois-evzen-sitek/

email (option): chalupnym@centrum.cz

Thanks Michal. Here is the picture. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I am surprised over your neck of the woods a rear view mirror is not compulsory. In Australia, I think pre 1975 bike one mirror on RHS is mandatory, two must be fitted after 1975 bike, otherwise no licence. Of course if you live in a left drive country one mirror would be LHS.
I fitted a round mirror (chrome) and etch primed it and painted it flat drab enamel same as bike.

email (option): tknalder@iinet.net.au

Old thread but with old bikes they all stay relevant don't they? I ride in a busy urban environment and I depend on using a mirror for situational awareness on my other bikes so I fitted a clamp on style reproduction Harley WWII style mirror. It's easily removed if I'm concerned about my PC (period correctness).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Military-WLA-Mirror-Parkerized-with-USA-Mirror-Head/113754056937

email (option): moatjon [ at ] aol.com

That's a nice period looking mirror and easy enough to make adaptions to if a particular mount is preferred....Ian:relaxed:

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

I really hate the thought of clamping a mirror to any of my WD handlebars, (and I would need several!) but as I get older and neck muscles not as flexible as they were, I thought I'd give this a go for the sake of a Tenner (even cheaper if ordered from China or Honk Kong, but longer delivery time)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193409649425

I'll report back if it's a reasonable success or in the bin!

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Blimey Ron, pour yourself a whisky wearing that and you could be seeing double before you start !:face_with_rolling_eyes:

A novel approach Ron...There used to be a helmet mounted mirror on the market as well, I don't know if that's still around....

I suppose these days you could have a handle bar mounted screen and a rearward facing camera...:laughing: That might come one day on new bikes!

I don't like mirrors too much from an aesthetic stand point on old bikes and have never fitted them...Though I've had them on both my T140 Triumphs (one of which I bought new), a couple of Jap bikes I've owned, the Sportster and currently on Ghandi, my Indian Enfield hack bike..I've always remove one of the pair though...

Generally I don't feel that I have to have one, just relying on looking around when I feel I need to. I'm very happy they are not a compulsory fitment....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

I've got this little oval brass mirror on my Indian Special and got to admit, it's a joy to have!! Especially as I often end up as the only one of our group who seems to know the way, so get designated "Tour Leader" and constantly trying to ascertain that everyone is still behind me.


As soon as I get back onto a WD bike I constantly start looking at the mirror that's not there.
There is another type that I wouldn't mind trying. But so far only found them from US sellers with ridiculous postage costs.

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I'm quite liking the idea of wearing a mirror. I've only got mirrors on my Harley and that went from 2, to 1 and back to 2 when I rode to France. No mirrors on any other bike and usually that's not a problem, but any time I go on a bypass or motorway they're needed. I rode my Commando from the South coast to Gloucester on the M5, and wearing an open face helmet and sun glasses wasn't good for looking behind. The glasses nearly flew off a few times. Luckily Wendy was following me in the camper van and we had a system where she pulled out into the fast lane so I could see it was clear to over take without fast cars wiping me out. I've actually been thinking of fitting a mirror.

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

I wouldn't be without one on the Commando...Overtaking at motorway speeds requires lots of prior observation...On the 16H, I don't miss one, any more than I do on the pedal cycle (although the ears help there too). Overtaking is rare, I hold well back and plan my turns and positioning well in advance. Positioning for visibility and asserting one's position on the road remain good roadcraft, regardless of what the idiot behind is doing.

Keeping a group together would be a factor, but that's not a safety issue.

Hi Ron,
thanks for the link to the wrist mirror - and what a brilliant idea. I've just ordered one. Will also be usual when I'm out with youngest son on the mountain bikes! :smiley: