CRG Lane Splitters

Okay, here are some install notes and my impressions.

Overall the install was a piece of cake, even for someone with two left feet for hands like me. First, I took off the stock mirrors. All you need is a crescent wrench and to remember that the right one is reverse threaded. Next, I flipped the back part of the clamp that holds the reservoirs so that the holes that held the stock mirrors wouldn't show. You'll need a #5 Allen wrench for this. If you don't want to spill brake fluid everywhere, having an extra set of hands for this step would help. Next, I pulled the plastic plugs out of the bar ends. Teddy was right, they're just plastic plugs with no weight at all on them, nor any hardware for retaining them. I took a pair of vice grips and pulled them straight out.

I chose to go with the CRG adapters rather than slide my controls inward. (The handlebars are narrow enough!) If you get the CRG adapters, they install pretty much like any aftermarket bar ends using a #4 allen wrench. They are held in place by friction once the center bolt is tightened. For the 695 stock handlebar, you'll need to use the extra "collar" that comes with the kit. From there the CRG LSes pretty much clamp onto the adapters once they're in place. You'll need a #4 allen wrench to tighten the two halves of the "arm" that holds the mirror on one end and clamps down on the adapter on the other. The halves are held together by two allen bolts.

Right now I have the "arm" of the mirror mounted parallel to the ground so that the mirror is "ahead" of the handlebars. I was completely surprised and impressed with how much vision these mirrors afford you. The convex shape allows you a much greater field of view than the stock mirrors. If you're coming off of a sportbike that has mirrors that show your elbows, you'll love these. Also, another surprise was that they don't vibrate at all. It's amazing. Finally, I assumed that once everything was tightened out, the mirrors were locked in place. I was pleasantly surprised that you can still adjust the mirrors even after tightening everything up.

I may try and remount them with the arm perpendicular to the ground so that the mirror is above the handlebars somewhat like a traditional mirror. I bet they'd be even better in this position.

On the downside, the convex mirror makes things look like they are quite a ways behind you. Be aware that this is not the case. Give yourself sometime to get used to them before you go slicin' and dicin' in and out of traffic. Also my right mirror did move once I started going highway speeds. When I stopped for a break, I found that I was able to tighten the bolts a bit more on this mirror, so hopefully that will solve the problem.

Overall a great product for the monster.