KymcoForum.com
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Stig / Major Tom on July 05, 2025, 12:22:17 AM
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My left long-stemmed FAR brand mirror 'fell' off as I was cruising in the countryside this morning!
Then I nearly ran over a kitten 5 mins later!*
"Fell" - it snapped off at the base. Metal fatigue. They are 10mm thick - but long....and the rough roads caught up with it after 12 years.
Had a tough time finding this set of very long-stemmed mirrors from Italy made by FAR in 2013 - and the Italian eBay seller is long gone.
Search begins......
I removed the stub of the mirror tip. Do not want to mess with removing the adapter threaded into the mounting. It is VERY tight!. Hopefully can find another FAR and thread it into the adapter - with lock nut above. The stock LIKE200i mirrors are approx 1/2 the length of the FARs.
(https://i.postimg.cc/8Cm871C7/20250704-080801.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Gt5t6Pwn/20250704-081014.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/XJyCK7rg/mirror.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RFqTkBN3/mirror2.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/28LKq4jq/mirror3.jpg)
*
Joe asked how my ride went this morning.
I said, "'have had better. My mirror broke off and then I nearly killed a kitten! Almost unseated myself!"
He remarked, "you know, stuff happens in 3's"
I said, "thanks, yeah, I know - i'm going home and get into bed!"
You laugh.....but I was soooo alert riding home! Didn't relax until I pulled into my driveway.
Stig
PS:
I've had 4 motorcycles and 4 scooters - and this mirror and a chain guard vibrating off my CB350 on the interstate are the sum of my equipment failures while riding, since 1969.
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1 mirror vibrating off in many years, not a bad track record! Seems like you'd be able to find a generic 'tall' mirror fairly easily? It may not match your right mirror, but does that really matter? (or just buy 2 new, matching mirrors)
Speaking of your kitten, a rabbit tried to take me out the other day. Ran from the right side halfway out into the street (big fat one, too), I assumed he would keep going so I aimed behind him. Of course he did a cartoonish skid to a halt in the middle of the road and ran back the way he'd come, making me swerve left to avoid him....dang rabbits...
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Hard to find any mirror much longer than others.
Have ordered another FAR from SIP in Germany. Should be close. Hope the length works for me. Few mirrors have diagrams of the mirrors with dementions. "210mm stem", measured from where!? Elbow, threaded tip?
Stig
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No need to get another set of mirrors :
Two options:
A) find a really good WIG-welder somewhere close to you...
B) find a machine shop who have a tap and tie set of 10 x 1,25mm, let them do a thread on this lower part of the stem and all's good again.
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No need to get another set of mirrors :
Two options:
A) find a really good WIG-welder somewhere close to you...
B) find a machine shop who have a tap and tie set of 10 x 1,25mm, let them do a thread on this lower part of the stem and all's good again.
Not sure I'd trust that stem at this point. Snaps again, it might cause a wreck behind me.
...was hoping, as an Italian- you might point me to a good source for another FAR mirror?
Stig
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Checked all around here, not promising. Legal hurdles keep this stems under 20cm.
Have a try with welding or tapping a new thread on this l leftover stem.
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Checked all around here, not promising. Legal hurdles keep this stems under 20cm.
Have a try with welding or tapping a new thread on this l leftover stem.
My FARS are 300mm to the bottom elbow!
I've one coming from SIP at 290.
Thank you
Stig
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Did you keep the original Kymco mirrors? They may be shorter, but they're still awesome, strong mirrors.
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Did you keep the original Kymco mirrors? They may be shorter, but they're still awesome, strong mirrors.
Agreed - the stock LIKE200i mirrors are still pristine after I removed them from the tool drawer today after 13 years.
However - from Day One I found them to be of no use at all. Too short (for N. Americans?). At 6'3", 275, I had nothing but a view of my biceps. As entertaining as that was - it wasn't the least bit safe.
First order of business - even before I dealt with the painful seat - was to find some mirrors. The FAR's look goofy - but work great.
(https://i.postimg.cc/VvyR0yRh/20250711-122532.jpg)
I switch out the black for chrome mirrors on my Liberty from time to time. They are the same as used on Vespas. They work "well-enough."
I always have trouble with mirrors. It took weeks but I finally sourced a chrome stem extender from the U.K for my Burgman.
At 2.25 inches - it made a lot of difference....and looks nearly stock!
(https://i.postimg.cc/QxdbBqkh/burgman3-BLURRRcc.jpg)
On my Forza - I swapped out for a set made for HONDA CB500X. They look exactly the same with a bit longer stem. Easy solution!
Anyway - I won't ride w/the stock LIKE mirrors. And I really dislike the look of those mirror "extenders" sold on eBay.
I'll wait on my FAR mirror coming from Landsberg, Germany. (history buffs might recall that Hitler wrote his book while imprisoned in Landsberg in 1924) And on a personal note - we lived just across the rail tracks from Landsberg prison when my father was with the post-WWII occupation forces in the late 40's.
(just renewed my driver's license - and held my breath while answering her question, "which state were you born in?"
'G e r m a n y.' (to American parents) I waited - she stared at me....but didn't call Kristi.
Stig
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I waited - she stared at me....but didn't call Kristi.
Stig
:D :D :D ;)