THE BEST BLIND SPOT MIRROR
Filtering out the propaganda.
criteria
what matters
Who makes the best blind spot mirror? Is it simply a blend of price and functionality, or is there more to it than picking the best-looking mirrors for the best price? If a low price is critical, then the mirrors on Amazon will do the trick. However, if you feel there may be more here than meets the eye, then you are in the right place to do a deep dive into what makes the best blind spot mirror for motorcycles or any vehicle. But before starting, let’s define the key factors in this decision.
Factors in choosing the best blind spot mirror:
- size
- optics
- location
- esthetics
- value
size
why size matters
The right size mirror is important. Too small, and they are difficult to read, especially in the rain or on rough roads. However, for the models that tape over your mirrors, the larger the blind spot mirror, the smaller the usable area in your stock mirrors. To make it worse, the thicker adjustable models’ stand-off takes up even more of your stock mirror’s viewing area. This is not a good thing when considering your stock mirror is a critical safety component; therefore, the mirror’s surface area is prime real estate.
If larger is better, can a blind spot mirror be too big? The answer is yes. Super wide-angle mirrors, such as the single-piece units that mount in the bike’s center and cover the entire viewing field, seem overkill, especially since much of the view is of the rider. But the bottom line here is personal preference, so if you don’t mind the size, there are mirrors that will fit the bill.
Our Quick-Scan mirrors are 2 ½ inches (62mm) wide and don’t cover your stock mirror, which allows them to provide an exceptional field of view.
optics
quality optics matter
High-quality optics produce the greatest image clarity. Glass mirrors generally produce the clearest images and, because of their surface hardness, are less prone to scratching or hazing than plastic lenses. The high-resolution glass optics and broad field of Quick-Scan mirrors give them an exceptionally clear image.
location
why location matters
Location is one of the key factors in determining the best blind spot mirror. Location affects blind-spot mirror performance in three ways: ease of acquisition, interpretation, and scan time.
Ease of acquisition, simply stated, is how easy it is to shift your focus to the blind-spot mirror. The closer the blind spot mirror is to the center horizon (the main focal point) the less eye and head motion is necessary to focus on the mirror. Not only distance but the context of their location is important. Placing a wide-angle mirror over a standard mirror generates a complex image which can lead to mirror-on-mirror confusion. This becomes even more of a challenge when the images are in motion. The brain does a great job of sorting all this out, but it does take up processing power. That’s why at the end of a long ride, in much the same way that one is less tired after a day of riding when wearing earplugs, the less mirror-on-mirror confusion, the less fatigue.
All Quick-Scan models are mounted far enough away from the stock OEM mirror to avoid any mirror-on-mirror confusion yet close enough to fit into a tight scan pattern. To learn more about scan patterns and how the eyes work, read The Science of Sight.
Ease of interpretation means how easy it is to read the image once the eye has acquired the mirror. All things being equal, larger mirrors are easier to interpret. We think the Quick-Scans 2 ½ inch size gives the rider a large, clear, and easy-to-interpret image.
Scan distance is a critical element that is often overlooked. The greater the distance between scanning the traffic ahead and checking the dangerous blind spots on your sides, the greater the chance of accidents. Quick-Scan mirrors are placed closer to your central focus point, which reduces the time needed to check for vehicles in your blind spot.
esthetics
how it looks
Good esthetics matters, especially when you want to keep your bike looking like factory equipment. Stick-on mirrors look like like exactly what they are… an afterthought. If you want a blind-spot mirror, stick one on, and they will look good, right? Wrong… because of the factors covered earlier, they look out of place. The factory would never cover its own mirror, so why pretend otherwise? The solution is to mount an extremely well-engineered mirror that looks factory and uses stainless fasteners and engineering-grade materials so they will keep looking great. The esthetic solution is Quick-Scan mirrors.
value
is the extra effort worth it?
Quick-Scans are mounted like no other blind spot mirror; no one disputes this. Their unique mounting positions them off the mirror surface and is strong, light, amazingly adjustable, and exceptionally well-designed. As part of the atomLink family, they are in a class by themselves. Once you ride with Quick-Scans, you will wonder how you ever lived without them and you will never want to settle for a conventional blind-spot mirror. We think all this extra effort is well worth it. If riding with the best equipment is part of your nature, then Quick-Scans are a natural choice. Knowing they are Made in the USA, let’s just call that icing on the cake.
We welcome your input and feedback, and please feel free to leave comments, suggestions, or corrections. Best wishes and ride safe,
Chuck Saunders