Mirror, mirror on the ground (mirror adapter question)

jonlink · Post by **jonlink** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 6:39 pm

So, apparently the OEM mirrors on the Buddy are junk? One of the SOBs fell right off while I was riding. The thread snapped in half. I read in another thread this is due to the voodoo of mixing metals.

I liked the look of the mirrors well enough, but there's no way I'm going to replace poorly made mirrors every year (my Buddy's just over a year old!).

My question is if these adapters will let me use either these or these mirrors?

I'm also open to other suggestions, but black doesn't work for my scooter.

z20k · Post by **z20k** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 7:11 pm

topic23286.html

You're not alone.. and I feel the same way, I'm desperately looking for an alternative to the stock buddy mirrors!

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 7:46 pm

I'm surprised you are having troubles. Mine have been fine for 25,000 miles now. What part of the mirror came loose? The round mirror part itself? Or down where the stem meets the headset?

jonlink · Post by **jonlink** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 7:58 pm

I hit the tiniest bump you could imagine and the stem snapped. It happened fairly high up on the threaded part. This seems to be a known issue.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:07 pm

Wow. How old is the mirror? Can you not have it replaced for free at the dealer as defective? Warrantee maybe?

z20k · Post by **z20k** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:13 pm

I don't think his mirror is defective. I've heard many people have this problem and both me and my girlfriend have it on a regular basis. (For me it's mainly my left mirror, oddly enough.)

jonlink · Post by **jonlink** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:07 pm

Skootz Kabootz wrote:Wow. How old is the mirror? Can you not have it replaced for free at the dealer as defective? Warrantee maybe?

I'm going to give the warranty a shot, but it seems like it might just happen again (based on the thread I found). Even if they do replace it free, I'll probably try to find a better mirror. The replacement would just cover me until I can find a long-term solution. I drive in Boston, and I really need to see what's going on behind me.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 10:07 pm

Get the Yammy C3 mirrors: viewtopic.php?t=20463

The stock mirrors are crap, rust during the winter, flap around, and don't give nearly as good view as the C3. I've been very happy since I switched.[/url]

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 10:44 pm

jonlink wrote:
Skootz Kabootz wrote:Wow. How old is the mirror? Can you not have it replaced for free at the dealer as defective? Warrantee maybe?
I'm going to give the warranty a shot, but it seems like it might just happen again (based on the thread I found). Even if they do replace it free, I'll probably try to find a better mirror. The replacement would just cover me until I can find a long-term solution. I drive in Boston, and I really need to see what's going on behind me.

I would disagree that it is so prevelant. There are 100,000+ Buddy's all over the US and even more around the world, and there are only a very few defective mirror reports by comparison. Not that it never happens, but IMO it is more likely a bad batch of mirrors than "all" Buddy mirrors are crap. In any event, worst case, you're covered by the most awesome 2-year warrantee.

jonlink · Post by **jonlink** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 11:25 pm

siobhan wrote:Get the Yammy C3 mirrors: viewtopic.php?t=20463

The stock mirrors are crap, rust during the winter, flap around, and don't give nearly as good view as the C3. I've been very happy since I switched.[/url]

Thanks, siobhan. Are there C3s in chrome? Black doesn't suit my scoot.

Except that mine broke, and before that (only) occasionally flapped around, I don't think the mirrors are terrible. But I've never been remotely impressed with them either. I don't know exactly why they broke, but I do know that I don't want to have to deal with this again. Reading the thread I linked to earlier leads me to worry that it may (may being the operative word). I just need something that works. If the stock mirrors can't cut the mustard, as appears to be the case, then I'll move along. It might be that I just got unlucky, but my own experience supersedes the experience of others, regardless of their number.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:06 am

jonlink wrote:Thanks, siobhan. Are there C3s in chrome? Black doesn't suit my scoot.

Yes, you can get 'em in chrome. Check with a dealer or hunt around on the innernezt. I wound up liking the black.

As for the stock mirrors being crap, come to New England skootz. Our weather, for those who ride all year, destroys the stock mirrors. I was on pair two (thanks warranty) and treated them pretty well (WD40 coatings) and they still gave up the goat. And the C3 mirrors give a much better view...I ain't nevah going back.

z20k · Post by **z20k** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:17 am

I just ordered these via Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DL ... 00_s00_i00 (thanks prime.)

scootERIK · Post by **scootERIK** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:27 am

z20k wrote:I just ordered these via Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DL ... 00_s00_i00 (thanks prime.)

Are you sure those will fit? They say that they don't fit Yamaha so I don't think they will fit the Buddy, you need ones that say reverse thread. I think you need these- http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-REVERSE-Th ... sbs_auto_2

I might be wrong but it is might be worth double checking just to be sure.

z20k · Post by **z20k** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:29 am

Really? I figured since they were 8mm they would be fine?

EDIT: Ah! I see, the threading is different.. let's see if I can fix the order.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:34 am

siobhan wrote:As for the stock mirrors being crap, come to New England skootz. Our weather, for those who ride all year, destroys the stock mirrors...

Point taken

z20k · Post by **z20k** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:35 am

scootERIK wrote:
z20k wrote:I just ordered these via Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DL ... 00_s00_i00 (thanks prime.)
Are you sure those will fit? They say that they don't fit Yamaha so I don't think they will fit the Buddy, you need ones that say reverse thread. I think you need these- http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-REVERSE-Th ... sbs_auto_2

I might be wrong but it is might be worth double checking just to be sure.

Thanks a bunch, man! I was able to cancel and re-order. Glad I posted the link now.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 5:13 pm

I replaced my mirrors earlier this year, when one of them broke off, just above the threads (barely enough to grab onto with vice grips to get it out). The break happened when my scooter tipped off the center stand while parked on hot tar, but it was the same mirror that's been rusting for the past few years, so I think corrosion was also a factor.

I replaced both mirrors with the black Yamaha C3 mirrors, like Siobhan. I like them. Definitely better-constructed than the stock Buddy mirrors. They're larger, but also on a shorter stem, so (at least for the placement of my elbows), visibility turned out to be about the same... maybe a little better.

I took advantage of the extra real estate to attach a convex "blind spot mirror" to the left mirror, placing it in the inside corner (where I'd otherwise have a view of my arm). This doesn't really let me see much more behind me, but it allows me to see about the same view regardless of whether I'm sitting upright or hunched forward for better aerodynamics, so that's an advantage.

jonlink · Post by **jonlink** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:08 pm

Just got it replaced under warranty. So there's that for now. But I'm definitely going to work on Plan B, so that I'm ready if this happens again.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:12 pm

Mine was replaced under warranty, but I did purchase a spare set.

I also have some c3 mirrors from a friend, so I guess I have two backup sets!

Love the 'classic' look but I might switch to the C3 mirrors because the angle is so much better.

Hellvis · Post by **Hellvis** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:54 am

Very interesting. I thought I was the only one with this problem.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:05 pm

Of course, once I bought a new pair, I was gifted with a set, and then the OEM set came with my wife's used Buddy. The owner stripped a thread and then bored them out to 10mm.

since then, not as many problems. I put a ton of loctite on them, which seems to hold pretty well until some twit decides to move them manually in the parking lot.

Ninjasurfergirl · Post by **Ninjasurfergirl** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 9:50 pm

siobhan wrote:Get the Yammy C3 mirrors: viewtopic.php?t=20463

The stock mirrors are crap, rust during the winter, flap around, and don't give nearly as good view as the C3. I've been very happy since I switched.[/url]

That makes me sad, I like my stock mirrors, I think they're cute and vintage looking!
Only problem I have is my right mirror always comes loose, probably about twice a week, I learned quickly to keep a wrench in the pet carrier.