h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was bought some new mirrors for my bike (a humble GS500E) for Chrimbo, just fitted them yesterday. What an amazing difference. They don't vibrate, and I can see more than just the view of my shoulders!!

I had a pleasant ride out in order to try them, bit cold but refreshing none the less. Went out again today - jolly freezing, turned for home after 10 minutes. I was going past the shop I'd set out for on my way to work, so I could afford to wimp out.

I had a new back tyre fitted recently, which still isn't scrubbed in properly - let's face it the weather this time of year in blighty is hardly conducive to wearing the knee sliders - unless you're a little unhinged!!

Greetings Bassman!

I wanted to pop over and offer a friendly thanks for the warm welcome and couldn't help but notice this entry in your space. Interestingly enough, I have a '80 GS450 and know the trouble you have suffered with mirrors. Mine originally came with the mirrors plugged in the end of the handlebars, making them vibrate like mad all the time. I picked up a pair that screw into the posts at the top of the bars, but now I have to be careful about the jacket I wear since I can't see THROUGH the puffy ones.

Does your new mirrors have longer arms?

PS : Yes, we do have bikes on California, but they are rather rare and only the very rich can afford them. That's why I'm now a PROUD owner of a 1980 GS450. Know anyone else who's proud to own a 22 year old Suzuki?

Greetings Bassman!

I wanted to pop over and offer a friendly thanks for the warm welcome and couldn't help but notice this entry in your space. Interestingly enough, I have a '80 GS450 and know the trouble you have suffered with mirrors. Mine originally came with the mirrors plugged in the end of the handlebars, making them vibrate like mad all the time. I picked up a pair that screw into the posts at the top of the bars, but now I have to be careful about the jacket I wear since I can't see THROUGH the puffy ones.

Does your new mirrors have longer arms?

PS : Yes, we do have bikes on California, but they are rather rare and only the very rich can afford them. That's why I'm now a PROUD owner of a 1980 GS450. Know anyone else who's proud to own a 22 year old Suzuki?

Greetings Bassman!

I wanted to pop over and offer a friendly thanks for the warm welcome and couldn't help but notice this entry in your space. Interestingly enough, I have a '80 GS450E and know the trouble you have suffered with mirrors. Mine originally came with the mirrors plugged in the end of the handlebars, making them vibrate like mad all the time. I picked up a pair that screw into the posts at the top of the bars, but now I have to be careful about the jacket I wear since I can't see THROUGH the puffy ones.

Does your new mirrors have longer arms?

PS : Yes, we do have bikes on California, but they are rather rare and only the very rich can afford them. That's why I'm now a PROUD owner of a 1980 GS450. Know anyone else who's proud to own a 22 year old Suzuki?

Ooops! Rookie mistake! Sorry for the multiple posts; at least the last one is a little different!

*Mental note : Preview twice, post once!*

I think the stalks are about the same length, the mirrors are oblong rather than round, which is where the benefit comes from. I am considering making a metal block that fits on the handlebar to raise them an inch or so and offset them outwards at the base, this would mean that the view might totally clear my shoulders then. I'm not riding that much at the moment, so it's not worth the effort.



Bassman

Round? Man, did you have a problem! Mine are sort of rectangular and I still find it tough to see past myself! In all fairness, mine aren't exactly "stock" for the bike, I found them at a motorcycle junk yard and screwed them in. They do work better than the old ones though!

If you'll excuse me for changing subjects, I'm half-heartedly looking for a diagram of the dashboard face or something telling me how to rip out the non-working stereo in a work truck (a 1991 Toyota flatbed 1 ton) so I can install a working stereo (something more interesting to listen to than the engine, which isn't very interesting to listen to being a little V6). Since this is for work it isn't pressing, but a cursory glance through the web wasn't very productive and I thought I'd give the Guide a shot ...

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions? Any help would be appreciated, of course.

I suppose the thing to do is keep taking bits off until you've got the stereo in one hand and a screwdriver in the other (and a smug grin on your face)

I was going to replace the lamps in the instrument cluster of a car the other day, only to find that I need to remove the steering wheel to do so!! No surprises then that I didn't have the right tools to hand.



Bassman

Normally I would simply rip my way through the dashboard, but I'm trying to save time (too much to do, not enough time to do it all) AND not break anything in the truck (it's not mine and EVERYTHING is plastic in there!). If all else fails, I'll get midevil on it (it's only a work truck after all, and not a very popular one at that!).

What kind of vehicle makes you remove the steering wheel to replace a bulb? There's got to be a better way around that, doesn't there? (Not necessarily of course, but it's hard to believe anyway).

Many thanks again for your "Guide"ance.

Hey, about the diagram for the Toyota truck dashboard ... NEVER MIND! When all else fails, get midevil on it! I just finished RIPPING (almost literally) the dashboard to pieces and installing a stereo into it. How does it sound? Like beautiful music playing through a crummy speaker into a tin can. What's important though is when someone is stuck driving that particular beast they can listen to beautiful music playing through a crummy speaker into a tin can INSTEAD of the engine droning on and on about nothing.

Cheers!

Another triumph of brute force and ignorance!!



Bassman