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Product Review #3:
Monstrack Mirrors
05-25-2003
reviewed
by: Jeff H.
Intro
Mirrors
are one of the most commonly replaced items on Ducati Monsters.
Some people replace the mirrors because of their function; depending
on the rider's height (or width), the stock mirrors may provide
a terrific view of their elbows or shoulders, but little else.
Other people replace the mirrors simply for aesthetic reasons. The
large, round mirrors perched on long stalks don't flow well with
the sleek appearance of the bike.
Now, I have heard that there are people that think the stock
mirrors are functional and attractive, but personally, I think these
people may be a myth, or a figment of somebody's overactive imagination,
like Bigfoot or the the Loch Ness Monster.
Product
Billet
mirrors are the first new Monster accessory from Monstrack, a division
of D&J Precision Machining. D&J is a manufacturer of medical
devices and is currently developing a line of accessory products
for Ducati Monsters.
The mirrors are available in two lengths, long or short. The short
version ends flush with the bar-end while the long version extends
slightly past the bar. According to Kevin from Monstrack, the long
version was designed specifically for those riders who had difficlulty
seeing behind them with the stock mirrors. The longer length allows
the rider to see more of the road behind them , and less of their
own elbows and shoulders.
 The
mirrors are currently being offered in two finishes, clear anodized
(silver) or powdercoated flat-black. The flat black finish complements
the Monster Dark version espeically well, and also provides a less
conspicuous profile than the silver.
The
fit and finish on the mirrors is beautiful. Craftsmanship is flawless
and everything fit together perfectly. I specifically liked the
machined texture on the back of the mirrors…very high-tech and mechanical
looking. If I had to nitpick, the only thing I would have changed
are the threads at the bottom of the mirror. A small bit of threads
remain exposed to enable you to easily get a wrench in to adjust
the nut at the bottom. I would have liked the looks better if the
threads went all the way in, or if there were some type of cap available
to conceal the threads. If this is something other people would
perfer, Monstrack told me it would be a simple change for them to
make to the product.
*Note:
the mirrors we received were Short-version pre-release beta-test
units
Installation
Installation
of the mirrors was simple and straight-forward. Screw the old ones
out and screw the new ones in, adjust the position for visibility
and tighten. Included in the package was a detailed instruction
sheet with pictures included. It was also nice that Monstrack included
the teeny hex key that was needed to tighten the mirrors in place,
as some people may not have one.
 Testing
Our
method of testing was thorough, comprehensive and scientific; we
went out for a couple rides to find out if we could see what was
behind us. The mirrors performed their function just fine. The size
of the mirrors is smaller than the stock ones, but because of their
improved position, rearward visibilty was greatly improved. One
of our smaller testers thought an extra ½ inch wider would
help eliminate the little bit of shoulder view that existed. Most
people should probably get the long version if they are concerned
about the best possible rear view.
On one of our testbikes ('97 M750) the mirrors did vibrate a little
at higher speeds, but not enough to ruin your view. And in all fairness,
this particular M750 is pretty buzzy for some reason. When we put
the mirrors on our second test bike ('01 M900Sie) the "buzziness"
was drastically reduced.
How much of a change in view you get with the Monstrack mirrors depends
on how your view was with the stock mirrors. For those that are
able to see fine using the stock mirrors, the Monstrack mirrors
will provide roughly the samevisibility as the stock mirrors, but
in a smaller package. If you were unable to see with the stock mirrors,
we believe that the Monstrack Long Version might be a functional
improvement over the stockers. Please note that we did not have
the Long Version available in order to test our theory.
Conclusion
Priced
at $195 a pair, the Monstrack mirrors are not cheap. If you want
cheap, get a Third Eye Mirror for $10 from a bicycle shop; but
if you want a beautifully made part that works as good as it looks,
the Monstrack mirror is hard to beat.
(ed:
Update 10/1/07 Pricing is $164.95/ pair for either the long or short version. Please note: The clear anodize version has been discontinued.
Scoring
Function:
8
They work well, but may or may not be a big improvement in function
over the stock mirrors.This depends entirely on the physical make-up
of the rider and the model of mirror purchased (Long vs. Short Version)
Form:
9
Excellent fit and finish, the only thing keeping it from a 10
is my subjective view of the exposed threads. All of our testers
agreed that the Monstrack mirrors were much more visually appealing
than the stockers. The photos simply do not do the mirrors justice.
Quality and craftsmanship are top-notch.
 
Before
and After
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