Is one motorcycle mirror enough? An explanation from the perspectives of law, vehicle inspections, and risks.

Is it a violation if a motorcycle has only one mirror? (Laws and vehicle inspection)

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For motorcycle mirrors (rearview mirrors), depending on the engine displacement and year of manufacture, some motorcycles may have only one mirror without issue, while for others, having only one mirror may be a traffic violation.

The regulations for rearview mirror installation vary depending on the motorcycle's engine displacement class, as follows:

Mopeds

For Class 1 mopeds with an engine displacement of up to 50cc, both left and right mirrors are generally required, but depending on the year of manufacture, having only one mirror may not be a legal violation.

For moped models manufactured before December 31, 2006, one mirror on the right side is sufficient. For mopeds manufactured on or after January 1, 2007, rearview mirrors are required on both the left and right sides.

Originally, safety standards stipulated that "two-wheeled vehicles exceeding 50 km/h must be equipped with one rearview mirror on each of the left and right sides," and Class 1 mopeds, whose legal speed limit does not exceed 50 km/h, were not subject to this rule.

However, with the revision of safety standards in 2007, all motorcycles manufactured on or after January 1, 2007, are required to have rearview mirrors on both sides. Therefore, even for Class 1 mopeds, models manufactured on or after January 1, 2007, must have mirrors on both sides.

Automobiles: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Road Transport Vehicle Safety Standards

https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/jidosha_fr7_000007.html

Light Motorcycles

For light motorcycles with an engine displacement of up to 250cc, having only one mirror may be acceptable depending on the year of manufacture.

Safety standards for motorcycle mirrors stipulate that two-wheeled vehicles exceeding 50 km/h must be equipped with rearview mirrors on both sides. However, before 1992, the maximum speed limits based on engine displacement were different from today.

Before 1992, 50cc motorcycles had a maximum speed of 30 km/h, and those up to 250cc had a maximum speed of 50 km/h. Therefore, 250cc class motorcycles manufactured before 1992 are not considered in violation if they have only one mirror.

Heavy Motorcycles

Motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 250cc have a maximum speed of 60 km/h. Therefore, regardless of the year of manufacture, it is a legal violation (safety standard violation) not to have one mirror on each side.

Motorcycles exceeding 50 km/h are required to have mirrors on both sides, and since motorcycles exceeding 250cc have a maximum speed of 60 km/h, this law applies.

Before 1992, the maximum speed for 250cc class motorcycles was 50 km/h, but for motorcycles exceeding 250cc, it was 60 km/h, so the exception based on the year of manufacture does not apply.

For heavy motorcycles, it is a legal violation not to have one mirror on each side, regardless of the year of manufacture.

Penalties for having only one mirror

If a motorcycle has only one mirror installed and is caught by a police officer, the rider will receive a penalty for maintenance failure and one point will be added to their driving record.

The fine is 5,000 yen for Class 1 mopeds with an engine displacement of 50cc or less, and 6,000 yen for those exceeding 50cc.

For 250cc motorcycles manufactured before 1992, and 50cc motorcycles manufactured before 2007, having only one mirror does not constitute a maintenance failure.

Motorcycle mirror installation position and rules

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It's not enough for motorcycle mirrors to simply be present; they must be installed in compliance with established ranges (mounting position, size, and shape).

The mounting position, shape, and size of motorcycle mirrors are as follows. If you are considering installing custom mirrors, make sure to understand these regulations to avoid violations.

Mirror mounting position

The mounting position of the mirrors is defined as follows:

• Installed at least 280mm outward from the center of the steering device (handlebar).
• The center point of the mirror surface is at least 280mm away from the center of the handlebar.
• Mirrors are installed on both the left and right sides.

The mirror must be installed at least 280mm outwards (towards the bar end from the handlebar) when measured from the center of the handlebar.

Also, the center point of the mirror surface must be at least 280mm away from the center of the handlebar, and one mirror is required on each side.

Note that depending on the motorcycle's year of manufacture and engine displacement, it may be acceptable for only the right-side mirror to be installed (Class 1 mopeds manufactured before December 31, 2006, and motorcycles up to 250cc manufactured before 1992).

Automobiles: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Road Transport Vehicle Safety Standards

https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/content/S146.pdf

Mirror size and shape

Mirror sizes are also regulated, and the size varies depending on the shape.

• The reflective surface area of the mirror must be 69㎠ or more.
• For circular mirrors, the diameter must be between 94mm and 150mm, inclusive.
• For non-circular mirrors, the mirror must be able to enclose a circle with a diameter of 78mm and fit within a rectangle 120mm high and 200mm wide.

The reflective surface (mirror surface) area must be 69㎠ or more, and mirrors that are too small violate safety standards.

Additionally, the diameter and vertical/horizontal dimensions are specified according to the mirror's shape. Circular mirrors must have a diameter between 94mm and 150mm.

For non-circular mirrors, if a circle with a diameter of 78mm cannot fit within the mirror surface, or if the mirror does not fit within a rectangle of 120mm vertical and 200mm horizontal dimensions, it violates safety standards.

Precautions during installation

The mirror must be equipped with an angle adjustment function, allowing the rider to easily adjust the angle, and it must be able to maintain its position without the angle easily changing due to vibrations.

It must also have a structure that can absorb impact if it comes into contact with a pedestrian and does not pose a risk of injury to pedestrians.

It is also prohibited to have cracks, distortions, or fogging on the mirror surface that make it difficult to see behind. Therefore, if a mirror with a cracked surface is installed, it is subject to police enforcement.

What to do if one motorcycle mirror breaks or goes missing

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For most motorcycles, it is illegal to have "only one mirror" or "both mirrors present but broken." But what happens if one mirror breaks or goes missing?

Let's look at how to deal with a broken or missing mirror, and what happens if you continue to ride in that condition.

Temporary repair methods for a broken mirror

Motorcycle mirrors are broadly divided into the mirror itself and the mirror stay that fixes the mirror to the vehicle body.

There are different ways to deal with each, but these are only temporary fixes, so you should replace them with genuine or universal mirrors as soon as possible.

Riding with a damaged mirror is a legal violation and makes it difficult to check behind, so another option is to call a tow truck and have your motorcycle transported to a motorcycle shop or similar.

If the mirror stay breaks

If the "mirror stay" that secures the mirror to the motorcycle body breaks, you can use duct tape, moldable repair material, or super glue to fix it.

Duct tape and super glue can be obtained at convenience stores, 100-yen shops, and home centers, while moldable repair material is often sold at model kit stores.

If the mirror stay breaks from its base, even if you try to fix it with moldable repair material or super glue, it will likely come off quickly. In such cases, it is best to replace it with a new mirror at a motorcycle parts shop or similar.

If the mirror breaks

• Remove mirror fragments
• Cut out and attach an acrylic mirror

If a motorcycle mirror breaks due to a fall or other reason, remove all fragments to prevent secondary damage from flying shards and place them in a bag or similar container.

When removing fragments, use work gloves or motorcycle gloves and be careful not to injure yourself with the broken mirror pieces.

After removing the fragments, cut out an acrylic mirror to fit the mirror frame and attach it with double-sided tape.

Acrylic mirrors are available at home centers and 100-yen shops. Before fitting it to the mirror, you can make a paper template and then cut the acrylic mirror according to the template for an easier fit.

Continuing to drive may result in a Road Traffic Act violation.

If a motorcycle mirror has cracks, distortions, or fogging on the mirror surface, it constitutes a violation of safety standards. Therefore, driving with a damaged mirror may result in a road traffic violation (safety standard violation).

If caught by the police and found in violation, the fine is 5,000 yen for Class 1 mopeds (50cc or less) and 6,000 yen for those over 50cc, with 1 penalty point added.

It's advisable to perform a temporary repair and replace the mirror with a new one at a motorcycle parts shop as soon as possible. Alternatively, if you have other means of transportation, it's best to refrain from riding until the mirror is replaced.

How to choose a replacement mirror

Motorcycle mirrors include genuine parts (standard items sold by motorcycle manufacturers) and aftermarket parts (replacement mirrors sold by companies other than motorcycle manufacturers). You must choose a mirror that is compatible with your vehicle model and meets safety standards.

Genuine manufacturer parts clear both conditions, so choosing a mirror for your specific model should be fine. For aftermarket parts, choose one that is compatible with your vehicle model and meets safety standards.

Note that when replacing with an aftermarket part, you need to pay attention to the screw direction. The replacement method will be introduced next.

How to replace a motorcycle mirror

The procedure for replacing a motorcycle mirror is as follows, and a 14mm wrench (for turning nuts) is required for the replacement.

1. Slide the rubber cover at the base upwards.
3. Loosen the upper lock nut at the base, then turn the lower nut.
5. Remove the mirror, then install the new mirror by reversing the steps.
7. Check the mirror's fixation and adjust it to a visible position.

First, to remove the damaged mirror, slide the rubber cover at the base of the mirror stay (where it connects to the motorcycle body) upwards to reveal the nuts inside.

Once the rubber cover is slid up, loosen the upper nut (towards the mirror surface) among the upper and lower nuts (often 14mm), then loosen the lower nut to remove the mirror.

The mirror can be removed or secured by rotating the entire stay like a screw, but be aware that the direction of rotation varies depending on the motorcycle manufacturer.

Cost of replacing a motorcycle mirror

The cost of replacing a motorcycle mirror depends on whether you do it yourself or have a motorcycle shop do it. If you replace it yourself, you only need to pay for the mirror. If you request a replacement at a motorcycle shop, you'll need to pay for both the mirror and the labor cost.

Genuine motorcycle mirrors cost about 2,000 yen, while cheaper aftermarket ones start from around 1,500 yen. If you replace it yourself, you'll only pay for the mirror (a replacement wrench costs about 500 yen).

If you request a mirror replacement, labor costs will be around 500 to 1,000 yen, making the total replacement cost between 2,500 and 3,000 yen, including the mirror price.

Risks of having only one motorcycle mirror

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When riding a motorcycle with only one mirror, you not only risk being stopped by the police but also face various other risks, potentially leading to irreversible consequences.

Let's examine the risks of having only one motorcycle mirror.

Risk of involving cyclists or pedestrians when turning at intersections

If a motorcycle mirror is damaged or only one is functional, the likelihood of an accident at an intersection increases.

There is a high risk of involving or colliding with cyclists or pedestrians while turning, due to an inability to check behind.

Even if legally permissible to have only one mirror (for 250cc class motorcycles manufactured before 1992, or Class 1 mopeds manufactured before December 31, 2006), drivers should be extra vigilant in checking behind, including through direct observation, to safely pass through intersections.

Risk of collision due to not noticing vehicles or motorcycles approaching from behind

If you only have one mirror, you are at a higher risk of not noticing vehicles or motorcycles approaching from behind and colliding with them.

You might fail to notice motorcycles passing by or bicycles riding on the road, which could lead to a collision in the worst case.

While more direct visual checks to the rear are necessary, the increased frequency of such checks compared to having mirrors on both sides could lead to a distraction from the road ahead.

Difficulty checking behind during lane changes, increasing danger

If only one mirror is installed, it becomes difficult to check behind, increasing the risk during lane changes.

To drive safely, it is necessary to check behind visually. In heavy traffic, frequent visual checks are required, which can lead to a distraction from what's ahead.

Having only one mirror makes checking behind less thorough and increases the number of visual checks, thereby increasing danger.

Will not pass vehicle inspection

Vehicle inspections include a mirror check item, and if your motorcycle requires inspection, there's a risk it won't pass.

A vehicle will not pass inspection if it does not meet safety standards. If mirrors are not present on both the left and right sides during inspection, it constitutes a safety standard violation, requiring a re-inspection and thus increasing the hassle of re-inspection.

Driving a vehicle that fails inspection is a more severe Road Traffic Act violation than merely violating safety standards, punishable by imprisonment for up to 6 months or a fine of up to 300,000 yen, and a 30-day license suspension.