Is it possible to remove the mirror glass? I am painting the bike, and it would be much easier to spray the housing if the glass was out. I have tried prying it, but am afraid I might break it. I see the aftermarket chrome ones come with the mirror installed. Anyone ever removed one?
Thanks, Tony
Mirror glass removal
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2018 3:28 pm
- Location: Alta Vista, Kansas
- Motorcycle: 1979 gl 1000
1997 GL 1500 SE
1980 Suzuki 750
Re: Mirror glass removal
I just removed one yesterday using a heat gun. There are discussions on another site that refer to putting it in the oven on low heat and using butter knives to gently remove it. There is really sticky glue behind the mirror, but heat softens it quite well. Good luck.
-
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2018 3:40 pm
- Location: Forest Grove, OR
- Motorcycle: 2018 GL1800 DCT Tour
1990 GL 1500A Aspencade
Previously owned;
1978 CB550/4
1976 GL1000
1983 VT500 Shadow
1983 GL650 Interstate
1985 GL1200 Interstate
1995 GL1500 Aspencade
2001 GL1800
Re: Mirror glass removal
I should have been more clear in my description. I want to remove the glass assembly. The mirror unit fits into a socket on the mirror housing. I want to remove the whole unit from the housing.
Thanks for the response though, I appreciate it.
Tony
Thanks for the response though, I appreciate it.
Tony
- Happytrails
- Posts: 963
- Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2013 6:13 pm
- Location: Natrona Hgts, Pennsylvania
- Motorcycle: 1991 Goldwing 1500 SE
2018 Ural Gearup
Re: Mirror glass removal
Hopefully I understand the question, but if you want to remove the mirror glass assembly the screw is underneath the mirror glass itself. So your kind of stuck removing that glass, unscrew it then you can remove the black plastic assembly. Its not a prefered design. And I hadn't heard of heating the mirror them getting it out with a butterknife before, amazing. Usually people use a knife and cut a seam just behind the lip of the mirror glass enough to slide the glass out. Have given lots of thought to attempting this to get LED mirror signals sort of like muth but there are now maybe better options. 

1991 GL1500 SE Anniversary Edition
Sun Flare Gold Metallic
Vallant Brown Inset
Sun Flare Gold Metallic
Vallant Brown Inset
-
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2018 3:40 pm
- Location: Forest Grove, OR
- Motorcycle: 2018 GL1800 DCT Tour
1990 GL 1500A Aspencade
Previously owned;
1978 CB550/4
1976 GL1000
1983 VT500 Shadow
1983 GL650 Interstate
1985 GL1200 Interstate
1995 GL1500 Aspencade
2001 GL1800
Re: Mirror glass removal
Well that explains why I can't pop it off. I think I will try to airbrush around the edge of the glass.
Thanks, Tony
Thanks, Tony
- PedroTQ
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Thu Jan 16, 2014 4:30 am
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Motorcycle: Motorcycles on the road;
1976 GL-1000 DJP outfit
1988 GL-1500 HRD outfit
1998 Valkyrie
Re: Mirror glass removal
I went through this last year when I painted my 88 outfit.
Trying to prise them out I spalled the edges of the glass badly and destroyed the mirror backing.
I have a 90SE which I am stripping down to naked, so the mirrors are spare, but the plastic surrounds were in bad shape so I hacked the edges off.
I then carefully cut through the corner edges of the mirror backing on the 3 widest corners,
Using just my fingers I prised the edges open just enough to slide the glass out the end,
Now you can undo the screw that holds the mirror backing to the surrounds,
Now you can clean the dirty components being careful not to scratch the back of your mirror, the Silver coating is only about 1 atom thick,
Screw the mirror base back into the freshly painted mirror outer,
Carefully slide the glass back into the backing, it is a bit tough on the tips of your fingers, I also used a pair of old snap off blades thoroughly blunted on the concrete floor to assist in the fitting as they are thin and strong.
I can hardly see the original cuts to the ede of the mirror backing and now have forgotten that they are there.
I hope this helps, Peter.
Trying to prise them out I spalled the edges of the glass badly and destroyed the mirror backing.
I have a 90SE which I am stripping down to naked, so the mirrors are spare, but the plastic surrounds were in bad shape so I hacked the edges off.
I then carefully cut through the corner edges of the mirror backing on the 3 widest corners,
Using just my fingers I prised the edges open just enough to slide the glass out the end,
Now you can undo the screw that holds the mirror backing to the surrounds,
Now you can clean the dirty components being careful not to scratch the back of your mirror, the Silver coating is only about 1 atom thick,
Screw the mirror base back into the freshly painted mirror outer,
Carefully slide the glass back into the backing, it is a bit tough on the tips of your fingers, I also used a pair of old snap off blades thoroughly blunted on the concrete floor to assist in the fitting as they are thin and strong.
I can hardly see the original cuts to the ede of the mirror backing and now have forgotten that they are there.
I hope this helps, Peter.
#1 - 1975 GL-1000 - showroom
#2 - 1976 GL-1000 -DJP sidecar fitted
#3 - 1978 GL-1000 - RIP
#4 - 1975 GL-1000 - RIP
#5 - 1978 GL-1000 - RIP
#6 - 1988 GL-1500 - HRD sidecar fitted
#7 - 1998 GL-1500C - Valkyrie
#8 - 1990 GL-1500 SE - Naked 90
#2 - 1976 GL-1000 -DJP sidecar fitted
#3 - 1978 GL-1000 - RIP
#4 - 1975 GL-1000 - RIP
#5 - 1978 GL-1000 - RIP
#6 - 1988 GL-1500 - HRD sidecar fitted
#7 - 1998 GL-1500C - Valkyrie
#8 - 1990 GL-1500 SE - Naked 90
- Erdeniz Umman
- Posts: 965
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:33 am
- Location: Ankara Turkey
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500SE
Re: Mirror glass removal
I had read somewhere that someone used hot water to remove the mirror.