MO Tested: Doubletake Mirror Review

It’s simple really, the Doubletake mirror setup. A handlebar mounted ball connects to a Ram Mount arm on one end and an “indestructible” mirror on the other. That’s it. There are, of course, different sizes, shapes, and configurations based on your application, but that’s the gist of Doubletake’s core product line. And, as the simplest solutions often do, they just plain work.

I had the opportunity to test the Doubletake Adventure Mirrors on my way home from the 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 introduction in New Mexico. A couple weeks after my 800-mile day on the slab, I was able to head up to Big Bear, CA for a few fun days of riding local trails with a friend with the Doubletake mirrors still equipped. 

The setup

It really depends on your application. Doubletake makes four types of mirrors for motorcycle use with varying attachment types and Ram Mount arm lengths. In addition, the company also makes products for use with Jeeps and UTVs. All of the products are manufactured in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

For this review, we’ll focus on the motorcycle mounts and, specifically, the adventure setup I received, which included two reinforced Zytel Adventure mirrors ($30 per), two XL six-inch Ram Mount arms ($23 per), and two ball stub bases ($10 per). All in, at $126, it’s a great deal, considering the prices of other aftermarket mirrors. You also get a satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty against breakage of the housing. Don’t like ‘em, send ‘em back. Manage to break ‘em, they’ll send you a new one. 

You just try and break them! Well, chances are you’ll just break the lens which is not covered by Doubletake’s lifetime warranty, so maybe don’t.

If you crack the lens, replacements can be had for $10. There are a myriad of options available for attaching the mirrors, so finding something that works right for your setup should be easy enough. 

Install

I installed the adventure mirrors at 0’dark thirty behind a hotel in New Mexico. All I needed was my Leatherman multi-tool. For the KLR, I simply unscrewed the stock mirrors and screwed the ball stud into the existing mount. After that, you loosen the Ram Mount and, with the mirror on the other end, snug it up, set it, and forget it! 

The Doubletake mirror survived, the stock handguard did not.

Even with the Ram Mount cranked down securely, I was still able to adjust the mirror into the correct position once I got on the road. The long six-inch arms provide ample extension and, coupled with the wide mirrors, provide a better field of few with less vibration than the OE units. 

On-Road or not

After adjusting the mirrors into the right position, I had no other reason to touch them over my 800-mile day. They worked great and, as mentioned before, gave a wider field of view than the OEM mirrors.

What makes the Doubletake mirror so intriguing though – and what gained popularity with dirt riders – was the fact that you’re able to fold the mirrors in once you hit the trail. Doubletake’s first product, the enduro mirror, had major success for rider’s with dual-sport bikes like the KTM 500 EXC, Suzuki DR650, KLX250, and the like. Folks could legally ride to the trail, then fold the mirror in close to the handlebar to prevent damage in the instance of a tip over. 

Doubletake has managed to make the materials strong enough that they cover the mirror housing with a lifetime warranty and provide the lens itself at a low enough cost that they’re economical to replace should the lens get cracked. So, if you want to keep tabs on what’s going on behind you while out on the trail – though I’d recommend keeping your eyes up front – you can feel secure leaving the mirrors out. Between the “indestructible” Zytel housing and Ram Mount arms, the mirrors are much more likely to give way and move if you decide to take a dirt nap than bend or break entirely. 

During my outing in Big Bear, the KLR did topple over once due to a lack of inseam while turning around. Fortunately, the rider wasn’t me. Oh, and she was okay. The Doubletake mirror moved out of the way while the stock plastic handguard broke off. Sorry, Kawi!

Since returning the KLR, I’ve mounted one of the mirrors to a government redacted that’s sitting in my garage. Thanks to the fact the most mirror mounts are the same size and thread, the ball studs are nearly universal which makes swapping them around the stable easy enough.

Doubletake founder, Ned Suesse also mentions another problem which led him to create Doubletake, “Eventually, when I dropped my bike and found myself buying two(!) new master cylinders as a result, I decided it was time to make a really good mirror, one that would function well as a mirror, and also protect the bike (and me) from damage.”

Doubletake makes split clamps for mounting the mirrors directly to handlebars in both horizontal and vertical versions.

So, if your bike has the mirror mount integrated into the master cylinder and you’re worried about damage to the entire (expensive) unit, Doubletake makes handlebar mounts to use with the rest of the products as well. 

For me, 5 out of 5 stars, would recommend, but I’ll let Ned polish this one off:

“Our mirrors are the product of that passion to explore, and the need for dependability. We got frustrated with mirrors that broke, with replacing master cylinders after the mirror ruined them, with struggling to distinguish a Crown Victoria with a flashing lightbar from an SUV with a ski rack. We thought there had to be a better way. We solved a problem we had, and we hope it solves a problem you have.”

Shop for the Doubletake Adventure Mirrors here

FAQ

Where are Doubletake Mirrors made?

Right here in America, sonny!

Will Doubletake Mirrors fit my motorcycle?

If your motorcycle has a 10mm thread base with a 1.25 thread pitch, they sure will! Even if you have one of those weirdo BMWs, Doubletake has a 10mm adapter with the requisite 1.5 thread pitch to get you fitted. Have a reversed thread? They’ve got adapters for that too. If you’re looking for something completely separate from your stock mount, Doubletake makes split-clamp assemblies that mount directly to your handlebars as well. So, what we’re getting at is, yes.

Additional Resources

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