Rizoma has a new set of mirrors, with a twist. Literally. Twist the Rizoma Stealth mirrors, and they turn from a standard pair of rearviews into add-on winglets.
The Stealth mirrors come on the market as aerodynamics increasingly trickle down to production motorcycles, after first appearing on MotoGP race bikes. Modern racebikes, and the superbikes derived from them, have horsepower levels that average riders, even many elite riders, are unable to manage properly without help. Along with electronic safety aids (traction control, etc.), aerodynamics provide that help. They provide downforce at speed, keeping the front end planted for more traction and stability.
Now, some modern superbikes come with aerodynamic features, and some don’t. Either way, you can add more aeros with these Rizoma Stealth mirrors. As said above, it’s easy: Leave the mirrors in standard rearview configuration, and they’ll pass police inspection (probably) while displaying surrounding traffic. Flip them down in the aero position, and you’ve got winglets sticking out of your headlight stalks, at a 25-degree angle to the ground.
With both mirrors in their winglet position, Rizoma says you get four kilograms of downforce at 300 km/h.
The mirrors are model-specific, as they’re made to match specific bikes’ bodywork. Right now, Rizoma makes the Stealth mirrors for the Suzuki GSX-R1000, BMW S1000RR, Ducati Panigale V2 and V4, Yamaha R1, and Kawasaki ZX-10R. See more details at Rizoma’s website; at this point, we haven’t seen anything about Canadian availability, but they cost 399 Euros over in the EU.
That’s an expensive way to look at my shoulders.