I have noticed a new trend in Northeast Thailand of scooters with removed mirrors. In the past, I had noticed an occasional older scooter with missing mirrors, but this seems to be different. I addition to the increased number of mirrorless scooters, what i have noticed, is that these mirrorless scooters are almost exclusively driven by young, Thai males sans helmets and driven recklessly. Is this a new "trend"? Do these young men really think that this looks "cool"? I am truly confused - I have asked my Thai father and his response is that they want to die quickly (maybe an accurate response.) Has anyone else noticed this?

Yes i see it all the time in Pattaya, often accompanied by a loud exhaust

With the introduction of cameras on phones, mirrors on bikes are becoming redundant.

The phone reverse camera is designed for youngsters to meticulously squeeze zits & pick their noses.

No pompam.🙃🙃

Not new, it's been like this for ages, those who have it usually fold it away and never use it...! Girls usually point it at themselves, so they can see if they look good and the hair is not messed up...! ?

I heard many years ago one reason was it can easily be dismantled and taken and/or damaged, so they prefer to keep it in pristine condition back home in the cupboard...😉

17 hours ago, Issan girl said:

I have noticed a new trend in Northeast Thailand of scooters with removed mirrors.

Is this a new "trend"? Do these young men really think that this looks "cool"?

Not new they've been doing it for years, not for cool looks. It's to save weight.

They also fit a slim seat and bicycle tyres.

Yeah I run my Forza sans mirrors... also got the loud pipe and red headlight.

If you go fast enough you don't care what going on behind you.

No mirrors

No helmet

In cars not buckled up

...

Safety? What's that, I have an amulet.

Uneducated, stupid and zero law enforcement.

34 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's to save weight

And less air resistance.

Adds enormous to max speed combined with head between the handle bars.

Funny enough the next thread in my list is blue blinking lights.

Also seen in the past were red front lights.

If you notice, most people here won't use mirrors in either cars or scooters. This leads to many cutting across your lane in front of you, a major reason to drive extra defensively, trusting no one. Many get hurt and die every day doing this, not thinking about what's behind but only in front of them. Using mirrors all the time, something you should learn when beginning driving, isn't taught here like it is in the west.

18 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

No mirrors

No helmet

In cars not buckled up

...

Safety? What's that, I have an amulet.

Uneducated, stupid and zero law enforcement.

And less air resistance.

Adds enormous to max speed combined with head between the handle bars.

Yes, and further aerodynamics is achieved by laying horizontal on the seat

Just now, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yes, and further aerodynamics is achieved by laying horizontal on the seat

That was what I wanted to describe. Sometimes my English fails 😁

Many decades ago, it was explained to me that scooter mirrors allows the rider to see the eyes of the pee-lohk that is following them, become possessed, speed up, crash and die. Hence, the removal of mirrors. They typically remove the tail lights on the scooter as well to make it more difficult for the pee-lohk to pursue them in the first place.

Regardless of all these safety procedures, they still manage to speed up, crash and die.

Wow. Thanks for the responses. I had no idea. I would think that shedding the mirrors wouldn't effect aerodynamic unless you were going over 120 miles per hour.

I think it is also mandatory upcountry for the taillight to be non-functional.

With the introduction of cameras on phones, mirrors on bikes are becoming redundant.

The phone reverse camera is designed for youngsters to meticulously squeeze zits & pick their noses.

No pompam.🙃🙃

4 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Yeah I run my Forza sans mirrors... also got the loud pipe and red headlight.

Removed the tail light to discourage the ghosts from following you home🙃🙃?

4 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

Removed the tail light to discourage the ghosts from following you home🙃🙃?

Its on a switch that I can turn on and off.

In Indonesia I was told , after fitting "carbon fibre" mirrors, that only girls use mirrors.