keener, actually you really don't have to remove the mirrors but just need to turn them & pull the boots back enough so you can access the bolts under the boots, then remove ONLY the one bolt that also goes through the front metal trim ear & slightly loosen the other 2 bolts.I'm about to change the bulb in the headlight of my 1984 GL1200A and I noticed the Clymer manual states that I should remove the two rearview mirrors first. Pardon my ignorance, but why?