Riding in the Rain

Hi all.

We took a long ride out to Skyline Drive on Sunday, which had to qualify as one of the most beautiful days of the year. Unfortunately, when we left on Sunday, the skies opened up and we wound up driving home in a torrential rainstorm.

Yuck.

Anyway, the Swing did just fine, but I had one question to put to you all. My windshield is quite tall, and I can't see over it. I have an extra large clearview, but this would probably apply to anyone with a Givi windshield also. What do you do when you're riding in the rain and the windshield is soaked. Also, what do you do about your faceshield. I'm thinking about putting a pair of goggles in my rain gear, so that I can open my face shield most of the way and still have eye protection.

Thanks,

Mandy

Rain x helps a lot

The windscreens and probably most face shields are made of an acrylic, it is a very hard plastic, but may not stand up well to Rain-X. It would be wise to check the labelling on the Rain-X bottle before using it on the acrylic plastic surfaces.

I can't use Rain-X on my windshield or visor. Specifically advises against that.

Emeskay wrote:

I can't use Rain-X on my windshield or visor. Specifically advises against that.

Windshield:
http://www.clearviewshields.com/shop/product.php?id=29

Can be Polished, Buffed, and is Safe to use Rain-X Original Clear Formula

Emeskay wrote:

What do you do when you're riding in the rain and the windshield is soaked.

I am able to look over my windshield, but the windshield deflects the majority of the rain for me.

Emeskay wrote:

Also, what do you do about your faceshield.

I have a full faced Shoei Multitech helmet. In the rare occurrences when I have to clear my visor, I just tilt my head backwards while I still can see forward and let the wind blow my visor completely clear.

Hi Bill.

I'm much shorter than you, at 5'6. I can't see over my windshield, but I need the higher one for a good reason. When I had a lower windshield I had a lot of problems with windshear...my head kept bobbling around. I had a fusion in my neck several years ago b/c of a disc problem, and the bigger shield fixed the pain the bobbling caused.

I think I have the same helmet as you, the one with the chin guard that slides up. I wound up carrying a towel under my leg, and continually wiping off my visor, or (gasp!) just opening it up. Between the half open visor and the windshield, I found that my face didn't really even get wet. I think I'll put a pair of clear safety glasses into my rain pack, so that my eyes will have the extra protection if I have to open my visor.

Now, had I remembered my waterproof gloves, I would have had the finger squeegee, and that would definitely have helped. Who was it that said that they couldn't protect you from stupid?

If the windshield is plexiglas, Rain-X is safe to use on it. I used it on the plexiglas windshield on the Kingfisher Amphibian I built so that the water would just roll off of it. If you are worried about using it, try it on a spare piece of plexiglas first. If the windshield is lexan, I don't know if it will hurt it or not, but seems to me I read somewhere not to use Rain-X on lexan.

What is the Givi made of?

RE Clearview windscreens, from a response I got from Clearview:

Hello Dale,
Our shields are made from a Impact Modified Acrylic. It is a very good material, excellent optical clarity, and is DOT approved.

Thanks

Jxxxx Lxxxx

Clearview Shields

wingnprayer wrote:

What is the Givi made of?

The Givi on my Reflex is Plexiglas. There is a little-bitty sign on the left edge of the windshield that says "Plexiglas". I just put some of the original Rain-X on it this morning. No problem. It helps when cleaning bugs off too, as they don't stick as much. The Clearview, since they won't call it plexiglas may be lexan or it could be another brand of acrylic plastic. Lexan is very impact resistant, however, it scratches easily. The name "Plexiglas" is a Dupont trademark, I believe. It is an acrylic plastic.

Thanks, Dale.

I'm going to get some Rain-X. My husband was the one who thought it would eat through the windshield. But his bike has a Lexan (sp?) shield, which probably can't take Rain-X.

M-

I think it might also depend on the design of your helmet. I had a Bieffe full face I loved but it tended to rain in on the inside! because of how the external vents were designed. My Shoei full face doesn't get the internal rain.

I tend to find the nearest safest place to pull off during rain like that. I'm always concerned that cage drivers have enough trouble seeing us under optimal conditions, let alone looking through rain on their windshields.

I don't get rain inside the helmet. I also have a Shoei. I was talking about rain on the outside of the visor.

Just put some Liquid Glass on it. That crap can be put on anything. Even those windshields and your visors. That stuff will make it slicker than owl shit.

I tried Rainex on my Clearview during my recent 2300+ mile trip and I got to say Lemon Pledge works much better.

Thanks!

Scooterian wrote:

I tried Rainex on my Clearview during my recent 2300+ mile trip and I got to say Lemon Pledge works much better.

That's great to know...what is your 'Lemon Pledge' procedure?

teamaster wrote:

Just put some Liquid Glass on it. That crap can be put on anything. Even those windshields and your visors. That stuff will make it slicker than owl shit.

What is Liquid Glass? Never heard of it.

Spray it on, wipe it off.

Scooterian wrote:

Spray it on, wipe it off.

Sounds deceptively simple. I may have to try it.