Author Topic: Riding in the rain: how do you see? (Read 7555 times)

mperetz · « **on:** March 13, 2006, 02:24:29 PM »

I have an 05 1200s with a Laminar Lip (touring) and I get anxious every time it rains - especially when I have to leave work at night and it's raining.

The rain seems to simply sit on my helmet - if i lift it up it stings.

What's the state of the art recommendations these days for riding in the rain?
Any help appreciated.

Red01 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2006, 02:56:29 PM »

There's one reason why you don't want your windscreen to leave your helmet in totally dead air.

If turning and/or tilting your head doesn't help move the droplets, try waxing your faceshield (a little trick light plane pilots use up here in rain country on their plastic windshields). Rain-X might work too - if it's safe for plastic faceshields.

Some riding gloves have a built-in mini wiper blade on the left forefinger and you can also buy little wipers to slip over your finger if your gloves don't have the feature. The Green Light Trigger folks have their Swipe product. I picked up a slightly smaller, but similar device at a local bike shop for $1.50, but the gloves I wear now have one built in, so I don't use it anymore.

If the gloves are soft and clean, you can just wipe with your hand, too.

To some extent, you're still likely to have to put up with some raindrops on your shield... they just haven't come up with a helmet (that anyone will wear) with a windshield wiper yet.

txbanditrydr · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2006, 03:50:03 PM »

Wow, Red... I never thought of the lack of windstream being a bad thing. I have thought about the Laminar Lip and wondered how well it would work.

mperetz... do you have any pictures of the Lip install???

mperetz · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2006, 03:53:35 PM »

I never thought of it either.... I guess it's onlly been a problem in the rain though.

mperetz · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2006, 03:56:55 PM »

I wondered if any of you read this unbelievably long and too technical (for me) article about helmet safety.

I was going to get a lighter, better ventilated helmet than my Arai Signet GT but now I'm all confused.
http://motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/hatz/

and if any of you know if I should get some cheapo fork mounted lights or go for the ones from motolights or whatever they are called?

I want more light at night - for myself and for others to see me.

silvershadow · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2006, 04:05:31 PM »

I use Honda Pro Spray Cleaner and Polish. It has a wax built into the polish that repels water and makes it bead up. I have been using it for about 3 years and I think it works well in the rain. I first bought the stuff to clean the bike then found out that it was a great product to bead the water off of the shield on my helmet.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2006, 05:30:32 PM »

Quote from: "silvershadow"

I use Honda Pro Spray Cleaner and Polish....

Cool!

I had never thought of using it on my lid. Good idea!

aussiebandit · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2006, 06:22:54 PM »

Plexis does a fairly good job, as does RainX. I generally clean my helmet with an aerosol furniture polish (I also use it on my bike) and it to does a reasonable job of at least 'beading' the water so it runs of easier.

Please bare in mind though that, as mentioned in another thread, I can't remember that last time we had some decent rain in my part of the world.

mike · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2006, 06:59:13 PM »

I'm with Aussie... Plexus is the shizz a gazizz when it comes to plastics.

A can lasts quite a while too, I used it on my whole lid everyride... and kept the can in my tank bag for reapplication if needed on longer rides at rest intervals. Not only repels rain, but bugs slide off with just a wipe of your glove (no gut smears)... The bug thing was what I found most useful in Texas sprng time (luv bug season).

You can get it at most dealerships for about $8-10 a can (13oz aerosol)...

Here's their website: http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/about.html

and the motorcycle page http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/cycle.html

speedytriple · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2006, 01:03:51 AM »

i use the honda polish also works great. put a few good coats on your visor and the water rolls right off. and it way cheaper then plexis. i have been using the honda stuff for years on my visor. turning the head also works good with the polish on the visor. i swapped my stock bulbs out for some silverstar bulbs a bit pricey but they do work better in the dark and rain. i would put a set of running lights on my bike but it might look to weird?

mike

silvershadow · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2006, 11:51:40 AM »

How much better are the Silverstar bulbs? I do about half of my riding at night due to my work schedule. Being able to see is much more important than a few extra dollars at the bike shop. Right now I have stock bulbs in the bike so, even an extra ten or twenty feet of brightened road would be a blessing.

Red01 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2006, 01:25:51 PM »

I haven't tried the Silverstars, but from what I've seen of them in the stores, the US market 9005/9006 Silverstar bulbs have a blueish color to them (probably to appeal to posers who want that HID look). From what I've read, the EU market Silverstars don't have this tint and are whiter & brighter, so the trick is to get EU bulbs.

What I have tried - and recommend - is the Toshiba 9011/9012 HiR bulb conversion.
Click here for details and comparison pics.
BIG difference!

txbanditrydr · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2006, 04:34:24 PM »

I have tried Silverstars in my old B6 - which had a horrible case of dirty headlight housing. There was significant improvement over the stock light bulbs. IRRC there wasn't much blue tint to mine - I think Silverstars do offer a blue tinted version but the bulbs I had were just whiter than before. Silverstars are a "relatively" cheap solution that doesn't involve tearing the housing apart. It also helped to clean the interior of the housing - I used a damp sponge in the end of some stiff (insulated/cushioned) wire and got a lot of soot off that way. The only other knock against Silverstars is their lifespan but I personally have not had one go out.

Swamp Rat · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2006, 05:34:28 PM »

I ordered the HIRs after having read this post

B12NScott · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2006, 06:58:57 PM »

I have a taller than stock wind screen and I am having the same problem. I havn't tried the stocker yet in the rain. Check this site out it has both lighting options and a lip trim thats supposed to give you an extra 3-4 inches of wind protection. It does give you wind protection, but doesn't help much during the rain. The Micro Edge lip trim moved the wind from the bottom of my helmet to just above my wind screen on my helmet, and moved most of the wind to my hands out farther. I get alot more wind noise which I don't like much.

http://www.saeng.com/cutters.htm

Author Topic: Riding in the rain: how do you see? (Read 7555 times)

mperetz

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

Red01

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

txbanditrydr

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

mperetz

true

mperetz

now for my other questions about lights and helmets

silvershadow

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

PitterB4

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

aussiebandit

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

mike

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

speedytriple

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

silvershadow

Bulbs

Red01

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

txbanditrydr

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

Swamp Rat

Riding in the rain: how do you see?

B12NScott

Rain and being able to see @ night