Keeping the visor clear(ish)

[xspencex]

So I'm riding through all sorts of crap wather at the moment but the only time I really get bothered is at night in heavy rain. I start to suffer from a real lack of vision, which when its raining during the day is bad but do-able but at night I just don't see some things because the visability is so bad.

Anyone have any tips about treating a visor to help the rain drops slide off?

[slim_boy_fat]

xspencex said:

So I'm riding through all sorts of crap wather at the moment but the only time I really get bothered is at night in heavy rain. I start to suffer from a real lack of vision, which when its raining during the day is bad but do-able but at night I just don't see some things because the visability is so bad.

Anyone have any tips about treating a visor to help the rain drops slide off?

My main method is to use a car.

But when on the bike i usually put zymol wax on the visor every few days. Use zymol for no other reason than its handy as i have a few tubs of it.

You can purchase rain-x from Halfords its used on car winscreens but works on visors too.

[A1ec]

I use 'Rain-X' on the outside of my visors as well.

For the inside of the visor, and on my glasses, I use 'Bob Heath Visors, Antifog'.

The combination of both means that I don't have any problems in any type of weather conditions.

[xspencex]

Cheers,

Looked at using Rain-Ex until I read on the bottle that it shouldn't be used on plastic...
Wax sounds like a good plan.. will try that

[RemaL]

xspencex said:

Cheers,

Looked at using Rain-Ex until I read on the bottle that it shouldn't be used on plastic...
Wax sounds like a good plan.. will try that

what i thought but seems to work for me too

[tfm]

Rain-X works to a point, but you just have to get used to not seeing where you're going.

[Silent1]

I used to use Rain-X on the front and had a pinlock shoei visor, but even then you get fog to an extent, there's no real way fo dealing with it.

[slim_boy_fat]

Silent1 said:

I used to use Rain-X on the front and had a pinlock shoei visor, but even then you get fog to an extent, there's no real way fo dealing with it.

Yes there is, use a car when it rains

[RemaL]

slim_boy_fat said:

Silent1 said:

I used to use Rain-X on the front and had a pinlock shoei visor, but even then you get fog to an extent, there's no real way fo dealing with it.

Yes there is, use a car when it rains

well that makes sence

[A1ec]

tfm said:

Rain-X works to a point, but you just have to get used to not seeing where you're going.

Silent1 said:

I used to use Rain-X on the front and had a pinlock shoei visor, but even then you get fog to an extent, there's no real way fo dealing with it.

It's obvious that you're both not using anything properly as the ones I've quoted above, Rain-X and Bob Heath Antifog, both worked perfectly for me on many trips including a ride to the Arctic Circle.

[Rubin215]

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

Not Rain-ex!!!!

It's really not good for plastic at all; it will weaken your visor (if it doesn't leave it cloudy) so when a nice big stone comes flying off that lorry in front it will go right through the plastic.

This was demonstrated to me years ago by a technician in the Arai truck who "borrowed" a customers helmet and drove a ballpoint pen through the visor right in front of us (the guy got a replacement visor free!).

The advice from Arai was nothing more than mild soap and warm water although one of the tech's did admit to using a household duster and Mr Sheen; spray the cloth, let the solvents evaporate for a minute then wipe the remaining wax on the visor.

I've done this ever since, and find that raindrops form beads which will zip off the visor if I turn my head into the airflow.
It works really well on my normal commute, but after an hour or so of salty spray it's pretty knacked.

For the inside I use a pinlock, but it has to be totally clean and totally dry before fitting or the remaining moisture inside will fog between the two layers (try sitting it next to a dehumidifier for an hour beforehand).

[Silent1]

A1ec said:

tfm said:

Rain-X works to a point, but you just have to get used to not seeing where you're going.

Silent1 said:

I used to use Rain-X on the front and had a pinlock shoei visor, but even then you get fog to an extent, there's no real way fo dealing with it.

It's obvious that you're both not using anything properly as the ones I've quoted above, Rain-X and Bob Heath Antifog, both worked perfectly for me on many trips including a ride to the Arctic Circle.

But were you stationary in pissing rain in the arctic circle?
Was it raining or snowing?

[A1ec]

Silent1 said:

But were you stationary in pissing rain in the arctic circle?
Was it raining or snowing?

Over from Newcastle and up Norway, where there was snow at the Arctic Circle, returning down Sweden then across to Denmark, where it was torrential rain all the way down, on through Germany, Holland Belgium and France, to take in Pegasus Bridge and all the Normandy Beaches where it was sunny, then over from Cherbourg and back up the country to Liverpool.

The whole trip took in all sorts of weather with a clean, fog-free visor for the complete journey.

[Hooli]

mr sheen works for me, smells nice too

[Silent1]

A1ec said:

Silent1 said:

But were you stationary in pissing rain in the arctic circle?
Was it raining or snowing?

Over from Newcastle and up Norway, where there was snow at the Arctic Circle, returning down Sweden then across to Denmark, where it was torrential rain all the way down, on through Germany, Holland Belgium and France, to take in Pegasus Bridge and all the Normandy Beaches where it was sunny, then over from Cherbourg and back up the country to Liverpool.

The whole trip took in all sorts of weather with a clean, fog-free visor for the complete journey.

Fair enough, it probably doesn't help that i wear glasses.

[Hyperion]

Rain is OK..it's the spray from cars that really makes it difficult to see - especially just after the roads have been salted.

Edited by Hyperion on Sunday 20th January 21:08

[JackHolroyde]

dont drive so close to the car in front then!
I use Nikwax Visorproof. Works a treat...

[dern]

Silent1 said:

Fair enough, it probably doesn't help that i wear glasses.

I've tried a few of the anti-fig things but as I wear glasses too they help but my glasses fog up as well as the visor so they're only a partial soln. The only thing I've found that works all year round is a foggy respro mask (or something like that) which is a breath guard. Keeps the visor and glasses clear in all weathers.

I don't tend to use anything on the outside as I don't feel I need to. It gets a clean regularly(ish) but I think it helps that all the roads I commute on are lit (even the mway and 60mph bits).

[Silent1]

dern said:

Silent1 said:

Fair enough, it probably doesn't help that i wear glasses.

I've tried a few of the anti-fig things but as I wear glasses too they help but my glasses fog up as well as the visor so they're only a partial soln. The only thing I've found that works all year round is a foggy respro mask (or something like that) which is a breath guard. Keeps the visor and glasses clear in all weathers.

I don't tend to use anything on the outside as I don't feel I need to. It gets a clean regularly(ish) but I think it helps that all the roads I commute on are lit (even the mway and 60mph bits).

Same experience here, i think it's really the proximity to your face and the fact that it's always cold when it's raining so you've got two problems

[A1ec]

Silent1 said:

Fair enough, it probably doesn't help that i wear glasses.

If you read my first post again you will see that I wear glasses as well and the 'Bob Heath Visors, Antifog' keeps them completely clear. Try it, you'll be amazed how well it works.

A1ec said:

I use 'Rain-X' on the outside of my visors as well.

For the inside of the visor, and on my glasses, I use 'Bob Heath Visors, Antifog'.

The combination of both means that I don't have any problems in any type of weather conditions.

With regard to the 'Rain-X' I'm afraid that I'll have to change my recommendation as I've just read the label on a new bottle that was given to me and was still in my garage.

I've been using a bottle that I've had for a very long time (it has ©1988 on it) and it actually shows a picture of a motorbike and says "Rain-X seals ~ polishes ~ protects glass & plastic windshields, side & rear windows, mirrors & lights with an invisible super-slick, non-stick coating".

The new bottle says "Improved Formula!" and goes on to say "Do not use on plastics" so they have improved it so that it is less useful.

Unfortunately my bottle of original formula 'Rain-X' is going to run out after about 20 years of keeping my visor clean, and the new version is useless for what I want it for, so I'll soon need to try some of the other suggestions given above.