Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Knobbytyre on February 14, 2017, 05:18:27 PM
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This more of a general riding question than concours specific, but I am new to riding street bikes and got a new full face helmet. Yesterday I was riding and got bugs splattered on my face shield. I attempted to wipe them off at a stop light but that only smeared them and made it worse. What do you do to clear your vision?
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This more of a general riding question than concours specific, but I am new to riding street bikes and got a new full face helmet. Yesterday I was riding and got bugs splattered on my face shield. I attempted to wipe them off at a stop light but that only smeared them and made it worse. What do you do to clear your vision?
This is an excellent question and a constant issue for many (most?) of us. It doesn't seem to matter what you do, a bug will end up splatting right in your field of view. As you learned, it is usually a bad idea to try and use your glove to wipe it off... it will just make it worse by smearing it and you might also scratch your expensive visor/shield. Most of us just tolerate it until it becomes unsafe or too annoying and then pull over and clean the shield "properly" and resume the trip.
Cleaning a shield properly usually requires two things, a cleaning liquid, and some type of wipe to remove it. I personally use a spray bottle that contains distilled water, about 5% isopropyl alcohol, and a few drops of dish washing detergent (like dawn). I swear by this mixture that I invented over the years of experimentation. It is strong enough to remove most stuff, but will not damage the shield, is streak-free, plus it is SUPER CHEAP to make. It is also safe on paint, and the low amount of alcohol should be safe on clear plastics. I also carry lens tissues- which I buy in bulk. Unlike most wipes (paper towels, regular tissues, rags), these are lint free and will not scratch. They are expensive compared to paper towels, but I think worth the cost, especially when purchased in bulk. I carry these in my Sargent seat pod, so they are easy to access, but others can store them in the glove compartment or in the luggage.
What I want to invent is a bottle that mounts to the steering that contains the cleaning fluid and a double sided wand that sticks in it and seals the top. Bug splat? Either pull over or slow down and in a safe manner, grab the wand with your left hand. One side is a pad, use it to wipe the cleaning solution on and remove debris and then use the other side, a small squeegee that quickly removes the liquid. I just can't find a way to design it. Some gloves have a wiper blade on the pinky finger of the left hand that could serve as the squeegee (typically used for removing rain or condensation on the outside of the shield).
Endurance pros use something called "tear offs" which are layers of clear sheets that mount over the shield and when they get dirty, you rip them off, even while moving, and stick them in your pocket. The problem is they are very expensive and often not easy to be applied perfectly clear and without visual defects. Usually they have to be designed specifically for your exact model helmet. Totally impractical for most of us.
If you keep your shield waxed or sealed (with an appropriate sealant/polish), it will make the visor more resistant to things sticking to it and easier to clean; although it will not prevent the need for cleaning off but splat. Some people swear by "Plexus" (which I do use), but I could swear that Pledge (yep, spray furniture wax) probably works almost as well.
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Like Max I keep a small bottle cleaner and a microfiber lens cloth in the tank bag. And I don't always use Pledge but when I do it's Lemon Pledge. ;)
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Like Max I keep a small bottle cleaner and a microfiber lens cloth in the tank bag. And I don't always use Pledge but when I do it's Lemon Pledge. ;)
Have you smelled Plexus? It smells exactly like lemon Pledge! Makes you wonder...
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I saw this a while ago...never tried it myself...anyone want to be guinea pig ?
I personally think it's safer to pull over and use a proprietary cleaner, which preferably has a lemon scent ;)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/c84/VISORCAT-motorcycle-visor-cleaner-safety-system-glove/B01GKAKLZM/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1487149313&sr=8-9&keywords=muc+off+visor+cleaner (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/c84/VISORCAT-motorcycle-visor-cleaner-safety-system-glove/B01GKAKLZM/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1487149313&sr=8-9&keywords=muc+off+visor+cleaner)
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Looks like they're keeping all the goodness on your side of the pond.
This item does not ship to the United States.
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There's always the old motocross method. Tear offs. If you can find a set that works with your helmet and face shield that is.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rau_tpBUQg0/maxresdefault.jpg)
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There's always the old motocross method. Tear offs. If you can find a set that works with your helmet and face shield that is. [...]
I know my posting was long, but come on, Conrad!
[...]Endurance pros use something called "tear offs" which are layers of clear sheets that mount over the shield and when they get dirty, you rip them off, even [...]
:battle:
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I saw this a while ago...never tried it myself...anyone want to be guinea pig ?
Interesting find. I WANT! I would certainly try that, if there were a way to purchase it. Will research it when I get home.
https://www.visorcat.com (https://www.visorcat.com)
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/visorcat/review.htm (http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/visorcat/review.htm)
I still think my non-invented invention would be much better, but sometimes you take what you can get. Especially when one thing is imaginary and the other is real.
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I used to carry a bag with wet, and a bag with dry towels. Then the wet ones would mold, even in soap solution. So I started using bottled water. I keep the wet rag where it can air out between uses. Or grab a fresh one. I carry tons of rags.
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Yikes..... you okes had me worried there for a minute with all the scented sprays...... :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
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I know my posting was long, but come on, Conrad!
Sorry Max. I must have fallen asleep whilst reading your post and missed that. ;)
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Interesting find. I WANT! I would certainly try that, if there were a way to purchase it. Will research it when I get home.
So much for that- it can't be had. How annoying.
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Bugs in the face on a motorcycle is a feature... not a bug ;D They are there to let you know you are out of the cage and life is good!
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Bugs in the face on a motorcycle is a feature... not a bug ;D They are there to let you know you are out of the cage and life is good!
Plus you never need to pack a lunch 8)
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eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew
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eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew
It's pure protein!
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I wash my shield using regular old tap water from the nearest fountain/restroom/whatever. Dry it by wiping on my pants. Never, never use paper towels.
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I keep a small spray can of Honda Spray Polish (the best stuff ever made next to Lemon Pledge or possibly Plexus) and a microfiber in the tank bag outter pocket. At any light, I can clean the helmet if I want too, or a quick wipe with the microfiber while in motion does the trick if it was a really nasty Men In Black type splat...lol
That said, when I'm riding with friend we usually don't worry about it until we gas up. Luckily, that's about 100 miles.
I've also learned in 50 years of riding, how to flick the carcass off without really smearing the guts.
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Sorry Max. I must have fallen asleep whilst reading your post and missed that. ;)
I (yawn) read the whole thing and tear offs run about $1 apiece from what I can see (ugh ..sorry).
The problem is they are very expensive and often not easy to be applied perfectly clear and without visual defects. Usually they have to be designed specifically for your exact model helmet. Totally impractical for most of us.
If you tear them off at every little bug, yeah it could get expensive but if you only tear them off when you hit the big sticky juice filled ones then maybe worth it. I hate it when I stop for gas
and clean my visor and then 2 miles down the road hit a big juicer right in the front of one eye or the other. :o
http://www.jegs.com/p/Bell-Helmets/Bell-Helmet-Shield-Tear-Offs/2070376/10002/-1 (http://www.jegs.com/p/Bell-Helmets/Bell-Helmet-Shield-Tear-Offs/2070376/10002/-1)
I'd gotten so used to bugs on my helmet that I had frequently forgotten about them being on my helmet and set it down on the table at a fast food stop several times
where upon I got the look(s). One woman even stared at my helmet and pretended she was throwing up in her mouth before I got the hint and I don't do that any more.
I either clean it outside or set it on a seat out of view by other patrons. :pukeface:
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Show Chrome Accessories Finger Visor Wiper
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http://www.jpcycles.com/product/zz15043
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$12.62 & FREE Shipping on orders over $35.
https://www.amazon.com/Show-Chrome-Accessories-Finger-Visor/dp/B0022ZJTKS
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I (yawn) read the whole thing
Wake up!
and tear offs run about $1 apiece from what I can see (ugh ..sorry).
That is pretty expensive to me... but I can see how that might be justifiable.
If you tear them off at every little bug, yeah it could get expensive but if you only tear them off when you hit the big sticky juice filled ones then maybe worth it.
My bigger issue are getting them on the visor and without distortion, and of course being able to find them for the exact model visor one might have. Some are also impossible to remove while moving (depends on the design and gloves).
I hate it when I stop for gas and clean my visor and then 2 miles down the road hit a big juicer right in the front of one eye or the other. :o
Yep, inevitable!!!
I'd gotten so used to bugs on my helmet that I had frequently forgotten about them being on my helmet and set it down on the table
It depends on how many, how juicy, and how opaque. But most importantly- where the light sources are. I can get away with more at night. In the day, if the sun is in certain places, ANY bugs greatly interfere with seeing what I need to see. The other day I had one on my left eye view that was directly covering where I look at the middle line and the sun was hitting it just right so it was impossible to see the line anymore. I ended up having to go down the road with my neck twisted some, mostly because I was too lazy to stop somewhere and clean it off.
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Here you go Max....
http://youtu.be/KSP1hgT0vBA (http://youtu.be/KSP1hgT0vBA)
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Here you go Max....
That is wrong on so many levels...