Rain Riding ?

[Racer222]

Hello Again Gang,

I was down in West Palm Beach heading home to Orlando and got caught in a nice winter shower. The question that I have is RainX ok for the shield or not? Wouldn't want to damage or reduce visibility by adding the wrong chems to it.

Thanks

Marc

[PMitchell]

Hello Again Gang,

I was down in West Palm Beach heading home to Orlando and got caught in a nice winter shower. The question that I have is RainX ok for the shield or not? Wouldn't want to damage or reduce visibility by adding the wrong chems to it.

Thanks

Marc
Many reports of Rain X damaging W/S.
Just use a warm water soaked towel to get the bugs off!

[George_S]

He's not asking about bugs. He's asking about being able to see thru the shield in the rain. RAIN-X works great on car windshields, you really don't need to use your w/s wipers. But I do know people have said its a no-no on our plastic LT shield.

[Serebigal]

I used Rain-X for years on my K100 with no ill effects from love bugs or rain. Reports say Rain-X will cloud or deteriate the windscreen after an undetermined amount of time. To be on the safe side, I recommend a high quality plastic polish (used several times per week). Hopefully, you do not actually have to look through vs. just over the windscreen.

I miss riding in Florida (except for the Love Bugs). Why? Snow here. Bike sleeping!

Happy Holidays :bmw:

v/r

AL

[DRothermel]

Marc:

I never use Rainx for the stated reasons. I use Zaino wax products on my car and bike and find that waxing the windshield helps with water beading and wind removal as well as keeping the tire spray from building up. Ride long enough in the rain though and you will have to clean off the road tire spray eventually. That's also why I carry a clean water soaked 100% cotton wash cloth and towel in my saddle bag. I keep the wash cloth in a sandwich bag. Whether it's raining or clear, I always have a proper cleaning devise with me that won't scratch the shield. Since BMW was the first to come out with an electric adjustable windshield, I'm thinking that the new generation LT might just come with a windshield wiper too! Dick

[bmwrubbercow]

Marc:

I never use Rainx for the stated reasons. I use Zaino wax products on my car and bike and find that waxing the windshield helps with water beading and wind removal as well as keeping the tire spray from building up. Ride long enough in the rain though and you will have to clean off the road tire spray eventually. That's also why I carry a clean water soaked 100% cotton wash cloth and towel in my saddle bag. I keep the wash cloth in a sandwich bag. Whether it's raining or clear, I always have a proper cleaning devise with me that won't scratch the shield. Since BMW was the first to come out with an electric adjustable windshield, I'm thinking that the new generation LT might just come with a windshield wiper too! Dick

Why not just adjust the shield (on the fly, of course) so that your eyes are just barely looking over it? Virtually all the rain will blow over your head. I have ridden other BMWs for years prior to getting the LT and none of those even had shields high enough for this conversation to have been revealent to them. I have ridden all day long looking just barely over the shield. The view is much clearer when not looking through the plastic.

[kip]

Why not just adjust the shield (on the fly, of course) so that your eyes are just barely looking over it? Virtually all the rain will blow over your head. I have ridden other BMWs for years prior to getting the LT and none of those even had shields high enough for this conversation to have been revealent to them. I have ridden all day long looking just barely over the shield. The view is much clearer when not looking through the plastic.

its alot safer to me to just be looking over the ws....

2 cents worth :)

[dshealey]

I never looked through the windshield, always over the top of it. In fact the turbulence on my helmet increased if I adjusted the shield any higher than that. In fact, in heavy rain I had to adjust the shield down even further so that the wind kept my helmet shield clear.

Dick Largen pointed us to a product quite a few years back that works very well on the windshield and face shield. Brillianize. Used it ever since.
http://www.brillianize.com/

[messenger13]

I know this thread is about the windshiled...but while we're discussing rain, I thought I'd share this little gem with y'all.

In the side pocket of my tank bag, I carry a "body-filler spreader" that I bought at NAPA Auto Parts. It's just a flexible piece of rubber(?) about 2" x 3". It really comes in handy for wiping the rain off your face shield, mirrors, dash, and etc., especially if you don't have a wiper built into your rain gloves. I do have a wiper built into my BMW Summer gloves, but I still use that little squeegee quite a bit. Been using this thing for years.

For those of you without a tankbag, I've been told that another good place to store it is in the pocket of your rain gear.

[zippy_gg]

I wouldn't know what it looks like here in SOCAL:rolleyes: :D

I agree with those saying to look over your windshield instead of through while riding in the rain. I even like to keep my helmet visor partially open for fresh air and no fog.

[messenger13]

I even like to keep my helmet visor partially open for fresh air and no fog.Using Nolan's NFR (fog resistant) shield for the past two years, no more fogging issues. Of course, I ride in more rain than the average SoCal boy. :(

[PATTERSON]

Zippy_GG

Ditto!!!!!

[Steve_R]

I won't use Rain-X on my windshield, but I make sure I get it real clean and then coat it Carnuba wax. JM2CW.

[zippy_gg]

Zippy_GG

Ditto!!!!!Oh no...! Are you guys trying to tell me I need to move somewhere where it rains a lot and buy a Nolan helmet???:eek:
Even in the rain I still like to keep my visor partially up. I just love the fresh air, one of the main reasons for riding a motorcycle I guess...:)

[bflemingor]

I live in Oregon, and have ridden in the rain 3X in my 30 years of riding. That's 3X too many. AND I only use aircraft grade plastic cleaner on my 'shield - I never put water on a bike, if it can be avoided.....

[messenger13]

I live in Oregon, and have ridden in the rain 3X in my 30 years of riding. That's 3X too many. AND I only use aircraft grade plastic cleaner on my 'shield - I never put water on a bike, if it can be avoided.....You obviously have never traveled cross-country, or mayeb you're just one lucky son-of-a-gun. Although last year when I traveled to Seattle and back, I only rode in about 400 miles of rain. During a 7K-mile ride, that's not too shabby. FWIW, the more you ride in the rain the easier it gets. And wearing the right gear makes it all the easier. In fact, the right gear can make it down-right enjoyable sometimes. :)

[messenger13]

A guy over on the K-Bikes.com forum just posted about using Rain-X. He said that he applied it last week, and now his windshield is all cloudy! See for yourself right here (http://www.k-bikes.com/forums/showthread.php?p=58805#post58805).

[jayz9705]

Last I looked at a Rain-X bottle, it said something about using it on GLASS, not plastic!

I use it on the cars a lot, especially in the snowbelt. BMW warned about using it on the windshield, I think, because of deterioration of the anti-scratch coating, causing it to peel. I don't use it on the LT, but I did on my 'Wing, and it did cause peeling of the shield there.

JMHO

[Racer222]

Thanks for all the insights. I did look over the screen. But the road spray was a killer. Was looking to see if there were other Techniques.

Thanks Again

Marc

[meese]

I live in Oregon, and have ridden in the rain 3X in my 30 years of riding.I've ridden in Oregon rain more than 3X in the last 30 days. But then again, I don't own a car, and I'm OK with that. :bmw: