I just found a really good reason not to speed

**McWild** · 9th August 2009, 15:32

So I just got back from my first Akaroa GP on the new bike, my RGV250.
Obviously it has a fair bit more grunt than the RG150, and means that I'm able to comfortably cruise a little bit over 100.

And upon returning home, I encountered a problem.

Bugs.

Holy shit, the bugs. Any minute now, I expect Greenpeace will knock down my door and perform a citizen's arrest for what I have just completed, that is, the massacre of what must be half our entire country's worth of small, low flying bugs.

My headlight, mirrors, screen, and front fairing seemed no longer to be white, the stickers, buried.
It was only through two small pinholes that I managed to see the way ahead through my visor, and twas almost as if night had fallen, or as a solar eclipse because of the shade provided by the stacks of bugs protruding from the forehead of my helmet.
And the shoulders of my leathers began to resemble an American football player's armour.

I feel as if I could have done less damage if I had dropped a bomb of Raid upon a nearby wood.

An entire packet of baby wipes made barely a difference.

So I ask you, citizens of Kiwibiker. How do I hide the evidence? How do I clean off bugs?
I hope you reach me before Greenpeace or worse, the bugs do.
Or I fear this could be the last post I make.

**YellowDog** · 9th August 2009, 15:36

Lucky you had your visor down!

**beyond** · 9th August 2009, 15:37

Clean em off?.... easy... find a rain shower and double your speed

**CookMySock** · 9th August 2009, 15:38

Ah yeah you need a good cleaning product for that, or else just lots of warm soapy water. Don't rub hard, just slop it on and take your time.

Sigh, I have been enjoying a bug free couple of months, but looks like its back in full swing again.

Steve

**Babelfish** · 9th August 2009, 15:42

Originally Posted by McWild

So...

Any minute now, I expect Greenpeace will knock down my door and perform a citizen's arrest...
...
An entire packet of baby wipes made barely a difference.

I wouldnt worry so much about greenpeace, SIS might be more interested if you found heaps of bugs...

As for the baby wipes...why did you toss off after the ride?? Anyhoo, I think you might find some manly cleaning products at your localy blokey bloke store

**kevfromcoro** · 9th August 2009, 15:43

Must be a s island thing
we dont have that trouble up here.

**RantyDave** · 9th August 2009, 16:10

The cruisy wednesday night ride went through a stage of "returning" via piecock hill road which can become almost knee deep in bugs as the sun goes down in summer. Anyway, so riding through this pea soup of DNA one fine evening I find myself less able than usual to see through the bugs smeared across my visor so I .... wiped.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, not good. Not good at all. A full blown stop and removal of hat was required or I wasn't even going to get around the next corner. So don't do that

Dave

**Creeping Death** · 9th August 2009, 17:02

Congrats on the new ride McWild,after all the problems with the FX!

**owner** · 9th August 2009, 17:06

I find when a big fuck off bug(bumble bee/cicadar) splats on my visor, I think Hmmmmn..... if something unexpected happened I would splat the same as that bug on that power pole or that fence post or that road sign.
Then I cut the speed down I think they are a great reminder of my mortality

Those little bugs that you can't feel don't bother me, warm water and a rag sorts them out

**Mom** · 9th August 2009, 17:10

Originally Posted by RantyDave

I .... wiped.

I hope it was front to back and not the other way

Yeah, bugs are terrible when they self destruct on your visor and bike. What I hate even more though is the fact that their innards are actually sticky! What is with that? Ok, so they are now part of your splat (as opposed to stamp) collection but do they have to stick like shit to a blanket as well?

**LBD** · 9th August 2009, 17:36

Originally Posted by McWild

Bugs.

Holy shit, the bugs. Any minute now, I expect Greenpeace will knock down my door and perform a citizen's arrest for what I have just completed, that is, the massacre of what must be half our entire country's worth of small, low flying bugs.

I feel as if I could have done less damage if I had dropped a bomb of Raid upon a nearby wood.

Send that man to the West Coast NOW!!!!

Swarms of large dragon flies in the tropics make for a painful experience when wearing light tripical type clothing...

**DarkLord** · 9th August 2009, 18:17

Put some sunnies on and leave the visor open. Saves you stopping for lunch.

Mmmm...... crunchy.

**hospitalfood** · 9th August 2009, 18:34

warm water and dishwashing liquid gets them off the bike and visor.
i use rain to clean the leathers. it takes HEAVY rain to get them all off and you have to ride in it for at least an hour so they soften up before they wash off. my leathers are usually totally coated with them before i do this.............