Helmets And the Rain

**DarkNinja** · 3rd February 2005, 07:46

Hey guys, i was just wondering as i was riding into town yesterday, are most helmets designed for rain to bead off the visor leaving it clean enough to see out of? or is it just another thing we have to deal with.
If this is the case, ski/snowboard gloves have a small 'windscreen wiper' rubber on one hand so you can wipe off the snow, why dont motorcycle gloves have them aswell?
Just on the same subject too, what can you apply to a helmet to make the rain bead off?

**Drunken Monkey** · 3rd February 2005, 07:53

1. Not necessarily, but most people 'just deal with it'.

2. Some gloves to come with a chamois material or similar down the edge for wiping visors. My winter ones do.

3. The same stuff that you can put on your car's windscreen to do that. Don't blame me if it stuffs up your visor plastic though!

**bugjuice** · 3rd February 2005, 07:55

I've seen several 'winter' gloves with a little rubber blade on to wipe off the rain and crap. I nearly bought some, but they were an extra $50 over a similar pair, so I couldn't see the point. Not saying they're more expensive, probably was just this pair. Not sure if the rubber can be replaced when it's used. I would have thought it could be, else you'd have to buy a new glove every so often!

As for keeping the rain off, I guess it depends on the quality of visor. My bro tried RainX on the visor, which kind of worked, but was quite smeary. RainX works on filling in the tiny 'pits' in glass which rain sticks too. With plastic, the 'pits' are tiny, if at all, so the rain doesn't stick as well (normally). The higher the quality, the better the finish.
The worst I reckon, is like today, where it's not raining much (or at all) and the spray from trucks etc just make it impossible..

**R1** · 3rd February 2005, 07:57

i find just turning my head to the side runs all the water off....or i just deal with it.

**dhunt** · 3rd February 2005, 08:06

Originally Posted by DarkNinja

Hey guys, i was just wondering as i was riding into town yesterday, are most helmets designed for rain to bead off the visor leaving it clean enough to see out of? or is it just another thing we have to deal with.
If this is the case, ski/snowboard gloves have a small 'windscreen wiper' rubber on one hand so you can wipe off the snow, why dont motorcycle gloves have them aswell?
Just on the same subject too, what can you apply to a helmet to make the rain bead off?

I find the water sticks to my helment in light rain at speeds under about 80-90km, but if you crank up the speed a little to say 120 I find I can see much better, or at least thats what I'd tell the

,

**sels1** · 3rd February 2005, 08:06

In some conditions I open my visor up about 3/4 and use it like a peak with my head tilted forward slightly.

**FlyingDutchMan** · 3rd February 2005, 08:42

I've got a chemical here at uni which is an incredibly good anti-stick agent (teflon is about 4x sticker than it), and is one of the most hydrophobic substances out there. I'd be keen for putting some on my visor if it weren't for the saftey warning: "inhalation of vapour can result in sudden death by asphyxiation weeks to years after exposure", and the fact I'm not sure if it'd bond to perspex. I've used it in glass beakers etc, and they don't require any drying anymore - just merely tip the water out and its bone dry.

**Paul in NZ** · 3rd February 2005, 08:47

RainX will stuff up the anti scratch coating on a good quality visor.

So I'm told...

Always buy helmets with top quality visors (ie in the $80 to $90 range) as they are a better buy in the long run. last longer and WAY safer in rain and headlight glare... My old AGV ones were cheap at $45 but you bought 2 a year. Still got the original that come with the Shoei!

Paul N

**vifferman** · 3rd February 2005, 08:51

Plexus works well to bead the water up on the visor, and I'd imagine Pledge would too. I just turn my head to each side, and the drips blow off, or I give my head a quick side-to-side shake.
Used on the inside of the visor, Plexusw (and Pledge too?) also helps to stop the visor fogging up.

I'm pretty sure there's a squeegee thing you can get that clips on your finger or thumb, which is designed for snowboarding and skiing.
I made up something similar years ago, which was a length of windscreen wiper blade and a length of elastic, to slip on the back of my glove, but it was bit awkward to use, so I gave up on developing it.
By the way - RainX is not supposed to be used on plastic.

**inlinefour** · 3rd February 2005, 08:57

Originally Posted by DarkNinja

Hey guys, i was just wondering as i was riding into town yesterday, are most helmets designed for rain to bead off the visor leaving it clean enough to see out of? or is it just another thing we have to deal with.
If this is the case, ski/snowboard gloves have a small 'windscreen wiper' rubber on one hand so you can wipe off the snow, why dont motorcycle gloves have them aswell?
Just on the same subject too, what can you apply to a helmet to make the rain bead off?

1. Purhase something to apply to your current visor to create beading

2. Deal with it and in heavy rain just move your head slightly for side to side to make the water run off.

**vifferman** · 3rd February 2005, 09:01

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Always buy helmets with top quality visors (ie in the $80 to $90 range) as they are a better buy in the long run. last longer and WAY safer in rain and headlight glare... My old AGV ones were cheap at $45 but you bought 2 a year. Still got the original that come with the Shoei!

My first AGV's visor was replaced two or three times (over 7 years!), but with my last one I cleaned it exclusively with Plexus, and it lasted the life of the helmet (about 3-4 years). Even the new AGV visors are cheaper than the Shoei visors - just bought the vifferbabe an iridium visor: $155 with a Kiwi Biker discount

I think the key here is the cleaning - NEVER use paper towels (they're scratchy), and avoid wiping/cleaning the visor with anything that could scratch it. The fine scratches that result from careless cleaning are the ones that cause that 'starburst' refraction effect at night when light shines on the visor. Using a polish like Plexus or Pledge will help minimise these and reduce refractive effects.

**MrMelon** · 3rd February 2005, 09:29

I've got a little rubber blade with a loop at one end I keep in my pocket that I can just slip over the thumb on my glove on rainy days. Just wipe the back of your thumb over the visor once and it's perfectly clear again.

It was a present from my uncle, and he said he had to get it sent over from England though, so I've got no idea where to buy them. I'm sure someone with a bit of ingenuity could make one though. I'll try and get a pic of it when I get a chance.

**Blakamin** · 3rd February 2005, 10:46

I just use my glove (at slow speeds)... its wet anyway.... at speed, I turn my head
but I've got a shit FFM helmet with a crap visor anyway....

**Slingshot** · 3rd February 2005, 10:58

Originally Posted by Drunken Monkey

3. The same stuff that you can put on your car's windscreen to do that. Don't blame me if it stuffs up your visor plastic though!

DON'T DO IT!!!

If you use the same stuff you use on your car windscreen it will destroy it!! The car products are designed for use on glass windows, not plastic visors!

There are products available. Your local bike shop should have something in stock.

Also, if you're going fast enough (above 60-70Ks), all you need to do is turn your head to either side...the rains drops will be blown out of view.