Ducati Monster Forum

Holy crap does riding in the dark, rain (and cold) SUCK when the lights from oncoming traffic are in your face.  Couldn't see shit.

Are there any tricks to help with vision when riding in the rain - rainX on the visor?

Go to web bike world - they have a number of reviews for visor products.

Don't use rainx - the denatured alcohol in it is not good for the plastics in most visors

I know how you feel - been there done that - the uncertainty is quite unnerving.

Once I got caught in a flash flood while riding home from work, opted to get off the freeway and onto a frontage road, turned out the frontage road was worse and I had water 2/3rds of the way up my exhaust cans (low exhaust). I think the only reason I didn't get water in my exhaust was because I was moving steadily along at 5-10mph. Still, it was like a duc in the pond - I was rooster tailing water both at the back and the front of my bike - I was SOAKED to the BONE!!! Fortunately others in big SUVs were kind enough not to drown me with walls of water!!!

The funny part was that my sweetheart was in her car behind me and witness to the whole incident. She felt so bad for me!!

...at least it was daytime.

damn that is a funny story..  [clap]  basically you were riding the motorcycle like in that classic picture of the guy using the r1 to ford a river.

Normally in dark/rainy situations i look at the right stripe on the road.  It keeps my eyes averted from the oncoming traffic headlights and doesn't temporarily blind you.  As for the water on the visor let me know what you find.

[cheeky]

Yeah, but I was on my way home from work and had no choice - it wasn't an exercise in stupidity (not sure if what you're referring to was - but just to clarify).

This doesn't address the issue of water collecting on the outside of the face shield, but a pinlock visor will prevent ANY fog from distorting your view at all.  I absolutely love this thing.


http://www.pinlockusa.net/ (http://www.pinlockusa.net/)

Uh, no tricks I know of, and I do it all the time.



Hell, I did it last night.

Git yir eyes checked, in my case even a small amount of Astigmatism makes it worse.

Look low and to the right when passing on coming cars, follow the stripe.  I like soft leather gloves when it's warm, and some leather on the palm of cold weather gloves.  Works like a Chamois and wipes the shield clear without scratching.

Make certain you have good rain gear and can stay reasonably comfortable.  It is way way worse riding in the rain when you are miserable, and it eff's with your concentration.

I have done day long rides in cold rain when out on trips, it sucks but good gear helps.  

And yes it does suck riding in the rain in the dark.  Remind me sometime to tell the horror story of being stuck on the side of I94 at night, in a deluge with a dead bike (ultimately 3, batteries died) on the way back from Road America in 2009.

I have more rain miles than dry miles I think...many of them in the dark. Gotta love Seattle!  [thumbsup]

Tips:

1) Get something to prevent fogging. Pin-lock visors are very effective. Respro Foggy inserts also work well. I haevn't found aything else that works well. I'd go with a Respro and keep it my jacket if it was only an occasional thing...costs $20. This is extremely important IMO, as fogging really sucks in bad weather.

2) At speed just turn your head to the side every so often and the visor will clear (relatively speaking).

3) Get gloves with a squeegie (sp?) on them. The Helds squeegie on the forefinger work the best IMO. Mainly use it at low speeds. Water builds up too fast at higher speeds. This is nice but not critical.

4) Get used to looking through a water spotted visor and relax. There's no way to get excellent vision...you just have to accept and get used to it.

5) Rain-X on the visor doesn't work.

no not saying it was stupid what you did, hey it happens you have to get home.

i thought it was just funny because you would have looked like that fake inspiration poster by riding a street bike across what looked like a river at that point. 

so if someone took a picture it would say at the caption "ducati monsters.. no matter how much you hope and pray....its not a GS" [laugh]

[laugh]

I told my sweetheart who was dry and in the car behind me that she should have had her camera - it would have been priceless!!!


And you're right, it was funny - I look back on it and just have to laugh!!  [laugh]

My helmet manufacturer (HJC) specifically says that Rain-X is approved for use on their visor faceshield. I don't imagine it's really different for other brands since they all use nearly identical plastics.

The pinlock product looks interesting.  I find in NE when the mornings get cold (40s) Fogging is an issue on my commute.

Is it an attachment that goes on the shield, or does it replace the whole shield?

You need a new shield which has the pin lock attachments installed. Then you install the pinlock insert visor, which is available in a few different shades/colors. It's a nice system.

You are right about the eyes. I found that I had issues seeing well at night and especially rainy nights(driving). I got my glasses and wow!! I finally got laser, best thing ever! Good vision to a motorcyclist is very important.

+1 for the Pinlock system...I have it on both my helmets and will never again buy a helmet that doesn't have a pinlock available.  Fantastic.

For the outside of my visor, I love the Aerostich vee-wipe squeegee (http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-veewipe-squeegee.html (http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-veewipe-squeegee.html).  Sold in packs of 3 sizes, trim the length to fit, and you're good to go.  It works way better than any of the squeegees that have come built in to rain gloves I've owned.

I love riding in the rain....nothing better than being a cozy in my rain gear and (usually) enjoying less crowded roads!

Another +1 to this.  My vision's not far off perfect, but when it rains and I haven't got my glasses in the car or on the bike it's unbelievably more difficult to see.

Yeah, but you ride a bmw, you guys go looking for rain  ;D

Besides my Ducati , I have 2 BMWs ..........and I don't ....ride in the rain (like KDS1 insinuated)..... unless I'm unfortunate and get caught out in a sudden shower.

I do use Xymol Car wax w, Carnauba Wax in it on my Helmet Visors.

It makes the bugs come of easier ....and it would shed water.

Try waxing your Visor w, a good Car Wax, especially if it has Carnauba Wax in it.

I wax my cage windshield and it makes the raindrops skitter off like drops of water on a hot skillet.

Dolph     :)

We both have ridden in monsoon type weather on our ducs, through the twisties at night.  Did you know you can have heavy fog and heavy rain at the same time? :P

And hail mixed in too.

With a sprinkling of deer.



I'll be happy to lead a night twisty ride  ;D  [moto]

Cycle Gear has single use packets that contain a wax made specifically for visors.  I've used it in the past and it certainly helps.  Don't have any right now, but it is usually right at the checkout in my store.  I usually just keep a packet in my jacket pocket as a contingency.  Sorry, I can't remember the name right now.  Definately helped though.

I did find this while trying to look it up.  Anybody try it?
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=5000&L2=6&L3=&L4=&item=TUC_53-2031_G (http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=5000&L2=6&L3=&L4=&item=TUC_53-2031_G)

Yeah, I know what you mean. 

I have ridden 60 miles from Cbus to Marion in full storm with warnings and all.  At some point it suddenly got so dark that I had to pull over for a bit.  Ofcourse had to ride back another 60 miles in full storm again.

In addition, a few of us have ridden the twisty 555 at night and in rain.  That was some tense riding.

THere is something to be said for riding in rain.  It's kind of exciting as your level of concentration is so high.  hard to explain.

Rain X will hurt the plastics.  I just keep wiping it off and opening visor for a bit etc.  :-(  sucks.

Do you have some evidence or reference for this? The only times I've ever seen a helmet manufacturer even mention Rain-X it was to specify that they do not recommend against it.

i've used rainx and it worked great, but didn't last long. 

i live in hawaii, and i commute 78 miles a day on my ducati. it will be hot and dry on my side of the island and pouring rain on the other side (the side i work on). so i am used to riding in the rain.
for my vison i use "liquid glass" its a all purpose wax for cars, boats, bikes, and planes... at least that is what the can says. i used it on my car windows and it beads water very very well. so i tried it on a small part of my visor. after a few days of no hazing i put it on the whole thing.  i find that it only last for about 3 days  but if it rains in those 3 days water beads off better.