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Seeing in the Rain - Turbo rain visor (it looks silly, but does it work?) Seeing in the Rain - Turbo rain visor (it looks silly, but does it work?)
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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 20 Nov 2006
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Seeing in the Rain - Turbo rain visor (it looks silly, but does it work?)
Having ridden for 1,5 hours in the rain this morning, struggling to see, I was left wondering if other bikers battle with poor visibility...

Now, don't laugh (okay, well do, but don't laugh at me)...desperate times I tell you!
My brother races gokarts, and uses a Turbo Rain Visor (like in the pic) - exceptionally funny looking, but they make seeing things before you crash into them a hell of a lot easier

They have been adopted by some bike racers, but I'm not sure about what can be done for general travelling/overlanding when the heavens open.
I'm still deciding if I am willing to completely lose any smidgen of 'cool'ness by using one


Is that a UFO on your face?




and for more info:
http://www.nickygrist.com/index.asp?...&productid=142



But seriously how do I increase my visibility in heavy rain?
There are only so many times I can wipe my visor. And raising it isn't an option because the rain really hurts when it's coming straight into your eyes at more than 30miles an hour! And then there is the problem of getting water on the inside of the visor if you are impatient enough to just lift it so that you can see for a few minutes. Aaarg!


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Old 20 Nov 2006
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I remember these from the 70's, although I never tried one.
I find something like rain-x on the visor helps the rain run off it without having to wipe it very often.
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Old 20 Nov 2006
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Rain-X
Hey Harleyrider,

Any problems with rain-X and glare or distortion when the sun finally makes an appearance?
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  #4  
Old 20 Nov 2006
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Rain-X
I also use Rain-X, which works really well. Only advice would be try on an old visor or unseen area of your current visor first, as it has been reported as damaging some, although I've never had any problems on my Arai visors (clear and tinted).

Make sure you follow the instructions and buff the surface after applying, and you shouldn't get any distortion or crazing in the sun.

Paul
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Old 21 Nov 2006
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I've heared some mixed reviews on rain-ex, and it never worked on my sheild when i tried it. Something to do with using it on plastic, not glass. My answer is a product i got from a hockey shop called Fog-off. I don't think they have much hockey in the UK, but they do in Europe. It's by far the best i've tried and made for the same material as our sheilds are. It lasted a long time, up to three strait days of rain on one of my previous trips.

...BTW, you would look incredibly silly with one of those contraptions strapped to your bucket!!!
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  #6  
Old 21 Nov 2006
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well the thing in the pic works on a boat so why not on the road?
i think it will work an yes it will look stupid, but you will look more stupid when you'r dead
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Old 21 Nov 2006
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Fog Off
http://highriders.co.uk/Fog-Off-Visor-Spray-pr-197.html
Perfect!
Advertised as helping to combat the ‘Aaaarg - I can’t see.......Crash!' syndrome. Just what I need!!
£3.65

Thanks Mr Ron!
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Old 21 Nov 2006
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Mud
I've never been that worried by the rain itself, plus I have one of those silly windscreen wiper for your finger things which actually seems to work. The problem comes when the rain stops and the roads are damp (common on showery UK winter days). Its the thin layer of grime in the spray kicked up by other vehicles that I'm not sure what to do with. Without the rain its mildly abrasive.
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  #9  
Old 26 Nov 2006
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Talking
these were around in the 60s, they look awful but they work very well, the wind spins them round and the water is flung off, some boat wheelhouse windows have something similar but they are electric powered.

i never personally had a problem seeing through a wet visor, its too close to my face to focus on. i do have a problem with the inside misting, if thats what you mean then i swear by FOG CITY inserts, ive never had one mist up and they are far better than cheaper brands. the hyper optik one that darkens in the sun i thought didnt do much good though, dont bother with the extra cash and take some sunglasses.
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  #10  
Old 15 Dec 2006
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+1 on RainX. Lasts for few rides before needing another coating. Arai Quantum here.
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  #11  
Old 16 Dec 2006
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As was said earlier. Be careful using Rain-X. I used it on my Harley goggles. Ate the crap out of the plastic. As for riding int he rain, if it rains hard, I usually pull over and have a coffe/break until it lets up.
I haven't tried Rain-X on my Lexan windshield or visor. Does it work?
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Old 17 Dec 2006
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I've seen the 'turbo visors' used in go kart racing, where they were very popular. It should be noted that go kart drivers rarely look over their shoulders to see behind them. I imagine that at speed on a motorcycle, where looking behind you is a frequent action, that the turbo visor could easily get caught by the wind blasr as you turn your head. Personally I'd leave them to the karters.
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Old 19 Dec 2006
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This device could also be good for avoiding wrecks; if people think you look so completely strange that they stare then they must be seeing you, right?
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Old 20 Dec 2006
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The Bikerwiper
For riding in the rain firstly I bought a rubber finger rain wiper (www.bikerwiper.com) which you just put over your finger and then can wipe the rain from your v isor. I also use some furniture polish and spray it on the visor which allows the rain to slide off easier. I live in Ireland were it rains all the time and find these two ideas the most effective.

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Old 26 Dec 2006
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Don't laugh about this one!!
I read all the posting and no one mencioned my old friend the "potato".
In the case you find yourself raiding in the rain, and there is no time to stop until the skies open up or the road will be clear of water, do this :take with you a potato (when it coul be a rainy trip) when start raining, just stop 1' cut the potato and rub the white inside part of the potato on your windshield or visor or glases, the starch of the potato will act as rain-x without eating plastics or damaging glases or visor, you'll be amazed... this trick was brought you by a 3er. world country biker....also onions has another importat use, but that's another story...
Merry xmas everyone, and a smooth ride...
Loner.
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