So, do they really work? Like Wipe New, as seen on TV? What has anybody used that works great? I've always been hesitant to try them in case it might ruin the lense, but my car headlights look pretty bad. Never needed any on the bike, but if something actually works, this could be a regular maintenance thing for the bike.

 

I tried the 3m kit on my toyota pick up . It did work , but it took about 3 hours of hard work.
That new wipe has to be crap....

 

You never needed that stuff for the bike is because the lens is glass and most car lens are plastic.

 

Bug spray..
Spray on a rag and wipe on.
Repeat as necessary

 

The dull yellowing??? Mothers makes a good product. I use Novus plastic polish. Wet sand till the yellowing is gone, then polish. Last about 2 yrs then gotta redo. Makes them like glass when done right

 

I wax my headlights when I wax the car. I've never had headlamps turn dull or yellow. Take care of them from the start and they won't.
My bike headlamp is glass, so no issues there.

 

Anyone seen the prices of replacement headlamp enclosures for cars?

Probably bikes too.

For my 2006 Chevy, they're $970 apiece!

Yikes!

 

The wife's car had really bad looking headlight cans. They had turned yellow and had started to turn translucent so the light came through the lenses but in a diffused manner.
As a anniversary present to her one year, I told her I would clear them up. Went through a bunch of processes that made them better but not clear.
Finally went to a local woodworking store and bought some wet sand paper, in different grades, and a sanding sponge. I started out with about 320 grit and then went through the different grades winding up at 12000 grit. Keep in mind that it was about a twelve step process and took most of a full day.
Now, every year I clean them with rubbing compound and the 12000 grit paper and wax them.
I cleaned them about 10 years ago and they are still in good shape. I personally wouldn't use the wipe new product. I think it will make a hard coating on the lenses that will eventually turn yellow and be a b*tch to get off.

 

Sadly, this conversation is meaningless. As mentioned above, plastic (specifically polycarbonate) absorbs ultraviolet radiation. This absorption is what clouds up lens. So first, a wipe really cannot do any good. You have to grind off the absorbed layer with abrasives to get down to the clear area. This require work and time. More important, again, as mentioned is that the headlight is made of GLASS. Glass CANNOT absorb UV light and CANNOT yellow. Use what you like to clean glass, including Windex and soap and water.

 

Plastic lenses can be wetsanded and polished using automotive polishing compound.
Then buff them out just like you would automotive paint.
The spray on kits they have are garbage if your lights are really bad.
AFter polishing you can apply new clearcoat to keep them nice.