Riding in rain.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5,092
Likes: 2
From: Wenatchee, WA
Over. IME, always over. I don't ever want to look through and windshield again.
Rode through hurricane (Ike?) remnants in (must've been '08) with a 12" on and after 50 miles of (A) trying to just see through the water at a distance and (B) trying not to freak out because of all the headlight reflections glaring at me from behind, I swear to Gawd I would've taken a Sawzall to it if I'd had one.
Rode through hurricane (Ike?) remnants in (must've been '08) with a 12" on and after 50 miles of (A) trying to just see through the water at a distance and (B) trying not to freak out because of all the headlight reflections glaring at me from behind, I swear to Gawd I would've taken a Sawzall to it if I'd had one.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Excellent advice on windshield height. It should be about nose height, so you can sit up and see clearly over it, but in my case I can slump down below it for maximum comfort. Heavy rain often comes with very poor light, when seeing over the top is essential.
When I last bought a windshield I deliberately bought the largest available and trimmed it as shown here. That gives me and Mrs B improved comfort from buffetting and me better vision forwards.
When I last bought a windshield I deliberately bought the largest available and trimmed it as shown here. That gives me and Mrs B improved comfort from buffetting and me better vision forwards.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 17
From: Between Fort Worth and Wichita Falls Texas
I'm just tall enough or arms are just long enough that I normally look through windshield but if I get caught in rain, I can just jump up on the passenger seat an look over. I put an after market shield on though that is about two inches shorter. Actually it's an 11 inch shield. It works great for me. Way too many bugs hit right where I look through shield for me to want to look over it. I'm not a bugs in my smile kind of guy.
Riding in the rain sucks for sure, but ti happens and we all have to deal with it, I say go with the one you look over and have your full facer with you, as well as a god rain suit and do it to it. Ride safe.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: West Point, VA
Rain = full-face + looking over windshield. Even in shorter squalls where I've been hard-headed and not switched to my full-face, looking OVER the windshield was the key component to my precipitation visibility conundrum.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
shorter shield. Rain "sticking" to a windshield that you need to see through is not a good thing.
There are prodcuts out there like rainx for plastic. DO NOT use rainx on your helmet shield or windshields. You'll ruin them in quick fashion.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 413
Likes: 16
From: Killeen, Tx
I went on a multi state trip last month TX, NM, CO, UT, and AZ.
It rained for two days in Utah, this was the storm that flooded CO.
Take some advice, get a windshield that you can see over and not one that you have to stretch to see over because if your riding in the rain for two days it will not be comfortable stretching. Rule of thumb is, the top of the shield should come up to the space between your lips and your nose.
I have an LRS flip shield that curves at the top to push air over me.
As for rain-x, I have found on longer trips that whatever you put on your windshield it will wear off with all the bug cleanings at fuel stops.
I use a 3/4 helmet with face shield and have some gloves with the rubber blade on the thumb, it allows me to "wipe" off the water as necessary.
It rained for two days in Utah, this was the storm that flooded CO.
Take some advice, get a windshield that you can see over and not one that you have to stretch to see over because if your riding in the rain for two days it will not be comfortable stretching. Rule of thumb is, the top of the shield should come up to the space between your lips and your nose.
I have an LRS flip shield that curves at the top to push air over me.
As for rain-x, I have found on longer trips that whatever you put on your windshield it will wear off with all the bug cleanings at fuel stops.
I use a 3/4 helmet with face shield and have some gloves with the rubber blade on the thumb, it allows me to "wipe" off the water as necessary.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
I'm riding to Fort Worth, TX from Phoenix, AZ next month
I seems like I might get hit by rain (according to the forecast)
I'll be wearing a full face helmet. My question is:
Should input my 12" clear shield (I look through it)
Or 7" recurve that I look over it. I was thinking if I have the face shield of the helmet AND a 12" shield I look through would it be too hard to see if I get rained on??
I seems like I might get hit by rain (according to the forecast)
I'll be wearing a full face helmet. My question is:
Should input my 12" clear shield (I look through it)
Or 7" recurve that I look over it. I was thinking if I have the face shield of the helmet AND a 12" shield I look through would it be too hard to see if I get rained on??
I actually called Long Ride Shields prior to purchase and was told they've never heard of it but looks promising and that if it damages my shield send it back and they'll replace it. So kudos to LRS for that as well.