Windshield cleaning - the hidden dangers of not cleaning

[na1g]

Wow, I didn't know junebugs could fly that fast!

To paraphrase Groucho Marx: "I hit a junebug going sixty last night. How he got going that fast I'll never know."

(Groucho actually said: "I saw an elephant in my pajamas last night. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.") Supply your own Groucho impression.

pete
(You can tell it's been a long, hard winter and we all need some riding.)

[DickPeake]

Riding in Jersey (Channel Islands) a few summers ago, with a girl on the pillion.. Open face helmet. Wasp flying toward me. It's kinda jinking left and right - I think it's trying to avoid me and I am trying to avoid it. The inevitable happens - I jerk my head to the left at the instant the wasp jinks to its right and wap, straight inside the helmet against my right temple. Angry wasp starts stinging - and keeps doing it. I stop PDQ. Have you ever tried unbuckling a helmet whilst being repeatedly stung by a vicious insect inside it? Pulling the helmet off killed the wasp and smeared it up the side of my head. Within a couple more minutes, my right eye was swollen up and shut. I looked like Shrek after being punched by Mike Tyson! A nice cup of tea and a few ice cubes at a nearby cafe sorted the problem out after a while. Incidentally - there are two speed limits on Jersey - 20mph and 40mph. That's it!

[jeffingranitebay1]

The instructions that came with my windshield said to use just water. I try to soak the bugs first then using a towel wipe it and rub them off.

I checked into a motel one summer day and they handed us a free motorcycle cleaning kit. It had rages and windex and some other cleaning stuff. I guess they got tired of their good towels being used to clean bugs and road junk off bikes.

Jeff in Granite Bay

[bygdawg]

I use Plexus and a CLEAN microfiber cloth each time. I have also used Honda spray without any issues.

[ohioscott]

Originally Posted by bygdawg

I use Plexus and a CLEAN microfiber cloth each time. I have also used Honda spray without any issues.

I do the same at each gas stop. Even if there is only a little bug splatter I still clean the sheild. I keep the small Plexus can and microfiber in the LH pocket.

I am like this with my cages as well. I have a 1 Ton service van that I travel full time for my company. At fuel stops I clean the shield and side glass. I keep windshild washer fluid in a spray bottle and a small wiper in my door pocket for when there is nothing in the gas station available.

[zldrider]

I do the Plexus thing too. But, not at every stop.

I've heard that Windex is a No-No on our plastic windshields.

[bygdawg]

I agree Joe. I don't do the Windex, as I think it is too harsh. I don't do it at every stop, unless I'm actually having a problem seeing through the shield to the point that it is a safety hazard. At the end of each day, I clean it off before everything starts drying though.