Windscreen Wipers

[darrsi]

After chatting with a fellow Foccer mate, and seeing different bikers on a daily basis, it has become apparent to me that not everyone knows about the Vee Wipe that exists to greatly improve your vision in wet conditions.
I thought i'd give the newer bikers on here the heads up as it is such a simple but essential bit of kit.
It's simply a piece of silicone rubber that fits over your gloved index finger that is shaped like a windscreen wiper blade.
I've forgotten mine a couple of times due to changing bike jackets and got caught out in the rain, and simply can't believe how people can ride in wet weather without it. Wiping rain away with a dirty glove just smears crap all over your visor, whereas one quick 'wipe' will clear your visor cleanly just the same as a windscreen wiper would.
If you haven't got one already then spend a few quid and get one, in my opinion they are a must have and will last you a couple of years before needing to change it due to a 'worn out' blade. 
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=vee+wipe&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[packie]

I have used them for years....excellent. But you have to watch them carefully as they can work their way off the glove. I'm not using them at the moment because my latest gloves have something similar built into the thumb of my glove.

Just be careful when buying them as there are different sizes and are color coded. I think large ones are in black and medium size come in red.

[darrsi]

Black are medium, that's what i use. 

[Fazerider]

I've long regarded it as an essential bit of kit... got my first one free on the cover of one of the bike mags in the mid-eighties. Eight quid or thereabouts is a bit steep for what it is, but well worth having even at that price.
Red is the biggest, good for thicker winter gloves.
After losing a couple, I've taken to looping an elastic band through one of the holes and round the next finger, that way even if it does manage to slide off it won't disappear.

[packie]

Black are medium, that's what i use. 

...erra sod yer puny nancy boy v-wipe.....i'll be 'aving some of this!!!

[darrsi]

I knew someone would eventually come out with that.
The fact that you look like a bigger helmet than your crash helmet obviously didn't phase the designer 

[Chris]

Never tried one of these to be honest.
 
I use Gtechniq G5 on my visor and the rain beads and runs off which negates the need to wipe the visor at all.
Having said that I only ever ride in the rain if I've been caught out by the weather...
 
Chris

[darrsi]

My old Shoei lid had a good visor on it where about 60% of rain would fly off with a sideways tilt of the head, but i've found that rain sticks to Arai visors like glue, so this is an extremely useful tool in iffy weather.
And by the sounds of it outside, it's gonna get plenty of use this morning on the way to work! 

[stevierst]

Before you put your lid on, a little squirt of Mr. Sheen and wipe it off with a cotton cloth works brilliantly in cleaning your visor, and the rain beads off even my sticky shoei visor with a tilt of the head.

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[JZS 600]

I wonder if that would work with silicone bike polish,,,

[darrsi]

Before you put your lid on, a little squirt of Mr. Sheen and wipe it off with a cotton cloth works brilliantly in cleaning your visor, and the rain beads off even my sticky shoei visor with a tilt of the head.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

That's what i said earlier, my Shoei visor was 5 times better at getting rid of water, but you try the same trick with an Arai visor and it simply does not work! And i have 3 visors at the moment, a clear, tinted and a spare, and they're all the same.
The water will bead up but it just stays put, i've tried all sorts of potions but with no joy at all, so the Vee Wipe became an absolute necessity for me.

[darrsi]

@chris, try doing a long run on a motorway with a few lorries up ahead of you, you could spin your head like in The Exorcist and still not get rid of the spray, whereas the Vee Wipe will at least clear your view for a few seconds if you need to overtake safely.     

[reillypadraig]

i think if i was sure i was going to ride in the wet id just bring a blade wipe for my finger, not sure if id go as far as putting one of those on my helmet, although got a stupid story back from a guy using the finger blade


he came back into my local bike dealers when i was there and started giving out saying this blade is a piece of shit and that every time he goes to wipe his visor he has to let off the trottle, wel i nearly fell on the floor laughing , it never occured to him to put it on his left index finger, what a spanner ahhahahahah

[darrsi]

i think if i was sure i was going to ride in the wet id just bring a blade wipe for my finger, not sure if id go as far as putting one of those on my helmet, although got a stupid story back from a guy using the finger blade


he came back into my local bike dealers when i was there and started giving out saying this blade is a piece of shit and that every time he goes to wipe his visor he has to let off the trottle, wel i nearly fell on the floor laughing , it never occured to him to put it on his left index finger, what a spanner ahhahahahah

Ha ha ha, quality 

[Chris]

@chris, try doing a long run on a motorway with a few lorries up ahead of you, you could spin your head like in The Exorcist and still not get rid of the spray, whereas the Vee Wipe will at least clear your view for a few seconds if you need to overtake safely. 

I don't have any motorways to ride on up here. Plenty of lorries to follow but as I said I hardly ride in the rain.
 
I'm sure you're right and I would happily try the vee wipe from the comments above if I found I was having problems with clearing my visor, it's just not been my experience. The Gtechniq G5 has been incredible in my experience. Also insanely good on the car windows and shower doors! 
 
Chris

[darrsi]

@chris, try doing a long run on a motorway with a few lorries up ahead of you, you could spin your head like in The Exorcist and still not get rid of the spray, whereas the Vee Wipe will at least clear your view for a few seconds if you need to overtake safely. 

I don't have any motorways to ride on up here. Plenty of lorries to follow but as I said I hardly ride in the rain.
 
I'm sure you're right and I would happily try the vee wipe from the comments above if I found I was having problems with clearing my visor, it's just not been my experience. The Gtechniq G5 has been incredible in my experience. Also insanely good on the car windows and shower doors! 
 
Chris

Sounds like you need a good run around the M25 to me, to give that stuff a proper test

[Chris]

Think I'll stick to my quiet, twisty, scenic roads for now buddy 
 
Chris
 
For anyone interested, here is a video of Gtechniq G5 albeit on a ceramic sink. G5 can be used on any ceramic, perspex or glass surface.
 

G5 - Max Repellency Coating on Ceramic Surface

[packie]

That looks impressive, Chris.

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[simonm]

I was going to get one until I realised small,medium and large related to fat finger syndrome rather then squeegee size 

[simonm]

Ride.... in the wet..... wtf?

If it's wet you stay in side, put the fire on, toast trumpets and watch blu rays.

Riding in the wet is for men,not me.

[darrsi]

I've ridden in rain, sleet, snow, high winds and fog, but by far the most exciting is.......hailstones.
What eejit sits down in hailstones and tries to ride through the equivalent of a road full of marbles!!!
Great fun..... 

[simonm]

I've ridden in rain, sleet, snow, high winds and fog, but by far the most exciting is.......hailstones.
What eejit sits down in hailstones and tries to ride through the equivalent of a road full of marbles!!!
Great fun..... 

Grr argh. Whisky, caber, v12, Ferrari. Do I sound manly yet ?

[CharlieDee]

excellent device!! especially for those days when you cant resist but go out and ride in the rain & snow!! 

[darrsi]

My old schoolmate (hope you're not reading Paul) picked up his first bike, a Fazer, then rode it straight off to Germany to live for a few years but encountered extreme rain on his journey, without a VeeWipe!
He wasn't impressed on his first big journey, but fair play to him, he got there in one piece!
Eventually.......poor sod! 

[stevierst]

Many Years ago before the vee wipe and on my 500 mile/week journey, I used to keep a chamois sponge tucked behind my screen. It was superb at getting rid of visor crap until I fumbled with it, and now it lives happily somewhere on the m5. ;D ;D

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