Modern Vespa

Hello. I installed the tall Givi windshield a few weeks ago and have loved it until last night. It was the first time since I got it that I got caught in the rain at night. I had a fairly scary ride home, between the glare of traffic lights and oncoming traffic at 70+ mph. So I'm searching for an answer that hopefully does not mean I'll have to compromise comfort for safety. I've searched and read several good posts, although there was really no definitive answer. After installing the windshield it was such a more enjoyable ride; I could hear the engine for once. Plus, it's starting to get cold here (I rode home a few days ago at 32 deg F) and I plan on riding every day unless there's snow on the road. So I really don't want to cut down the windshield and give up the warmth and comfort that I have been enjoying, but it is completely unusable in the rain at night. Please advise. Thanks.

I am unfamilar with the Givi, however it sounds like you have the identical problem experienced by riders of Goldwing Motorcycles (like myself) who typically use Tall Windshields also.

From that perspective then, I'd offer these solutions:
-Water will typically bead-up and run off the shield if it is coated with Lemon Pledge, or Plexis. This only works at higher speeds (>40mph), and not at all with light drizzle.
-Make your own manual windshield wiper... I originally bought the "Swiper" shown from a guy in England (who no longer makes them), then later (not shown) made a copy of it for a 2nd bike... works Very well for light rain... Between It and the Pledge, you're covered for all conditions.

That's exactly what I'm looking for, thanks! I wouldn't be against installing a motorized wiper if there's a kit available. But a manual version would definitely do the trick. I haven't been riding very long (got the 250 in July) but I've put about 3000 miles on it, riding just about every day and in every condition (except snow). So I've been feeling fairly confident up until last night. Although, I stayed fairly dry and very warm with the tall windshield and new Joe Rocket Alter Ego 3 season jacket. Just need to get the whole "seeing" thing down...

Has anyone used anything like this:
http://www.peerclear.com/products/kit

Here's another one to consider:

http://www.eglidegoodies.com/id217.html





[/url]

i use Mother Plastic Polish.
beads the rain off the wind screen.

I hate to be a downer, but I think rain conditions with light glare (so it was night?) DO NOT call for 70 mph. You SHOULD be scared if you are riding 70+ in those conditions.

Now read it again without misplacing my strategically placed modifier.

My preference is to be able to just see over top of windshield. It can fog up instantly in some conditions leaving rider essentially blind. No time to clear and fogged up screen won't clear itself. Also rain drops on face shield too close to eyes to be in focus so block visibility of road less than drops on windscreen. With tall wind screen I found myself trying to see through two sets of rain drops, one on face shield and one on screen.

It depends on your setup of course, however with mine (Tall windshield on goldwing) I ride looking Only through the windshield in the rain...eg Visor is Up*, and no glasses**... That is typically a decent situation in terms of adaquate visability looking forward.

*The retracted faceshield acts as a visor, limiting rain from hitting my eyes from above
**There's very little debris present in raining conditions (eg No dust, no bugs), hence I feel comfortable not wearing glasses whereas (under normal conditions) I always Do wear them

I agree with you on that... If Glare is going to be a constant issue with his particular route (eg 2-lane road with no center divider?), then perhaps the best setup for him might be one of those 2-piece windshields, which can be Adjusted in height... Lot's of wingers swear by them, for riding in the rain (setting them just low enough to see over the top, while still being high enough to deflect water over the top of the rider)

Most of my rain-riding is done on the interstate, for which Glare is normally not an issue (because the light from on-coming traffic is obscured by a center divider)

What do you do in non rain situations when humidity with sudden temperature change suddenly totally fogs your tall windscreen? Frequent occurrence for me crossing lake on way to work in morning.

http://www.bikebandit.com/community/guides/the-buyers-guide-to-motorcycle-windshields

I have not encountered that problem, probably due to not being on the east coast.

Worst thing I've encountered was Freezing Rain, which looked like seagulls sh*tting on my windshield as the water instantly froze into ice... Had to stand up on my foot pegs in order to see over the then opaque shield, until I could get down the mountain.

I have been in a couple of snow squalls, where wet snow caked my windshield. Being able to see over it was a must. I could wipe off what little snow made it to the visor. I use the Givi Airflow.

I have never been a fan of looking THROUGH a windshield on a M/C or scooter. I like to see about 2-3 inches over the top edge for all the reasons listed above in other posts.

And for those of you who like to see over the shield how much protection do you get from the wind and rain?

the airflow currents push most air up over your head. as far as rain I prefer to do a finger swipe across my faceshield, its very hard to do that across a windshield.

I got caught in a sudden heavy rain squal in the mountains. I tucked in behind my wind screen to stay dry till I rode through it. Caught up to a truck doing 20 mph, couldn't safely go around and got soaked. Point is if you want to stay dry riding slow or stopped you need a roof. If you are concerned about getting wet in the rain carry rain gear or stay home. (I had rain gear with me just misjudged the sky and didn't stop in time to put it on.)

As for wind depends on shield design and how low it is cut. I get wind on helmet with my Givi 2 piece but like that. Had a taller Fabbri that put most of the wind over my head till I broke it in an off. The taller Fabbri was too hot in summer here.

Depends on the screen design - do a search for "calsci" and "windscreen" and you'll find a great explanation of Von Neuman vortices, the main source of windscreen turbulence. I finally got my Madstad adjusted so I get no more air on my face when lowered enough for me to see the ground 20 yards in front of me than when it was cranked up four inches above my eyes. In rain, yes I do get rain on my helmet and glasses but that'd be true no matter how high the screen is; as Fuzzy said, if your objective is to not get wet at all then you need a roof (and even then collapsing air around the side can still bring water in).

You can have a screen that is a foot over your head and still get blasted in the face with as much, and sometimes more, air and rain than if you had no screen at all because the relative wind is collapsing right in front of your body.

Discussions like this surely do make me long for the new BMW and its electrically controlled windscreen.

I'm another one of those who always adjusts or trims a windscreen so that I am looking just over the top of the screen - and the wind is deflecting over my helmet. I find that a workable arrangement which keeps me warm and relatively dry while providing for best visibility. Because of this preference, I particularly like windscreens that have a "flip lip" at the top edge to be sure I don't get any helmet buffeting.

It may just be Illinois, but I thought that if you look through the windshield, your bike legally MUST have some way to clean your windshield. And I thought you had to have some sort of eye protection, whether that be a windshield, helmet shield or safety glasses. (Though, again, I'm pretty sure that's state-specific...)

Mark

I had a cut down vespa windshield on my GTV. I could still not look over it in my regular riding position so I cut it down more. I wound up taking it off completely. It is impossible to see clearly through any moto windshield at night in the rain. You simply need to have a lower one that directs the air off your chest and shoulders. Usually it will then direct it to your head.

I definitely will not ride anything where I have to look through the screen - for all the reasons already given. However, I have an MP3400 and a TMax and both have touring screen. In each case I have added a Laminar Lip, with success. I can look over the screen and find that the airflow is directed up and over my head. Took a bit of patience to get the height and angle of the Lip right, but it was worth it.

Also, you may well find that any form of windscreen wiper will quickly make a line of scratches in (relatively) soft perspex. Apparently made worse by fine particles of road grit getting trapped between wiper and screen.

Good luck solving your problem and ride safe.

jegemba

That is Incorrect... Scratching will not occur, so long as you only use the wiper when the shield is wet. Typically I delay use of mine until enough water has beaded-up and "washed" the shield... Been using it for 6yrs so far (probably adding up to 10's of thousands of miles in the rain) and no scratching what-so-ever.

Note that Honda goldwings in Japan come standard with automatic windshield wipers... and also, that system only turn's On after the shield is automatically doused with wiper fluid... presumably to prevent scratching.

Depends entirely on the bike's speed... on my goldwing I do not get wet at all (using a tall shield) above 40mph; and also am readily able to See through the shield as well. Below that speed however (typically at stop lights) I get as wet as any pedestrian.

That said, I do my best to Maintain a High Average Speed in the rain... As such, I rarely even have to use my windshield wiper, as the water typicaly beads up and shoots right over my head.

Now then, I don't know if such a large shield can be added to a MP3... I don't see why not, yet have not got there yet myself.

Hi where could I buy this wiper

Howdy,
I'll chime in but you should know that my drummer doesn't keep a steady beat.
I have the tall givi and find it better for me. With the lower shield my helmet fogged up anyway so my vision was compromised any way. Now when it rains I raise the visor and am still only looking through one layer of plastic. If the shield gets dirty water on it, I find I can stretch up to see what I have to see OR I can lean slightly left or right and look around it till I get a chance to clean up the shield or get where I'm going. Course I don't like riding in the rain so it is all temporary any way.
Ken

they have a fix for the helmet fogging.
you can add a pinlock shield or you can get a better vented helmet

"Cat Crap" works pretty good for fogging...
I am talking about the Product that is sold, not what your cat actually makes.

Keith
Marietta, GA

An other solution......

Howdy
Yup there is another fix for fogging up visor. It's called a car. I was simply suggesting the tall windshield has so many advantages that I simply live with the downside. I have now bought 3 helmets and all of them fog up. If I quit breathing, it will quit fogging up.
I'm currently in Israel and it seldom gets cold enough to fog up . I'll just move here.
Ken

I will never have another helmet without a pinlock. One of the best helmet mods you can do if your helmet does not come with one.

Which is great, if it works for you. It doesn't for me. I fog up just as bad, if not worse, with the pinlock in as with it out...

I have heard that can happen if you don't get a good seal on install. I had to reinstall mine once when it happened. I have also heard that once they get old the seal can dry out an become leaky.