Bug off?

[CMS_Sprint]

To everyone who lives in FL and deals with "love bug" season, or anyone else that rides in an area with millions of flying insects...How do you clean your shield when you are on the road? I was out for 5 hours yesterday and the only thing that saved me was that it got dark and I could change over to the clear shield... Any helpful roadside cleaning tips would be welcome!

Thanks,

Colin

[ST1300Rider]

Carry a small pump spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide available at any drug store. Dissolves bugs (protein), even dried on ones, but doesn't harm any plastic paint or rubber. Use a soft cloth and a water rinse and you're good to go. Trust me this really works.

[MK96xj]

Carry a small pump spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide available at any drug store. Dissolves bugs (protein), even dried on ones, but doesn't harm any plastic paint or rubber. Use a soft cloth and a water rinse and you're good to go. Trust me this really works.

+1

you can get the bottle in Wal Marts cosmetics travel section. I use windshield washer fluid and a small cloth.

[FlowBee]

Motel towel soaked in hot water.    

[Mastros2]

+1 for the motel towel or wash cloth.  When you stop for gas, grab a paper towel and wet it.  Won't be great but better than nothing!

But I will try hydrogen peroxide!

[1KPerDay]

A buddy says laundry drier sheets work really well on love bugs.

[MK96xj]

A buddy says laundry drier sheets work really well on love bugs.

It make them soft and fluffy. No static cling either

[zzr pilot]

+1 on the drier sheets!  They work great for the bike or the face shield.  I carry some with me anytime I do a long ride.  When I stop for gas I just dip it in the window washer water and wipe down the bike and the face shield.  It will lather up like crazy so make sure you carry around a soft dry cloth to wipe off the soap and water.  

Been using it for years without any problems....

[RedCBRRider]

I always have a can of plexus and a soft towel in the FJR just for this reason.

[torags v2]

A buddy says laundry drier sheets work really well on love bugs.

How do you get the little suckers in the dryer....  

[CLAY]

This sounds crazy- I learned this from an 80 year-old rider:

Pledge.  Lemon Pledge.  Spray it on, let it sit a second, and wipe it off with a rag.  I use it on my whole bike.  Something about the wax makes the bugs disolve like nothing.  It's amazing.  Just be sure to wipe it clean- helps your visor with the rain too.

Someone else try it and let us know- you'll be amazed.  I just need someone else to back me up.  It sounds crazy, but it works great.  Every gas stop on the SS1000 I did this spring involved busting out the can, spray the visor, wipe and go.  Never even took the helmet off most of the time.

[Tony T]

Every gas stop on the SS1000 I did this spring involved busting out the can, spray the visor, wipe and go.  Never even took the helmet off most of the time.

Does it have that lemon-fresh-taste too?  

[ol Rocket]

It make them soft and fluffy. No static cling either

 

[CLAY]

Does it have that lemon-fresh-taste too?  

Well, I usually kept the shield closed when I sprayed.  I've learned that some things don't taste as good as they smell...  

[Frantik1]

I use a little Paul Mitchell spray bottle swiped from my wife. Water and a couple drops of dishwash soap. Blue Scotts Shop Towels to wipe. I keep it under the rear seat.
 Gonna have to try the laundry sheets though.

[maddjack]

I use plexus,it seems to keep the buggers from sticking to the shield,For you guys using hydrogen peroxide,does it yellow the shield? This was discussed on another forum and one guy was claiming it yellows the plastic over time(he probley had a shiled from 1972  )

[Avigar]

I carry moistened paper towel sheets in a glad baggie and store it in my tank bag.

[basco]

I use plexus,it seems to keep the buggers from sticking to the shield,For you guys using hydrogen peroxide,does it yellow the shield? This was discussed on another forum and one guy was claiming it yellows the plastic over time(he probley had a shiled from 1972  )

I use Hydrogen Peroxide all the time. It doesn't yellow my shield but I go thru one a year because of scratches. I keep a bottle of that and a bottle that contains one drop of dishwater soap and the rest water. Both and a small microfiber towel will get your shield clean.

[JamminJere]

I've used Johnson's Paste Wax as a prep for my shields for years..

But first I wash them with dish soap and a very soft terry cloth wrag..

Apply a very small amount on the corner of an old T shirt... make circular motions and up and down applications on both sides of the shield.

Let the wax dry, it will haze over.

Take a clean, soft terry cloth towel rag and rub off the excess wax, then keep moving the rag to clean areas and buff the shield.

 I've found it improves vision by filling lots of the smaller scratches, when the bugs do hit, less of them stick to blur your vision, and what does stay washes off easily with just a damp cloth. Depending on how much riding in bug season I'm doing one application usually lasts about 2 weeks. I keep a pair of old wash clothes in the tank bag, one damp, one dry.

I've also used lemon pledge. works great too..  I felt the treatments of Johnsons Paste Wax lasted longer with less fuss. Try it on your eyeglasses for improvement on scratches too

See you on the road,

Jerry

[bombsquad]

This sounds crazy- I learned this from an 80 year-old rider:

Pledge.  Lemon Pledge.  Spray it on, let it sit a second, and wipe it off with a rag.  I use it on my whole bike.  Something about the wax makes the bugs disolve like nothing.  It's amazing.  Just be sure to wipe it clean- helps your visor with the rain too.

Someone else try it and let us know- you'll be amazed.  I just need someone else to back me up.  It sounds crazy, but it works great.  Every gas stop on the SS1000 I did this spring involved busting out the can, spray the visor, wipe and go.  Never even took the helmet off most of the time.

I've used Pledge for years.  I tried it when I ran out of Honda Spray Polish one weekend while cleaning my bike.  The only draw back is that the lemon aroma seems to attract yellow jackets when the bike is parked.  If your gear is left on the bike while parked, check it before donning.  Swollen ears are kind of tough to stuff into a helmet.  

[service_guy]

Un-sented baby wipes are the ticket.
Throw a few in a baggy and away you go.
They don't scratch, powerful enough to lossen bug goo, but harmless to plastics
They work on everything bike related, fairing, headlight, windscreen, visor, and helmet.
I have been using them for 3 years on my visor (KBC) and not a scratch on it.
Just my .02 cents.

Dave.

[Vladimir]

I carry a soft washcloth damped with water and stored in a zip lock freezer bag to wash the shield and a micro-fiber cloth to dry and polish. They ride in a side pocket in a saddlebag and get used just about every rest break when there is heavy bug activity. I've been using this technique on a smoked shield and a clear shield since 2005 and I'm still on the same shields with no significant scratching.

[Heath3n]

During my commute to work at night  (25 miles one way) I get all kinds of bugs smacking into my visor, it's so bad that I DO have to stop to wipe them off. I just pull into a gas station and use the gratuitous window cleaner thingie that's there's for the cars then i wipe my helmet off with some paper towels. Crude I know, but effective..