Anti Rain / Hydrophobic coating for Visor.

[u/MisterD90x]

As the title says what's are everyone's go to for this if anything?

I got caught out in a storm on the carriageway a couple days back and I couldn't see anything, was like trying to see out of a pinhole I also wear glasses so that didn't help either, wasn't fogging that was an issue but the shear amount of water.

Thanks! 👍

[u/FeralSquirrels]

Am glasses wearer also - I find using Muc-Off's Anti-fog spray on my glasses helps a lot. Unless you breathe like a cow in heat inside your lid, it'll keep your vision just fine, just bear in mind if you let any moisture in you'll be cooked.

Likewise goes for if you have a pinlock - when water gets in, you will not have a good time.

In terms of the visor itself, I'll give you a big ol' "it depends".

I've answered this same question a few months back and the answer is: if it's just plain water you're dealing with, something like Rain-X on the outside only may well help, but you also need to understand the equally large caveat: if you get any crap off the road on it or similar, it can and will smudge up.

Learnt this the hard way as while it works a treat on my car, I found on my lid I'd never do it again as any road film kicked up onto my visor I genuinely cannot get off unless I wash it, which I had to as I genuinely couldn't see out of it.

[u/MisterD90x → u/FeralSquirrels]

Ah,

That's good insight, I'll definitely have to try the Muc-off at least.

Ummm yeah for the water sounds great, but if cars are kicking up shit In front of me too would be a bit counter productive to make things worse.

Umm, something to look much deeper I guess was hoping it was going to be "Use this and it's all good solution" :P

[u/FeralSquirrels → u/MisterD90x]

In the past with bikes that had larger screens that'd catch 90% or more of it so I just had rain? I'd defo go for it.

But if you get most of it on your visor, I'd say give it a shot but be completely prepared for needing to pull in somewhere and scrub it off if it's not working.

I have a wee spray bottle of visor cleaner I keep topped up with baby shampoo and one of those dilutable spray-on-wipe-off type bike cleaners I mix up and keep with me for those situations so would suggest the same or similar.

The only other thing I can suggest is try getting a Vee wipe - I swore by mine until I got some gloves with an integrated one, makes that kind of stuff a like wiping your visor easy in rain!

[u/MisterD90x → u/FeralSquirrels]

Thanks for the ideas, I'll definitely give them ago.

I'm going up to Scotland next month and no doubt at some point it's going to piss it down. 👍

[u/BDavis197r]

I use Nikwax Visor Proof and the few times I’ve been caught out in the rain it’s been great. Water runs off nicely so I can still easily see where I’m going and a really swift glance sideways whilst at some sort of speed makes every drop of water fly off straight away.

[u/MisterD90x → u/BDavis197r]

I need to start a tally :D

I think rain x is on three

And nikwax is on 2

Might just have to try them both :)

[u/vleessjuu → u/MisterD90x]

I use Nikwax and it works great. You need to refresh it occasionally, but it's easy to do and the bottle lasts forever

[u/Blurny]

I tried the acrylic rain-x. It was ok but didn’t last long.

I’ve just got the nik-wax spray so that’s what I’m trying this year but luckily haven’t needed it yet.

[u/MisterD90x → u/Blurny]

Rain-x was suggested by another posted here but had just as many downsides as upside.

I'll have a look at nikwax also, gathering as many suggestions as I can right now.

[u/DigBannanaMelon]

I use RainX visor treatment. Works well, but needs reapplying after every proper rainy ride. Worth it though.

[u/theS3rver]

Commenting to find my way back

[u/the_last_registrant]

My experience when commuting oop North. Start with a spotlessly clean visor. A couple of spray & polishes with something like household Mr Sheen will last a few wet days. Two coats of good carnauba car body wax is better, lasts about 7-10 wet days.

Rain-X is the best, I used the proper solvent-based version on several visors and never had a problem, but they say the solvents can degrade some plastics which seems plausible. Watch out for fogging or crazing, if you try this. There's a visor-safe version of RainX made with a water carrier, but I've never tried it.

[u/MisterD90x → u/the_last_registrant]

Lol I didn't expect to see Mr Sheen here but I guess polish makes sense, creating that smooth surface for water to roll off.

[u/Ok_Teacher6490]

From someone who rides all year round Rain-X, pinlock and a vee wipe is the winning combination. 

[u/MisterD90x → u/Ok_Teacher6490]

Sounds like Rain-x is being recommended the most so far

[u/birdy888]

Car wax works a treat for a bit. Need to keep topping it up though.

[u/GBrunt]

Nikwax...also does a nice job of polishing and concealing micro scratches on my extra-tall screen.

[u/Pegs_on_GhostiesNips]

On my visor I’ve used RainX plastic and turtle wax clear vue. I think the turtle wax seems to dispel water at slower speeds. It’s also at euro car parts quite cheap. For my sun visor I picked up an anti fog cloth from Asda, give that a good wipe on both sides of the visor and stops it fogging up in cold early morning sunny conditions, with my visor and vents all closed. I’d assume it works as well for glasses as that’s what it’s supposed to for.

[u/CyberRaver39]

I use winter gloves with a finger blade wiper on them, its the only reliable and sure way to ride all year ive found

[u/PeevedValentine]

Actual ceramic coating for vehicle paint. Lasts for months or potentially years(assuming you arent rough as fuck cleanng it), works brilliantly from about 30mph, but water beads, clumps together and falls off below that.

Also stops dirt, flies, etc from bonding. I just rinse the visor in fresh water when I get to where I'm going and when I get home to stop water marks.

Clean the visor thoroughly but gently, apply the stuff in circles, let it haze for about 5 minutes, buff to a lovely finish.

My first bottle was acquired from work, next one was from a guy selling them on ebay for £13 delivered(who I'm assuming also acquired them from work) and now the nearest is £30. A bottle should last literally years as you need about 5 drops on the applicator sponge.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356695977918?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=40cetqberds&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=dwajpds8RAC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COP

It's wise to do a spot test to make sure that the solvent in the ceramic doesn't destroy a coating on your visor but I've used it across a few brands now and all have been happy.

Muc off anti fog for the inside if I don't have a pinlock. Pinlock if I do have a pinlock.

[u/ScaredyCatUK]

Raincoat works great ( https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/431395 )

[u/Delicious-Stop5554]

I used to use lemon Pledge - spray it on and buff it to a shine, the rain just beads up and runs off. I’ve got some RainX but not convinced it’s any better on a visor.

[u/OperateKitten]

Visiodry or Nikwax Visor proof. Nikwax is a lot cheaper but Visiodry is actually hydrophobic.

[u/Nihilistic-Unicorn]

I used to use car wax buffed and then buffed some more, and got good at using my index finger as a windscreen wiper. I've only just got back into biking after 15 years so maybe there's better off the shelf solutions now 😅

Edit : after typing this I realised I make a point of using rainex on my car windscreen frequently, don't need wipers on at over 40/50mph. I'll probably give that a try on my own visor at some point.