Edward Narraca originally wrote this up for Motorcycle.com. Seeing as this is useful for ADVers, it’s running here as well—Ed.
Summer is here: The birds are chirping, the snow has melted, and our bikes are getting much-needed time on the road. Do you know who else has decided to join in on the festivities? Bugs and lots of them! That’s not the only thing that ends up there because your visor collects all kinds of road grime, too. Cleaning your visor is a simple, albeit disgusting, part of motorcycling safety because we all need to maintain optimal vision when riding. Still, at least you’re not riding around the Smoky Mountains picking mosquitoes out of your teeth! Here, we will discuss how to clean a motorcycle helmet visor and the best ways to do it.
They say that the best maintenance is preventative maintenance, and things aren’t getting any cheaper – not in this economy, partner! Sheesh. When talking about helmets manufactured by reputable brands, the visor will be far more than mere pieces of plastic. More often than not, your helmet’s visor is an advanced, optically correct piece of equipment with years of research baked into it, designed to withstand impacts, penetration, and improve aerodynamics. Routinely cleaning your visor properly ensures that no contaminants will be left to damage your visor in any capacity while allowing you to have the best view possible.
Regular cleaning will keep you safer and help your visor last longer. Photo: Traphographer/Shutterstock.com
You don’t need fancy chemicals or tools to clean your visor properly. You only need a microfiber cloth, a paper towel, and water. That’s it, and you can even get there with just water and a cloth.
In fact, many helmet manufacturers advise owners to only use water and light dish soap for stubborn gunk, but there’s a good reason. Certain chemical-based cleaners, like various window or motorcycle cleaners, might seem like a good idea. However, they can include harsh acids, solvents, and other chemicals that will compromise the integrity of your visor. Remember, your visor’s first and most important job is to protect you from debris, and we’d never want to weaken it unknowingly. Now that we’ve covered that let’s talk about how to clean your visor.
If you have a favorite cleaning solution, ensure it is water-based and doesn’t include anything that will react negatively with plastics, rubber, or paint.
It’s important to avoid using chemicals that can damage your visor. Photo: Motorcycle.com
Cleaning Your Helmet’s Visor
One question we wish we got asked at Motorcycle.com is, “How do the MOrons stay looking so fresh, so clean, and knee-achingly attractive while riding with supreme skill during photo/video shoots?” Unfortunately, we don’t have that question thrown at us, but we know how to clean a helmet quickly and effectively, even out in the boonies.
We clean our helmets far more often than the average rider and always rely on a fresh microfiber cloth, some water, and a little bit of elbow grease. If you follow these steps, you’ll be on the road in no time and have perfect vision to keep those reaction times optimal.
Cleaning your visor properly should only take a few minutes at most. Here’s what you gotta do: Take a soaking wet paper towel, rag, or microfiber cloth and lay it across your visor’s exterior. This is essential in loosening dried bugs, grime, and containments. In addition, water acts as a lubricant, which helps prevent debris from scratching your visor – always try to avoid wiping your visor with abrasive materials.
A good pre-soak is the way to start the clean, if possible. Even a few minutes’ worth is enough to make a big difference. Photo: Motorcycle.com
Given our work as moto-journos, we clean our helmets far more often than the average rider and always rely on a fresh microfiber cloth, some water, and a little bit of elbow grease. If you follow these steps, you’ll be on the road in no time and have perfect vision to keep those reaction times optimal.
Cleaning your visor properly should only take a few minutes at most. Here’s what you gotta do: Take a soaking wet paper towel, rag, or microfiber cloth and lay it across your visor’s exterior. This is essential in loosening dried bugs, grime, and containments. In addition, water acts as a lubricant, which helps prevent debris from scratching your visor – always try to avoid wiping your visor with abrasive materials.
A Pinlock insert means a bit of extra work, but it’s not too tricky.
If you run a Pinlock on your visor, you’ll need to take a few extra steps. Carefully remove the Pinlock insert and repeat the process we’ve already covered. Wet a clean paper towel, rag, or microfiber cloth to clean the Pinlock insert and visor, then wipe down thoroughly with a dry microfiber cloth. Once complete, let the visor and Pinlock air dry completely before reinstalling the insert.
That’s it, folks. Clean microfiber cloths, water, and a little dish soap are all you need to get the job done. Cleaning your helmet’s visor is a dirty job, but it is crucial because we must see whatever is coming at us. So, always pack a spare cloth on your bike or luggage so you can get things handled on the road.
