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First, this should serve as an experience that should help others not to make the same mistake I did. And if there's anyone that can suggest a remedy, I would really appreciate it.
I have found what I consider the absolute best lexan windshield cleaner available. On a friend's recommendation, I got a can of "Slip Streamers Motorcycle Windshield Cleaner & Polish". After trying many different products and methods, this stuff is amazing at cleaning and producing a windshield that looks absolutely new, every time I use it. It only takes a light spray, cleans everything from the windshield easily, including bug junk, and buffs to a brilliant clear shine. I love it.
I should have left well enough alone.
A couple months ago my wife and I spent a week in Myrtle Beach, SC, which is about 3 1/2 hours from my home. She, and my daughter, drove the car, and I took my VR. There was a light rain on the way down, and I was wishing again that I had a good windshield water repellent (like Rain-X for glass). While down there I stopped-in several bike shops, but nobody had a product for lexan windshields. I finally caved-in and went into an H-D dealer, and lo and behold they had a product "H-D Windshield Water Repellent Treatment". I asked the guy there if this was safe for lexan, and he said it works on Harley windshields, it should work on any of them. It is a container of treated wipes, like "wet wipes" for your hands, that you simply pull out of the top, wipe on windshield, wait for it to dry, and buff with a clean cloth. There's little info on the container, and NO warnings of any kind. I never did use it on that trip, though.
Well, yesterday I was going for a 100 mile round trip, with light rain threatening. So I cleaned the windshield real well, then pulled one of the H-D wipes and applied it all over the windshield. The wipes are quite wet, with a substance that is somewhat thick, almost like a light oil. Well it dried leaving very heavy swirls and streaking, and I proceeded to buff using a new, soft, terrycloth towel. And I buffed, and I buffed, and I ..... All the heavy streaks are still there. They won't buff out. I went to the H-D website and looked up this product. The description includes a remark that is not on the container, "Not for use on an anti-fog product." I went to my can of Slip Streamers cleaner, and it is an anti-fog, anti-static cleaner. Apparently, the two reacted with each other. Now, I don't know if it has only created a streaky film that will eventually clean/wear off, or if I've ruined my windshield.
I called H-D customer service. They told me they couldn't help me because their products are only tested on "H-D lexan windshields", and if I used it on a different make it's my problem. (About what I expected) I pointed out the lack of warning on their container, and they said "H-m-m-m".
Anybody have a similar experience, or suggestions on what I might try to undo this?
Last update: 08:53 AM Saturday, October 2, 2004
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