Bugs On The Windshield

You know, you really should clean off the bugs that spatter on your windshield as soon as you get home from your ride.

Whatever you do, you shouldn't forget, let them sit on the windshield for days, then ride the bike again with a dirty shield, and park the bike in the hot sun, and bake the bugs on the windshield.

You should never do that.

I should never have done that.

These are acrylic windshields, not glass.  The owners manual specifically says "avoid cleaners containing petroleum distillates".  I checked every cleaner in the house.  As if they knew what I was looking for, each one had a big bold disclaimer right on the label:  "Contains Petroleum Distillates".

Was out for a ride today, and happened by a Harley Davidson dealership.  It occurred to me -- I bet if anybody is an expert in cleaning and polishing a bike, it'd be the folks at HD.  Making a bike that handles in the corners?  Maybe not, but cleaning a bike, these are your guys.

I found it straight away:  HD Bug Spray.  No petroleum distillates.  Isopropyl alcohol which is okay for acrylics.

Took the baked on bugs right off.

I'm sure other places have cheaper isopropyl alcohol; I'm sure I paid a premium for the name.  But I got something that works, and I'm happy.

2004 ST1300 ABS

2004 ST1300 ABS

31,XXX miles 

Always reliable

Legendary Honda V4 power-plant

I'm still riding it, so miles will increase slightly

Sargent Seat

Passenger Backrest

Handlebar Risers with Ball Mount

Garage kept

Some boot scratches on hard bags

Scratch on front fender

 New Battery in 2015

Front Tire has 500 miles on it

Rear tire has 2000 miles on it 

I got 10,000 miles on my last front tire

Your mileage may vary 

Previous owner made this scratch on the right bag.  I finally figured a way to have it show up in the photos - the light has to hit it just right.  It's not that noticeable on the bike under normal circumstances.  

 

This scratch was my doing.  Front fender connected with my workbench in the garage and made a scratch.  Like the previous one, the light has to hit it just right for it to be noticeable.  This is a plastic fender so no danger of rust from the scrape.  

 

This scrape is my doing.  Left saddlebag came in contact with my boot.  Of the three scrapes, it's the least noticeable.