djwright

I am here in Western Washingotn (Seattle area) and the problem isn't snow and below freezing temperatures. It is a slow drizzle that lasts 4-7 months. I treally is hard to explain but it just doesn't rain here. It is a mist. We aer the inspiration for the intermittant wiper.

I hate the wet foggy glasses and also I am already losing the light. So here is the bike I am working on.

(I will post more details as the design matures).

djwright

Today I was mounting turn signals. I changed my plans for the lights. I broke down and bought commercial lights (but still MR16 halogens). So I will have 4 lights.

Yan 

Awesome. Enough said.

djwright

I am researching windshield wipers. And maybe a fog wiper for the inside if my breath fogs the lexan.

djwright

I bolted on my lights (4 of them) and my horn this weekend. I hope to get the dashboard and wiring done this week. I need to do some easy road testing this week before I start commuting on this thing.

bu tthe light in the morning is going away fast. So it is a race against the sun at this point.

MilitantPotato

That's insane, nicely done. Are you using batteries or a hub to power everything?

djwright

Here is a picture of my winter bike suit. My wife made it and it is great to have one that actually fits a clydesdale.

jimisnowhere

I'd add full coverage fenders + mudflaps.

FlatMaster

I don't think you'll need wipers. You could use the various wipes and coatings for car windshields that make the water bead up. Also, form the pic, I think your eyes are close enough to the windshield to see through the remaining beaded water. Think of looking through a screen from really close. You don't see the screen.

striegel 

Wow, Lexan, really? With all that protection from above, you should definitely upgrade that dinky little front fender to keep the water off your shoes.

djwright

Thanks, I am thinking of full fenders. I may also put another piece of lexan down lower to cover below my knees.

djwright

I am using a 6 AH lead acid (SLA) battery. (about 4 pounds) The hub systems i have seen don't put out enough power (6W).

I wanted a 12 volt system, then I can use car/motorcycle components. So I am using trailer lights for turn signals, car turn signal flasher, car horn, and after market fog lights.

djwright

Here is the dashboard!!

Fredmertz51

In the old days, they told us motorcycle riders not to use Rain-X on our windshields because it etched the plastic. Your results may vary tho.

djwright

Good tip. I will have to check in to it before I use it. But I may have to try it so I can answer all the "just use RainX dude" comments.

On most motorcycle fairings you usually look over the fairing an not through it. The height is just below eye level and the windstream carries the air over your head. Mine of course goes over my head so I have to look through it.

It seems the previous commenter was right about looking between the drops. I need more wet weather trials to know for sure.

BengeBoy 

Awesome set-up.

From another Seattle rider, a suggestion:

*Definitely* go for the full fenders, plus mudflaps. As you know, in the winter it's wet on the pavement almost 100% of the time, even if it isn't raining...and our rain is typically pretty light. So you have to worry as much or more about water coming up from the pavement as you do water coming down. So a full front fender *plus* mudflap plus good shoes / booties are important for keeping your lower body comfortable.

RazorWind

What kind of plastic is the windscreen made from? Something like carnauba wax would probably work pretty well in place of Rain-X.

Edit: What is it like to ride? That fairing looks like it'd make it awfully hard to go very fast, and be a handful on a windy day.

FlashBazbo

How much does the setup weigh at this point?

StephenH

Some of the old cars had an overhang at the front that went out over the winshield. That kind of geometery might work better than trying to come up with windshield wipers. Keep the roof down low over your head, and bring the windshield in at the top.

djwright

The plastic is Lexan. (Polycarbonite). It is really great stuff. Much stronger than acrylic (plexiglas). So far the plastic weighs about 9 pounds. The battery is 4. I am hoping to keep the whole set up under 20 pounds. I would like to lose another 20 pounds off my belly over the winter so we would be even.

As far as wind goes. The Seattle area is not very windy. It really isn't. My design is intended to minimize the side profile so a side wind (or truck) won't knock me off track.

I have only done a limited amount of riding. I need to do more testing before I make a full commute.

djwright

The rain in Seattle doesn't actually fall from above. it is just a wet mist that hangs in the air. So a visor on my windshield would work about as well as the visor on my helmet (which is not very well).

djwright

I tried out my hokey spokes today (on my summer bike). They are really cool. I got thumbs up from middle school kids waiting for the bus. They were dazzled by my bling.

I will post more about the hokey spokes later.

djwright

I have the bike 99% done. Everything works. I just need some road trials and I will be ready to ride to work (on Monday I hope).

Here I am doing another lap of the driveway.



Ack you can see in this picture that the left rear support has come loose. I may be putting too much tension on those. I will have to think about the right way to attach them.

DaHowie

I can't imagine riding that in wind over 2 MPH. How does it feel in a cross wind, headwind, tailwind?

Chicagoan

i thought the same thing, couldn't ride that here in chicago