FAQ
Q. This sponge isn't normal - is it made of dangerous chemicals?
Q. How much water does it need to work?
Q. Has it been tested on mirrored or iridium finish visors?
Q. Will it clean the insects from my leathers too?
Q. Are there any surfaces it shouldn't be used on?
Q. After a ride out it's full of insect guts and road muck - do I have to it throw it away?
Q. Why can't I just use petrol station forecourt tissue to clean my visor?
Q. How do I best use the cloths in the pocketpack?
Q. The cloths have run out before the sponge, can I get some more?
Q. Is this all I'll ever need to clean my visor?
Q. Where can I buy more if I've run out?
This sponge isn't normal - is it made of dangerous chemicals?
No, the sponge is chemically inert and is safe for use in this application. Like all materials though, usage within the boundaries of common sense is expected. Anyone who eats a sponge for instance will probably not get much sympathy from us if they end up in hospital - it's for cleaning visors.
How much water does it need to work?
Just enough to make the sponge wet when squeezed - hold it flat on your palm and it will feel dry, give it a queeze and moisture will come out. One good filling of water before a ride out and you'll usually be ok for a good few cleanings, if you are out for a long day it's best to keep the sponge a little wetter for use on heavy cleanings. You'll soon get the feel for it. do always remember to keep it in the orange grip-seal bag and make sure the bag is sealed to keep in the moisture. See how to use page.
Has it been tested on mirrored or iridium finish visors?
Yes, extensively. The sponge has undergone trials at all stages of developments with 3 key visor groups - clear, tinted and mirror/iridium finish. The sponge has a surface quality that glides over smooth hard surfaces but is grippy to anything else, which is why it lifts off muck so well. Used as directed, always with water, the sponge hasn't been seen to cause any problems with any kind of visor - SHOEI, AGV, Arai, Nolan, Suomy, Lazer, KBC & others have all been tested successfully. Ultimately you have responsibility for the care of your visor, so do take care and make sure that you look closely at what you are trying to clean off - you wouldn't rub your tank or fairing if it had a coating of dry dusty sand all over it and a visor is no different. Pinlock, Fog-City, Hyperoptik and any other anti-fog Visor inserts or Anti-fog coatings should not be cleaned with the V2 Sponge, this includes certain double glazed visors which have a softer inner shield than outer - for any such inserts, coatings or visors follow the supplied manufacturers instructions to clean them.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS - TEST THE SPONGE ON A SMALL NON-CRITICAL PART OF THE VISOR BEFORE USE
Will it clean the insects from leathers too?
Yes, but test it on your leathers carefully first - some colours on some leathers do not have a hard chromed finish and the colour can lift off. That said it usually is fine and the sponge is great at getting the little critters off of your hide. As a rule, rub gently, use plenty of water and watch out for colour lifting.
Are there any surfaces it shouldn't be used on?
Softer plastics like Anti-Fog visor inserts (Shoei Pinlock, Fog City etc) tear-offs and certain brands of MX goggles are susceptible to surface damage because they aren't hard enough for the sponge to glide over. Any surface that has had polish or sealer applied to it will have the polish lifted off - paintwork which has had a great layer of wax built up as it's been polished over time doesn't benefit from having a grippy little sponge wiped all over it. That said, our tests have seen it do a great job on insect splats on both bike and crash helmet paintwork without any problems - you may first need to test polycarbonate lids without paint finishes to ensure they are hard enough and will take a good sponging without detriment.
How long will it last?
How long is a piece of string? - it depends entirely on the levels of soiling that you are trying to clean off, how much water you use, how hard you have to rub. Loose guidelines are that in really heavy circumstances you'll get a dozen cleans out of it, much much more if it's just the usual splattering. Also affecting longevity of the sponge is how often you are able to rinse it out - kept clean with new water it will keep cleaning for longer. Don't expect it to last forever, as it cleans you will see the surface of the sponge start to shrink and warp.
The fact is, this little fella dies a little bit every time you use him, he gives to you of himself and pays the ultimate price. When he's really ready to crawl off to sponge nirvana, you'll know - the cleaning just won't be as good and it will probably leave an unclean film over the visor. Its time to replace.
After a ride out it's full of insect guts and road muck - do I have to it throw it away?
No you don't. Give it a rinse out to achieve 2 important things - firstly it washes away nasty organic material from the bodies of the insects you've cleaned off, secondly as referred to above it helps the sponge to work for longer if it's always used with clean water in it (It's also a good idea to wash out the bag and leave it open to dry when not in use, this will wash away and then deter any germs from festering in the bag). Of course there are those who occasionally enjoy seeing a mucky film, but we don't recommend it if it's a visor you're seeing it on...so keep your sponge clean!
Why can't I just use petrol station forecourt tissue to clean my visor?
You can. But when you've tried one of these you'll know why we invented them. Petrol station forecourt tissue has been our only salvation on rides out since forever. At Visorvision what we've done is to bring you a product using 21st Century materials technology that fits in your pocket and frees us all from the harness of scratchy or fall apart tissue from a fuel stop. It never worked anyway did it?
How do I best use the cloths in the pocketpack?
The soft, lint-free, absorbent cloths are supplied to dry off the excess water from the cleaning and buff the visor back up to a nice shiny and clear finish. In tests they perfomed best when they were left as flat tissues straight out of the pack and used like a squeegee to blade the remaining water off the visor. They are easy to pop back into the pocketpack outer bag. Like the sponge they are going to need replacing eventually, so when they are no longer clean enough or good enough to use, its time to replace your pocketpack.
The cloths have run out before the sponge, can I get some more?
Yes. Buy a new pack and there's 2 cloths in there.
Is this all I'll ever need to clean my visor?
Well, that depends - if you ever end up with grease or a greasy film on your visor you'll need to follow manufacturers cleaning instructions - usually a quick wash in mildly soapy water, rinse and a drip dry. Otherwise for day to day cleaning when you are out and about, you'll do fine with a V2 Sponge pocketpack.
Why is it v-shaped?
3 reasons. Firstly it increases the length of the leading edge of the sponge by 7% for the same given height and improves muck lifting all along that edge, secondly you can use the point of the V to clean inside your visor with it still attached to the helmet. Finally - vanity we realised our company name had lot's of v's in it and that was it, we cut a notch into it to turn it from a triangle into a "V" and there it was - we had given birth to the cutest little cleaning sponge in the world. See a picture.
Where can I buy more if I've run out?
V2 Sponges™ are available from all dealers who stock the Bike-it range of products for $4.95, if you can't find a suitable outlet then you'll always be able to use our online shop to make sure you are getting good value and good supply. We offer discounts for larger purchases (4 packs or 10 packs).
Get your V2 Sponges today. Simply click the button here and that is it. Ordering is as easy as 1-2-3!
V2 Sponges - $4.95 ea.
