Light Smoke vs. Dark Smoke Face Shield?

[ARtraveler]

I have four different helmets and a slightly different setup on each. I like the light stuff for the shields, (lt. smoke, lt. yellow, lt. blue, lt. grey). All are Nolans, so they also have the drop down visor inside. A combo of the two usually makes it okay for those bright sunny days. The lighter outer shield is sufficient for when it gets shady. I do not have to contend with night time riding as the sun does not set in the summer. By late Sept. when it is dark after 7:00PM-- its a little on the chilly side to ride--so I don't.

 

[SteveMac]

I found on long trips and my full face with a clear shield, I protected my eyes with sunglasses, but my nose and cheeks would sunburn under that clear "magnifying glass" shield.

So, I opted for a dark smoke shield. Why? 90% of my riding is in day time and I primarily use the full face on longer rides. For the 10% of time I ride in the dark, I just flip up the shield an use clear safety glasses to keep bugs out of my eyes. Plus I am behind a big ol windshield that catches most bugs anyway. ConnieMac doesn't mind the dark shield at night. She never drives and is most likely asleep anyway!

Then, for short runs around town and the five minutes to work, I just use a half helmet and sunglasses.

Works for me. :thumbup:

 

[CurtG]

I ride with a Bell Revolver and am seriously considering the photochromic face shield. The drop down shade is okay, it could be darker and it could come down just a bit more but it works except for the really low angle setting or rising sun. As I understand it the transition effect is a coating, I wonder if a local optical shop could get a face shield coated. Might be something to look into.

Ride and ride safe,

 

[OJ UK]

Lazer Lid may help some.....

A while back I reported on my new Lazer Monaco Pure Carbon 'flip-up' helmet.
It has a face shield (visor) with a very nice photochromic action. It
will get really dark in around thirty seconds and although if you suddenly
drive into deep shade or a tunnel you can quickly raise the shield a bit
and all is OK.
In the UK it's a major slap on the wrist getting caught by the police riding at night
with a tinted shield and they can give you an on-the-spot fine so you have to either
carefully plan your journey or carry a clear shield as well.
The Lazer's shield has meant that I can ride without sunglasses for the first time in
quite a few years and just wear my normal spectacles.
Of course another solution for spectacle wearers would be to have spectacles with
photochromic lenses.

 

[Spyder ri]

I have a Bell Vortex with the Photochromic shield. It's pretty good in bright sun and I like the fact that it is clear at night, keeps the bugs off me, those rhinoceros beetles really hurt at 55 mph...

 

[Vrooom]

G max convertible

My G Maxx convertible helmet has a clear and a pull down sun visor and can convert from 3/4 to full helmet easily.Haven'tt needed my sun glasses since I went with this.

 

[Dan McNally]

My current helmet has the drop down sun visor . . . I'll never buy another that doesn't. It works great and is gone in a second when I ride into a tunnel, with the flip of a switch. I don't know how I used to get by without one!

 

[DrewNJ]

My current helmet has the drop down sun visor . . . I'll never buy another that doesn't. It works great and is gone in a second when I ride into a tunnel, with the flip of a switch. I don't know how I used to get by without one!

Agree 100%!
I've permanently hung up all my non flip down inner shield helmets.
Once you have it you'll never go back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[2Paw]

Good Advice

advice I was given a lot of years ago "Never live west of where you work"

 

[Dan-Am]

I have a Bell Vortex with the Photochromic shield. It's pretty good in bright sun and I like the fact that it is clear at night, keeps the bugs off me, those rhinoceros beetles really hurt at 55 mph...

+1 I use a Bell with flip down inner light smoke shield AND photochromic outer main shield...best of both worlds! Very versatile! :doorag:

 

[CurtG]

Just a note about photochromic glasses and MC helmets. Some clear face shields are treat with a UV blocking coating and it takes UV to cause the lens to darken and stay dark. I thought about going with the transition coating with my newest pair of glasses the optician asked me to bring my helmets in so he could check the glasses wouldn't darken behind either of them . I really wanted the advantage of those lenses.

Ride and ride safe,

 

[Silvervette05]

I use a full face helmet, it has a dark tint, I ride to work in the morning (dark out) and I have no problems with it, and it's great in the afternoon when I go home.

 

[flaggerphil]

I have a dark smoke shield on my Shoei RF-1100 and it's just about as good as any sunglasses I have. However, it's far too dark for riding at night (it doesn't bother me in cloudy weather, though). I seldom ride at night, but when I do I either replace the shield with a clear one or ride with the shield up (and the windshield all the say up). To me it's uncomfortable, but it works.