Amber Faceshields?

[SweetT]

A few years ago I had an amber face shield on my Shoei helmet. I really liked it. I think it was called "High definition Amber" I could see well enough to ride at night too. Granted I also rode a 350 at the time so I wasn't barreling down the highway at 90mph.

[deilenberger]

Good thread. Reminded me to contact Shuberth to see if I can get their amber (called "brown") inner-sunshield for my Concept-2 helmet...

And since I'm going to the eyeglass store tonight, ordering glasses, guess I'll have to see about amber clip-ons..

[BobFV1]

I agree.

For me sunglasses are the way to go. Here's a link to what I bought for myself, my wife and daughter.

http://www.galeton.com/item_group.as...&CategoryID=19

These have proven to be darn near perfect. The ear pieces are flat and slip into the helmet easily. They are actually marketed as safety glasses and are impact resistant, and you just can't beat the price.

I bought one pair of grey, amber and clear for each of us.

I would be extremely cautious about using inexpensive industrial safety glasses out in exposed sunlight. They are basically designed to prevent flying particles from physically impacting the eyeball, not to filter out light. Their amber color will filter out some available light, causing your eyes to dialate. If they dialate in sunlight, then the larger aperture allows more invisible, and very harmful, light into yor eye - both ultraviolet and infrared. This can have serious negative long-term health consequences.

While price should not be the only consideration in purchasing sungalsses, you really need to make sure they have:

impact resistance
UV protection
filter an acceptable amount of visible light for your personal preference/[*]impact resistance[/LIST][/LIST]

[rvbeemer]

Sunglasses would be great... if I didn't wear prescription glasses. I also have Transition lenses which don't work very well inside the helmet. So, the tinted shield on my Shoei is right for me. My wife also has one on her helmet as it also keeps our faces from sun burning without all the sunscreen mess. I tried the clear shield and it seems hotter in the Summer than the tinted one. JMO. Cheers,

Ronnie

[RJM2096]

I have clear shields, but always use tinted shields and don't ride at night. I keep a pair of clear safety glasses on the bike just in case I get stuck riding when dark. I can then remove the tinted shield and still safely see.

[grafikfeat]

I have clear shields, but always use tinted shields and don't ride at night. I keep a pair of clear safty glasses on the bike just in case I get stuck riding when dark. I can then remove the tinted shield and still safely see.

I used to use tinted as seen in my Avatar. Until i got caught up and hadda ride at night.
I decided to carry a clear on my helmet and use photosensitive glasses.
Dark at day clear at night. Why pack extra gear when I should be wearing it.

Amber is for ski slopes to aid in seeing moguls and such.

[BETO736]

In low light conditions, how do you figure filtering out some of the available light will increase visibility?

I guess you are not a shooter or hunter. We use orange/yellow/ambar glasses in poor light conditions to increase contrast and enhance resolution.
I use orange shields when racing in the afternoon/dusk as well.
I tried my pinlock orange insert and was able to see with more contrast, very happy with it.

[marchyman]

I decided to carry a clear on my helmet and use photosensitive glasses.
Dark at day clear at night. Why pack extra gear when I should be wearing it.

Photosensitive glasses are useless behind polycarbonate shields that block all UV. My transition photosensitive glasses live in a jacket pocket when I'm on the bike. My sunglasses (with stick-on bifocals to read instruments) have changeable lenses. I usually use the grey-green but sometimes switch to amber.

// marc

[grafikfeat]

Photosensitive glasses are useless behind polycarbonate shields that block all UV. My transition photosensitive glasses live in a jacket pocket when I'm on the bike.

It seems they come rose colored too.

I guess my SHOEI shield(s) don't block UV as mine function perfectly.
Besides, if my glasses block all UV why be redundant?


Amber is for snow and pimps in Hollywood.

[marchyman]

I guess my SHOEI shield(s) don't block UV as mine function perfectly.
Besides, if my glasses block all UV why be redundant?

Don't know about SHOEI, but the shield in my C2 makes the transition lens useless. I've not tried the glasses behind my ARAI.

I prefer a shield that blocks UV as it negates much of the need for sun block which keeps it from stinging my eyes as it mixes with sweat on hot days.

Amber is for snow and pimps in Hollywood.

I guess you don't ride much in fog.

// marc

[grafikfeat]

I guess you don't ride much in fog.

Over a 108 mile daily commute in Seattle? HA!
Low light/sight conditions I'd rather BE seen.
I see fine for my conditions at any given time.

Amber does nothing for me except to annoy.

Action word here is "me".
You ride w/ your choices.

[lancew]

Sorry to resurrect this thread after it almost expired under its own weight, but I wanted to add...

I wear tinted most of the time, and keep a clear shield in the tank-bag for night riding... BUT... I have an ancient pair of Corning Serengeti drivers in the tankbag at all times.

When light is low, or fog is thick, or it's even snowing, or it's raining like h#ll, they are by far the best things I've ever put between my eyes and what I don't want to run into. You can almost wear them at night.

My favorite pair is a pair of Aviators, circa 1989, my wife calls them the "Blu-blockers". Inside the helmet they are not all that comfy, and outside of the helmet they make me look like Elton John. I have a second pair that I keep in the car on long trips, even though I mostly keep the Ray-Bans on until I need good optics. It's like Judge Smail's Billy Barool putter in Caddyshack, you only bring it out of the bag when Nothing... Else... Will Do.

Serengetis cost a bunch* and I have yet to find a pair that had good coverage and looked cool at the same time... I don't look very good in them, but man, I sure can SEE.





*not half as much as the P.O.S. Oakleys I bought a few years ago that bent as I was taking them out of the original box, and the ^*@$#ing store accused me of sitting on them, OAKLEYS SUCK!

[Paul_F]

In low light conditions, how do you figure filtering out some of the available light will increase visibility?

I met a rider this spring who claimed that his amber face shield made spotting deer easier in the dark. I don't have an amber shield and really do as little dark riding as possible because of the deer population. I guess that I'll just take his word but for all I know, he may be right.

I really liked my amber shield on my last helmet, but I hated to have to switch shields back and forth. It's much easier to put sunglasses on and off, which can be done at a stop light.

I would not go with anything other than a clear face shield if I were you. Weather changes out on the road - just your luck it will happen when you don't have the right shield. Having sunglasses under the face shield allows you to simply remove them and pop them into your tank bag if it clouds up and starts raining. I rode several hundred miles in heavy rain yesterday across Ohio and West Virginia and it was very useful to be able to change in and out of the sunglasses several times.

I really like the dark shield I have on my Shoei but it was a nuisance having to carry two shields, as well as finding a suitable place to pull over to make the switch. Early in this riding season I switched to a Scorpion Apollo 1000 helmet with a drop down sun visor. It is certainly easier than stopping to switch shields or even change from sunglasses. Overall, there are other qualities that I prefer with this particular helmet over the Shoei.

[amiles]

I use polarized amber clip ons that I buy at the flea market for about $5.00 a pair. I just can't seem to keep a pair long without destroying them somehow. I get the most interesting psychedelic reaction from certain auto finishes and windshields when I wear these behind my clear HJC shield. The amber color seems to give me better contrast than the other colors in most conditions, I never wear them after dark.

The first time I saw a work colleague wearing some of the new style Oakley or whatever specs to the tune of $100.00 or so I was in awe. Just my luck I would buy a pair and then loose or destroy them within the week.

I do however lust for one of those mirrored faceshields, how cool are they. Consider an overweight middle aged guy on a 30 year old bike wearing one of those!

[akskyhawk]

How do those of you who wear glasses/sunglasses in your helmet prevent fogging??? I can't seem to find a way to wear my sunglasses without them fogging up. My daily ride is in cool, wet conditions (especially this "summer"!). Unless it's over 60 degrees or so, I can't wear them. I am even getting fogging with Fog City Proshields(amber in my clear shield) and have to ride with the shield held open with the lock lever on the side of my Shoei RF 1000 helmet... I am even thinking of adifferent helmet. I have tried using a different angle of the windscreen on my 1200 GS.

Any suggestions?