About time for a new helmet.

[avion]

Hiya guys, as the topic states but need some input.

Going to buy a helmet using the SHARP rating but I also have certain needs.

I need to start riding with my contact lenses now. Glasses are out.

My current Shoei blows too much air into my face, even with the vents closed - so I'm looking for feedback on helmets, vented or not, that hardly blow any air onto your face.

The problem is that constant air into the face dries my eyes out too quickly and no amount of blinking after that will lubricate the contact lenses.

Can you guys help me out at all?

In the mean time I'm going to attempt blocking up all the air vents into the face area. See if that'll help.

tia.

 

[DaveM]

All the years I have been with AGV and have never changed as they have been good to me. Ok never had an off with one so I cannot comment there. However I don't notice any wind in my face once I have the visor down. In fact even with it open a bit also nothing to complain about. Also remember I ride a naked bike so I am fully in the wind

I like this one

 

[DaveM]

[video=youtube;sNMgWBQtHZI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNMgWBQtHZI[/video]

 

[avion]

Good links Dave, see if I can't befriend someone and try it out.
All the shops that I know of don't allow you to try before you buy. I find this unacceptable as spending 6 - 7k on a helmet is a big investment.

 

[DaveM]

Yes this is a normal thing with them. I think this is why I stick with AGV as I know they fit and ride well. Here is the main site for AGV plenty to look at AGV Products

 

[DaveM]

Check this one out

[video=youtube;w_zJef2fth4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_zJef2fth4[/video]

 

[Rocky]

Helmets are like oil and tires - very subjective.
I've been using HJC helmets for years and am very happy with them.
I recently bought a Nolan N103 N-com flip-up that I also like very much.
I was wearing an HJC Symax flip-up when I took my tumble three years ago.
I didn't land on my head, but I ended up face-first in the ditch. The helmet took the beating OK, but it was so badly beaten up that I left it behind.
One crash per helmet I say and replaced the Symax with a new one.

 

[DaveM]

Yes you can start getting very technical over helmets and then it becomes confusing as to what is best on what. I try and not over think it and go for what works for me as well

 

[Rocky]

Yes you can start getting very technical over helmets and then it becomes confusing as to what is best on what. I try and not over think it and go for what works for me as well

In the long run I think that's the best policy.
Everything doesn't work for everybody, but if there are flaws in a product that's nice to know and opinions do help when making choices.

 

[DaveM]

For sure but I think most of the well known brands are very good these days. However in G's case he is looking for a specific feature as in wind reduction so yes then it does help to ask around

 

[avion]

well i know that Shark's dont fit me at all, so that brand is out.

My mates missus has an HJC so I'm sure they'll let me try it out first.

 

[otherwise]

I've been riding with AGV for the last 12 years now and love them.
It's all about the shape of your head. Times change and so do manufacturers so what is best may change in a year or two.
As far as riding in glasses is concerned, why have you ruled it out? I'm still legal to ride without glasses but use them because I know I see better with them. I took my helmet with me to my optometrist and tried different frames until I found a frame that was comfortable and appealed to my vanity.

 

[DaveM]

I also wear glasses when I ride and I have found that my AGV works great with them

 

[avion]

I've tried riding with different glasses but just can't seem to forget that they're there. I hate glasses, having to clean them and then they hurt my ears and nose - much prefer contacts.
I've also had them move on me while performing some quick erm..... riding.
Not even a fan of sun glasses for the same reason.

At the moment I'm not wearing anything (oooeeer, calm down ladies) when I ride. I did manage to pass my eye test for my license renewal last month, but it is a strain looking for the cops hiding in bushes now, so I guess I should wear some form of eye correction when I ride too.

My best thought so far is to wear the contacts, but then I need a different helmet, my current Shoei is on it's 6'th year so what with UV et al, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get something new.

...

 

[Gromit]

I've tried riding with different glasses but just can't seem to forget that they're there. I hate glasses, having to clean them and then they hurt my ears and nose - much prefer contacts.
Not even a fan of sun glasses for the same reason.

My best thought so far is to wear the contacts, but then I need a different helmet, my current Shoei is on it's 6'th year so what with UV et al, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get something new.

...

I agree with you on wearing glasses of any type under a helmet - I just can't comfortable with them. I've got an Arai (Farside just bought the Arai off-road helmet and loves it even with sunglasses) and I find it very quiet and very little wind with the visor properly closed but I leave the vents open. Speak to Arnold about the Arai and tell your optometrist that you want to wear contacts when you ride - there are so many new contacts on the market - I even have 'multi-focal' contacts because I'm as blind as a bat up close or any kind of distance. Now endorsed on my license - must wear glasses/contacts :y11: But you will need to keep saline eye-drops in your pocket all the time.

 

[avion]

The optometrist reckons multi's will be my next 'upgrade' as he can't do much more with normal ones. :y8:
How was it at first Gromit? Difficult to adapt?

I had some saline drops but gave them to my step mom who was having issues after her eye ops. Will get some more and try them out. ta for the tip.

 

[Gromit]

The optometrist reckons multi's will be my next 'upgrade' as he can't do much more with normal ones. :y8:
How was it at first Gromit? Difficult to adapt?

I had some saline drops but gave them to my step mom who was having issues after her eye ops. Will get some more and try them out. ta for the tip.

Very difficult to adapt to contacts - even just at work as I'd never had any type of glasses or contacts until about 2 years ago (12 hours a day in front of computer!) Definitely takes some getting used to especially if they're multi-focal. Once I got used to the lenses at work, I tried as a pillion with Farside - that way I could duck the wind behind him. That was fine as a pillion. On my own, I found the focussing between distances a bit tricky - have to move your head a bit not just your eyes but not big movement. In a x-wind, I found pulling a buff up over the chin helped. But definitely needed drops at each stop. Don't even think of using any eye-drops not recommended by your optometrist - stuff like Safyr Bleu etc burn like the hobs of hell and can damage the contacts.

Try an Arai - sure Arnie has a 'demo' you can borrow for a weekend??

 

[avion]

will fone the guys at TTC and find out about that. I was there yesterday afternoon, it didn't even cross my mind.

 

[Rocky]

I've been wearing eye glasses for about 23 years and they're second nature to me now.
My current pairs are tri-focal (some call them multi's or progressives lenses) and I don't have any problem with them in a helmet.
I went with the tri-focals because I ride a bike and they are so much better than the bi-focals I had before. With bi-focals I had to move my head around to get in focus and that can be a serious situation on a bike. Tri-focals are also much better for reading a computer monitor.
I used to have to cock my head back to see the screen (pain in the neck), but not anymore
If you need glasses to see properly, for your own safety (and others), please wear them - end of sermon
I've been wearing flip-up helmets for quite a few years as they're easy-on easy-off with glasses.
None of the helmets I've worn over the years direct air to my face to the extent that it bothers my eyes, but seem to ventilate OK.

 

[hemibee]

I too wear contacts most of the time while riding. Every now and then I will wear my glasses but I hate having to do that. As said before, helmets are a lot like oil and tires when it comes to asking for opinions. I wear an Arai and love it. The reason I wear an Arai is due to head shape, no other manufactures that I've tried makes a helmet I can wear without some or a lot of discomfort. So my choice is a bit slanted for that reason. I do notice the Arai, to me, seems to have less wind blowing in my face than the Shoei I wore before this helmet. I ride with all the vents open, the chin vent, visor vents and crown vents and have not noticed too much wind. This maybe because I finally have one that fits so your experience may be a bit different.

As Gromit said, there is a difference in contact lenses these days. I used to wear the week long disposables, now I wear the daily use Moist Lenses. What a difference they made! On top of not having to clean and sanitize them every night, the ease of carrying an extra pair or two is great! Especially when off road in the dust on my dirt bike. Yes you may still have some dry eye conditions (on the street or off road) but with a small bottle of approved eye drops you should be ok. I'll put up with that over having to wear my glasses while riding.