Breath guards: Do they work?

[vifferman]

The Shoei XR1000 I bought on Friday had its first "real life" test today (commuting in drizzle), and acquitted itself very well in comparison to the AGV X-Vent it replaces, apart from in one area. The only time the AGV's visor fogged up was if I had it shut tight, the chin vent shut, and was breathing hard. And then once the bike was moving at any speed, it defogged itself very quickly, courtesy of a very effective chin vent that blew lotsa air straight up the visor (and up my nose!) The Shoei on the other hand fogs up within seconds if I shut the visor (even with the chin vent open), and needs the visor open to defog quickly.

So. Is there anyone out there in KiwiBikerLand who has a Shoei with a breathguard, who can tell me if it's worth buying one? Do they work to reduce fogging? (Yes, I know one of those Fog City inserts would help, but I don't really want to fit one.)

I washed the removable liner from the AGV in the weekend, and was astounded at how black the wash water was. No, I don't have some strange, evil black perspiration - it's from all the traffic fumes that get blown through the helmet when commuting. :shit:

[Disco Dan]

dont have a chin guard on my XR1000 but always have front vent open to stop it fogging. When really cold I find pulling my head back a bit helps...

that or I go faster... :shutup:

[vifferman]

dont have a chin guard on my XR1000 but always have front vent open to stop it fogging. When really cold I find pulling my head back a bit helps...

that or I go faster... :shutup:
Thanx for the reply.
The AGV did have a chin spoiler thingo (technical term), yet despite the Shoei letting a LOT more air through the helmet, the AGV fogged up less readily. Some of it is down to the AGV's visor not sealing at the top as well as the Shoei, and some is probably due to the airflow up the inside of the visor, but it's still a bit frustrating. Apart from the visor not being as dark (I can ride directly into the rising/setting sun, and still see where I'm going), and the padding on the strap not being as comfy (the AGV's is longer, and overlaps, so there's no 'bare' strap against your chin), the Shoei's MUCH better. So, if I can sort this fogging thing out, I will be happy (for a given value of 'happy'...)

[Disco Dan]

Yeah I tilt my head back and look up at a fair angle like 45 degrees (ish) and it de-fogs. Usually only fogs up when I stop, and when really cold I tilt my head up instead of opening the visor... lets more air through the front vent.

[Big Dave]

A Pinlock visor is best, then Fog City, then breath guard.

[Big Dave]

Yeah I tilt my head back and look up at a fair angle like 45 degrees (ish) and it de-fogs. Usually only fogs up when I stop, and when really cold I tilt my head up instead of opening the visor... lets more air through the front vent.

And all the Maori nod back.

[Sparkz]

The breathe guard worked well for me. Until I got the whisper kit collar job which made the fogging up problem much worse.

[vifferman]

A Pinlock visor is best, then Fog City, then breath guard.
Thanx, Dave. You're the second person to say the same thing.

[vifferman]

And all the Maori nod back.
Not even, au!

[riffer]

FWIW, my Oxford Huff works perfectly.

I honestly think you need to have a certain type of face shape for it to work properly.

It does pinch my nose something horrid though. I have to breathe through my mouth when I am using it.

[Sparky Bills]

The breathguards in helmets are pretty token. Get yourself a Shoei Pinlock visor with antifog insert. Cant go wrong! The Fog City inserts are good, but scratch very easily.
I have an Arai with pinlock visor and insert. I never have to worry about fogging again. They really do work.

[Crisis management]

My XR1000 is similar, it seal so well it fogs fairly quickly but with a balaclava most of the problem disappears.
There is a adjustable setting for the visor opening lever that allows a preset, minute, opening (not the first click on the ratchet) that I use and this assists in defogging. This works for me at any speed over 50 without a whole lot of wind and noise.
I'm not going to try and explain it here, it will degenerate into a widget thingie description..... read the instructions.

Pin lock visor sounds like a good bet, I have to admit I turned down a freebie visor from Mick at Motomail when I bought the helmet with the famous statement "I never have a problem with fogging".

I think the absolute fuckwit award should be freely given...

[avgas]

Breath gurads work in the shoeis, the prob with the shoeis is they seal up too good. Pinlocks are ok - but i'm always scared of what would happen if i copped a face full of seagull (its happened before with the XR800 - ever seen your visor flex enough to touch ya nose???).
I run a prolink insert - as i found the fog citys scratch up.

[vifferman]

There is a adjustable setting for the visor opening lever that allows a preset, minute, opening (not the first click on the ratchet) that I use and this assists in defogging. This works for me at any speed over 50 without a whole lot of wind and noise.
I'm not going to try and explain it here, it will degenerate into a widget thingie description..... read the instructions.
Thanx - I sorted this one out by fiddling widdit.

It sounds like the consensus is that the pinlock insert works. Who sells 'em?
I was trying to avoid going this route, as during the winter munce I find I'm often wearing a tinted visor to work, and the clear one home. Would've been nice if the Latest'n'Greatest from HJC fitted me - the FS10, I think it is. It has an 'inner visor' thingo (technical term) that snaps down in front of your eyes like a pair of dark sunglasses, when you press a button on the outside of the helmet. Schuberth have the same thing on their helmets, and it's the best of both worlds, saving visor changes. Luckily, both the AGV and the Shoei have VERY easy visor changing systems, so although it's a bit of a nuisance having to cart a spare visor around, changing it over isn't.

[smoky]

I use a ...... well actually I always ride with the visor open a bit, your face freezes in the cold, but I like to hear the bike.

Don't wear ear plugs either! Guess I'm an idoit.

In the cold or rain your nose tends to freeze, hurt, then seems to come right after a bit. No fogging.

[WarlockNZ]

I had the same problem .. but i've found that the oxford anti fog insert has worked pretty well.

Doesn't help with the sunnies tho .. they fog as well .. lol.

[car]

So. Is there anyone out there in KiwiBikerLand who has a Shoei with a breathguard, who can tell me if it's worth buying one? Do they work to reduce fogging?

I had one, a long, long time ago. I loved the lid but found the breath guard uncomfortable and ineffective...


(Yes, I know one of those Fog City inserts would help, but I don't really want to fit one.)

... so I dumped it in favour of a Fog City, which I continue to swear by.

I get the impression that the efficacy and comfort of the breath guards is dependent on the head of the wearer, so you're just as likely to get someone coming along now saying "I found mine super-comfortable and I've never had a fogging problem since."

Go to your nearest gear shop and ask them if they've got one you can try on?

Cheers,

Chris.

[Pwalo]

I've got an HJC(retro fit jobbie) breath guard on my HJC CL-SP. (It's even got the velcro patch for it built into the chin guard). It works really well, even with my glasses. It does provide a decent seal around your nose and mouth, which I think must be the answer.

As I've said it works. My visor hasn't fogged up since I've had it. My glasses stay clear, and my chin stays warm as well. It does take a bit of getting used to (not the most comfortable) but looks the business.

[Street Gerbil]

Two words: hell yes!

[Zapf]

Thanx, Dave. You're the second person to say the same thing.

And I'll be another. To say the same thing. :yes:

[Gremlin]

Two words: hell yes!
I'll go with this... but its not exactly an expert opinion, as I haven't used the fog city or pinlock. I have used the breath guard in my HJC CL-14 for at least 1.5 years, but its a really big one, not the tiny little attempt some helmets have. Some do find it a little claustrophobic tho.

I'm struggling to find a new helmet that ticks all the boxes. Some helmets have whisper kits/chin thingies, breath guards etc, others have nothing. Predictably, the ones I really like (AGV Stealth) list nothing, in the way of accessories :(

[car]

A Pinlock visor is best, then Fog City, then breath guard.

What advantages does Pinlock have over Fog City?

(Because I'm interested.)

[Kflasher]

...So. Is there anyone out there in KiwiBikerLand who has a Shoei with a breathguard...

I have an agv with an aftermarket nose guard, it just slips in between the padding and sits in place.
It does work, I really notice it in the wet when fogging is an issue.
The only problem is on long rides it can irritate you checks a bit.

[sAsLEX]

What advantages does Pinlock have over Fog City?

(Because I'm interested.)

You can remove and clean both layers. But this also means dirt gets in between the layers...

[NZsarge]

And I'll be another. To say the same thing. :yes:
Me too! Swear by da pin lock.:D

[vifferman]

No real fogging this morning, and I didn't even open my visor when I stopped!
I don't think I will get an accessory to guard my breathing after all.
The two things that made a difference are:
- Crisis Management's post made me take a look at the visor operation again (but I didn't take the drastic step of reading the manual). I discovered that the "widget thingie" enabled a suitable micro opening of the visor, apparently enough to flow air through it all the time, without letting the elephants in.
- I remembered I had something similar to "cat crap" at home (no, it wasn't dog poo), and this morning found two (2!) different pots languishing in the depths of the cupboards. One looked like it had devolved into something other than the gel it started as, while the other seemed to have become more gellified than it was supposed to be, but I applied it anyway. Weird smelling stuff - maybe it was cupboard spooge, or cockroach crud or summat.
But (however!) it did the trick! :yes:
The visor tried (halfheartedly) to fog up, but even though as I said, I didn't open the visor apart from leaving it at the micro-opening it started off with, it remained clear enough to see.

Yay!!

Fog: 0
Vision: 1
Cost: 0.00 UnZud ShekelDollars

[car]

You can remove and clean both layers. But this also means dirt gets in between the layers...

Still evens, then.

I must admit, visors coming pre-drilled for pinlock and allowing easy fitting and interchangability sound like advantages. But having to drill a visor that doesn't come with pinlock fittings sounds like a PITA. I got me one of those photochromatic FCs last time I bought a new lid and it works a treat, no need to change the insert.

[Insanity_rules]

I'll go with this... but its not exactly an expert opinion, as I haven't used the fog city or pinlock. I have used the breath guard in my HJC CL-14 for at least 1.5 years, but its a really big one, not the tiny little attempt some helmets have. Some do find it a little claustrophobic tho.

I'm struggling to find a new helmet that ticks all the boxes. Some helmets have whisper kits/chin thingies, breath guards etc, others have nothing. Predictably, the ones I really like (AGV Stealth) list nothing, in the way of accessories :(

I have the same helmet with a different gadget, its a visor insert I bought for $30 odd from tss and its REALLY good. I used to fog my helmet easily (living in Upper Hutt and riding in the cold will do that for ya) and it works well. Cant remember the brand though.