Shoei breath guard

[vifferman]

Does anyone have one of these fitted to their Shoei?
Does it help (i.e., is it better than not having one?)

I've noticed lately with the mornings being much colder (9C today), when I hit the motorway and shut the visor, for a few seconds it fogs up when I breathe out. After a while, it's fine (apart from last night when it was PISSING down with rain, and cold, and I was caught in it. HAd to ride with the visor open a crack.
Yes, I *know* a pinlock insert would help this, but I don't want one. I'm having to wear my tinted visor in the morning, and the clear on the way home, and I don't want to have to get inserts for both. Furthermore, even though I've heard how wonderful and effective they are, I'd rather not add any to the visor(s); just another complication (especially with swapping visors regularly), and another thing to get dirty or scratched.

So... opinions? Is it worth $45?

While we're at it - does the whisper kit make the visor fog up more? I'm not too concerned about draughts, just reducing wind noise.

[86GSXR]

Yep, I've got one in my XR1000. I think it does a good job, and I don't want a pinlock either. It still fogs up if it's really cold but not as bad as it would without it. The bloody things are just too well sealed eh!

I've got the whisper kit as well, this is well worth it. Not only does it deal to the noise briliantly, it really keeps the warmth in as well. I'd say it wouldn't make too much of a difference to fogging, only way to really get around that is the pinlock unfortunately.

[Pwalo]

Like 86GSXR I've got one in my XR1000, and it definitely helps with fogging.

I've got one of the progressive tint visors which helps with the low sun as well.

[jim.cox]

I'd say it wouldn't make too much of a difference to fogging, only way to really get around that is the pinlock unfortunately.

Or ripping the visor off entirely...

[Gremlin]

The breath guard for the nose isn't big enough, but it helps a little.

The whisper kit definitely affects fogging, the chin piece in particular, as it seems to stop the warm air going out, making it return to the visor... but then, that kit is sorta designed to stop the cold air getting in. :wacko:

I use the breath guard and neck skirt the whole time, but don't use the chin guard. Not perfect, but have to. Be aware that the whole whisper kit makes getting into the helmet a touch harder :whistle:

[Blackbird]

Ian, got a Foggy brand for mine (XR1000 helmet) and works perfectly. I only use it in winter with my iridium visor as like you, I only have the pinlock on my clear visor.

[vifferman]

Thanks guys - that's a big help. :niceone:


Ian, got a Foggy brand for mine (XR1000 helmet) and works perfectly.
Where did you buy that, Geoff?

[Blackbird]

Where did you buy that, Geoff?

A mate in the UK sent it over but it's probably available here. Here's the link to a UK site - 12 quid to you mate: http://www.toolparts.co.uk/acatalog/Helmet_Accessories.html. Mine's black.

Whilst I was doing the link search for you, I found a thread on UK Superbikes where someone said it was superior to the Shoei product: http://www.superbikeforums.co.uk/index.php?topic=16534.0%3Bwap2.

[Devil]

Just get the insert. Just do it.

Got the breath guard. Makes minimal difference (XR1000), got the whisper kit as well, makes the fogging worse, but certainly makes for a warmer helmet.

$40 for a fog city (lasted me two winters, others have had varying experiences) and i'm about to pick up a complete clear visor with pinlock ($99).

[pritch]

Got the breath guard. Makes minimal difference (XR1000),

I'll second that.

I also have the whisper kit but generally only use the chin part. On my old BMW System 3 helmet the equivalent parts were leather which worked better than the little netting(?) item in the Shoei kit.

[smoky]

There are benefits to just hardening up and dealing with the cold and noise, rather than hermetically seal your self off from the winter elements;

You get a bit of colour to your face, after a while it gets numb and you don't feel the cold
You get to hear the neat sound your bike makes - ye ha
The cold air up your nostrils actually kills the bugs that give you colds and flues - you stay much healthier thru winter

You get a little deaf - and when you get home you don't even notice the other half nagging her little lungs off, your ears are still resounding with the awesome sound of your bike.

[steelestring]

I have to say the harden up thing is the only way to go for complete resolvement...:2thumbsup

but...

I do have the breath gaurd and chin curtain on my XR1000 that help slightly..... I find myself just rideing with the lid up in most occasions while on slow rides round town....... or just stop breathing for long periods of time:2thumbsup

[slofox]

When I had a shoei the whisper kit made fogging worse, as others have already said.
I have a pinlock for the Arai but it isn't as clear as I would like. Is this normal?

In general I deal with fogging by leaving the visor a smidgen open. And I breathe out through my mouth and try to direct the air downwards instead of letting it come up and fog the visor...believe it or not you can get used to that...after a while...

[riffer]

The whisper kit makes the fogging insane.

But the pinlock stops it affecting you too much. But peripheral vision is screwed because the outside of the pinlock is completely fogged.

Nice and warm but.

[Crisis management]

Interesting as I was considering these options (whisper kit) to cut the wind noise down, I suspect I won't bother now, I'll carry on with the ear plugs and balaclava.

Just to annoy you Viffer, the pinlock is great, I have ridden in 12 hours of rain and snow last winter without the visor fogging on an adventure ride. I have only had one problem with it getting water between the visor and pinlock once and that was because I left the helmet upside down while it was raining....and the pinlock stays on all year, I think I've had it off once in the last 9 months to clean.

Fogging, not a problem over here!

[smoky]

Why pay for a whisper kit? grow a beard

[vifferman]

Why pay for a whisper kit? grow a beard
Been there, done that. (Been hirsute of face for more of the last 30ish years than not). Unfortunately (or not), when I trimmed it on the weekend, I had a brain fart, and forgot that unlike the old one, my new clippers cut very short without a comb fitted. :Oops:
Start again...

I was considering the whisper kit mainly because I noted that even sticking a couple of fingers under the edge of the base of the XR1000 stopped almost all the wind noise. While I ride with earplugs in on the open road, I haven't bothered while communtering, as I spend not much more than 5 minutes on the motorway each trip. I'm beginning to question the sense of that...

[robboh]

Breath-guard HELPS on my XR1000, but doesn't solve the issue.

I personally was thinking 'pin-lock' to myself on the way to work this morning, or at least giving pledge a try. As well as 'rain-ex' for the outside :)

I seem to have worse fog issues on my current helmet than I remember having on my X8. I THINK its because its an XS and the XR1000 doesnt have a shell-size per noggin-size. So my face is closer to the visor.

There used to be one valley on my commute from Albany to Whangaparoa which used to fog my visor EVERY night in winter on the way home. And 10x worse if I was going down the road after 10pm. I just learnt to use the little visor-crack-open doofer on the left-hand side coming down the Albany hill, before getting to Dairy Flat.

[alanzs]

Mine fogs up pretty quick. The BEST solution I have found is the pin lock system. Iv'e used Cat Crap and other anti-fog treatments, but the pinlock is da bomb!

[Gremlin]

The whisper kit definitely cuts down on sound, even the skirt alone, without the chin guard. But the original Q was fogging.

Re Fog City, I would be one of those that had a varying experience with it, as Devil mentions. I fitted the Fog City as per instructions... it didn't stay stuck to the visor for more than 24 hours...

Gave up, not running fog city or pinlock, and find fogging is only a small problem when stopped. Moving, you shouldn't have a problem.

[Jerms]

I've had a fog city on my visor for about two years now...so it's gained quite a few scratches and I have been considering removing it. It worked really well to start with i.e. no fogging, but it's not as good as it used to be.

I have been considering the breath guard because with the visor completely closed there is a build up of condensation. As someone mentioned earlier breathing out your mouth and directing it down works to some degree...:2thumbsup

[retro asian]

My Shoei whisper kit rocks.

before I had one, the wind that blew inside my helmet kept blowing my glasses crooked, and it was a right pain in the ass to have to open my visor and straighten them while riding...

[Swoop]

Had the breath guard in the HJC for years. Wouldn't ride in winter without it.
No whisper kit either. Let the [hot] air flow out, but not towards the visor.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Does anyone have one of these fitted to their Shoei?
Does it help (i.e., is it better than not having one?)

I've noticed lately with the mornings being much colder (9C today), when I hit the motorway and shut the visor, for a few seconds it fogs up when I breathe out. After a while, it's fine (apart from last night when it was PISSING down with rain, and cold, and I was caught in it. HAd to ride with the visor open a crack.
Yes, I *know* a pinlock insert would help this, but I don't want one. I'm having to wear my tinted visor in the morning, and the clear on the way home, and I don't want to have to get inserts for both. Furthermore, even though I've heard how wonderful and effective they are, I'd rather not add any to the visor(s); just another complication (especially with swapping visors regularly), and another thing to get dirty or scratched.

So... opinions? Is it worth $45?

While we're at it - does the whisper kit make the visor fog up more? I'm not too concerned about draughts, just reducing wind noise.

I can't wear the breath guard because when I tried it it rested against my glasses. Not comfortable and I thought it would get less comfortable the longer I wear it. Not an issue for non glasses wearers though.

Whisper kit: absolutely worth the coin. Not sure if it has a negative effect on visor fogging: mine fogs like a bastard with or without it. I will get a pinlock insert for mine, for the clear visor.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Why pay for a whisper kit? grow a beard

or plait your ear and nose hair together in a fetching way.

[mujambee]

I removed the breath cover from my X-Spirit, it presses on mi big nose* and it is quite unconfortable. Now I wear a scarf up to my eyes and use the antifog position in the helmet lock (push down). Never got fog again.

And it won't cost you nothing.



* My wife is the only one allowed to make jokes on this :msn-wink:

[vifferman]

This morning I wore a silk balaclava, and fitted the chin curtain from my AGV to the Shoei. My chin was warmer, but I dunno what if any difference the chindoofer made. See again tonight (sans balaclava).
I also polished the inside of the visor with anti-mist crap. I won't do that again; while it stopped fogging, and the visor cleared faster while I was moving, the resulting "thin dew" on the inside of the visor when it did attempt to fog up was more annoying than fog.
Pledge or Plexus help keep the outside of the visor clear, but are pretty much useless as anti-fog agents.

The thing I HATE most when riding the bike is riding in fog. Doesn't matter what you do, visibility is crap. It's the one real bitch I have about riding in winter. Luckily, D'Auckland seems to get only one or two fogs per year.

[Warr]

Pinlock gets my vote.
Once fitted just forget about it. Dont have any vision issues tis great :)

[Mully Clown]

I bought the breath guard for my Raid2. Now my breath defelects off the thing and into my bloody spectacles.

Now I just open the visor a crack while riding and don't breathe when I'm stopped. Must fit the pinlock and try it out again.

[banditrider]

I can't wear the breath guard because when I tried it it rested against my glasses. Not comfortable and I thought it would get less comfortable the longer I wear it. Not an issue for non glasses wearers though.

Whisper kit: absolutely worth the coin. Not sure if it has a negative effect on visor fogging: mine fogs like a bastard with or without it. I will get a pinlock insert for mine, for the clear visor.

Have to agree there - the whisper kit is great although I still wear ear plugs too. I've been interested in a breath guard and have tried a crappy old one in my XR-1000 but it's an old one and probably not really designed for the XR-1000. Like you I wear glasses and would want to be sure that the nose guard didn't affect they way they sit.


The thing I HATE most when riding the bike is riding in fog. Doesn't matter what you do, visibility is crap. It's the one real bitch I have about riding in winter.

Yep, the all-time worst weather condition for riding...

[robboh]

OK. Well, I brought a pinlock visor and clear pinlock about 10 days ago.

I havent had to open my visor ONCE since due to misting, in either rain or cold.

Ive walked into the house after riding home in the evening, and the entire visor where the pinlock isnt covering has been dripping wet with condensation, but NO problems with the pinlock area condensating.

I would have to say that the pinlock system is one of very few products I have come across that works 100% as advertised.

Now if I can figure out a way to pinlock my sunglasses so I can wear them again in the mornings, I'll be happy as a pig in mud (either that, or get a tinted pinlock lens).

The only downsides of the pinlock is that it does seem to glare up a little more (VERY slight) from oncoming car headlights, and that I find the edges of the pinlock a little visually distracting as they sit at the edges of your vision.

You get used to the latter pretty quick, and the benefits (no visor misting) totally outweigh the slight downsides.

[retro asian]

After tonight's ride I am very tempted to get a pinlock... couldn't see a thing through my opaque white visor!!

[Metalor]

Any of you guys know if this stuff works at all? I've been thinking of going to a dive shop and buying some of their antifog stuff for masks. My new helmet (KBC VR2) fogs up heaps, way more than my shitty old $150 HJC ever did.

[NDORFN]

Don't you guys just use the demist lever on your helmets? Works for me.

[wysper]

Does anyone have one of these fitted to their Shoei?
Does it help (i.e., is it better than not having one?)




Ian, got a Foggy brand for mine (XR1000 helmet) and works perfectly. I only use it in winter with my iridium visor as like you, I only have the pinlock on my clear visor.

Hey VIff, don't know what you did in the end but I can HIGHLY recommend the Foggy mask. I wanted one so my SIL got me one for xmas. She lives in England.
It is brilliant. I have gone from a visor up rider to a visor down rider. I wore it through summer and am now very happy with it in winter. I have had no issues with fogging visor or fogging glasses (I wear specs), I think with freight it comes to about $60. Worth every cent I think. Wont help with fog. Still pretty tough riding in fog - I know this - being in Hamilton. AT least your visor will be clear though.

[vifferman]

Hey VIff, don't know what you did in the end
Rubbed Sunlight liquid all over the inside of the visor with a soft cloth, wiped it off, polished it up with a soft cloth. Brilliant! :niceone:
Found it made my clear visor look a little 'foggy' though - might need to clean it again, as it probably had remnants of Plexus and antimist cream on it.

[robboh]

Don't you guys just use the demist lever on your helmets? Works for me.

Coz it dont work when u are standing still at lights
Coz its a PITA to do at every set of lights
Coz it lets water run down the inside of the visor when its raining
Coz it still makes my eyes water when moving (see PITA at lights)
Coz it doesnt clear fog behind glasses or sunglasses (only leaving visor full open seems to do that reliably).
Coz Im a lazy, whinging git

It is a valid option, and one that works semi-well, and that I have done for years. However, PinLock is still :niceone: