Integrated visor or not?

[RDJ]

Brief review of the 98371-15VM - Harley-Davidson Capstone Retractable Sun Shield Full Face Modular Helmet

For many years I wore a sequence of Arai Signets in XXXL, all fitted extremely well. Arai discontinued it, I tried other Arais, including the Vector with no luck, then moved to a Shoei Multitec XXXL, also extremely well fitting, before Shoei stopped making that... Have also tried a nonmodular Shoei, the Shoei Neotech, and (expensively) a Schuberth with integrated sunshield which felt okay in the shop for about 40 minutes, but I could never get used to the fit on a long ride. Like other people, I found the new Shoei Neotec a lower-quality, noisier replacement for the Multitec, and it didn't seem to have the same head shape as the Multitec, which is no longer easily available.

While on a recent US assignment I found this H-D helmet, selling for 30% off at the Arizona dealer. Size XXXL. Normal retail price 250 US. For what it's worth, it appears well made (in China) with slightly less padding, but no less styrene thickness than the Shoei and Arai, and equally comfortable. Changing the visor is superbly easy compared to an Arai (but then what isn't), just as straightforward as the Shoei. Very quiet, but obviously not as quiet as the Schuberth, much better venting than the other three manufacturers and very easy to open, much easier than the Schuberth, as straightforward as the Multitec. Has a pinlock capability but you can ride with the clear visor cracked slightly open and it doesn't fog up.

The real feature of this helmet for me who wears glasses, is the excellent inbuilt sunshield. Has a two-position lock (i usually ride with it all the way down), and retracts on a spring at the touch of a button. When down covers pretty much exactly the same field of vision as good sunglasses do. Since buying this helmet I no longer ride with sunglasses at all. It's a great fit. And yes, those who don't like riding Harley branded gear will not like it for that alone... But if you need a larger size helmet, and are looking for a helmet with a smoothly integrated visor, good build quality, a reasonable price and ease of use, I'd recommend this.

[nerrrd]

It's not just less EPS, it's also the air gap between the shell and the liner.

Snell won't test them, let alone approve them, and Arai still don't make one. Have a look at the SHARP rating for the Shoei GT Air.

I'll stick with my mirrored visor in summer.

Don't think that logic actually works as far as the Sharp ratings go - I briefly owned a Caberg Tourmax which had a drop down sun visor and a 5 star rating; a quick look found two others with drop down visors and 5 stars (Shark Evoline 3, HJC-IS 17) and only one Arai with a 5 star rating at all - so not including one doesn't seem to help much.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Definitely not if youwear glasses

[Moi]

It's not just less EPS, it's also the air gap between the shell and the liner.

Snell won't test them, let alone approve them, and Arai still don't make one. Have a look at the SHARP rating for the Shoei GT Air.

I'll stick with my mirrored visor in summer.

The two helmets I use are both drop-down sun visor and modular and one - the older one - is 4-star from SHARP and the other is 5-star...

[Mr Revhead]

It's not just less EPS, it's also the air gap between the shell and the liner.

Snell won't test them, let alone approve them, and Arai still don't make one. Have a look at the SHARP rating for the Shoei GT Air.

I'll stick with my mirrored visor in summer.

Interesting, 4 stars for my helmet....
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/testsratings/ls2-ff370

That Shoei looks like a good example of proving extra cost doesn't mean extra safety.

So, how do you manage in and out of light? Such as the some of my ride form Chch to Nelson today, several stretched where the road went into shade with some rough patches of road. One flick and no more tint.