Pro Grip light-sensitive lenses, do they actually work?

[zeocen]

I'm sick of either having two helmets or two visors for my Arai, I love the helmet to death and I hate having to play with the visors while changing them or going to my shitty Nitro helmet when night time arrives. I love travelling during the day with the tinted visor, after a year of sunglasses I wouldn't have it any other way.

I was just wondering if these Pro Grip lenses worked, apparently they adjust the tint accordingly to the brightness. What I want to know, if anyone has one, is this:

Are they okay for night? Or is there still some tint or glare between the lens and the visor?

Do they actually even work? I've done some googling and one of the testers didn't speak highly of them, but they would make my life so much more easier, I really don't want to believe him

Thanks guys

[rie]

i had the pro grip on my visor today (ride to RC track)

are they ok for night?

yes. see below

do they actually work?
you may have noticed a teensy weensy purple tint on my face today - very unattractive, and very slight. but the reaction time to light is instant - which is one of its better qualities. thus it is usually most helpful when you are running under a bunch of trees where the light is scattered.

even though the tint is slight, it is *usually* sufficient. but buyer be warned. as an illustration: when the tint is at its deepest (ie greatest light intensity) you can still see the rider's iris'.

the anti-fog qualities are excellent. does exactly what it's meant to do.

serious downsides:
you only get one shot at installing the damn thing in your visor. seriously. trying to rip it off because it's crooked is one toothy mission.

also, my visor happens to be larger than the progrip. i discovered there was an annoying crack at the top of the visor where the progrip didn't quite cover and the sunlight would beam through into my eyes. of course trying to rip it off to re-install it correctly involved three flatmates and a lotta cursing. after re-installing we discovered there was quite a large gap now at the BOTTOM of the visor. rawr.

[gijoe1313]

And here I thought you were just looking ill after following a little yellow square around the twisties all arvo!

It seems zeocen is obsessed with these things now, like he usually does ... please forgive him if he looks like he is staring intently at you.

He's not a stalker... but is probably waiting for the tint effect to happen!

I keep telling him to get a Caberg helmet like I have, but it ain't taking He just wants to show off his $1150 Arai helmet because "it makes my eyes look so pretty and it shows off my cheekbones better"

No accounting for taste...

"It puts the tint in the visor, or it gets no ride..."

[zeocen]

Damnit, if I had known I would have stolen your helmet to try on!
I didn't even notice, hmm, maybe that's a good thing?

The main issue is night time, and sunstrike on morning/evening, if they are perfect for that then I'll definitely get me one and switch visors on my Arai. Also where did you buy yours from and for how much if you don't mind me asking?

/edit: I like wearing my expensive helmet because I didn't pay that ridiculous price for it , that and it's amazingly comfortable.. I guess comfort does come at a price hehe

[gijoe1313]

Tell you what I'll plonk $50 down and get the red tint one for my new helmet

When it works, I'll laugh maniacally and scoff in your general direction. If it doesn't, I'll need your hand to help rip it off?

[rie]

by the way, i have a clear one. it appears to have a default tint colour of "putrid red."

perhaps you should try getting a nicer coloured one to complement your beautifully arai-framed cheekbones.

i got mine for...$30? at motomail.
it's not that great for intense sunstrike. it appears to be designed almost specifically for open road riding where sunlight ripples through tree branches above, and light/dark can be quite dramatic. but hey, if you have two visors already, it can't hurt getting it for its awesome antifog qualities.

all my gear seems to come with random stickers. whart part of my life necessitates 'pro-grip' and 'strada' stickers?

[zeocen]

Hmm, if Motomail is open tomorrow then that is where I am headed! I was going to go for the dark red one, to compliment my beautiful cheekbones with my beautiful black and red bike *ahem*

I also have a plethora of pro grip and renthal stickers, I usually just give them to gijoe1313 or Donor, they like accessorising. :>

[RDJ]

Just my experience - yes, Arai visors are awkward to change and no, this solution is not reliable (for me - YMMV).

I found evenings especially (mornings not so bad) that they do not meet the needed standard to avoid / dampen sun glare.

Still waiting for Arai to install a dropdown built-in sun visor for us astigmatically challenged....

[motorbyclist]

the progrip tinted motorcross lenses seem to work ok - never tested at dawn, dusk, nor night but do go completely clear

i usually just tilt my head to use the helmet (being on a sportsbike it's not too hard) and squint



what about the coating you can get on glasses?

they call them "transition" lenses, and work very well indeed. fine at night and fairly dark in direct sunlight.

well they would work well if i didn't wear my contact lenses so much, and if they weren't UV sensitive - the visor seems to filter alot out so we don't get sunburned faces and my glasses don't tint...

maybe next time i'm at the optometrist i'll see if they can coat my visor

(note, it'll give you a purple tint)

[gijoe1313]

Well riding to Motomail and then 'treads was a bust for the visor, though zeo did purchase quite a lot of unrelated bling

I went home via twisties and just for the heck of it rode randomly around the rest of Auckland for a bit!

[What?]

I was just wondering if these Pro Grip lenses worked, apparently they adjust the tint accordingly to the brightness. What I want to know, if anyone has one, is this:

Are they okay for night? Or is there still some tint or glare between the lens and the visor?

Do they actually even work? ...

I had one once - it did not go properly clear at night, and after a couple of months stopped changing tint at all. It was VERY good as far as not fogging went, but due to the large gap between the insert and visor, there was a lot of internal reflection at night.
Pinlock inserts are immeasurably better - you just need to take a minute or two to swap inserts at sundown.

[zeocen]

That's actually a bloody good idea. Hmmmmmm!

Anyone know who stocks custom Arai pinlock inserts? I know there are Arai ones that cover most of the visor. I already have a fogcity pinlock for my clear visor, if I get a tinted one I can just change between the two. "What?" you are a genius. I missed the most simple choice hehe

[HungusMaximist]

I use to have a blue 'light sensitive' pro grip insert. I was using it maninly for anti-fog properties but the light sensitive blue tint was a nice touch.

It works good for anti-fog but it's no tinted visor.

How about just forget about carrying a tinted visor and just get yourself a pair of sunglasses?

It looks less cool but who really cares?

edit: pin lock idea sound really good

[zeocen]

Because the only accident I have had on a motorcycle, was me doing a front flip over the bars, landing on the back of my head and I'm pretty confident anything inside of my helmet at the time would have done considerable damage to my face. I like my face, it is pretty.

[gijoe1313]

Because the only accident I have had on a motorcycle, was me doing a front flip over the bars, landing on the back of my head and I'm pretty confident anything inside of my helmet at the time would have done considerable damage to my face. I like my face, it is pretty.

"yo' shure got a pretty mouth thar boy .... squeal like a pig!" So looking at other options now for it? Open face lid with CHiPs glasses?