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KBC helmet visor problem
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:30 am
by CO_Tim
Got a KBC Force RR last August. Fits great, light weight; vent covers are poor quality, and the visor attachment is a PITA. Wish I'd bought a Force S, doesn't have the crappy vent covers. The part that the visor snaps onto (KBC calls them base plates) went bad after 2 months. KBC sent me a free set of base plates to fix the problem. Then last week my friends 7 yr old was playing with the helmet. Not sure what he did, but the damn visor no longer clicks into position every 1" or so -- I can raise it from fully closed to fully open with no clicks. When I turn my head at highway speeds the visor opens 1-2". I examined the visor and base plates for damage, found nothing. Replaced both base plates, no improvement. So it seems like the visor must be bent/broken. I guess the next step is to buy a new visor, but I'd rather not shell out $40 to find out that it *still* doesn't work.
update - 2 tabs on the visor were broken, full details in my most recent post. I ordered a new visor from extremesupply.com, in stock, $33 shipped.
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:51 pm
by blues2cruise
Did you check to see if any of the notches on the visor are snapped off?
I also have a KBC. If I don't get the visor installed in exactly the right place, it does what you said. Are you sure you put it back on right? It's a pain.
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:51 pm
by KarateChick
My KBC helmet... visor and base issues started after it was barely used and the whole assembly fell to pieces a few times on the right side and was a complete bugger to put back together. I ended up taking it back to the shop I bought it & they replaced the clips taken from a new helmet. I still had the same issues after wearing it a few times so they sent it to the manuf who replaced the clips (and possibly the bases) on both sides and returned it. It seemed better after that, more secure but I haven't been using it since the repair and couldn't tell you if the replacement parts have held up. I was really annoyed though as that helmet was sure comfy. I won't be buying that helmet again if it has the same clip system. (I know at least 2 other riders with KBC helmets and they've had no issues with theirs though and it sounds like Blues is alright too)
Can you go to the place you got your helmet at and ask someone there to take a visor off a helmet and check if it works on yours? Then maybe you will know if it's your visor that's the problem.
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:08 am
by CO_Tim
KarateChick wrote:Can you go to the place you got your helmet at and ask someone there to take a visor off a helmet and check if it works on yours? Then maybe you will know if it's your visor that's the problem.
Good idea, I'll try that. Like you, I won't buy another KBC until they design a better way to attach the visor.
blues2cruise - I checked the visor and none of the notches are broken.
found the problem
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:03 pm
by CO_Tim
I found a guy with the same helmet as me. After looking at the visor closely I realized that one of the tabs was broken. It's the second one from the bottom of the visor. The tab should come out then down, like an "L". Damn what a crappy design. Basically anytime the visor gets bumped open further than it is supposed to go it will break and you get to buy a new visor.
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:19 am
by KarateChick
That's too bad. Well, I hope your next helmet is better. KBC just for sure lost 2 future customers in us with that bad design, and maybe anyone else who reads this. I even remember the guy at the store trying to fix my helmet clips and he was saying how terrible it was when the clip system went bad or a visor had to be put in (his was a KBC too but with no issues - go figure).