Helmet Face Shields

[wickedrider]

I know that this has to be the most idiotic, dumb question in the world, but I have to ask it. One of the knocks on full helmets was supposed to be that it cuts down on vision. Honestly it does, but more peripherally than anything else. My question is whether there is a standard size in face shields or are there some on certain brands of helmets that are larger? Has anyone checked this out before?

[Bachstrad37]

They can knock that statement til the cows come home. If it's good enough for MotoGP racers, it's good enough for me.

[IcyHound]

Well what vision it might 'impair' is supplemented by mirrors and head checks. That same vision would be impaired in a cage. I have a much better view on the bike then in the car.

Beyond that, every helmet is a bit different. The fit is going to make a difference. I like my SHARK better then my HJC. It fits my head shape better (length front to back).

However, your perhiferal vision is also affected by stuff like your race and headshape.

[intotherain]

I see better in my full face than in my car. The helmet does not restrict any vision at all. Imagine your driving down the road without your helmet on, then put on your helmet. There really should be no difference except that the tears in your eyes from the wind might block your vision, at least for me there is no difference.


Edit; yes the sizes are different. My HJC shield is bigger than a Shoei Shield.

[wickedrider]

There is a slight difference and I'm not going to address that idiotic statement about race affecting one's peripheral vision.Your vision is limited to the sides but also down. It's true that you can compensate by the methods mentioned above. I was simply trying to find an easier way, i.e. more face shield.

[IcyHound]

Sigh

Race = different skull shapes which affect the socket of your eye and therefor the orbs placement in your face.

Its an ongoing fascinating for me since its something I deal with daily with the other half. Sorry that its idiotic to you.

Its part of a larger idea into what affects some people and not others, part of what forms our opinions and thoughts to react to your initial post.

Ta da!

[flynrider]

There is a slight difference and I'm not going to address that idiotic statement about race affecting one's peripheral vision.Your vision is limited to the sides but also down. It's true that you can compensate by the methods mentioned above. I was simply trying to find an easier way, i.e. more face shield.

I think you'll find (as many motorcycle magazine product reviewers have), that modern full face designs do not impair peripheral vision. The sides of the face opening are wider than your natural field of vision.

While the face openings from various brands might vary slightly, it's not going to make a noticeable difference. Basically, when you open up the area around the face, you're reducing protection. I'd suggest dropping by a store that sells a lot of different helmet brands and trying a bunch on.

[storysunfolding]

In my scorpion helmet looking straight ahead I can't see the sides of my faceshield. I can see a bit of the bottom but that's it. If I turn my eyes, yes it's obscured. However, I can see a full 180 degrees unobstructed. I can see what's right in front of me which in a car would be obscured by a dash. I can see above me, it would be obscured by a roof. I can see 45 degrees in either direction which would be obscured in my car by the front of the front pillars.

SO while it does cut down on vision in a very minimalistic point of view, you can still see more than in a car without moving your head. Once you move it you can see anything... This should be easy enough to find out by trying some on at a dealer. It's obviously going to change person to person depending on the shape of your head, where your eyes are both forward and apart and if you have a big nose in the way.

Still a very small part of my vision being obscured is a small trade off for walking away with your teeth if you ever crash.

[Grey Thumper]

Hmmm, the only portion of my vision that I would think is "impaired" by my full face helmet is the view straight down. It's a risk I'm willing to take since my tank bag isn't really a source of potential threats.

[scotbot]

There are differences. I have more peripheral vision in my My Shoei Raid II than in my BMW System V. However the BMW is a flip-up so it's probably the difference design requiring thicker side parts or something.