djmisio85

Whats it like to drive with a dark / smoked visor on your helmet?

I currently have an Arai GP-J2, that comes only with a peak (because its an opne helmet) but I want to buy a visor thats used in the GP-5 series because the holes appear in the same place, so then I can use the peak for rallying, and the visor for karting......

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Like wearing sunglasses

Obvious really but in low light conditions your vision is restricted as everything appears darker. In dusk and rain or dark and rain you are effectively blind! Did a night karting with other SN members up in Northampton one time and it was essentially guesswork or face-full of cold rain (team still came in 2nd iirc )

djmisio85

Ah thanks for that, most of the karting I do is night time, so I think a normal clear visor would probably be the best....

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Get a helmet with two visors. Mines got the normal clear one, and a smoked on one internally, which you can drop down if needed.



Smoked visor,


If you want I'll find the part number.

yoza

In answer to the original question..

"Whats it like to drive with a dark / smoked visor on your helmet?"

I dont really know, but I would imagine it would be uncomfortable, and I cant for the life of me see why you would want to do it.

rbaz

iTrader: (1)

Eh Why cant you see why??
If its sunny and bright a smoked or dark visor would be essential especially this time of year as the sun gets lower and much more comfortable than sun glasses under a helmet.

I have the darkest road legal one on my SHOEI bike helmet and used one when Karting and if it starts to rain or just a very dull day its just about ok (obviously better with a clear one) but if the sun goes down at night no chance. But I always carry a clear one

Dont you have to use a full face for Karting

yoza

Oh.....I see, sorry, I was thinking of something totally different.

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Notice you're in France? There is no tint allowed allowed at all in the UK at the moment Like you I always kept a clear in my topbox/under seat & the only time I was ever stopped for it (coming to dusk as I finished my journey) by the time plod had proceeded to lecture me, I had changed to clear! He let me go.

rbaz

iTrader: (1)

Didn't realise you aren’t allowed any tints at all in the UK.
Was mistaken thought mine had an E? number on it but just says genuine Shoei for daytime use only. Its not as dark as my previous mirrored visor but still fairly dark.
I think they are legal here in France as long as its light

GC8

My Arai visor says 'Race Use Only!' on it.....

GC8

Further to that: theyre not simply illegal to use on the road, theyre illegal like heroin. Its easier to buy two grammes of charlie than it is to get a genuine black Arai visor here (cheaper too!)...

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

I second that!

My last visor I bought mail-order from Ireland & I remember going round a lot of French bike shops looking for dark visors as well, but no-one wore Arai helmets!!!

robby

I have a mirror visor which i used for bright summer days - it gives a slight tint so not as dark to see out of as a proper dark visor but does the job.

Think the iridium ones are the same?

JRFRACE

i once raced under floodlights with a dark visor and to be honest it wasn't that bad, and even in bad weather they're ok, i also tend to find that the dark visor has a bit of a calming effect before a race when you put it down, maybe the slightly darker view is relaxing or something? be careful of mirror/iridium coated ones though, they can be awful for losing their coating