100 MPH and blind

[chuck hahn]

I took my 77 GS 750 out.today after a long winter of polishing the aluminum, wrenching on a new clutch and doing fork seals and such. Had to go around the street a few times to set the clutch release and get it all just right. I decided i wanted to play so i went out on I 75 and opened it up. I was nearing my exit and needed to be in the right lane. As i passed the car that was there to move over i looked back to be sure i was clear before scooting over. I was doing just a needle width over 100 at this time. As i looked my sunglasses blew off and the cold air made my eyes instantly water.. got it slowed down but that really sucked not being able to see clearly.. I absolutely drove the crap out of the bike all afternoon and had a ball!! Hit around 46 here in Detroit today and there were lots of bikes out..

 

[bonanzadave]

As i looked my sunglasses blew off and the cold air made my eyes instantly water..

No problem....just flip your helmet face shield down.......You did have a helmet on....didnt you ?

 

[chuck hahn]

DOT approved half helmet.. i have been riding 30 years and just cant stand a full facer..just me.. I had a freaking riot today though.

 

[67fire]

When I was about 15 Y.O. and ate about 300 feet of gravel, with my FACE,
I learned the value of a full-face helmet and have worn one ever since.
It REALLY sucked to not be able to kiss GF's for over a Month!
My nose, still has a flat spot to this day. And part of my face, will never grow a beard.
Next time, just flip down the visor.
It could have ended very poorly for you.

JMHE,

Eric

 

[chuck hahn]

I am not gonna ever get a full face anything..well unless she is really hot!! I have however decided to get some elastic for the next set of shades so they never blow off again!!!

 

[Turtleface]

I am not gonna ever get a full face anything..well unless she is really hot!! I have however decided to get some elastic for the next set of shades so they never blow off again!!!

Get some legitimate riding goggles at least, then. They'll have a foam gasket for each eye, so nothing can get at your eyes. They all come with a headband, as far as I can tell. 20 bucks for an expensive set.

 

[Guest]

I am not gonna ever get a full face anything..

Hopefully you will never need to reconsider. This was me last year after hitting some gravel going about 35-40 MPH in a turn.

 

[Billy Ricks]

Hopefully you will never need to reconsider. This was me last year after hitting some gravel going about 35-40 MPH in a turn.

I've got an old Bieffe that looks about like that after tumbling about 50 yds downhill on gravel. Scratches and gouges all the way around the helmet. Still have scars on my shoulder from that and it was 20 years ago.

 

[chuck hahn]

I had a set of those with the foam that i got from my local suzuki shop.. only thing was they just kept fogging up...is there any tricks to stop the fogging other than that " anti fogging" wipes for on gun scopes..tried that and it didnt work either.. not trying to llok or excuses here, just options and info. Have been riding 30 years and havent had any problems. womder if i should get another set from the dealer and remove the foam so they can breath. I like those goggles like the riders in Road Warriors wore..like bi plane pilots goggles.

 

[Billy Ricks]

You can get breath guards for most good helmets that will direct your breath away from the visor. The only time I ever have the visor fog is at a stand still. Then it's just a matter of flipping the shield up. Shaving cream is supposed to keep shields from fogging up. Rain-X has a product that is supposed to prevent it too.

 

[chuck hahn]

shaving cream?? HMMM interesting. And yes thats what i meant by fogging lthose foam glasses always fogged up like at lights and such..

 

[Steve]

Rain-X has a product that is supposed to prevent it too.

Just make sure you get the right Rain-X product.

Most of their stuff is not made for plastic that has a hardened coating, like faceshields and windshields.
The ingredients in Rain-X will attack the coating, making it flake of, leaving a very vulnerable soft plastic.

.

 

[67fire]

You could try what has always worked on scuba/skin diving masks.
Spit on it with a little water.

Eric

 

[Guest]

When I was about 15 Y.O. and ate about 300 feet of gravel, with my FACE,
I learned the value of a full-face helmet and have worn one ever since.
It REALLY sucked to not be able to kiss GF's for over a Month!
My nose, still has a flat spot to this day. And part of my face, will never grow a beard.
Next time, just flip down the visor.
It could have ended very poorly for you.

JMHE,

Eric

AAHHHH
Gotcha

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

Not wearing a helmet is a bad idea, You have just been lucky. I had a bad accident back in 67 had an open face helmet- common style for the time, It had a baseball size hole in the back of it. If I had been wearing No helmet or one of the 1/2 helmets so popular today I would not be here typing

 

[chuck hahn]

GUYS!!! I DID have a helmet on!!! Glasses just blew off from the wind.....

 

[argonsagas]

Your comment reminded me of a wonderful moment I had on a highly-modified 750 Honda, around 1976. I think the owner said it was bored to 914 with all race mods done.

I was also wearing an open-face helmet, and sunglasses at the time.

I rolled open the throttle about half way as the clutch was released and the front wheel came up about a foot or so. Off we went, front afloat. Change to second, still afloat at the front. Move to third, tire still taking air, and at about 100mph my eyes were tearing so much I had to put the front tire down and back off the throttle.

I loved the experience, but always wondered how fast that bike would really go on one wheel.

The experience taught me there are very good benefits in riding behind a windshield, as that was what I was accustomed to on the Guzzi I had toured across Ontario and a dozen US States.


A face-first landing on pavement at 60 mph while wearing a 3/4 helmet also taught me that having shards of sunglasses plucked from the flesh that is left of your cheek , followed by a bit of facial reconstruction, is not a nice thing to endure.

 

[DanTheMan]

GUYS!!! I DID have a helmet on!!! Glasses just blew off from the wind.....

Just accept it Chuck, some people just don't read the whole post. I would recommend goggles like the off road cyclists wear. I know nobody is going to change your mind on the helmet you choose to wear or not, it's kind of like Politics and Religion. Myself, I prefer my modular helmet, just bought a new one, it's real nice, even has the flip down sunshades, works for me. Have fun, be safe, I might actually get to go for a ride this week, cleared the ice from my driveway yesterday.

 

[Steve]

Just accept it Chuck, some people just don't read the whole post.

Then there are some that only read the FIRST post in the thread. Nowhere in the original post was a helmet mentioned.
There was a question asked (nicely, I think), then it was answered in the third post.

Myself, I prefer my modular helmet, just bought a new one, it's real nice, even has the flip down sunshades, works for me.

Which one did you get? My #1 son got a Nolan (101?) that has the sunshade, but it was external. The only way to use it was to have the visor down, too. Since I am always behind a windshield, I seldom have the visor down.

My sister and her husband got the newer version (Nolan 102?) that have the sunshade on the inside. Better, but it does not cover the opening, leaving major areas where bright light can come in. Useless, in my opinion, at least in my case.

.

 

[DanTheMan]

I bought a ZOX Genessis. It has the sunshield on the inside, standard faceshield on the outside. I bought it from JC Whitney, free shipping, and it cost me $200.00. It felt good when I put it on, it appears to be a quality helmet, even though it is made in China. I'll have a better answer on comfort, noise level, etc. later this week when I go for a ride. Right now, it's 36 deg and overcast, I'm hoping by Thursday it'll be back up in the 40s and sunny, I'll be ready for a ride then.

Oh, Steve, I guess I'd seen in a later post that the OP said he was wearing a skid lid, so that's why I made the comment I did (and the poster who asked for the same info I'd already posted on the seat I have for sale).

Now, back to the original content of the post, I won't wear regular sunglasses to keep my eyes safe, it's illegal in MN, and I have had bugs tuck themselves under the glasses, even with the windshield, they've swooped over and hit me.