DIY Helmet Sun

[Roostabunny]

With 133 posts you should be at the point where you know how stubborn most of these guys are here...

Ha - what you mean there are strong opinions? No.

@agemax - The spare visor's a valid idea - I even have a specially designed pocket on my summer jacket (places it so it neatly wraps around my ribs on my right side - very clever), so it would be no trouble to carry one.

In fact, if I factor what I'm paid at work into the time I spent researching, planning, and building, I probably could have paid for a tinted visor.

But that's too obvious. Being a DIY cheapskate is an illness that often overflows the bounds of reason, logic, and financial good sense.

[80GS750]

this seems like a good idea really

im gonna do this soon... it seems to work and looks custom too...

i was ready to buy a smoked mask, but im gonna try this first

[650BrownDeer]

Legal item from my state

Here in the grand state of Wisconsin, where a fully licensed Motorcycle rider is not required to wear a helmet or eye covering, if you are spotted by a cop and pulled over wearing a tinted face shield after sunset there is a nice fine that they issue you for it. This even applies to the humble moped rider. Now, sunglasses, those do not seem to be a problem. If you are silly enough to think that they protect your eyes... make your choices, take your rides...

[Agemax]

seems like the laws in different parts of the usa are different and in oz. get caught in the uk without a helmet or with a black visor like mine and you are subjected to 4 years hard labour lol

[MelodicMetalGod]

Sounds like a good money-saving tip but, alas, too late for me. I've only ever owned two helmets (a Nolan N42 that I loved and my current HJC CL-14). I bought smoked shields with each.

I must say that I've gotten very little use out of the smoked shielf for the HJC as my current riding consists mostly of commuting and I'm often riding home after dark and I can't be bothered to change my shield every day. Fortunately I'm able to comfortably wear shades under my helmet, so no biggie.

My next helmet will be one that has the built in "fighter pilot" shade. I love the functionality and convenience! Plus, I can pretend I'm flying an F-22 into the sun when I engage the shade.

[skreemer]

Three strips of electrical tape across the top of my visor each one only overlapping by 1/4 it's width.

I used to ride with a smoked shield as I only road during the day for a long time... Then one night I got stuck at work well past 9pm and had a hell of a time getting home... mainly cuz it was dark... and when I flipped the shield up to see all the rain pelted me in the face...

[earlfor]

I always carry two shields, clear and smoke. I wear the smoke up to about 8 pm. Anything after that, I snap in the clear. Takes about 10 secs to change a shield. :-)

Earl

[Dogma]

Three strips of electrical tape across the top of my visor each one only overlapping by 1/4 it's width.

I used to ride with a smoked shield as I only road during the day for a long time... Then one night I got stuck at work well past 9pm and had a hell of a time getting home... mainly cuz it was dark... and when I flipped the shield up to see all the rain pelted me in the face...

I think I like this option. I ride with prescription sunglasses (a buddy at Lenscrafters hooked me up with %50 off), and sometimes dark isn't good enough. For example, when riding straight into the setting or rising sun.

My concourse-riding brother rides with his visor up, so he put electrical tape on the bottom edge of his visor, and tilts his head as required. I think he painted the last one actually.

Anyhow, I prefer sunglasses to the smoked visor, because they're easier to deal with. I can stuff them in a pocket, of just slide them down my nose in a pinch. They're polarized too, so the worst of the glare is cut out instead of just making everything darker.

[buttonhook]

I used the tint on my "old" helment this is my new helment....

http://www.newenough.com/helmets_eyewear/closed_face/hjc/fs_10_fossil_motorcycle_helmet.html

I now have no need for two different sheilds

[Roostabunny]

I used the tint on my "old" helment this is my new helment....

http://www.newenough.com/helmets_eyewear/closed_face/hjc/fs_10_fossil_motorcycle_helmet.html

I now have no need for two different sheilds

See, now that's what I really want. That's the kind of thing that Metalicmetalgod was talking about.

Ever seen one like that in a modular (flip-up) style? That'd be the ultimate for me.

Edit: Course, I just had the price emailed to me and remembered part of the reason I'm a DIY cheapskate. Still, nice to dream. When I can afford my V-strom or Bandit or VFR800, I'll pick up one of those ultra-helmets, too, I guess.

[tkent02]

Ever seen one like that in a modular (flip-up) style? That'd be the ultimate for me.

Caberg makes a lot of them.

[buttonhook]

See, now that's what I really want. That's the kind of thing that Metalicmetalgod was talking about.

Ever seen one like that in a modular (flip-up) style? That'd be the ultimate for me.

Edit: Course, I just had the price emailed to me and remembered part of the reason I'm a DIY cheapskate. Still, nice to dream. When I can afford my V-strom or Bandit or VFR800, I'll pick up one of those ultra-helmets, too, I guess.

From new enough?? around $200?? If so that's and great price on that helment at least $50 less than MSRP($249-$259 color depending). And HJC does make one in a mod. style as well it's the sy-max II (msrp $279-289 depending on color). And for some reason you can get a high-def yellow internal shield for that one also but not for the FS-10??

[Roostabunny]

From new enough?? around $200?? If so that's and great price on that helment at least $50 less than MSRP($249-$259 color depending). And HJC does make one in a mod. style as well it's the sy-max II (msrp $279-289 depending on color). And for some reason you can get a high-def yellow internal shield for that one also but not for the FS-10??

Oh a great deal from Newenough, don't get me wrong - and the value was tempting. I just don't have $200 to replace my 1-year-old helmet.

That's right the sy-max II. Very nice for just over $200. I think I'll start saving up for that one.

Update on my DIY Shield: The bubbles were completely gone by day two, so optical clarity is good enough that I may try the new shape using the same tint material.

[mf70]

I've had the electrical tape on the _bottom_ edge of the visor for years.

I just flip it up to get a sun-shield effect. I usually just need it around town anyway - on the highway I'm generally tucking pretty far to keep up with traffic...

[themess]

Once in a while, I've seen snap-on visors for helmets. But they only work on the 3/4 helmets that have snaps for the visors.

In the day, I wear sun glasses inside the helmet, unless there is a heavy overcast.

The remaining problem is sunrise or sunset. For my full-face helmets, I use an electrical tap dot at the top of the shield, above each eye. I can adjust my head angle to block the sun with the tape for the few minutes when it matters. The same technique can also be used with a windshield.