I am going to buy a new helmet and am wondering if the transitions shields adequately shield the sun or would it be better to have a flip down sun visor or a separate dark shield? If you have experience with the transitions your opinion would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
Helmets Transitions Shields
- Thread starter MinnFallST
- Start date
FWIW, I don't have experience with a transition shield, but besides the $$ I have read that there are times like going through a tunnel or treed area that you want a QUICK change, not over a minute.
I tried a Bell Helmet w/transions shield. Worked great and was just dark enough even though I would have liked it a shade darker.
But, for me, all Bell shields do not shed water well and, FOR ME, are just not usable and borderline unsafe based on what I'm used to.
I tried the replacement shield by transitions for my Shoei, did not geat nearly as dark as the one on the Bell, it shed water better than the Bell but since it didn't get dark enough - it was useless in my opinion.
so, for me, just having a clear and dark shield isn't that bad if that combo functions better than the transitions.
But, for me, all Bell shields do not shed water well and, FOR ME, are just not usable and borderline unsafe based on what I'm used to.
I tried the replacement shield by transitions for my Shoei, did not geat nearly as dark as the one on the Bell, it shed water better than the Bell but since it didn't get dark enough - it was useless in my opinion.
so, for me, just having a clear and dark shield isn't that bad if that combo functions better than the transitions.
With my commute, a transition shield would be great, but I'm not about to pay the price for one at this time.
That said, I bought my second Neotech a couple of months ago, because the first one I bought was too big for me (XXL VS XL), but I bought it for the price and "tired to adjust it to fit. Oh well, at least my wife can use it.
My problem with the Neotech is the clear shield and Shoei not willing to understand that when you are in a "really sunny area" the clear shield allows heat that can "bake" you while riding. Even with the smaller Sunvisor down! The way I got around that was to purchase an aftermarket dark larger shield off ebay. It works great for when I need it.
For most days, I'm using the clear larger shield when I leave home and it's still dark out and then the smaller dark shield once the Sun comes up, is a great combination! There was a time, long ago when I would have to stop part way through my commute to change shields. It's nice not having too. And that's why I bought my second Neotech, that does fit me!
That said, I bought my second Neotech a couple of months ago, because the first one I bought was too big for me (XXL VS XL), but I bought it for the price and "tired to adjust it to fit. Oh well, at least my wife can use it.
My problem with the Neotech is the clear shield and Shoei not willing to understand that when you are in a "really sunny area" the clear shield allows heat that can "bake" you while riding. Even with the smaller Sunvisor down! The way I got around that was to purchase an aftermarket dark larger shield off ebay. It works great for when I need it.
For most days, I'm using the clear larger shield when I leave home and it's still dark out and then the smaller dark shield once the Sun comes up, is a great combination! There was a time, long ago when I would have to stop part way through my commute to change shields. It's nice not having too. And that's why I bought my second Neotech, that does fit me!
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I had a helmet with a "transition" shield and liked it at first. After using it for awhile, I began to long for a separate flip down visor.
The pros of having a transition shield are:
The cons of having a transition shield are:
When looking for a new helmet, check to see how the sun visor activates. Some allow infinite adjustment. Others are either all the way down, or all the way up.
Chris
The pros of having a transition shield are:
- Lighter weight
- It is self-adjusting to the brightness around you.
The cons of having a transition shield are:
- It never self-adjusts to completely clear at night, and never gets dark enough in bright sunlight.
- You can't move it down slightly to act as a sun visor. I have a couple streets I find myself on towards sunset and they line up perfectly with that setting sun. With the transition visor, it isn't nearly enough to block the blinding sun. But if you put on sunglasses, that makes everything too dark to see. With a separate sun shield, you can move it down enough to block the sun and wear sun glasses too that allow you to see everything else.
When looking for a new helmet, check to see how the sun visor activates. Some allow infinite adjustment. Others are either all the way down, or all the way up.
Chris
ST Gui
240Robert
This reminds me of the early Photo Sun coatings for eyeglasses. Eventually there was Photo Sun II that got darker but started darker than regular Photo Sun. I couldn't wear the Photo Sun at night even though the tint was light.
But the question remains— how fast does it change? I wear sunglasses and frequently use the Neotec's sunshield. A great combo. But when I'm tiptoeing through the twisties there are spots of very dark shade with splashes of sunlight. I can almost always make it through with my sunglasses but almost always have to raise the shield.
While a transitions shield change fast enough for that or will it have to be flipped up? I can see that it would work well in some situations but all (except night time)?
Like any other shield and sunglasses combination, you'll have to determine what combination fits the situation. The transitions shield will not change rapidly enough to deal with dappled sun-lit roads and will act like a normal non-changing sun shield.
ST Gui
240Robert
Daboo said:
As I suspected thanks. For me my current situation works well enough. While I can imagine a scenario where the Transition shield would work well it wouldn't apply to me.
I'll never buy another.
Whooshka
Fairly faST old guy
I have a few friends who love them But then they complain about the partially shaded twistie roads. I wear prescription shades during the day, then pull my regular glasses out of the cubby at night. Takes a whole 15 seconds at a light or the side of the road. I won't get one for the simple reason that when rolling thru small town USA at 20-30 MPH and stop and go, I like to raise my shield for some fresh breeze on my face. I think my eyes won't like squinting on/off thru all that.
For now I'll just stick to sunglasses. Transition shields don't get dark enough unless they start out darker. Don't care for the drop down sun visor as they take away some of the structural rigidity of the helmet. Besides, they're more expensive. I buy sunglasses at the flea market and usually have a spare pair.
Have one on a Bell. I do wish it got a little bit darker but all in all I love it.
Not sure why I had so many issues w/Bell shields, it was all of them, not just the transitions... clear or dark, they didn't shed water like my shoei sheilds did. Could be a bad batch but I ordered replacements and they were just as bad... I was hoping the shoei transitions shield would be as good as the Bell version because it's the same company but the Shoei only got lightly tinted whereas the Bell got dark enough to be useful. I was happy enough w/Bell other than the water issues on any of their shields or I would have kept it. It was nice to not have to pull over and change out shields.
Hopefully this technology gets a little better in the future.
Not to digress from the OP's Transitions subject.. but I had the Bell and clear shield at night once and got caught in a storm. Was riding with 3 others and I could not see a thing... we stopped and I switched helmets with another rider, probably because he thought I was being a baby, and then HE could not see a thing but I was fine with his helmet, some off-brand... he could not believe how the shield was more like a car windshield and you'd need wipers to see though it... again, could have been a bad batch, maybe the honda polish doens't react well to that shield but I'd never heard that one before.
Bought one of the Transitions shields a while back....and just like the glasses, it's NEVER quite right. Not really dark enough in daylight, and slow transition to clear in dark. I won't buy another. Fool me once...and all that....
I love my transition shield on my Shoe RF1200. I also had one on my Bell Star which was the bomb. Get one you will not be disappointed.
I'm changing my position on this.
I decided to give one a try again. I don't think I actually went for a ride when I first tried one, just saw that it didn't look as dark as a dark shield.
But, this time I gave it a good chance on my ride to/from MOSTIOC... It worked great and was dark enough. Nice to head out early in the morning and never even think about changing the shield, or forgetting to do so at a gas stop and having to stop again.
I decided to give one a try again. I don't think I actually went for a ride when I first tried one, just saw that it didn't look as dark as a dark shield.
But, this time I gave it a good chance on my ride to/from MOSTIOC... It worked great and was dark enough. Nice to head out early in the morning and never even think about changing the shield, or forgetting to do so at a gas stop and having to stop again.
MattInDenver
Shall Be known as MattInMadison
Love hate with mine. While Pounding the slab it is great but canyon carving or back country road it isn't that great. Sure you can flip up the visor if need be. If you have the disposable income the sure go for it. For me I have a bell and I bought the transition the problem is the next gen Bell's do not accept the my old visors. I have 5 (including the OEM) Two Iridium (love them) one dark blue and the other light gold and Hi viz orange. I like the orange for night and darker situations.
I'd like to have a Transitions if they made it for my lid. In the spring and fall I leave the house while it's dark and return home staring at the sun. I take along my tinted shield nad swap but then I have to swap again the next day, twice a day back and forth. No tunnels or shadows on my normal commute so I wouldn't have that worry. But not made... so I save the money and just waste a few minutes of my day.
Tunnels and shade to me are a moot point because whether you have a dark shield or transitions, you still have to pop the shield to see... so there's no gain, just status quo.. maybe they'll make them to respond faster but for me it's the gradual change on most rides is enough of a benefit. I really hate it on a trip when I just stopped for gas and was saying to myself 'don't forget to change out the shield'... then I'm back on the road.. doh!.. have to pull over again.. that's almost as bad as asking for directions.