View Full Version : Helmets and Spectacles.
grh1904
23-01-09, 09:37 AM
This post probably only applies to those who were goggles, and I don't mean of the beer variety.
I don't normally wear my glasses when out riding as I can't get them on properly inside helmet, also there is the comfort issue as well.
I'm fortunate that although I wear glasses all the time, I don't actually have to wear them for driving. My vision without them is still very good, just that vision in the left eye is slightly down which the right eye over compensates for resulting in headaches which the glasses compensate for.
I'm about to get a new helmet (Shoei XR900 about 5 year old - Shark RSX Stunt coming up 3 years this year).
My mate runs a website (see below) and as part of his mates rates he can get me pretty much any helmet I want at cost price, generally saving a third (often more) on the price of a helmet.
Trouble is I'm soooooo not into the flippy face helmets. Father-in-law and his mate both MUST wear glasses when out on bike and both have Caberg flippy things which mean helmet on, flip up, glasses on, flip down and hey presto everything fits properly and comfy to.
Anyone have any experience of helmets and glasses. Alternatively I have been told of glasses with no legs that sit on top of the ears but rather once helmet is on they rest on the nose with some legs that attach to helmet itself.
I have in the past tried contacts but I also have stigmatism?? (eyeballs more oval & rugby ball shaped than round) which means contacts don't sit right. I never really got to grips with them. Apparently this is quite common??
dizzyblonde
23-01-09, 09:58 AM
yup astygmatism in left eye at -4.75.
Don't necessarily have to wear specs for riding as sometimes I can read reg plates at required distance, although thats dependant on the mood of my eyes .lol, but i tend to wear them permanently these days.
Contacts were horrid for me too, as on a bike I seemed to get them drying up a lot, and in summer they always felt gritty.
I was told not to get specs that had no frames round the lenses, that just had a clip on the edge and the nose bit, as they are a bad idea with helmets. You have to get specs that are going to be robust. I have a phobia of having jam jars, as the lens is so fat in the middle and i have to go for certain shapes to hide it, square types are no good, and are usually pretty flimsy anyway. My specs are due to be replaced, I'm always repairing them, as they go pretty weak on the screws, from me pushing them up my face and getting caught on helmet liners.
They also steam up in winter, have had many times when i thought the fog has come down, and its not the visor getting misty ..its my specs!
I have reaction lenses as i am very light sensitive...but they don't work under my visors, as they all have UV coatings on them. I bought a new shark lid that had a sun visor, and its not dark enough, so I still have to carry my black race visor round in summer
Pah if I could afford it and I knew it would work I;d have my eyes lasered.
AndyBrad
23-01-09, 10:13 AM
i wear glasses. Im currently trialing contacts with little suscess. (stigmatism) Now i have a shoei raid 2 and tried a few on with my glasses before purchasing it. The raid 2 has pockets around the ears with no padding and slightly thinner section padding down the sides. This means that my glasses fit very comfortably and i have no issues with them fitting. However i do have issues with fogging. If you get glasses that have an antiglare coating you cant get any of the fog coatings to work (they bond to the lense and lower the surface tension so you get less of a fogging effect) Howevver i do think that the antiglare is better.
dizzy just a note, i used to wear photochromic lenses and it made my eyes really sensitive to light. it took me 2 years of not wearing them to get them back to somewhere near normal. I would consider trying it with out the coating and sunglasses for summer (poss 2nd pair?) a for the lazer thing i know quite a few people tat have had it dont now and every one has had a problem! although i dont see glasses as a problem and they did so some of them are happy.
dizzyblonde
23-01-09, 11:00 AM
I am going to look into gettin prescription sunglasses when they come out again this year. Up for my sight test soon enough, so I think i'll wait for the buy a set and get sunglasses free lark!
I had some pretty poor results using contacts..with those 2 weeks free trials back 5 years ago. Since then have tried ortho k and now singing virtues or these new silicon hydrogel contacts from bausch. Also optician tried me on a toric lens to cope with the astigmatism which works very well. Also main reason for bad experiance was dry eyes too. But with these new ones have superb long wear times and much better on the bike
I had glasses for ages and found the titanium types with thin arms better for sliding into the helmet.
I've been wearing specs for 21 years and riding for 16 and never had a problem with either, even at the same time.
Just wear them under the lid and get used to it. Seriously, what's the problem?
One caveat to the above is that when I came off while wearing some prescription Oakleys under my lid, the frames transferred the full impact from the lid to the bridge of my nose leading to much spilled claret. I don't wear bomb-proof frames under the lid anymore.
yup astygmatism in left eye at -4.75.
Don't necessarily have to wear specs for riding
Are you kidding me? is this is one eye only or something?
I'm -2.75 in both eyes and cant see a bloody thing lol
As for wearing glasses while wearing a helmet. Go try a shoei XR1000. Because of the way the padding is set out there is a perfect groove for glasses to fit in. Some say they were designed that way for that very reason but I have never heard shoei saying it.
The only downside is its a fairly noisy.
I can't remember the last time I wore my spec's with my helmet as I always wear my contacts. Don't seem to have a problem with them drying out but then I have the high 'oxygen' lenses to ensure that my eyes breath.
I have some new glasses at the moment and haven't tested them with my lids as I plan to wear the contacts, but all I can say is when you get your lid or glasses make sure you take either with you to test the fit.
I'm -4.50 in both eyes so its spec's or contacts only.
rictus01
23-01-09, 04:23 PM
interestingly enough I have no problem fitting my glasses with the Arai's as the lining is softer, however the Shoei takes a bit more work and can "lift" the glasses of my nose a bit, I always get glasses that'll fit on with a helmet and take it with me when choosing, you do get some funny looks in the shop though.
recently I got a MX lid and that needs proper goggles, I though it a bit of a waste of time to be honest, but tried it out on a couple of short trips, and they are actually very good for glasses as the goggles isolate the glasses from your breathing so don't mist up.....bit of a bonus.
Cheers Mark.
dizzyblonde
23-01-09, 04:26 PM
Are you kidding me? is this is one eye only or something?
I'm -2.75 in both eyes and cant see a bloody thing lol
As for wearing glasses while wearing a helmet. Go try a shoei XR1000. Because of the way the padding is set out there is a perfect groove for glasses to fit in. Some say they were designed that way for that very reason but I have never heard shoei saying it.
The only downside is its a fairly noisy.
yup thats in one eye:(
Not sure what the prescription is in the other eye, its not as severe, and I'm sure its in the opposite direction..lol (*brings visions of crossed eyed blondes to the reader)
If you were to poke me in the right eye, I can;t see a damn thing in the left, I once got a fly in the right eye when I was riding and had to pull over as I couldn;t see for toffee in the left either.
As for lids... I've just bought myself a new shark helmet....I can't justify paying such a vast amount for a lid (sharks are £150) for something that will be deemed useless after one belt. This one appears to be a bit better fit on my specs this time...even though its the same lid as my last one:confused:
.....and sharks are bloody noisy too.:twisted:
Arai and Schuberth S1, I've had no problems with glasses. Like Rictus says, take the helmet when you're getting the specs to make sure they go in OK. Try to go for a style which is just the right width to suit the helmet. I got a pair with dark frames for bike use so I don't notice any reflection from the visor.
I always use the type that have the spring flex in the hinge so they will go outwards a touch, seems to make it a bit easier to fit them. Also it helps to have the legs straightened a bit to slip over your ears easier. Hang on a mo' that sounds pervy...........;)
Prescription sunglasses are good, I've found I don't really like the "reactions" jobbies much, I have a pair I use sometimes in summer but prefer to just switch between tints and clear. The internal sunvisor in the Schuberth is simply brilliant, I usually just slip it down a bit as a shade rather than look through it.
At least specs are a lot cheaper than they used to be so you can afford to have different ones for the bike, loads of BOGOF deals about.
grh1904
24-01-09, 10:50 AM
Just wear them under the lid and get used to it. Seriously, what's the problem?
The problem is getting the galsses to sit right. I can't get the legs to sit on top the ears properly as one ear sits a little bit higher on my head. (Waits for crys of "he's a witch...... burn him). Optician hates giving me new goggles as he's there for ages trying to adjust the specs so that they don't sit too lopsided.
Means they sit all wrong on my face, vety uncomfortable on the nose etc, wrong distance from my eyes, ends up making my vision all wrong. I've tried numerous times and all it does is end up such a distraction that I don't concentrate on my riding properly.
Weird. Are you by any chance related to the late, great John Merrick?
dizzyblonde
24-01-09, 11:06 AM
Thats specs for you. Even with the hinges that go both ways, they sit stupid. I've given up on them sat cockeyed on my face these days. After a while you find that the screws start giving up to hold the lenses in. You take them in to be repaired and they tell you the frames are bent.
I've not quite got to the jack Duckworth stage of having a bit of gaffer on the corners, but mine only just last between tests these days. I'm quite surprised this set have lasted two years
fizzwheel
24-01-09, 11:51 AM
Had a Shoei XR900, now have an Arai RX7-Corsair, Arai is a little easier that the Shoei was to get my glasses on under and my glasses feel more secure with the Arai. Theres also a nice gap in the padding on the Arai that I slide the arms of my glaaes along and they sit nice then to.
I think it depends on the style of glasses as well. But never really had a problem
Style will make a massive difference really.
I have these
http://www.olivergoldsmith.co.uk/catalogue/big/G4053.jpg
Oliver Goldsmith frames, they are titanium and really thing, the biggest benefit of the titanium is its so flexible and soft so can bend with the shape of the helmet easier etc. I took bought them specifically because of how well and comfortable they were with my helmet on.
Where as I imagine something like below could never be comfortable lol
http://www.olivergoldsmith.co.uk/catalogue/big/G5093FLEX.jpg
Thingus
24-01-09, 12:41 PM
My Shoei Raid II is brilliant with glasses, i didn't even notice i had them on after 10 minutes or so.
The padding has a gap right where the glasses go in so it is easy to get them on and off with very little discomfort.
(the earpiece is annoying if you have that aswell though :p)
chiefrick
19-04-09, 05:36 PM
My current pair of specs have a pretty straight arm, so they dont need to go behind my ear. The slide in and out of my current helmet (AGV Airtech) quite good, but when I was trying on helmets I found loads that I had to reject as they just made the glasses sit funny, one side up, both sides up, hovering above my nose etc..
I am due a new pair soon, so good suggestion about taking my lid with me, had'nt thought of that before!
In winter I smear washing up liquid on the glasses, same treatment for the inside of the visor - stops them misting up pretty well, but needs doing almost every day.
My flip-up Roof Boxer is more comfortable with the glasses than my full-face AGV, but I can wear either. I can put the Roof on without taking my glasses off - but if u don't like flip-ups, this isn't of much interest to you.
ArtyLady
19-04-09, 05:52 PM
I don't need specs for driving but I do wear sunglasses when it's bright and/or sunny (I don't use a tinted visor) and I dont have a problem - I have a Shoei XR1000. hth
shonadoll
19-04-09, 06:13 PM
My glasses fit perfectly under my Arai, but were awful on my cheaper helmet which I can't remember the name of.
diy like this .. http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/motorcycle-glasses/
Bluefish
23-04-09, 04:59 PM
lasered is the way to go, not cheap, but then again don't have to buy glasses for x amount of years. i won't say it's painless though felt like they were grinding one of those pastry cutters into my eyes, bet thats put a few off, but you can get it done on the never never. i pay £73 a month over 2 years nearly finished now though thank god. then you can wear sunnys or whatever no problem.
lasered is the way to go, not cheap, but then again don't have to buy glasses for x amount of years. i won't say it's painless though felt like they were grinding one of those pastry cutters into my eyes, bet thats put a few off, but you can get it done on the never never. i pay £73 a month over 2 years nearly finished now though thank god. then you can wear sunnys or whatever no problem.
I'm getting mine done this saturday.
I am a tight **** and when it comes to spending big sums of money I feel guilty normally, on this occassion I went to the bank to lift the cash out and didnt think twice about it.....still feel its the right decision now.
Mines a mixtures of sick of not seeing anything around the pool when on holiday, sick of steaming up when coming in out of the cold, sick of wearing them on the bike, sick of not being able to see properlly when it rains.........and some jobs I'm applying for require perfect un-aided sight which kind of seals the deal.
Just hope it goes ok.
I've got oakley frames, and I have had no problems under my arais, because of the straight arms, except for misting. I fixed that with a respro mask. Yeah it's a faff, but once they are on, they are on. I use a dark visor in the sun. I use contacts when I am on the bike all day/track day, but otherwise I can't be bothered.
sv650sfan
09-05-09, 09:39 AM
I've got an AGV S4 and wear glasses all the time. No problems at all; I guess it also depends on the frame of the glasses :cool:.
My Shoei Raid II is brilliant with glasses, i didn't even notice i had them on after 10 minutes or so.
The padding has a gap right where the glasses go in so it is easy to get them on and off with very little discomfort.
(the earpiece is annoying if you have that aswell though :p)
What he said :D
i wear glasses. Im currently trialing contacts with little suscess. (stigmatism) Now i have a shoei raid 2 and tried a few on with my glasses before purchasing it. The raid 2 has pockets around the ears with no padding and slightly thinner section padding down the sides. This means that my glasses fit very comfortably and i have no issues with them fitting.
And another one for the same helmet. :D
yup astygmatism in left eye at -4.75.
Don't necessarily have to wear specs for riding as sometimes I can read reg plates at required distance, although thats dependant on the mood of my eyes .lol, but i tend to wear them permanently these days.
Please, -4.75 and read number plates from legal difference?
Pull the other leg.
-6.75, in other words, unaided sight is like being blind.
Wear contacts all the time, have done since 11, only wore glasses once when on the bike, couldn't stand it, they moved with the lid, made my head sore, never mind being dangerous and uncomfortable.
Jamiebridges123
10-05-09, 11:30 PM
I normally can fit glasses on if I need to, they can get painful after a couple of hours but by then you've likely stopped for a drink, a pasty or some fuel anyway. I tend not to wear them.. who needs to read roadsigns from 200 yards anyway. I know where I'm going.. it's THAT way...
.. Or is it that way? *goes round the roundabout again*
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