I have the RF-1200. Love it. Lately the low sun angle has been blinding. Yesterday, I flipped the visor up and wore my sunglasses which helped (although the sound went up dramatically).
Has anyone tried the $150 Shoei CWR-1 Transitions Pinlock-Ready Face Shield or similar? Thoughts on it? Worth it? The Revzilla reviews are not great.
I have the RF 1100, which means they don't have the photochromatic shield for it. Yet. Seems like the perfect thing to have. I would probably already purchased one had they been available.
BUT!
After seeing that screen and learning more about it and the technology I went shopping for some glasses that were photochromatic. I bought two pair, from different manufacturers. Both claimed to have the latest technology. Here is the problem I have with both. Conditions have to be just right for them to "work". I tried walking around outside with no helmet to see how dark I could get them. Rode with them quite a bit. Obviously with visor down they won't darken, but I ride with visor up a lot. The problem is they won't darken in hotter temps. 80 or below they darken, but never anything like a pair of average sunglasses. Above 90 and they just really don't change enough to notice. Higher temps make the particles in the shield that darken, release what ever it is that darkens them faster than it can be activated. I would assume once darkened on a very cold day they would stay that way for much longer if one went inside for instance. I suspect many would be underwhelmed with the purchase of the expensive Shoei shield!
What I would like to see is more work put into the LCD screen that Arai has. Battery operated. Push a button and it is dark, push again and it is clear.
What I would like to see is more work put into the LCD screen that Arai has. Battery operated. Push a button and it is dark, push again and it is clear.
Can't comment on Shoei but I run a Bell RS-1 with a Photochromic visor and I got say it's the best thing I have ever purchased, especially for touring.
I was doing some review reading on both the Shoei and the Bell photochromic shield. The Shoei mostly sucks and the Bell did great. Almost no complaints for the Bell. You would think after postponing the shield for a couple years it would be perfect but unfortunately that's not always how things work.
That issue with temperature sounds bad to me, it needs to work in the warm Summer months since that is where riding is (arguably) the best.
I like the idea of the LCD shield, but it looks like it starts out with a slight tint and then goes darker, which may be an issue riding at night? Maybe it's not noticeable? Also the idea of a battery going flat when I am miles from any electric power leaves me with a vision of riding with a cord dangling from my face-shield trying to recharge it on the fly, also would it mess with a Pinlock? that is not an optional extra for me.
I think I will stick with my helmet with the internal sun visor and pinlock built-in.
I've got the Bell as well - it's really good. Great not having to worry about changing visors, taking sunnies, etc... just put the helmet on and go. Works great in taking away the glare.
Sorry it doesn't help you much with the Shoei, but the Bell is good :grin2:
This is turning into a very good thread. I looked into the e-tint like I first saw on an Arai helmet. I know they work, but it appears they start degrading and showing spots in the film early on. Too much money for that to happen! I still think that is where the technology should go, for instance it would be easy to have a solar panel to power it instead of the battery ( you only need it to work when it is bright outside...). Bell helmets have been getting good reviews overall. There must be some real problems with photochromatic properties that some just have not figured out. If Shoei, or whomever builds the shields for them, had it figured out they would be offering them for every model. Customers are in line waiting........Appears that Bell on the other hand does have it figured out.
I have the Bell qualifier DLX hi vis. The shield is the best thing I purchased this year. The helmet is fair, not Snell rated. Just got a Shoei RF1200 this week and it's sad to hear the Shoei's version isn't as good.
I got the new transition lens over the weekend. In a hurry, I tried it out WITHOUT the pinlock lens. It fogged so bad i had to turn around and head right home! I took the old pinlock from my regular shield and put it on the transitions and will try again.
But for now, here is a photo of both the transition lens and the regular RF-1200 lens. Can you tell which is which? :wink2:
What was the air temperature when you took that picture? That is a nice change.
I am using a Scorpion helmet most of the time now, got tired of the Shoei fogging so easily. I did buy a pinlock for it, which fixes the fogging pretty much, but it is on a clear lense and very expensive to carry other pinlock visors. The Scorpion stock shield without a pinlock is very fog resistant.
It was about 50 degrees. It took couple minutes to change. The tint worked well but was not perfect. Still sun flaring, etc. But it did get very dark in the direct sunlight. Better with it than without it I guess. With the Pinlock, I get no fogging.
Please post next season after you have some time in hot temps. I found my photochromatic glasses worked good at temps like you mention. Not so much from the mid 80's and up....I will be waiting to see the results. I would very much like it to work.
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