Shoei Photochromatic Visor Failure

[airsafari87]

Riding home last night I noticed what appeared to be a crack in my visor.

I had a closer look when I got home and it appears to be a failure within the structure of the visor itself.

I have taken some photos, but it is really hard to get clear ones, but it very much looks like a bullseye in a car windscreen if that makes sense. Except there absolutely is no crack inside or outside the visor, nor is there any witness mark on the exterior of the visor where a stone could have hit it? Its as if the structure itself has fractured internally??

I never noticed the failure on the ride in to work as it was dark and raining, but I can say with 100% certainty that nothing has struck it.

The visor itself is about 3 and a bit years old now so I guess any warranty on it will have expired, and I don't much fancy shelling out another £150 quid or whatever they cost now, for a replacement, no matter how good they are.

Anyone had anything similar happen 'just because' before?

Edited by airsafari87 on Wednesday 21st October 16:19

[Speedy23]

The only place that visor should be is in the nearest bin. Yes, I can see the area that you have outlined, but what about all the other scores and scratches that are plainly visible?

It looks like a Bob Heath special from the 1970's....great for the first 30 seconds out of the wrapper, then knackered. Guess you don't ride that much at night?

Get yer hand in yer pocket and buy a new one....

[Cylon2007]

Speedy23 said:

The only place that visor should be is in the nearest bin. Yes, I can see the area that you have outlined, but what about all the other scores and scratches that are plainly visible?

It looks like a Bob Heath special from the 1970's....great for the first 30 seconds out of the wrapper, then knackered. Guess you don't ride that much at night?

Get yer hand in yer pocket and buy a new one....

Exactly what I was gping to say after looking at the pictures. Visors are a consumable and should be treated as such.

[Zedboy]

Speedy23 said:

It looks like a Bob Heath special from the 1970's....great for the first 30 seconds out of the wrapper, then knackered...

Fond memories of wet night rides in the late eighties with entertainment courtesy of a Bob Heath specialist scratch-resistant kaleidoscope. Them were t’ut days!

[Biker 1]

A bit like my secondhand Griffin lid I wore in 1984. I think it was mid 70s vintage, a size too large, knackered & the visor scratched to fk. Middle age & sufficient disposable income to afford a bike, should include a budget for decent kit. Good lids can be had for £250 - upgrade every 5 years!

[airsafari87]

I probably worded that last part of my OP poorly.

I don't have a problem buying a new visor, I was just in 2 minds wether to order another photochromatic one at £150+ or a regular tinted visor for considerably less.

As it happens I have a new photochromatic one being delivered tomorrow, along with a new pinlock insert as well.

Back reminiscing about 1973 again.

[Speedy23]

airsafari87 said:

I probably worded that last part of my OP poorly.

I don't have a problem buying a new visor, I was just in 2 minds wether to order another photochromatic one at £150+ or a regular tinted visor for considerably less.

As it happens I have a new photochromatic one being delivered tomorrow, along with a new pinlock insert as well.

Back reminiscing about 1973 again.

I know £150 sounds like a lot, but over 3 years it's less than £1 a week. I've wondered about photochromic visors in the past....how fast do they change, these days? Does going through tunnels, etc. cause any problems?

A good few years ago I had a pair of photochtomatic shades I used to wear on the bike and they were mainly OK but could, very occasionally, catch you out (like in the A38 tunnel under the middle of Brum)!

Yeah, know what you mean about dreaming of the 1970s - it's called "getting old" but you've got to admit kit these days is so much better than it used to be.

Edited by Speedy23 on Friday 23 October 08:01

Edited by Speedy23 on Friday 23 October 08:04

[airsafari87]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

90 odd percent of the time they are fantastic.

The only time they do get caught out is when its foggy during the day, The visor will go dark which isn't ideal.

I've also found that heavily overcast, drizzly days are similar.

That one of mine has probably done over 35k miles over the past 3 years during Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, it only had this weird failure this week while sat on my desk at work??

[fredd1e]

Buy a lid with a drop down sun visor then you can control whether you can see through the dark or not at your leisure.