Helmets with integrated dark visors?

[stig]

'ello all.

Well, high time I retired my trusty Arai for a new lid.

One of the biggest hassles of commuting East in the morning and West in the evening is that I get the sun right in my face both ways on my commute. At the moment, I switch between a clear and a dark visor - which is a bit of a faff.

I know that there's a few makers who offer an integrated system (Caberg, Schubeth etc.) and I was wondering whether the PH biking collective could offer any exprience/advice?

They seem worryingly cheap (well, the Caberg at least). My Arai was £400+ and I've learnt that with lids especially, you get what you pay for and it's money well spent to protect what little grey matter I've got

So - any opinions/suggestions??

[Alex@POD]

I just got an Arai Chaser with a quick release visor mechanism, when you are used to it changing the visor is a matter of 10 seconds... one little tab to lift under either side of the visor. Does yours have that? If not that could be a plan... I have seen some Nolans with a little sun visor on top of the normal one, but I imagine that would be rather noisy...

[MrsMiggins]

I use a Schuberth C2. Feels very well made and is v. quiet. Looks not to everyone's taste though, and it's a flip, as are most lids with integrated dark visors, AFAIK.

[wackydo]

I have a Caberg V2 with the internal drop down visor. Works well for me, but I think that the helmet as a whole is quite noisy. Not a problem if you're wearing earplugs as I do.

It's a reasonable helmet for £100, there's a new GT version just out with a flip front as well.

As with all helmet purchases you have to decide how much to pay for such a vital piece of safety equipment.

[hiccy]

I've got a Caberg V2 also and would agree with the above. It's a good lid for commuting, the integrated visor is quite handy. But, i found the lining sagged quite noticeably and I ended up unhappy with the fit. Much happier with my AGV, ta.

I'd have a good look at Nolan lids for integrated visors.

[hugoagogo]

schuberth are pretty good, they fit me (with an 'arai-shaped' head) and have integrated dark 'flip down' visors

they certainly aren't 'worryingly cheap' check out the S1 carbon

http://schuberth.klaxmedia.de/de/s1-c

they do (did?) a really nice schumacher replica too

[stig]

Thanks chaps. My Arai already has the quick change visor system - but I still have to carry a spare visor everywhere with me which is a pain and doesn't give me the flexibility to switch between the two on the move. My commute is about miles each way and the weather/conditions can chage a fair bit along the way.

I'm put off the V2 because the looks are a bit, err... 70s The Schubeth looks good though and the quality seems to be up there. Caberg Justissimo/Rhyno/Mirage are all decent looking too.

As always, ultimately the fit will dictate my decision - but good to know that the Schubeth is more of an Arai fit. Only annoyance I have with my Arai at the mo is that the chin is pretty close (and no, I don't have a big chin )

Any other suggestions?

[Twit]

The Caberg is pretty good, I used one for a year or so and found it fine. The dark drop down visor is genius and works even with glasses. Its also quite a big helmet so it should solve your chin 'issue'. The downsides are that it is quite heavy and can be noisy, although that I think is more down to flipfronts in general. For the cash its a good helmet and people have crashed in them and been fine, again issue with flipfronts is the chin bar staying put.

For me as soon as it gets warm I use a open face and sunglasses, much nicer, but for full face then the caberg is a good option!

[Andy Oh]

Stig,

I tried a Schuberth as I do the same as you, swap between dark & clear visors on my Arai, but I decided to stick with the Arai as I wasn't too keen on the design of the Schuberth and I also didn't think the flip down dark visor was sufficient enough. I'm sticking with the Arai and changing visors