Helmets and glasses?
 

Hello-
I have a question and would appreciate any suggestions. I wear glasses and have tried to find some info on here that would assist me but cannot. With glasses I have had trouble finding a helmet that will fit me properly without smashing my glasses out of place and protect my head. Right now my helmet is to big. I have it that way so I can fit my glasses underneath. I have a smaller helmet that fits the right way but I can't wear my glasses with it. I know I could thing of getting my eyes done or wearing contacts but I would rather not. I know people other people wear glasses, sunglasses, etc, can anyone help me out on this?
Thank you,
Nathan

Have you tried contacts?

Have you tried the Arai Tour-X, best bit of kit I own. I can wear sunglasses or goggles in them ok so depending on your design of glasses you might be ok. Of course is you use the same optician as Elton John you might be buggered

I had to start wearing glasses fulltime about two years ago. After years of not needing them, I initially found them a real pain on a motorcycle, but have now become accustomed to them. My helmet is a Shoei RF800 & the glasses are no problem with it. I guess it depends upon individual head shape & the type of glasses frames you have. My glasses have a very thin wire (titanium)'arms', which makes fitting them inside the helmet easy. Previously I had ones with thicker arms but they proved uncomfortable in a helmet & gave me a headache after just a short ride.
regards
Cuppa

Helmet and glasses
 

Titianium framed glasses that are indestructable (almost) and currently I have a shoei RF1000. On other helmets I have relieved the inside lining so it doesn't press on the glass frames. I like having glasses with plastic lenses that are tough and another layer of protection for the old eyeball when the face shield is up. And I always take a extra pair of glasses when traveling.

I wear glasses exclusively, including on my moto. I wear an Arai XD helmet, but that's only because of my face shape.

The real key are the glasses- if you wear some with a spring frame, you can find some that don't have the ear loops- they just go straight back. "ici berlin" currently makes a few styles that are like that. Let me know if you want pictures or anything.

I have Wiley X, they work well. The straight ear pieces just slide in.
Wiley X | Motorcycle Eyewear

I've worn glasses all my motorcycling life - without problems.

What you really need to do is think your helmet when you are buying your glasses. Make sure that arms go straight back from the lenses to your ears. Also, choose those fancy ‘rapide’ lenses. They save having to change visors for those bright summer days – worth there weight in gold.

Also note that if you want to wear goggles, Oakley does a special set (MX L Frame) which will go over your prescription glasses.

I used to wear glasses (for 20 years or so, had laser treatment a few years ago) I found the flip up helmets were the best, just because you don't have to take your glasses on and off with the helmet:thumbup1: The best I had was the Schuberth Concept (I still have/use it) because of the comfort and the flip down sun visor, great for those times when you haven't got the shades on!
They are great for having a smoke (for those of us that still do) in the rain, just flip it up and light:clap:
Go down to the bike shop and try a few, its the only way.


Trophymick

My 2 cents worth
 

I have used sunglasses for years with an Arai Quantum f, I avoid any sunnies with the ear loop and they seem to slide in easy every time after you get used to it.

The biggest problem I have found is using Polarised sunnies that distaught the digital readouts on some bikes. It is getting harder and harder to get glasses that are not polarised.
They might be good for fisherman, but they are RS for motorcycle riders.

Glen

I used titanium framed glasses for a few years. STILL a pain in the arse as you still have to take the glasses off to get the helmet off and the same procedure for donning the lid.

I now have a permanent fix... got my eyes laser'ed:eek3:

Best money I ever spent:wave:

John

Arai Tour-x and Caberg Justimo flip-front
 

My glasses have rather thin arms, and curve round the ear, I find a slight discomfort to my ears where the arms bend round my ears, but only after a couple of hours riding using the Arai Tour-x, whcih is a nice tight fit.
My Caberg Justimo flip-front seems slightly looser where your ears are, the helmet is slightly recessed where your ears are, and you can even stick a flat speaker (for mobile phone or mp3 player) in the space. I can leave my glasses on when I put the helmet on or take it off, and it has a dark slide down visor inside, so I don't have to stop and put my prescription sunglasses on. There is a downside to the Caberg - it's quite noisy, so I use the Caberg when on short journeys, and the Tour-x when riding distance. I have the peak fitted to the Tour-x which is handy when the sun is low and in your face, just tip your head down slightly to block the sun. i also have 'fitted' in-ear speakers (got them at the HU meet last year), and even with these in place and glasses on, neither helmet is uncomfortable.
Now, getting the glasses steamed up in cold weather - that's another story.....

***Just checked my friend's Caberg Justimo, it's not the same inside, doesn't have 'recesses' for your ears**

Bill

The Shoei Multitec is designed for glasses and ears - just got a new one and find it is OK.


Rob

I'll have to check some different helmets out. Maybe later on I can get my eyes done but for now, I'll stick with the glasses. Thanks for the help.

+1 on Wiley-X, I have the SG1-V cut prescription glasses and I have worn them under my MC helmets and K-pot's as well! They're ANSI rated polycarbonate lenses and pretty bloody comfortable to boot.

~Willy~

I have severe myopia and astigmatism, and need heavy lenses. have done so since a teenager. Because of this I have always had open faced helmets with where possible a sunshield. Sunshield and visor is best.

I also wear glasses and found my Caberg Justissimo too tight for the frames. I removed the lining and 'sanded' down the polystyrene padding around the ears with a stainless steel pot scrubber and replaced the lining. Perfect! I'm sure you could do this with any helmet.

You need to vacuum clean the helmet after doing this.

I recently tried to buy a Arai Tour-X for the same reason but didnt really want to spend so much on a helmet. I decided to go for the other off-road with visor helmet around, the HJC CL-XS. It was a gamble but I can honestly say after wearing various helmets far more expensive before, this is the most under-rated helmet around, and a third the price of the Arai. Glasses fit in just right and dont give you a headache after 200miles or so on.

If this is the type of touring helmet you want, dont bother with the over-priced Arai, grab a bargain!

trav

Airoh S4
 

I would recommend my Airoh S4 (+/- £100), light, good ventilation and you dont get the usual headache after a 200km ride wearing sunglasses, the beak is quite prominent you could easily smoke a cigarette with the helmet on so if you are a kind of fragile guy i would recommend a scarf to prevent a sore throath if you are riding at night or in cold weather - for the same reason plenty of air in hot weather...

While I didn't have any problem with my full face and glasses, wife did because she couldn't hold her head very steady after the stroke while I put the helmet on. We bought Flip-front helmets and so for the past year, she has been smiling when we go for a ride instead of cringing and trying to hide behind the sofa as I approach with the helmet. We both wear glasses and she weards large frames with polar-gray to protect against cataracts. I wear smaller frame to more openly expose my stunning good looks.

Nolan, Shoei and HJC all make a good flip front.

i have been wearing glasses for ages but only been biking for 3 years but never found them any problem but after 10hours with my helmet it does get a bit annoying but nothing mega. I was in a bike shop the other day and dont know if any one has put this up or not but shoei had 2 different types of helmets that had pieces of foam removed for the glasses to slide down in easier.

Didnt get a chance to try the helmet on but they looked like they would work but the only thing i though was that if you ride with the visor slightly open then wind will just go straight down the glasses cut out and into your ears!!!!:( Hope this might help

Cheap solution
 

Hi I also wear glasses and have suffered with the same problems ie not fitting easily inside my helmet. A cheap simple fix is to sew a bit of the helmet linning together just where the arms of the glasses need to feed into the helmet. I did this on my cheap helmet and it works a treat. On better helmets with removable linnings it would be even easier to do.:mchappy: