Peak or sun visor?

[gspod]

Are helmets accessories or clothing? Oh well........

I will soon be in the market for a new helmet, I wear an open face all year round (please don't comment on my choice of helmet style - thanks) and have been pestered by low sun a lot more over the last year or so.

At the moment I have an Arai which is great and the newer, upgrade has a peak but no sun visor - and I'd have to order it from the USA.
2nd choice is Schuberth M1 which has a sun visor - no peak.
3rd choice is Shoei J something? which again has a sun visor but no peak.

Anyone have any experience with these helmets? Very grateful for your reviews.
(thumbs)

[Paul_C]

I personally prefer a sun visor to a peak. Most of the year I wear either a Schuberth C3 or a flip over Shark Evoline.
However I also use an open face when it's warmer. Needing a new one I tried on plenty last year. I ended up going for a Davida Jet and I'm very pleased. The quietest helmet I've ever used. This can be supplied with press studs for a peak. I decided against this but fitted a Sunax fixed sun visor. I've used these before on other helmets. Just the job. I also bought a visor from David's which works well but I tend to back this up with safety specs.

http://www.thevisorshop.com/Mobile/Mobi ... elID=14344

[bowber]

I've got an Arai now and had a cheap Wulf sport helmet before that, both are better than the sun visor in my road helmet and quite often I'll have no problem with a low sun while my wife struggles to see even with her sun visor down. I also find the peak is better when you're riding through bright/dark areas like you get on a sunny day in a forested area.
Down side of the peak is wind noise.
The sun visor is better for winter sun reflecting off wet roads though.

Steve

[geoham]

I think Shoei missed a trick here with the J-O. I think it should have come with press studs for a peak. I'm looking at buying an open face helmet for when I'm out on my classic bikes and I really fancied the J-O.

Probably stick with either Arai or just buy the standard Shoei open face with the press studs and wear goggles (thumbs)

[Big Red]

Im another open face helmet user and had the same problems. I am now using a Nolan N40 full. It has a removable chin guard and a peak and a sun visor. It was a replacement for a Caburg open face and its significantly quieter than the Caburg.
Also the Nolan is legal as an open face and full face

[DavidS]

I can't honestly say I have ever noticed any value out of a peak and it just tries to rip the helmet off your head at road speeds. I have a Shoei Hornet and previously an Airoh S4.
I wear clear safety glasses under the visor and have put some sunstrip film on the top of the visor as it doesn't have a drop down one. That seems to work just fine
I am tempted to try and trail ride without the peak and see how it goes. They all seem too short to do anything useful except maybe stop some of the roost from the guy in front.
For normal road riding, I still use my Arai road lid. - no peak or big chin guard vent

[gspod]

Thanks for all the comments.

Firstly I'm a year round biker - no car, so I need a helmet that's good for the elements - that's helmets like Davida out, although I like the look.

I hadn't seen the Nolan before and it looks the perfect compromise - my only worry would be build quality, when using every day, I have seen reviews which say the sun visor broke etc.....

The Arai looks best for safety but apparently the peak is too short/high and doesn't offer much protection from the sun.

I'll take a look at the Nolan - it has a 5 year warranty.

Anyway, thanks again and keep those comments coming (thumbs)

[Paul-S]

I have had an Arai TourX since 2007 and bought the Nolan X551 Adventure 2 years ago. The Nolan is the same weight but beats the Arai in several ways in my opinion

Internal sun visor is good and closes down so there is less light bleed in from underneath as with some helmets

The peak is shorter than the Arai by almost 2 cms but this does not impede the sun shading property that much but the big win for me at 6' is there is no buffeting like I used to get with the Arai on any bike whether the ATs or the DRZ

The chin guard is closer than the Arai, sort of half way between a road bike helmet and the Arai TourX. The benefit here is there is less wind noise and draft and the Nolan comes with a draft excluder that can be removed. I've had a few flies and wasps get sucked up into the Arai over the years

Overall very pleased and would not go back to the Arai

[catcitrus]

I use the latest THH--both a peak and a flip down internal visor--even ACU approved if that means anything!--However, the fit suits my skull shape and I can wear it day after day in comfort.

[bowber]

The Arai looks best for safety but apparently the peak is too short/high and doesn't offer much protection from the sun.

I'll take a look at the Nolan - it has a 5 year warranty.

Anyway, thanks again and keep those comments coming (thumbs)

Mine is the Arai Tour x4, the peak blocks the sun ok but it's not as long as you get on a MX helmet, no built in sun visor though.
I've also thought about the Nexx XD1, seems to be liked by those that have it, peak and sun visor built in.

Steve