Dark Smoke? (face shield)

Ninja Bob · April 23rd, 2014, 10:26 AM

So I picked up a white Fly Trekker. The side clips are coming today so I can get rid of the brim. I'm trying to find a dark face shield like in this picture:

But all I'm finding is a shield called "dark smoke"...

Will it look as dark as the one in that picture when its on the helmet, or should I be searching a different term?

DaBlue1 · April 23rd, 2014, 11:41 AM

Dark smoke faceshields and windscreens will vary between different manufacturers. its really hard to tell sometimes from a picture just how dark it may be depending on the light and angles in the pic.

My experience has been when it says "Dark Smoke", it's pretty dark (like the top pic) but still light enough to see through. Light smoke looks more like the second pic. I have a dark smoke faceshield that looks really dark, but i can still see through it pretty good at night.

Sirref · April 23rd, 2014, 11:43 AM

I second that, my scorpion dark smoke was a lighter one that I could reasonably use at night and my new icon dark smoke visor is a bit darker. I'm testing it tonight to see how well I can see through it at night.

outasight20 · April 23rd, 2014, 12:23 PM

Even a light smoke shield will look pretty dark from outside on a sunny day. Don't worry, the cagers won't see your face when you blow by them.

reaubideux · April 24th, 2014, 10:54 AM

I think it's just the lighting throwing you off. The top pic is a profile shot in shade (lower light) looks darker than what it probably is but still a more truer representation of what the "dark smoke" shield will look like than the bottom photo. The stock photo is a relatively straight on shot in brighter light with a white background so it's not going to appear as dark.

I've got a dark smoke shield on my Arai and a gold shield on my Shoei and if you look up the stock photos they look lighter and more transparent than the real thing.

antiant · April 24th, 2014, 10:56 AM

Photochromic shield ftw.

Alex · April 24th, 2014, 10:56 AM

Yup. The top shot is angled to the camera such that the light being filtered by the shield goes through it twice; it necessarily would look twice as dark as the other straight-on shot.

Is this going to be your primary helmet? I like the styling, but running a DOT-only dual-sport type helmet on the street may have some inherent drawbacks.

Ninja Bob · April 24th, 2014, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Yup. The top shot is angled to the camera such that the light being filtered by the shield goes through it twice; it necessarily would look twice as dark as the other straight-on shot.

Is this going to be your primary helmet? I like the styling, but running a DOT-only dual-sport type helmet on the street may have some inherent drawbacks.

As of right now, it's my only helmet. It's DOT and ECE. What sort of drawbacks are you referring to?

Alex · April 24th, 2014, 11:33 AM

Hadn't realized they pursued ECE, that would give me a bit more comfort. In general - I'd avoid a plasticky cheap helmet that isn't designed for either higher speeds or harder impacts, from a safety as well as comfort/wind noise perspective. Offroad, I myself use one of those plasticky DS helmets (AFX), but wouldn't take it out on the road. YMMV...

Ninja Bob · April 24th, 2014, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Hadn't realized they pursued ECE, that would give me a bit more comfort. In general - I'd avoid a plasticky cheap helmet that isn't designed for either higher speeds or harder impacts, from a safety as well as comfort/wind noise perspective. Offroad, I myself use one of those plasticky DS helmets (AFX), but wouldn't take it out on the road. YMMV...

Thanks for the tips. It's actually pretty comfortable, surprisingly quiet, and doesn't feel cheap and plasticky. Up close, the added extremities, such as the part on the chin and the vent covers on top, are the only parts that appear to be a little cheap.

JohnnyBravo · April 24th, 2014, 09:33 PM

I like fly racing, an the helmet in the pic

GearMonkey · April 25th, 2014, 08:23 PM

I also really like that helmet. I have a dark smoke visor on my scorpion helmet. It looks very light like the picture when it's off the helmet, but when it's on the helmet and light isn't shining straight through it looks almost black, very much like the 2 pics you posted. I think you'll be happy with a dark smoke visor.

Sykes92 · April 25th, 2014, 08:33 PM

All smoked or mirror visors are reasonably see-through like the 2nd pic until you pull it down. Then it generally looks like the first picture. You will be hard pressed to find any face shield that completely blocks out your face though. In direct sunlight on a bright day, you will be able to see through smoked visors.

April 23rd, 2014, 10:26 AM	#1
Ninja Bob Certified Slacker Name: Shawn Location: Cleveland Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250R SE Posts: 232	Dark Smoke? (face shield) So I picked up a white Fly Trekker. The side clips are coming today so I can get rid of the brim. I'm trying to find a dark face shield like in this picture: But all I'm finding is a shield called "dark smoke"... Will it look as dark as the one in that picture when its on the helmet, or should I be searching a different term? __________________________________________________ *Ninja Bob* Last futzed with by Ninja Bob; April 23rd, 2014 at 11:15 AM. Reason: added pic of shield

April 24th, 2014, 10:56 AM	#7
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Yup. The top shot is angled to the camera such that the light being filtered by the shield goes through it twice; it necessarily would look twice as dark as the other straight-on shot. Is this going to be your primary helmet? I like the styling, but running a DOT-only dual-sport type helmet on the street may have some inherent drawbacks. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

April 24th, 2014, 11:33 AM	#9
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Hadn't realized they pursued ECE, that would give me a bit more comfort. In general - I'd avoid a plasticky cheap helmet that isn't designed for either higher speeds or harder impacts, from a safety as well as comfort/wind noise perspective. Offroad, I myself use one of those plasticky DS helmets (AFX), but wouldn't take it out on the road. YMMV... __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

April 25th, 2014, 08:33 PM	#13
Sykes92 Jedi on Two Wheels Name: Cameron Location: Kent Island Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250r (Slightly Modded) Posts: 489	All smoked or mirror visors are reasonably see-through like the 2nd pic until you pull it down. Then it generally looks like the first picture. You will be hard pressed to find any face shield that completely blocks out your face though. In direct sunlight on a bright day, you will be able to see through smoked visors. __________________________________________________ *May the force be with you and keep your rubber side down.*

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April 23rd, 2014, 11:41 AM	#2
DaBlue1 Long Time Rider Name: Blue Location: Charlotte, NC Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Dark smoke faceshields and windscreens will vary between different manufacturers. its really hard to tell sometimes from a picture just how dark it may be depending on the light and angles in the pic. My experience has been when it says "Dark Smoke", it's pretty dark (like the top pic) but still light enough to see through. Light smoke looks more like the second pic. I have a dark smoke faceshield that looks really dark, but i can still see through it pretty good at night.

April 23rd, 2014, 11:43 AM	#3
Sirref Private Joker Name: Ben Location: Towson, MD Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '14	I second that, my scorpion dark smoke was a lighter one that I could reasonably use at night and my new icon dark smoke visor is a bit darker. I'm testing it tonight to see how well I can see through it at night.

April 23rd, 2014, 12:23 PM	#4
outasight20 ninjette.org member Name: Weezy Location: Massachusetts Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Yamaha FZ6 Posts: 169	Even a light smoke shield will look pretty dark from outside on a sunny day. Don't worry, the cagers won't see your face when you blow by them.

April 24th, 2014, 10:54 AM	#5
reaubideux Perpetual Newb Name: Jason Location: Imperial, MO Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 MIB Ninja 250R [sold]; 2006 CBR600RR [sold]; 2013 Triumph Street Triple R Posts: 782	I think it's just the lighting throwing you off. The top pic is a profile shot in shade (lower light) looks darker than what it probably is but still a more truer representation of what the "dark smoke" shield will look like than the bottom photo. The stock photo is a relatively straight on shot in brighter light with a white background so it's not going to appear as dark. I've got a dark smoke shield on my Arai and a gold shield on my Shoei and if you look up the stock photos they look lighter and more transparent than the real thing.

April 24th, 2014, 10:56 AM	#6
antiant antiant Name: antiant Location: Cali Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): None Posts: A lot. MOTM - Oct '14	Photochromic shield ftw.

April 24th, 2014, 09:33 PM	#11
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	I like fly racing, an the helmet in the pic

April 25th, 2014, 08:23 PM	#12
GearMonkey ninjette.org guru Name: Scott Location: Atlanta Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 363	I also really like that helmet. I have a dark smoke visor on my scorpion helmet. It looks very light like the picture when it's off the helmet, but when it's on the helmet and light isn't shining straight through it looks almost black, very much like the 2 pics you posted. I think you'll be happy with a dark smoke visor.