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Tinted helmet shields

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Old 02-24-07, 09:46 PM
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Tinted helmet shields

Anyone use an amber shield on their helmet? I have a clear shield now which I rarely use and a smoke shield that I use most often. What's an amber shield supposed to do/what condition(s) are they designed for? I'm considering getting one when I order a new smoke shield.
Old 02-24-07, 09:51 PM
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https://www.rx7club.com/race-car-tech-103/helmet-visors-smoked-tinted-mirror-etc-612783/
Old 02-24-07, 09:59 PM
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Thanks, I've read that thread though. No one ever brought up an amber shield or what its purpose is (conditions designed for). Simpson doesn't say on their site either. A search for "amber shield" brings up nothing...
Old 02-24-07, 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by SCCAITS
Thanks, I've read that thread though. No one ever brought up an amber shield or what its purpose is (conditions designed for). Simpson doesn't say on their site either. A search for "amber shield" brings up nothing...
That's just Simpsons name for it, but it's basically the same thing as the Iridium shields for other helmets. Even the one I have isn't called 'Iridium' by the company who sells the helmet. It has some other name the company gave it but they are basically all the same thing.
Old 02-24-07, 10:39 PM
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These are the basic shields most helmet companies offer. Regardless of specific name, this is usually what one can get. I'm trying to figure out what each one's purpose is. I imagine each one is designed for a certain condition (cloudy, raining, sunny, low light, etc). Do they really server no purpose other than adding color to your head? I know my smoke shield is 10x easier to drive with than a clear shield on a sunny day.

Old 02-24-07, 10:44 PM
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i used to have some info about the tint as used for sunglasses. same effect. might want to google for sunglass tint. maybe oaklye's web site might have some info.

i remember blue being useful for spotting fluids on track. i think the gold/yellowish is good in extremely bright situations like a ski slope - that is what i use in my shades for snow boarding.
Old 02-25-07, 12:47 AM
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Originally Posted by SCCAITS
I imagine each one is designed for a certain condition (cloudy, raining, sunny, low light, etc). Do they really server no purpose other than adding color to your head? I know my smoke shield is 10x easier to drive with than a clear shield on a sunny day.
They serve a purpose just like sunglasses do. However the different colors really don't do anything special. The true mirrored ones pretty much look the same from the inside. The visors themselves are generally 2-3mm colorless and the iridium or mirror finish is applied on the outside. So you really are only looking through a thin sheet of the stuff. This is why scratching them can be a problem just like sunglasses as its basically the same principle.

Just go to any motorcycle shop and sample theirs for yourself. They'll have all the colors there (not necessarily for your particular helmet but you can see what they are like and try different ones using their helmets).
Old 02-25-07, 12:48 AM
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I think the amber tinted sheilds are for cloudy/overcast conditions. I used to drive a truck, and I kept a pair of amber sunglasses for the cloudy/overcast days, and a pair of dark gray for sunny days.
I know the amber lens made it almost unbearable when the sun popped out.
Old 02-25-07, 02:01 AM
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Rogue's got it. When I raced jetskis I kept a pair of amber goggles for overcast days. It's very important to be able to read the water and the amber lenses made everything look brighter. The water wasn't as shadowed so it was easier to pick out the contour.

I've never used a tinted shield. I'm not big on shields period. I use tinted glasses under my helmet on sunny days and last fall bought a pair of prescription shades with amber safety lenses to try this coming year. I've really liked them when driving on the road so far.
Old 02-25-07, 08:12 AM
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I think some of you guys who have never used them, need to go look through them for yourself. You'll see that the different colors don't really change anything aside from how it matches the color of your helmet (talking about the iridium/mirrored visors that is).
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