Goggles/glasses Test

[Loony]

Googles or riding glasses seem to be a bit of a problem to me mainly because I tend to buy cheap.

I started off with a pair of ESS Advancer V 12 googles new from ebay which initially were good. After a while though they seemed to let in more and more air and made my eyes leak. I lived with it for a while because they were not really motorcycle specific but I liked the idea of the quick change lenses.


Soon after the ESS were to be shelved, on a 120 mile cold trip down to kent, I stopped off at blackbear harley and bought a pair of davida WRS 74 Kit which were a vast improvement.

Since then I have had to buy another pair since the originals got damaged beyond repair. These google/glasses are ok but what I have found since using them for a year + is the lenses get scratched pretty easily and cause blurry vison. They are also a bit fiddly to swap lenses unless you have another pair of lenses holders which can be bought from davida stockists cheaply. I tried using the strap to improve the fit but this didnt work very well so I persisted with the arms.

I also found that the sponge that seals the lense started to fall off after a while. This was a bit dissapointing considering they cost £30+


So not really happy with the previous, I took the plunge and bought a Bell Bubble visor for my Custom 500. For £30+ the ride, This Is awesome on long trips and in the rain. I can wear any glasses I like underneath because there is no wind getting past to your face. But the visor is quite cumbersome and can fall off if you knock when moving your lid around, so the search continued.


After reading some good reviews on KD' sunglasses I bought some as they were so cheap, these were ok for short journey but I found muself stuggling at higher speeds with eye drip in colder weather. What I did also like was because they are so compact they hardly take any room in your pockets. so ok but shelved until the warmer weather.


After having a good search for higher priced googles by bobster, davida and a few other makes, I could have afforded a decent pair after all these trials.

So far the visor being the best on long journeys, where rain is a possibility, I still wanted something that I could use without it on the warmer days.

And I am happy to say, I have found an excellent alternative for open face helmets that 'seem' to be ticking all the right boxes.

It is early days, They are by Global vision and they are really meant for skydiving. My concern before I bought them was that because they have no ventilation they would steam up but after a few hours riding These are turing out to be pretty good. If I have started to see a bit of fog whist cruising I just lift the goggles from my face for a few seconds.

At higher speeds they let no wind in at all, they have excellent vizability looking over a shoulder, Much more than any other of my glasses, they are extremely light weight and fairly compact.

They cost me £10.99 + shipping in the Uk. Although they do not have interchangable lenses, they come in dark, clear and yellow so are affordable enough to have another pair.

They have to be put on before your helmet and so far have been no trouble at all, so for the price I recommend these googles as a no tear cheap option.

I will write back after a 1000 miles of use and see if they are robust enough for biking. I have to say though, I am so pleased with how these have worked out It compelled me to write this review, so hopefully they will live up to my and your expectations if you are looking for a cheap pair of googles.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++

Advancer V12 by ESS



Davida WRS 74 KIT



KD's



Bell Bubble visor



Global Vision Flare sky diving googles. http://www.globalvision.us/catalog/goggles/flare-a-f

[morvenhouse]

I have Harley Davidson Road Classic 98828-05V, great in the better weather but useless in the cold as they do fog up. It does clear and does not return once you are moving and to be fair I have not tried any of the proprietary 'no fog' lens treatments which may help.

On the plus side, nice and light, good fit due to the elastic headband and look good. Good visibility, the foam looks well attached and that is after quite a few washes, interchangeable lenses. As usual with HD, not exactly cheap.

[rocketmangb]

I wear Rx glasses
Wiley X in my Rx
Not cheap but they work !

[Loony]

I will try the fairy liquid rub on these Flares if they start to steam up. So far they have been good.

[rick szymanski]

wiley X work fine. has interchangeable lenses and option to use earpieces or a strap

[theneverman]

Originally Posted by rocketmangb

I wear Rx glasses
Wiley X in my Rx
Not cheap but they work !

I have a pair as well, very pleased with Wiley X (non-prescription). ~$80.00



In Santa Cruz, CA you can come into coastal fog or just plain old mist at anytime and these are preferred to a fully foam-lined eyepiece as they'll fog up inside quickly.

I had a pair of HD brand goggles with full foam (from the dealer) that were fantastic, they were transitional lenses that lighten and darken for the night/sun but one day I was out on a coastal ride and a mist set in and I was screwed. Foam got soggy and had to ride without any eyewear and the drizzle was pelting my peepers.

Bottom line, wear something ANSI rated; I took a face full of gravel from a semi at highway speed, my face had a few holes but my eyes were fine.

Good topic, reminds me to wear the good stuff.

[morvenhouse]

Just checked out the Wiley X in the UK £126 or $200!! My apologies to HD theirs by comparison were cheap at 50% the price.

[Loony]

Yea that's the problem i'm having, the cost. They may be good but like everything they won't last forever.

[MRMIKEY32]

I buy the shitty ones from harley that are 20 bucks and have the solid foam.

I break, and replace. Get a scratch, replace.

But that is all changing soon.

I discovered oakley wind jackets. They are -I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!--I LUV XLF!-ing amazing!

The lenses can be had for under 30 bucks, and they swap out in seconds.

They also have a great wind protection device, and many many options for lenses.

[xena]

You guys this is a product review section. I don't
think it's a good idea to muck up someones review thread
with comments about another brand. If you wish
to post a review of something else then by all means
do it (in a separate dedicated thread please). Thanks for the review Loony!