Helmets My Next Helmet: Akuma Phantom II

FrayAdjacent

Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
383
Location
Austin, TX
Bike
1995 ST1100
For a while, I've been searching around for a photochromic (gets dark in sunlight) visor for my helmet. A while back, there was a company that was supposed to be making visors for a few different manufacturers, including HJC. I currently run an HJC FS-15. The company apparently went under, because a few months ago when I tried to find their website, the site was gone.

Well, it now appears that Akuma (not a really well known brand) and Bell make helmets that have the Transitions SOLFX visors available.

The Akuma Phantom II is also a very light carbon fiber lid, and costs around $400. Not too bad. Bell has a few helmets that can use the SOLFX visor (which is a $119 optional visor) as well.

I ride to work at night, but leave in the morning, often times the sun is coming up (I ride east on the way home). Right now, I swap my clear shield for a tinted one, but that's sometimes a PITA. Also if I'm ever riding in the evening, I have to plan on either stopping to swap out the tinted screen, or just put the clear one on... A photochromic visor would be THE solution!

Looks like Cycle Gear is supposed to carry them, so I'm gonna have to stop in and try them on to find my size, and see if they fit well. If not, I'll look at the Bell lids. Sad thing, tho, I won't have the $$ for a new helmet until probably August. Oh well, I can wait. ;)
 
I carry a roll of blue painters masking tape in the fairing pocket. When the sun is in my eyes, I put a layer or two of tape on the visor. It acts like a sun visor. Looks a bit hokey, but it works great. When the sun rises enough to no longer be a problem I peal off the tape and throw it away. It doesn't leave a film and I don't have to ride down the road holding my hand up to shade my eyes from the sun.
 
Well, like I mentioned, I have a tinted visor, so I can swap out. It's really easy to do with the HJC helmet, but it's often a PITA to carry two visors. I've been occasionally checking for progress on the photochromic screen front, and it's VERY nice to see a couple manufacturers offering them now. Hopefully it will become ubiquitous, because on a motorcycle, it would be HELLA handy. I can't see a reason NOT to want one.

I emailed HJC to see if they were working on anything. I'll update if they do. Otherwise, I'm going to save my pennies and maybe later in the year get myself an Akuma Phantom II. Not only the screen, but the extremely light weight and quality are excellent incentives.
 
I've read some good things about the Phantom. Akuma isn't well known because they are a small operation but I think their helmets are pretty well made. I have an R2 and it's a nice helmet, even if oddly sized. I remember reading a very positive review of the Phantom and the reviewer was very pleased with the (lack of) weight and I'm pretty sure the original Phantom came with the Transitions visor standard. Don't know anything about the Phantom II but I have a personal dislike for the look carbon fiber so I never really considered buying one. I can easily see how a photosensitive visor would be super handy though.

***Edit

I guess I was mistaken and the review was on the Phantom II...

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/akuma-phantom-2/
 
Punk, that's the very review I was reading. wBW has some great reviews! The only nitpick I have about them is that I wish they would put the date of the review up near the title. One can never tell if they reviewed something recently or a couple years ago and a few revisions back.
 
FrayAdjacent said:
Punk, that's the very review I was reading. wBW has some great reviews! The only nitpick I have about them is that I wish they would put the date of the review up near the title. One can never tell if they reviewed something recently or a couple years ago and a few revisions back.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree on the date. If you look way down in the information box at the end of the review, they list the year reviewed. You just have to get through the whole review to see when they wrote it.
 
Many helmets come with built-in sun visors...My HJC Symaxx II has it...While the helmet is LOUD, the built in sun visor is the best thing since sliced bread.
 
Kempo, my first helmet was a Symax II. And yeah, it is LOUD. That's the one thing I really didn't like about it. I switched to the FS-15 earlier this year, and while it's quieter, it's still pretty loud. The flip down tinted visors are nice... I'd still rather have a photosensitive screen.

I got an email reply from HJC - they are not planning on producing a photosensitive screen. Meh.
 
On another forum in a discussion about lids, someone mentioned Wiki helmets. They have a photochromic screen and a 'stick on' type screen that is photochromic. Their 'universal' kit should work on my shield, but they show to be out of stock. I emailed to inquire.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom