When you are riding a motorcycle, the amount of light in your surroundings constantly changes. It can be extremely bright during the day and stark black during the night time.
Wearing sunglasses under your clear visor is not a very convenient solution for this issue.
In such situations, a clear visor does not do the job. What you need is a tinted visor, and what could be better than a photochromic helmet visor, which will make you look stylish and also serve the purpose well?
We are doing a comparison of the two best photochromic helmet visors in the market. It will help you decide which option is best for you.
The first helmet visor is the Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield. And, the second one is Shoei Shield CWR-1 Photochromic Visor.
Bell helmets and Shoei are among the biggest players in the field of helmet manufacturing.
Shoei is the Japanese helmet brand which produces visors of great quality. They protect the rider from dirt and wind. They also provide resistance from harmful UV rays. Almost all of the Shoei products are verified by SHELL and DOT.
Bell Helmets has also been producing good quality motorcycle apparel for a very long time. They offer state of the art technology to their customers through their products.
About Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Face Shield
This helmet visor brings with it the advanced Japanese technology which will give pure comfort to your eyes while driving.
You will not need any sunglasses to wear them under your clear visor when the sun is out. Now this Shoei Shield CWR-1 Photochromic visor will handle the outside lighting as a pro.
It will adjust the level of darkness in the visor so you can easily see properly throughout the day.
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About Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield
This photochromic shield from the house of Bell helmets has it all that is necessary in a tinted visor. It has an automatic tint adjuster which will adjust the amount of tint on the visor according to the lights in your surroundings. The visor will get very tinted when it is exposed to the scorching and harsh sunlight.
The Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield will change its color with just two minute of exposure to the light. It will quickly adapt with the light in your surroundings.
The visors made by Bell use molded plastic tabs to attach it with the helmet which may even break off easily if you are continuously replacing the visor. With a transition visor, this problem is solved. You will not have to change the shield very often. Also, you will not have to carry an extra pair of sunglasses for when you are riding in the bright sun.
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Features
How does this transition face shield work?
The photochromic cells in the visor screen take the active role in the transitioning of color of the visor.
When there is more UV light in the surroundings, then the photochromic molecules get darker. And in the absence of the UV light, it again gets clearer.
Although the photochromic molecules take a few minutes to adjust to their surrounding lights.
Compatible Helmets
The Bell Transitions Photochromatic shield are compatible with the helmets manufactured by Bell, which have the quick click release mechanism. The Bell Star helmets, RS-1, and the Bell Vortex helmet will perfectly complement this face shield.
As all these three helmets can share the same visor, this Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield will fit either of these three.
The Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield is compatible with helmets such as the RF1200, RF SR and X-14 helmets.
Coating on the Visor
The Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield has a high quality coating on its surface which will not leave scratches or abrasions on it. It will also protect you from the UVA and UVB rays with protective coatings. Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield also has the special Bell NutraFog II anti fog coating which will not let any fog or precipitation on the screen of the face shield.
The Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield has an anti-reflective photochromic chemical coating on it. The chemical reactions are responsible for the change in color of the shield in the Shoei’s CWR-1 photochromic face shield. This face shield is inserted with Pinlock inserts which do not let the fog accumulate in the screen of the visor. It is a patented anti-fog technology which is the best solution for fog in the motorcycle helmets. It also has a scratch-proof coating in it.
Protection from UV Rays
It does not matter if you are wearing a full-face helmet, your face is still at the risk of sunburn.
You should always wear a face shield which will protect your face and eyes from the damage the harsh sun can cause to them. Invest in a visor which will block the UA and UVB rays from entering inside your helmet.
The coating done in both the visors is claimed to protect from the harmful UV rays like UVA and UVB rays.
The transition helmet visor from Bell lags a step behind from Shoei’s CWR-1, in the case of protection against the UV rays.
The Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield gives your face and eyes maximum protection against the UV rays by blocking out the rays 100%, while the Bell Transitions Photochromatic shield only protects you against the 99% of the harmful sun rays.
Fight Against Fog
The Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield has the NutraFog II anti-fog coating for fighting the fog.
The Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield uses the best and patented solution for fog which is the Pinlock technology. The Pinlock insert will not allow any fog to cloud the visor’s screen.
The fog can really hinder your view and it may lead to unwanted situations. Hence, anti-fog lenses are as important as the helmet itself.
Nutra Fog anti-fog coating does not work as well as the Pinlock technology. It really beats the fog and not let it come in your way of clear vision. Hence, Shoei has better technology for providing resistance from fog.
Weight of Both the Face Shields
The weight of the face shields is also a considerable factor as it will determine the whole weight of your helmet, which means the weight you will have to carry on your head while you will be riding on your bike.
The Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield weighs only 4 ounces.
The Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield is very light, as it only weighs 0.3 ounces.
The Technology Used for Transitioning
The technology used in both the helmet visors differs.
The Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield uses the same transitioning technology which has been used in many helmet visors such as the LaZer face shields.
Why should you buy the Bell Transitions Photochromic Shield?
Well, if you are investing your hard earned money on a helmet visor, you should at least know why you would want it.
First of all, you should buy it for its practicality. You should buy it for the ease of use. You do not have to change your helmet visor every time the sun goes down or comes up. Within just 120 seconds, the face shield will adjust with its surrounding light. Now, you do not have to carry multiple different shields with you or a pair of sunglasses.
The looks of the helmet visor are also very nice. It will perfectly complement your Bell Vortex and Bell Star helmet.
Why should you buy the Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield?
You can invest in this helmet visor because of the patented Pinlock technology used in this Shoei’s CWR-1 transition face shield, which will protect your visor screen from getting all fogged up and giving you a blurred vision which may cause accidents.
It is a very convenient face shield. You can just put them on your Shoei RF1200 helmets and forget about carrying an extra visor or sunglasses with it. The plastic tabs which are there for attaching it will also last for a long time, as now you do not swap your face shield that often.
You can also invest in one of these Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shields due to the fact that they are DOT certified and they are also very light in weight, which means that you do not have to carry heavy weight on your head. Carrying heavy weight on your head may make you uncomfortable during the longer rides as they put strain on your head as well as the neck muscles. So, it is always suggested to use the helmet face shield which is lighter but will also give you maximum protection against any impact that is experienced by it.
What to keep in mind when you buy the Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield?
Do not clean the visor with the regular lens cleaner. The photochromic molecules coating on the face shield may get affected or the fog resistant technology in the visor will stop working and you will get the visor which will fog instantly.
Also, try to keep it away from the water. They are not meant for use during the rain, as the rain water will also affect the anti-fog coating on the face shield.
But, if you use them with care, these photochromic face shields will work just fine for many years.
What to keep in mind when you buy the Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield?
Just remember this one fact about the Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield when you buy this.
It is the fact that it will only go for the Shoei RF-1200. You cannot use it with the other helmet models from the brand Shoei.
Safety Features
Both the helmet visors meet the standards of the Department of Transportation USA which means you can wear them safely on any racing tracks in the world. You can also wear them while you are going on a journey without getting a ticket.
Drawbacks of Both the Visors
The transitioning visor has many advantages. It will save you time and also the hassle you go through when changing the face shield throughout the day. It is also very risky to put the sunglasses on and off while you are riding.
But both of the face shields, Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield and Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield, have the same drawback.
Both the face shields take at least around 120 seconds, i.e. 2 minutes, to adjust to the surrounding light of the atmosphere.
Suppose you are traveling on a road and there are lots and lots of small tunnels on the road. Your transitional visor will not have the time to adjust to the exposure of both the surroundings. You will ultimately have to slide up your visor while you are travelling from such a route, as stopping to put on a different visor, or even sunglasses may look a bit stupid and it is also not safe from the safety perspective.
This face shield may not give you the perfect tint that you desire. You may want it to get the darkest in the presence of sun, but it may not give you the desired tint.
Price of the Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield and the Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield
Though both shields are reasonably priced, there is almost a difference of $30 in the prices of both the photochromic visors.
Comparing the features, it is clear that the Bell Transitions Photochromatic Shield delivers better features than the Shoei CWR-1 Photochromic Shield at a lesser price.