Are Riding Glasses Better Than A Face Shield
I was only eighteen years of age when I got my first bike. I loved my Honda 550 Four 1977 model with its beefed up engine and its custom dual chrome exhaust. I was not the only rider in our family; my brother had just bought a brand new Yamaha. From the very beginning I could not make up my mind whether I should choose an open helmet with a pair of riding glasses or to opt for the full face shield. The helmet my brother had came with a full face shield while my helmet only had a half one.
I was left with the choice of buying a new helmet that had a full face shield or buy one without any shield and wear a pair of riding glasses; for the latter I would have to take my chances with any bugs I encountered. I really was in two minds about this. The helmet I had with the half shield was not something I was happy with because they were usually for older people.
But I also had the problem of finding a couple of hundred dollars for a brand new good quality helmet because that was what they cost in those days. But then my brother did something that made the choice easy.
He was riding from Fort Hood, Texas to our home in New York and had bought a full front fairing in order to make things easier for himself. But once he was home for couple of months he decided he no longer wanted it. So he decided to give it to me. Despite the fact that it could not be considered very manly, I really did love it!
So it solved my dilemma as well as keeping me warmer when the temperature got a little bit cooler. The upper portion of the fairing was just high enough to keep the bugs from hitting me in the face, yet not so high that it interfered with the “wind blowing through your hair” sensation.
I took the half shield off my helmet and bought a sweet-looking pair of black and red riding glasses. I am pleased to admit that I still have those riding glasses after 28 years! Can you imagine that from a pair of riding glasses?
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