[ncBiker]

Im lookin for a helmet with inner sun shields that meet at least 2 of the different safety foundation requirements. I want more then just DOT. Im looking to spend less then $200. Thanks

[ranette]

The only helmets I know of that have the inner sun shields are modulars. I know the higher end HJC and the Nolan N 103 and I assume the new Nolan that is coming out in a few weeks. All are DOT but not Snell. If you include European standards in your certification requirements I believe these would fill the bill, if you’re looking specifically for Snell, I don’t think there are any currently out there that would meet your requirements. I believe that Caberg also makes a modular with an inner visor, however, they are difficult to come by in the states, and very expensive when you do.

[WeaponZero]

http://sportbiketrackgear2.homestead.com/EXO-1000.html

Scorpion EXO 1000. It is the only helmet on the market that has a drop-down sun visor and meets SNELL standards (although SNELL 2005, not current SNELL). They cost in the neighborhood of $300, however the Apollo graphic is on closeout for $199.

Your only other option is the Shark S900 which is both DOT and ECE certified. However, it is out of your price range. You won’t find much in the way of reviews on it as it is brand new to the market. However, Shark is known for high quality and high safety.

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Categories.bok?category=SHARK+Helmets%3AS900

Unfortunately, as ranette pointed out, sun visors are featured mostly limited to modular helmets, which, due to their basic design, can not possibly meet SNELL standards as they are technically considered half helmets since the chin bar is not fixed, and half helmets can not be SNELL certified. The only other Full Face helmets I know of that have a sun visor are the HJC IS-16 and HJC FS-10 which are pretty bottom-of-the-barrel compared to the other two I just linked and not even worth comparing to them. They are DOT certified only.

[romalo]

I have the Scorpion EXO 1000 helmet and love it. The built in sun visor works well and easy to flip up and down while riding.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

After reading this article below along with a few others, I decided that either DOT only, Snell 2010, or one of the European helmet standards are the best. Snell 2005 testing hit the helmet in the same place twice, so that the helmet is too hard and transmits too much of the crash energy to your brain compared to the other, better standards, including the much improved Snell 2010:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

[ranette]

I stand corrected on thinking that there were only modulars available with the visors. One thing I’d tell you about my personal experience with visors. Keep in mind that mine is an external visor on my Nolan N102 so might not be 100% applicable. However I can tell you that the optical quality of my visor is very low. All it does is make things darker without actually making the direct sunlight any more tolerable. Every now and then I turn a corner to be hit with a blast of direct, almost blinding, sunlight. When I flip down the visor it makes things darker but doesn’t improve my visibility or reduce the need to squint. I’ve pretty much given up on it and will just wear a pair of good sunglasses on sunny days. Certainly not as convenient as a flip down visor, but there is no comparison between the optical quality of my Oakley’s to the piece of crap that Nolan calls a sun visor. Of course I can’t speak for Scorpion or Shark, but before I’d purchase a helmet with the expectation of putting a sun visor to use I’d check to see if they made any claims as to its optical quality.

[Author]

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