So I am thinking of ditching the windscreen.

Is wearing a helmet compulsary without a full screen or is it just worn by choice to fend of 80mph flies.

I will have an aeroscreen fitted for trackdays bt was just wondering about the law regarding driving it on the road.

There is no law to say you have to wear a helmet but IMHO youd be absolutely mental not to. Imagine a smal stone picked up by a tyre in front at 80mph, not worth it

Rich

As a VERY Basic Minimum, I wear Wiley-X sunglasses. These have ballistic grade interchangeable lenses. (Shotgun proof at 10 yards) Not cheap in the UK, about £60, got mine of Ebay for £26. They are $60 in the States.

Just for poping about round the village and into town they are excellent.

Anything on fast roads its a full face helmet and visor down. A wasp or a Stone in the eye, or even the face at 80Mph isnt fun

I got a load of bike gear from the BMF do at Peterborough Showground. New (ACU Gold Stamp) Helmet for £30, Biker Wind and Waterproof Breathable jacket £40, Leather waterproof breathable gloves £10.

Excellent bargains in the Frank Thomas rejects tent. Some was damaged and definately reject quality. Someone told me most of it was mail order returns that they cant sell as brand new. Just examine everything very carefully. There was several marquee's full and rack after rack after rack of the stuff.

Definately worth a visit next year if you need some wet weather gear.

I've got no windscreen at all. not even a flyscreen.

Its great... however the downsides are:
Anything over about 70, you are pushing your head into the wind (70mph+ headwind Gale) and it makes my neck and shoulders ache.
No protection from stones flies, wasps and the like.
Nowhere to attach the Soft Top to.

Advantages:
No sideways buffetting from the winds coming round the side of the Windscreen. Its just FULL in YER FACE!!!
You get " I just Love to Feel the wind in my hair (PzzzzzzT)" feeling
Less weight on the car.
Less Cost / outlay.

Thats my 2d worth.

any idea where i can get replacement lenses for wiley-x's. My standard ones are a bit tatty after a couple of years.

I'd google in the USA for Wiley X parts.. just expensive over here.

I wear my helmet for motorway driving, but otherwise do without in hot weather. (In the winter I almost always wear the helmet just to keep warm.) It's just so nice without a helmet with an aeroscreen that I think it is worth the risk of being hit by the odd fly or stone. But I always wear impact resistant glasses. The whole experience is even nicer with half doors, as they reduce buffeting even more.

Motorcyclists from 1920 to around 1980 either wore no helmet or an open faced helmet at best. Flying Bees, wasps and stones not considered a major problem - birds, now that's a different question - you just learn to duck quick.

Serious eye protection like stout glasses or goggles is a no-brainer. Mandatory on all counts.

The sign of a happy cyclist is fly stains on his teeth.

anyone aware of prescription wileys or similar?sunglasses especially

I find I have to wear a helmet at anyhting over 30 mph. I wear glasses and can't see anything due to the water/tears/stuff streaming out of my eyes. I have the iny aeroscreen, which just lifts the airstream straight at my face rather than at my neck.

Ill wear sunglasses happily upto about 40 MPH. I did this when cycling for years with no problems. Above this I wear a helmet. I'm still looking for some sort of face mask for hot weather. Maybe a paintball mask or something.

Despite having a full screen, I find that a helmet is an absolute essential at anything over about fifty MPH, on motorways its a must, plus of course the old Mk 1 glasses, (only because I can see F**K all without them). Cheers Ray.

The glasses we're talking about (wiley) have a special foam bit that stops the wind wipping into your eyes let still allows a little air to circulate stopping the glasses misting up.

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Originally posted by MikeR
The glasses we're talking about (wiley) have a special foam bit that stops the wind wipping into your eyes let still allows a little air to circulate stopping the glasses misting up.

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quote:

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Originally posted by miserableoldgit
... - birds, now that's a different question - you just learn to duck quick.
...

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quote:

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Originally posted by miserableoldgit
birds, now that's a different question - you just learn to duck quick.

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Thanks for the input folks.

I have spent this morning making a small screen.

I have been out with sunglasses and helmet to get a view of both. For me the helmet is a must over 80 as the flies start to hurt at that speed. Sunglasses were actually comfortable upto 70.

The most noticable thing though was the extra performance. Usually I get good acceleration until wind resistance comes into play. With no screen the acceleration just carries on.

Just need to get some mirrors to go with it now and I am ready for a track day.

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Originally posted by miserableoldgit
Motorcyclists from 1920 to around 1980 either wore no helmet or an open faced helmet at best. Flying Bees, wasps and stones not considered a major problem

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how fast where you going / what sort of road / how close to the vehicle infront where you when that hit?

Many years ago my brother was driving along in a MGB when a half-brick came out from between the back tyres of a large lorry - bounced on the road, then off his bonnet, then it punched a hole through his windscreen. He wasn't that close behind.

If that had hit a Locost driver without a helmet then he'd be dead - even with a helmet he'd probably be either knocked out, or at least very confused/dazed and likely to crash.

I know that I should always wear my helmet - but there are times when I don't - it's a calculated risk I take.

David