Best Eyewear?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 34
From: Maryland
I've been a optometrist for 30 years, so basically eyes & glasses are my life. Just a few basic facts about sunwear and motorcycles: 1) make sure you get either polycarbonate or trivex lenses - they are both practically shatterproof. Anything else will shatter when hit with a rock, etc. 2) Do NOT get polarized lenses for riding. They reduce glare off a horizontal reflecting surface. This means they're great for boating & water sports but not bikes. They will reduce the appearance of the glare caused by water, oil, or diesel spill on the road, making it more difficult to distinguish those slick spots you want to avoid. 3) Tint colors: gray does not distort color perception; brown increases contrast; light yellow is great at dusk as it filters out the blue-gray colors that are predominant at dusk and are the most difficult for the eye to visualize. A light yellow lens will give you the visibility equivalent to another 30 to 45 minutes of daylight. 4) Most all major sunglass companies make quality lenses and frames - Oakley, Wiley-X, Panoptix, RayBan and others all make quality glasses. It just depends on how they fit YOUR head and what color lens YOU prefer. Trial fitting of the actual glasses is the key to a comfy fit. 5) Beware of cheap Chinese internet bargains. In eyewear, as in everything else, you get what you pay for. Spend enough to protect your eyes against a 60 mph projectile as there is no such thing as an eye transplant! You only get one pair of eyes to last a lifetime.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Lugoff, SC
I'm an Oakley Junky... Tried many brands, keep coming back to my Oakley's. Been riding w/ M Frame 2.0s which have always worked the best for me. I do have a set of Oakley Wind Jackets waiting for me at home and can't wait to try them.
Here is a review done by the Oakley Wind Jackets in the General Harley Chart section.
Here is a review done by the Oakley Wind Jackets in the General Harley Chart section.
Oakley has not failed me. These are by far the best riding glasses I've tried to date (and I've tried many).
They fit very, very well. Have a very good field of vision, excellent clarity, and block the wind very well (w/o the gasket, even better w/the gasket). It's very easy to change the lense with their switchlock system and the gasket is easily installed and/or removed. The gasket, to me, seems to be less bulky than the gaskets I've tried on Wiley-X's. They come w/gray and clear lenses, the gaskets, a retention strap, hard case, and a cleaning bag. The lenses can be replaced and/or purchased in different colors.
I would absolutely recommend the Oakley Wind Jackets to anyone.
Last edited by Red.Road.Glide; Mar 26, 2012 at 08:32 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 1
From: Acworth, Ga
I picked up a pair of these while in Daytona : http://www.wileyx.com/EcommSuite/Pro...emCode=CCECH01
I have panoptix, 7 eye and maui jims.
Ill wear the maui's all day long off the bike
The panoptix & 7eyes dont get light enough for night time riding
the Wiley X are almost transparent at night and plenty dark during the day
I have panoptix, 7 eye and maui jims.
Ill wear the maui's all day long off the bike
The panoptix & 7eyes dont get light enough for night time riding
the Wiley X are almost transparent at night and plenty dark during the day
Road Captain
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 524
Likes: 6
I'm hard on glasses so I buy cheap sunglasses with the foam backing and the small bi-focal readers from bikershades.com. I have several pair and since they are cheap no big loss if they break. I also have yellow tint for night riding but they do have a pair that turns light and dark and they are reasonably priced. Sorry, don't mean to sound like a commercial.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,520
Likes: 270
From: Wellsboro, PA
I never spend alot of money on glasses. Just go to any dealer (can get them at Yamaha, Honda, whatever) & get a pair of $20 or $25 ones with foam around the lenses. I have dark ones, and also clear. They work great, if you need to keep the air away from your eyes like I do. I've found the best ones for me, at metric dealers.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 156
From: boston
What Geezr glidr said. I get the Max at the meteric dealer. If they scratch, no biggie. Go pick up another pair. I noticed that are sold at my Harley dealer also but that is 45 miles from my house. Honda dealer, 5 miles.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Lugoff, SC
IMO you get what you pay for in boots, running shoes, and protective eyewear.
I am sold on Oakleys. They exceed ANSI Z87.1 – 2010 standards and Oakley glassess sold on usstandardissue.com website meet the military's Mil Specs MIL-PRF-31013 for ballistic eyewear. Regular commercial Oakleys are said to meet or exceed ANSI Z87.1 – 2010 (they are not given a ballistic rating on their commercial website - but I am certain they are not different lenses).
I know a lot of people talk about how hard they are on their cheap glasses or how often they lose them. Once I started buying quality eye protection, I learned to hold on to them and take care of them.
I certainly don't want to talk anyone in to buying something they don't want to buy, but I certainly wouldn't ride or deploy w/o Oakleys...
I am sold on Oakleys. They exceed ANSI Z87.1 – 2010 standards and Oakley glassess sold on usstandardissue.com website meet the military's Mil Specs MIL-PRF-31013 for ballistic eyewear. Regular commercial Oakleys are said to meet or exceed ANSI Z87.1 – 2010 (they are not given a ballistic rating on their commercial website - but I am certain they are not different lenses).
I know a lot of people talk about how hard they are on their cheap glasses or how often they lose them. Once I started buying quality eye protection, I learned to hold on to them and take care of them.
I certainly don't want to talk anyone in to buying something they don't want to buy, but I certainly wouldn't ride or deploy w/o Oakleys...
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 343
Likes: 1
From: Western WA
My Oakley Straight Jackets flew off on the road to Sturgis when I was taking a look backward and a Semi flew past in the other direction. I've ridden with the same pair of Oakley Eye Jackets (old style) for about 10 yrs since with great results. Obviously, riding glasses are a very personal decision - especially given everyone's face is shaped differently. Eye Jackets are no longer made, but the Flak Jacket with XLJ lens is very close in terms of wind/dust protection for me. Having had lasik about a yr ago, dust is more of a sensitive issue for me than in the past - and my Eye Jackets still do the trick. I may need to look into these Wind Jackets, though....
I've tried PanOptix in the past, but in the hot I always got sweat accumulating around my eyes, which bugged the crapp outta me. Had to toss 'em for that reason alone.
I've tried PanOptix in the past, but in the hot I always got sweat accumulating around my eyes, which bugged the crapp outta me. Had to toss 'em for that reason alone.
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