Helmet curtains

[John A]

https://youtu.be/x_ej8sehs8k
Fort9 video on oxygen levels with a curtain in your helmet.

[Anomaly]

I knew it! I just knew there was a reason I never got around to installing the chin curtain on the helmet I bought last year...

[aproud1]

Just watched this. No wonder the chin curtain makes me feel warmer!

[LowRyter]

I usually vent the face shield everytime I ride

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

As always a very informative video from Ryan.
I do the same, crack the visor when the chin curtain is installed and I'm down to low speeds or stopped. I always look for good visor ratchet detents in a helmet for that reason. Pinlock is another key feature I seek for avoiding visor fog.

[bad Chad]

Did you guys watch the same video as me??   I'll give you that this test wasn't exactly perfect, but going by it, opening the shield and or vent made things no better.  Contrary to what might be expected, just opening the helmet up to the atmosphere, as you are describing did not help.

[Juan1]

So if I am understanding the video correctly, when you are moving, everything is fine.  When stopped, if you have a chin curtain, keep your visor closed, and lack chin vents - like in the video - the CO2 level can reach a level that is unhealthy.  At least unhealthy if you are exposed to it for an extended period of time.

Conclusion: Buy a helmet with chin vents and open your visor when stopped.

[John A]

Did you guys watch the same video as me??   I'll give you that this test wasn't exactly perfect, but going by it, opening the shield and or vent made things no better.  Contrary to what might be expected, just opening the helmet up to the atmosphere, as you are describing did not help.

Zakly, I thought it was curious. Counter intuitive

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

So if I am understanding the video correctly, when you are moving, everything is fine.  When stopped, if you have a chin curtain, keep your visor closed, and lack chin vents - like in the video - the CO2 level can reach a level that is unhealthy.  At least unhealthy if you are exposed to it for an extended period of time.

Conclusion: Buy a helmet with chin vents and open your visor when stopped.

Per the video, specifically one with downward vents rather than forward at the chin.

[John A]

It’s the decline of cognitive function that comes with hypoxia that is the most concerning for me.

[Chuck in Indiana]

It’s the decline of cognitive function that comes with hypoxia that is the most concerning for me.

Hmmm, I had one on my last helmet. That explains a lot..

[egschade]

Interesting. With my tall winter/touring shield there's little air flow and the helmet feels stuffy. Will try removing the chin curtain. Lord knows I need whatever brain cells are left to work at an optimal level...

[LowRyter]

Did you guys watch the same video as me??   I'll give you that this test wasn't exactly perfect, but going by it, opening the shield and or vent made things no better.  Contrary to what might be expected, just opening the helmet up to the atmosphere, as you are describing did not help.

no

[LowRyter]

Hmmm, I had one on my last helmet. That explains a lot..

So long as I remain happy, why should I care?   

[jcctx]

Makes the 3/4 helmet look good??????>

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Makes the 3/4 helmet look good??????>

3/4 helmets look good, but my jaw really ties my face together so I put up with something that has chin protection. The sacrifices we make to look good.

[twowheeladdict]

So, when stopped open visor and mouth breathe.

[Gusable]

My new HJC I90 is the first helmet I’ve had with a chin curtain. I like it! Works great. I always ride with the visor cracked open but will remove the curtain when it warms up

[Jack Straw]

Good grief....does anyone actually worry about this "issue"?

[LowRyter]

Good grief....does anyone actually worry about this "issue"?

Jack Straw from Wichita,

We'd rather talk about it than worry about it.  These guys could tell long stories about Steel Cut Oats, whatever that is.  Back in the campfire days, we might really get off track and write about the Grateful Dead or something.

[Huzo]

 

Good grief....does anyone actually worry about this "issue"?

No one is “worried” about it Jack.
We mull these things over so that our combined knowledge base is enhanced, it’s interesting.
A guy said the lamest thing to me the other day.
“I really like my mate’s quick shifter…
I don’t have to “worry” about the clutch…”

[AJ Huff]

I'd be more interested if he had measured blood oxygen levels.

-AJ

[John A]

I'd be more interested if he had measured blood oxygen levels.

-AJ

Yep, he should include a pulse oximeter in his test.

[s1120]

I got one for my HJC and really I like it. The helmet has a ton of wind noise before, and is much more enjoyable now. I know I need a better helmet  but thats not in the cards now. I almost always flip the visor up at stops, and unless its real cold, the vents are always open.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Many of the threads seem to be looking for a specific response, however if you just click on Reply it allows you to type anything in response, anything is better than nothing I reckon
Who cares?

[moto]

Yep, he should include a pulse oximeter in his test.

Assuming you have a pulse oximeter, it would be simple to look for an effect on your own. That is, unless you pass out!

[John A]

Assuming you have a pulse oximeter, it would be simple to look for an effect on your own. That is, unless you pass out!

I could but I don’t care that much about it,  I just want to be aware of it so I can use it as an excuse for when I get pulled over.  Weaving? , hell I can’t even knit!   I got stopped once for going around manhole covers and the Leo  used that for a stop to see if I was loaded. I wish I had known that joke then but I’d probly still be in the jailhouse!

[Kildareman]

Another solution is a summer / vented chin curtain. My Shoei Neotec 2 has an accessory summer chin curtain which is a mesh material. Stops the wind noise but allows ventilation. You can feel the difference.

[vintagehoarder]

Interesting, but the wife has been using one in her HJC for years, and never seemed to have an issue.

[John A]

Aviators have to pay attention to hypoxia because of the level of brain function required, especially for complex tasks at high speed. A lot of physiological training in the military goes into recognizing the effects as you do simple things in the altitude chamber while being deprived of oxygen. The gradual reduction is definitely insidious and most wouldn’t recognize it until they wake up, unless they crash and burn. It made me appreciate how quickly it happens.I did an annual on a Beechcraft Duke , nice airplane in good shape. Two weeks later the guy was over Montana when he got starved of oxygen due to pilot error. Too much altitude, not enough O2. The tower noticed his radio transmissions were getting garbled and tried to alert him but he was goofy, he went to sleep and on the investigation it found the engines were running perfectly until they ran out of fuel near the east coast. That is an extreme example of course but it doesn’t take much to make you goofy. It is something to be aware of .