The Cyclops Biker Syndrome

OK . . allow me to apologise at the outset as this is not specifically a Triumph discussion topic but if it helps avert disaster for someone, Triumph rider or otherwise, then I'm all for it . . . . . .

As an optometrist and now thankfully retired, I have seen a number of one-eyed cyclops motorcyclists over the years and it always pains me to see bikers riding with an open visor. If you get hit in the eye by a piece of road grit when you are doing any sort of speed, your eye will be very likely enucleated. In other words - destroyed.
In short, there is enough energy to completely penetrate the eye and destroy all visual function, even at relatively low speeds.
The problem isn’t just restricted to road chippings but also applies to flying insects and other airborne detritus. The blunt trauma from a beetle, bee or wasp at 70mph+ is also enough to cause the loss of an eye.
Anyway - I’ve always wondered how much protection we are afforded by our polycarbonate visors and so here’s your answer. . .
Enter stage left the visor from my now decommissioned Shoei RF200 and in the opposite corner, my .177 Weihrauch HW100 12ft lbs air rifle.
I fired one pellet at point blank range straight at the visor. It made a nice little divot but didn’t penetrate - very reassuring.
By way of comparison, it will easily penetrate a steel Heinz bean can full of water and exit the other side at 25m+ . . .
The amount of energy involved here is far in excess of that which your visor is ever likely to encounter in normal use. A .177 pellet is 4.5mm in diameter and made from solid lead - perhaps typical in size for a piece of road grit but much denser. Also, the muzzle velocity for a 12 ft lb air rifle is well over 500 mph, again - far in excess of the speeds of any flying object you might reasonably expect to be out there waiting to zap you.
So, the lesson is . . . . never ride with your visor open at any speed unless at the very least, you’re wearing "large" sunglasses with plastic (not glass) lenses but better still, lower your visor and don't become a cyclops biker for the want of a little common sense.