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Dark visors and riding at night

gcowan11

gcowan11

bikes bikes bikes :)
Joined
Jun 21, 2015
Location
Foster City
Moto(s)
2001 kx85 Minimoto
2007 r6
Name
Grant
So I have a dark visor (5%) on my arai and I also spend a lot of time riding at night due to my schedule. I have to run the 5% for the morning sun. Is it legal to run this? On the visor there is a little disclaimer stating its for day use only but is there a law that says I can't use this or is it ok?

Onto the the safety issue. Is it safe to be running this? Obviously in not well lit places it's terrible but for freeway and general city use I feel I have enough light to safely navigate. Anyone have any opinions on that?
 
Too dangerous to run a dark-tinted visor at night, you can easily carry a spare clear visor in your tank bag or backpack. Just slide the spare visor into a sock for scratch protection, good to go.
 
I see a lot of people running tinted visors at night. I don't know how you guys do it. I've been caught once or twice at night with a tinted visor and it skeezed me out a little. Even in dark shadows or in tunnels, the tint can be too much. I decided to go with sunglasses because they're a little easier to take on and off at speed, despite not being quite as nice to ride with. So I guess if you ask me, I'd say that you could do safer things than ride with a tinted visor.

As for the legality, I've no idea. It certainly sounds like something that someone would regulate, but I've never heard of anyone getting popped for it. Might post up that part in LEO forum.
 
does arai even make a 5% shield?

I got an Arai pro shade but the tint is way too light. going to put a dark tint on the shaded visor. or attach an asian welding helmet to my arai
 
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This time of year I run a clear visor and put on sunglasses when necessary. Being out at night with a tinted visor is dangerous.
 
this has loop so you can stick it somewhere. I used this until I got my pro shade

araiShieldSock.jpg
 
my hjc Dark smoke isnt even dark during the day so I dont think it would pose a problem. Your eyes get accustomed to it. Also there is probably some fine print on the faceshield that you probably didnt see. My shield has it. So im guessing yours does too.
 
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I've been caught one time at night with my dark smoke BELL shield and that was almost downright scary.

Keep a clear lens with you, switch to a light tint visor OR buy a photochromatic lens :D
 
I have a dark visor but have never used it because I ride 280 on the way home at night and there are no lights. I just deal with the sun in the morning/during the day. You get used to it after a while.
 
I have a dark smoke visor on my shoei. It's actually easier to see things at night with it on because it filters out some of the really bright lights. I can still see everything perfectly fine but there isn't as much glare.

During the day it goes pretty dark when it is in direct sun but it becomes lighter when you're in the dark/shade.


http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/shoei-cw-1-face-shield
 
To answer your original question, no I do believe it is NOT legal to run a tinted visor at night.
 
Mr Pepsi said:
I use this, works pretty good.




Could be much daker.
Click to expand...

What is that/where did you find it? Looks like there is an extra fastener for it does that come with the part? And is it just stick on or how does it secure to the helmet?
 
Mods, plz move to LEO Forum for expert-level input. :teeth

Any tinted faceshields, regardless of level of tint, are illegal after dusk, IIRC, & IANAL.

OP, get yourself a clear shield & some sunglasses, or carry one with you. Don't get into an easily-avoided collision because you couldn't see the traffic ahead of you. :thumbup
 
I have a clear and a dark smoke and I rotate them as needed. In emergencies I've ridden with the smoke visor at night, it sucks but it's still totally do-able.

Next helmet will have flip down sun visor, replacing the visor sucks.
 
Not a fan of dark visors at night. Not because it's illegal, but because I need to see. I'm a fan of the Pinlock system. Lots of flexibility, easy fast to change visors, and don't take up much room.

s-l1000.jpg
 
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