UK Motorcycle helmet laws

Gorrilla.Man · Derestricted Danger Joined: 12 Jan 2014 Karma :

I'm really wanting to get a colored/tinted visor for my helmet but I'm really unsure on the rules of them.
One person says they're completely illegal, others tell me they have to have some kind of trade mark and others tell me that its completely fine and they ride day and night with a mirrored visor...

Could anybody help clear this up for me as I have a baby face and i look about 12 when i wear my helmet.. also i like to make di*khead taxi drivers feel intimidated when they pull out on me! Twisted Evil

Thanks

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

There are a few tinted visors that are road legal, the majority are not.

But the only time you will be pulled for it is either after the street lights are on or the copper is a complete prick.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

The legal limit is a smoked visor that blocks 18% of daylight. However, most 'dark' visors block 50% of daylight and are therefore illegal. However, I've never heard anyone get pulled for wearing one unless they have been a pratt and worn it at night.

Annoyingly it is also legal to wear the 18% smoked visor at night... go figure.
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Gorrilla.Man · Derestricted Danger Joined: 12 Jan 2014 Karma :

Okay thanks, I'll stop being a pussy and get one Laughing

but I'll carry my clear one with me just for caution!

What about the type of helmets that already come with blacked out visors already attached that you cant change? I'm sure you'd be able to get away with it then right?

andyscooter · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 May 2009 Karma :

im a pratt and wear a smoked visor at night

is great for taking the glare off the numptys with crapp fitted hids and foglights
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map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Cadbury · Crazy Courier Joined: 05 Oct 2011 Karma :

What about a helmet with an internal sunvisor? best of both world in my opinion.

Plus, you look like a fighter pilot... honest Cool

https://www.ridersoffshore.com/images/Shark-S700-S-Legion-Matt-Black-White-KKW_700_600_428GC.2jpg
And they can still look pretty 'mean' too.

TomReilly · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Karma :

He actually has a helmet with an internal sun visor, he's asking about the primary visor though.
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Monkeypony · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Sep 2011 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

FWIW the regulations are..

Cadbury · Crazy Courier Joined: 05 Oct 2011 Karma :

fozzym · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Karma :

If you have a pinlock visor, a tinted pinlock is a good alternative to the whole new visor and easier to remove (for my helmet).

As with visors, few are "road legal" but I've never been stopped and don't use it at night as you really can't see much!

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clancy · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Karma :

fozzym · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Karma :

I can't understand why people want to use a tinted visor in the dark?

In my experience once it starts to go dusk I can't bloody see properly! I guess in area's that are lit up it might not be too bad but after all the more you can see the better.

I once thought fuck it and left my tinted visor insert in when it was starting to go dark, once on unlit A roads I found it bloody dangerous and had to pull over and remove in insert.

It is more a case of being safe than getting mither off pc plod.

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_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

clancy · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Karma :

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

I ride with a mirror gold one pretty much all the time when the suns about Laughing

I'm seriously considering getting a Scorpion EXO500/1000, running mirrored external visor and an amber internal. That way when I've been out and it's starting to get a bit dark I can just drop the amber internal & ride with the main visor up to get me home.

Or could just use some saftey specs to get the same effect.
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hedgehugger · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Karma :

I have a legal tint visor as well as a black one.
The legal tint sucks balls when the light is low, night time and raining particularly.
I wouldn't use a tinted visor at night again.
I will add that it wasn't dark or raining when I left in the morning, but coming back at night conditions change, obviously.

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Speed · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Karma :

I have a complete black tinted visor and haven't been pulled, day or night. If i do see a copper i just lift my visor up, makes it less obvious.
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TheSmiler · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Karma :

chickenstrip · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :

I always thought that 30% tint was maximum legal (although what that means in practical terms I have no idea). Full dark visors are therefore illegal, and I believe it is illegal to supply them in the UK, hence the "offshore" visor suppliers - some dealers may do them from "under the counter" but usually they'll only have them for display purposes.

I used to use full tints a lot, and never got pulled or ticked off for it. I suppose if you're riding like a complete twat when plod sees you, he may well do you for that too.

Also, I've heard said that if you are carrying a clear visor too, you won't get done, and maybe that's how drop down sun visors are ok. My drop down is not as dark as a full tint, but darker than legal-tint visors I've seen - but I've never seen an official source on the matter, so I guess it's all heresay anyway? Someone got a definitive source?

Derivative · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Karma :

If I'm not wrong the maximum penalty is the same as that for not wearing a helmet, £60 or possibly now £100 fine.

Given that it seems like you may as well just ride around testing your luck, the first time (if ever) you get pulled for it, pay the fine and stop doing it.

sabian92 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Karma :

Most coppers realise that they're more useful than "dangerous" especially during low sun. They're very unlikely to pull you for just that.

However if you get pulled for something else and are a knob to him then he might whack it on the list of shit you've done wrong just to prove a point.

Most of them are illegal but that being said as long as you carry a clear one in case you're caught out when it goes dark or it decides to piss it down and you need to swap because the clouds have made it too dark, you'll be fine.

My brother recently bought one then asked me why they were all marked "NOT LEGAL FOR ROAD USE" Laughing