dark visors

[hellbound]

Whats the law about these?

If I get a dark one or tinted etc am I going to get pulled over all the time?
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May you always see the road rising up to meet you and your enemies defeated in the mirror behind.

[Anthony192]

Think it's anything over 50% tint, which is barely anything, is illegal. Saying that I've been riding for 2 years with a very dark visor and never been pulled, even nodded at a few coppers as well.
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CBT - 04/04/2009 Mod 1 - 26/07/10 Mod 2 - 02/11/10
Bikes - Yamaha Aerox 50 (Sold), Suzuki GSX 750F Katana

[Clanger]

It's now not illegal to use them, unless travelling after dusk.
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[P.]

Never been pulled, only ride with it on bright days when I know I'm only going to be out in daylight hours.

Obviously, not road legal.. Don't think any dark ones are e stamped..

[hellbound]

Summers coming (possibly) and they do look good and give a bit of anonominity
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May you always see the road rising up to meet you and your enemies defeated in the mirror behind.

[pinkyfloyd]

[hellbound]

thank you kindly Pinky
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May you always see the road rising up to meet you and your enemies defeated in the mirror behind.

[johnsmith222]

[weasley]

It's still illegal to use a visor darker than 50% (which any dark visor will be) but the police have been advised to be lenient and only take action if it's a really stupid case (eg at night or in bad visibility).

I've worn dark and iridium visors for years and have never been stopped. I ride a sensible bike sensibly and always carry a clear visor -- if you ride with a noisy can, small plate and one one wheel, there's a good chance your visor will get added to the list of offences.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Dave McCool]

Got a mirrored one on my Shark at the minute, never had a word said to me about it, generally wear it during daylight hours unless visibility is bad, but I've also nearly always got my clear one inside my jacket in case I do get a particularly mean-spirited copper take an interest.
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K7 GSXR750

[clancy]

daylight hours only. says it on the visor on most of them, saying that, i have never been pulled for it, or know anyone that has
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KLX 300r

[Yarri]

I'd say if you use mirrored you will never have a problem, i was using it for as long as i was a biker, been filtering past coppers and even chatting to them on the lights with visor down, trust me they're too busy wanking each other off rather then pulling you for stupid reason like a tinted visor.
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Theory Car Passed: 22/07/2009 48/74 Car Test Passed: 22/10/2009 2 minor
Few minutes of life of the biker could be more interesting then the whole lifes of many people

[Digitalize]

Its one of those "technically illegal but nothing will come of it" thing, As long as its not dark, should be fine, if you're riding like a twat and get pulled, they'll probably chuck it on the list of offences, but I don't think anyone will pull you purely for a dark visor, whats the fine anyway?
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1998 CB600F Hornet

[Highside_Hilly]

[andyscooter]

been using one for 8 years

i tend to wear a darker one at night not so dark that you cant see but smoked i suppose is the correct term (its also stamped as it is molded from the same cast as the clear ones)

it helps with stupid gits with hid lighting thats poorly adjusted coming towards you
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[Jim Mc]

Where can I buy a visor with a decent level of tint got my last one from race visor but it only has 30% tint on it and in the daylight you'd think it was clear

[Kickstart]

Hi

The visor needs to have the relevant markings to say it complies. Not only for light transmission (50%, which is a very light smoked visor) but also impact resistance and scratch resistance.

Using one that doesn't have the relevant markings is illegal (even if it is a blind pillion using it), and can result in a ticket.

The police seem to go through phases of ignoring them or ticketing them. Most of the time you will probably be fine using one.

A lot of visors have "if tinted for daytime use only" but this doesn't have any legal meaning.

All the best

Keith
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[JamesE90]

I've always taken it as one of the many grey areas that seem to go along with riding a bike. Ride like a twat, expect them to be anal about it I guess. Carry a clear one and if they say anything just offer to change it?

[Kickstart]

[c_dug]

I've seen the police wearing them, they might be illegal but they appear to be accepted.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

When the law on visors changed (from memory 1987/88) there was a bit of a shortage of legal visors. So much so that for a while at least one police force had to take its bikes off the road.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Rogerborg]

First, find a copper who's actually sure what the law is.

Your first gambit should be to suggest that they check with the station, just so you're both clear.

Here's what I've read:

Motor Cycle (Eye Protectors) Regulations 2000

...which adds ECE 22.05 to the list of approved visors in...

Motor Cycle (Eye Protectors) Regulations 1999

Which mentions "transmit 50 per cent or more of the light" only in relation to "those which were first used before 1st April 1989".

There is no mention of light transmission for protectors marked "Grade X in British Standard BS 4110:1979"standard, "Grades XA, YA or ZA in British Standard BS 4110:1979 as amended by Amendment No. 1 (AMD 3368), Amendment No. 2 (AMD 4060) and Amendment No. 3 (AMD 4630)" or ECE 22.05.

If you can find such a visor with a tint, then there's nothing in any Statutory Instrument that I can find which prohibits you from using it.

You probably can't, but you should be clear that light transmission only applies to pre-1/4/1989 items. Post that, you require an appropriate BS or ECE mark - tint is or should be irrelevant, although it'll be what gets your visor checked for the mark.

Anecdotally, here's James May's experience of riding through London without his helmet on his arm, wherein he suggest that the offence carries only a fine, not penalty points. Buggered if I can find the tariff for it though.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

The BS standard applied a min light transmission level. The legislation doesn't apply a level of light transmission because it enforces the visor to comply entirely with a standard that does specify a level of light transmission.

The EU directives mentioned in the UK legislation don't seem to apply any kind of testing, just aiming for testing to be recognised between countries (ie, it isn't a standard that the helmet must reach, rather it is a standard for the standards that are acceptable for a helmet). As such I think it is merely an extension allowing accepted non UK standards.

The relevant one seems to be ECE 22.05:-

https://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs/r022r4e.pdf

And that does list min light transmission.

The only bit of the legislation that does specify light transmission is the exemption for old prescription eye protection which was first used before 01/04/1989.

So your visor must comply with BS4110 (which specifies light transmission), ECE 22.05 (which specifies light transmission) or is old prescription eye protection which transmit 50 per cent or more of the light.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Snorty]

Been riding with one for about a year constantly.

Even been stopped by the police bike (just a standard insurance check) and nothing was said.

As said... it's not fun riding in the dark with them, used to ride from Whitby to Leeds at ridiculous hours in the morning, can't see f*ck all. (My arai is a pain in the ass to change visors over... falls apart).

[Rogerborg]

Ah, the elusive 22.05! Thanks for tracking that down.