JUst read the free MAG mag. There a small article on tinted visors and getting fined.

What is the exact law on this one? Are they okay in daylight hours or are they just a no go area?????

I'm not too sure!

i dunno but i have mounting posts for a cover that gives tint, i can even tear off the cover on the road if i need to

As I understand it, there are no exact figures.

Most of them are stamped with 'Daytime Use Only' like the flip in the Caberg V2s. Actual visors must allow something like 50% of the light through.

Night-time, you are not supposed to use them at all, ie when you'd normally have to switch yer lights on in a car (someone check the Highway Code?).

Now, I hear Police are getting trial units that test the amount of light let through which use twin sensors, one either side of the windscreen/visor. It was originally intended for use on cars with tinted windows, but you know they'll be ripping your helm off to check!!!

This is all just hear-say though (even if it does come from MAG), so don't quote me on any of it just yet, eh!!

But yes, Daytime Use Only for those tinted visors!!!

the official line is,
semi tint, marked with a BS stamp & "for daytime use only" is legal during daylight, at the official lighting up time you MUST remove the visor & do without or substitute a clear one.
darker tint, irridium etc are illegal & you can be fined £30 but no points.
check out your local police riders-ours all wear the darker ones for obvious safety reasons.
i've never been stopped by any police whilst wearing one, but its down to the local force.
the internal ones are a bit of a grey area as you have the clear visor anyway.you can wear the darkest tinted sunglasses with impunity. same with inner stick ons, if its on an approved BS or EU clear visor then you're ok.
(its a while since i was involved with the legal side of all this , so if anyone knows different, pleas advise, by that i mean if you are a serving law enforcement type, not what you heard down the pub/off a good m8. right?)

I beleive the official figure is a 50% tint, eg it cuts out a maximum of 50% of light.

That sounds a lot but in actual fact its just a very light tint.

i've been using a black visor every single day for the past 2 years and i've never had anything said about it, even when i've got stopped.

I think most police turn a blind eye, either because they know its more or less classed as safety kit by most.

Its very unlikely that you'll get stopped and fined IMO

this is the bit that strikes me as completely bonkers about it - it really ought to be all or nothing

i tried wearing my sunglasses but with my sunglasses and clear visor I get a strange effect when looking at things like car windscreens. presumably something to do with the optics, sure someone can explain it properly, but basically means sunglasses+clear visor don't really work for me.

i've been wondering what to do cos i've got my DAS test soon and if it's sunny day I don't want to be squinting ... but presumably rolling up at the test centre with my dark visor (which is what I use at the moment) wouldn't be too clever

Get a Fog City light reactive insert - mine is great for when the sun's in a dodgy position and prevents any nasty glare.

Admitadely a tinted visor would be better, but this is a nice, legal, comprimise!

I have a double visor on my crash helmet, the tinted one can be flipped down or up behind the clear visor. That is legal.

You either have a caberg or a schuberth!

(I have a caberg V2)

The police have had these units for several years and they tend to be used to check cars, not bikes (i.e the boy racer brigade!!). They measure the light on a % basis passing through the glass and take about 5 seconds to do a test. The test should result in at least 70% (I think it is) been displayed on the meter for front windscreens and 75% for front side windows .......I think this is the amount of light allowed through but don't qoute me on that as I've not seen one for years. HOWEVER this only applies to glass in front of the B Piller, i.e where the seat belt is. Thats quite often why you see cars with blacked out rear and rear side windows, but the front ones are a lighter tint! The police can either issue a ticket for windows not confirming, require you to replace the windows and attend a MOT centre to confirm the work has been done, or summons you to court. The reason this law came in was anything darker means the driver isn't meant to be able to see as well and thus us poor bikers have to watch out even more

I can't afford the mortgage on a Schuberth.

I think some Lazer helmets have an external sun visor!

I knew someone who got pulled over towards the end of the day for a spot check (wasn't quite dusk) with a tinted visor and he was asked to produce the clear visor there and then to prove that he could change it in the next 30 mins or so to still be legal.

He didn't have it and after a short lecture from the policeman got let off, but the distinct impression he got was that you should carry a clear visor if you've got a tinted one on your helmet.

Not sure if that's a legal thing, but I suppose if you're out and about towards the end of the day it makes sence.

God I love my Caberg inner visor

on cars its 70% light through all windows in front of the B pillar.

any car that comes with tinted glass (most cars) are allready at the 70% limit so adding anything more makes the glass naughty.

if you have a shoei with a fog insert you can get tinted inserts

Do the sensible thing and bring a clear visor with you too. If you have a dark visor I'm sure it came with a bag that you can strap round your waist???

yep, i always do carry a clear one -- but i would have thought having a dark visor on my helmet which is illegal wouldn't be too smart for my test?