Mirrored visors
Author
Discussion

m1spw

Original Poster:

5,999 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd September 2005
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Any of you have mirrored visors, and what are your opinions on them?

I would like a red mirrored visor as my bike + pretty much all my kit is red, and it also means if I see anyone they won't know who it is riding the bike unless I want them to know (well, thats till I get the private plate on...).

Oh, and are they illegal/do the police care?

Rawwr

22,722 posts

257 months

Thursday 22nd September 2005
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I think it has to let through a minimum of 75% daylight and carry homologation certification.

veetwin

1,573 posts

280 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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I have an Iridium Gold mirror visor for my James 'bin-it' Haydon rep Shoei and a dark tint visor also. Both look good and during this time of year they do a similar job to that of Oakleys in keeping the low sun from burning my retinas. Unfortunately, the government would prefer that I didn't see the road ahead and have legislated that these types of visor are illegal. Car drivers wearing Oakleys or any other dark tint eye protection are not bullied in this way by the government.

rsvmilly

11,288 posts

264 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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veetwin said:
I have an Iridium Gold mirror visor for my James 'bin-it' Haydon rep Shoei and a dark tint visor also. Both look good and during this time of year they do a similar job to that of Oakleys in keeping the low sun from burning my retinas. Unfortunately, the government would prefer that I didn't see the road ahead and have legislated that these types of visor are illegal. Car drivers wearing Oakleys or any other dark tint eye protection are not bullied in this way by the government.
In fact, my Oakleys let much less light through than my Iridium blue visor.

BTW to be legal it should let through 50% IIRC

Vitesse39

731 posts

271 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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When you buy one they usually have a warning on them saying not for road use.
I have a Multi colour irridium visor and haven't been stopped so far for it (I've said it now haven't I).

I think it's a case of, if you have an obviouse way loud can, and small plate, and a visor they will pull you for the combination but not just for a visor. Unless your wearing it at night or when it's really bad light, in which case it's maybe not such a good idea to be using one then anyway.

Mad Dave

7,158 posts

286 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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All the coppers ive asked have said they wouldn't pull you over for a tinted visor provided you werent wearing it at night.

rsvmilly

11,288 posts

264 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
quotequote all
Mad Dave said:
All the coppers ive asked have said they wouldn't pull you over for a tinted visor provided you werent wearing it at night.
And to be on the safe side, make sure you have a clear one on you.

Rawwr

22,722 posts

257 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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I always carry my clear visor, just in case. You never know when it's going to come over all cloudy.

tycho

12,125 posts

296 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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Vitesse39 said:

When you buy one they usually have a warning on them saying not for road use.
I have a Multi colour irridium visor and haven't been stopped so far for it (I've said it now haven't I).

I think it's a case of, if you have an obvious way loud can, and small plate, and a visor they will pull you for the combination but not just for a visor. Unless your wearing it at night or when it's really bad light, in which case it's maybe not such a good idea to be using one then anyway.


I have the same type of visor, a really loud can and a plate which is slightly smaller (one size down from legal) and I have passed police cars and bikes and not had a pull. If you use a dark visor in the dark you will get pulled (rightly so) but if you don't take the pi$$ then most cops are ok.

Mad Dave

7,158 posts

286 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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rsvmilly said:

Mad Dave said:
All the coppers ive asked have said they wouldn't pull you over for a tinted visor provided you werent wearing it at night.

And to be on the safe side, make sure you have a clear one on you.


Incidentally, I can fit both a clear visor, and the thermal lining for my jacket under the pillion seat of my bike, so i'm set for all weathers pretty much.

dern

14,055 posts

302 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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Mad Dave said:
Incidentally, I can fit both a clear visor, and the thermal lining for my jacket under the pillion seat of my bike, so i'm set for all weathers pretty much.
:mum: That's nice dear. :/mum:

I don't have an irridium visor but have a dark one and asked the same question on here before I bought that and have had absolutely no problems all summer commuting in to Reading. I've passed loads of police cars and ride past a police station every day.

I got a visor holder/bag thing and that just sits inside my jacket comfortably.

Mark

catso

15,882 posts

290 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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Get a dark or Iridium visor if you feel you need it in bright light - it can be equally as dangerous to ride in a clear visor into bright sunlight as it is in a dark visor at night (sometimes worse!).

I have quite sensitive eyes and always wear a dark visor if it's even remotely bright just as I would wear sunglasses in the car.

As for the legality, I don't give a stuff what the law says, I will use what I need to see properly.

It is a stupid law and thankfully is not often used; I've been using dark visors since 1978 and not been pulled for it yet never even had it mentioned when pulled for 'other' reasons either and I almost always wear a dark visor (don't go out much at night).

A few years ago I was buying some sunglasses from an Opticians shop and as I was talking to the Optician, I mentioned about the fact that dark visors were illegal for daytime use and he was absolutely gobsmacked that something that protects your eyes and enables you to see properly was deemed illegal, In his view it was akin to banning the wearing of prescription glasses to someone who needs them.

In this instance Fcuk the law.

You know it makes sense

T5-R

434 posts

249 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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catso said:
Lots of sensible stuff


Been using in a dark visor for years, when the conditions require it, and have had not problems at all with BiB.

Still can't get over the fact their considered illegal though....I mean, if the government is going to make dark visors illegal they might as well make sunglasses illegal too.

cerby4.5

1,643 posts

264 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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Personally I do not like iridium visors, they are a bugger to look after and show up even the smallest scratches!
There was a glut of inferior quality visors in the UK a while back from Europe and funnily enough Ireland?? They were always advertised in the back of bike mags!These were even worse!
Black visor much better as more resilient and last longer.
BTW: When riding on the road I also used to carry a clear one under the seat (just in case).

Carrera2

8,352 posts

255 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
quotequote all
I've had an iridium visor in the past and it delaminated within about 3 months. I wouldn't buy another and I personally prefer a black one nowadays - a bit more classy.

rsvmilly

11,288 posts

264 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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Mine is a proper Arai one. It does scratch very easily.

catso

15,882 posts

290 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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I've never had an Iridium one as I understand they scratch/mark easily and considering the amount of 'roadkill' I have to scrape off I don't think they'd last very long I've always prefered the Black myself, particularly with a black lid.

I had some Oakley sunglasses that the Iridium started flaking off after just a month (changed under warranty) so I would be fearful of Iridium on a flexible visor.

One of the reasons they use to outlaw dark visors is the old BS trick; if it's not BS marked = illegal (and they won't give BS approval to dark visors) but I've always used 'proper' visors (Arai etc) as I know they have are up to the job, I imagine there are cheapo ones that are cr@p.

So if you get one get a good one.



>> Edited by catso on Friday 23 September 17:02

FunkyNige

9,722 posts

298 months

Friday 23rd September 2005
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catso said:

A few years ago I was buying some sunglasses from an Opticians shop and as I was talking to the Optician, I mentioned about the fact that dark visors were illegal for daytime use and he was absolutely gobsmacked that something that protects your eyes and enables you to see properly was deemed illegal, In his view it was akin to banning the wearing of prescription glasses to someone who needs them.


Spoke to my optician a while ago and he says sunglasses have to let a certain amount of light through otherwise you can have problems with insurance.

My mate's Oakleys say in the manual not to wear them whilst driving.