Your visor does more for your ride than almost any other part of your helmet. The right one keeps glare out of your eyes on a bright afternoon and lets you see clearly when the sun goes down. The wrong one has you squinting, or worse, struggling to see after dark. Here's how the three main types compare.
Clear visors
A clear visor is the safe all-rounder. It lets the most light through, so it's the right choice for night riding, dawn and dusk, rain, and overcast days.
Best for: commuters, night riders, and anyone who rides in mixed weather.
Downside: no help with glare on bright days, so you'll need sunglasses or a drop-down sun visor.
Our Night/Clear visors add a light tint and high-contrast finish while staying transparent enough for low light.
Tinted and mirrored visors
Dark Smoke, iridium, and mirrored visors (Electro Gold, Electro Silver, Rainbow and more) cut glare and give your helmet a bold look. They're the most popular choice for daytime and track riding.
Best for: sunny daytime rides, track days, and style.
Downside: they're too dark for safe riding at night or in poor light, so you'll need to carry a clear visor or swap before dark. Many places also restrict tinted visors at night, so check your local rules.
Browse our tinted and mirrored visors.
Photochromic visors
A photochromic visor changes tint on its own. It reacts to UV light, darkening in bright sun and clearing up again as the light drops. Our photochromic visors transition from about 80% light transmission (VLT) in low light to about 16% VLT in bright sun.
Best for: riders who leave in daylight and come home at dusk, long-distance riders, and anyone tired of swapping visors.
Downside: the change isn't instant. It takes a little time to clear when you ride from sun into shade or tunnels. Because they react to UV, they also darken less behind a car windscreen or on overcast days.
See every photochromic visor we make.
Quick comparison
| Clear | Tinted / Mirrored | Photochromic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night riding | Yes | No | Yes (once cleared) |
| Bright sun | Glare | Yes | Yes |
| Swap needed? | For sun | For night | No |
| Look | Classic | Bold | Changes with light |
Our recommendation
If you only want to own one visor, go photochromic. If you mostly ride during the day and love the look of a mirrored shield, pick a tinted visor and keep your stock clear one for night.
Whatever you choose, add an anti-fog film for cold and wet weather.
Find visors made for your exact helmet: SHOEI RF-1400 / Z8 / X15 · Arai RX-7X / Corsair-X · AGV K6 · KYT TT Revo · Alpinestars R10 · all visors