DIY Helmet Sun

Legal item from my state

Here in the grand state of Wisconsin, where a fully licensed Motorcycle rider is not required to wear a helmet or eye covering, if you are spotted by a cop and pulled over wearing a tinted face shield after sunset there is a nice fine that they issue you for it. This even applies to the humble moped rider. Now, sunglasses, those do not seem to be a problem. If you are silly enough to think that they protect your eyes... make your choices, take your rides...

this seems like a good idea really

im gonna do this soon... it seems to work and looks custom too...

i was ready to buy a smoked mask, but im gonna try this first

With 133 posts you should be at the point where you know how stubborn most of these guys are here...

Ha - what you mean there are strong opinions? No.

@agemax - The spare visor's a valid idea - I even have a specially designed pocket on my summer jacket (places it so it neatly wraps around my ribs on my right side - very clever), so it would be no trouble to carry one.

In fact, if I factor what I'm paid at work into the time I spent researching, planning, and building, I probably could have paid for a tinted visor.

But that's too obvious. Being a DIY cheapskate is an illness that often overflows the bounds of reason, logic, and financial good sense.

[Agemax]

With 133 posts you should be at the point where you know how stubborn most of these guys are here...

point taken mate, just putting my own opinion across.

[Jethro]

getting worse? carry a spare visor then or if that is to much trouble for you then buy a pair of sunglasses!!!

With 133 posts you should be at the point where you know how stubborn most of these guys are here...

[Agemax]

getting worse? carry a spare visor then or if that is to much trouble for you then buy a pair of sunglasses!!!

[tkent02]

so get 2 helmets. one for day posing and one for night time thrashing!

So now I have to carry an entire extra helmet around with me, it's getting worse.

[Agemax]

so get 2 helmets. one for day posing and one for night time thrashing!

[tkent02]

black visors look so much better IMO

But they suck at night in the rain.

[Agemax]

black visors look so much better IMO

ignorant uk member here but can you guys not use tinted visors where you are?

YES but I'm thinknig it's for times when you really DONT want a tinted visor. Kinda like back in the 70s and 80s when everybody was putting a tint shield at the top of their windshield (windscreen) on their cars.

[tkent02]

No, we're just too cheap to buy them.
Actually I just don't like carrying a clear one around to use when it gets dark.

[Agemax]

ignorant uk member here but can you guys not use tinted visors where you are?

It works.

Thanks for the feedback fellas. No surprises, but here's the first test result...

Bottom line, it works.

In fact, as I had hoped, most of the bubbles came out overnight as the water finished drying. Result - the vinyl was clearer than I'd expected.

Here's what I'll do differently on the next one...

1. Trace the shape from the inside of the helmet - I matched the shape of the visor and wish I'd matched the shape of the actual opening. It'd look more OEM and it would also be more effective. The current shape curves up on the sides and I wish it curved down for more coverage on the peripheral. It's much better, but I still ended up tilting my head a little to keep the rising sun in the tinted portion.
2. Use real window tint - Might still be vinyl (not sure) but it's bound to be a less stretchy formula, so I'll get better cut lines and better optical clarity. Good tip on Walmart as a source - I'm still going to do my father-in-law proud and scan for tinting shops while riding around and try to get some stuff for free.

Good news is, it was free, took less than 20 minutes, and the vinyl will peel right off when I'm ready.

walmart has the static cling window tint in differnt tints. I used the 5% tint on my old helment it works great just used lots of water to smooth the air bubble out. and you can remove it with out any problems!! It's a great tip!!