Have you ever had one of those moments, when you used something for the first time, and felt pretty stupid for not having thought of it yourself??? It happened to me the first time I used a spatula, the first time I used a ratcheting screw driver, and still happens every time I stick 2 things together with velcro.

The latest iteration of simple ideas that make a difference is the Sunblocker helmet visor, offered by Helmetheadcyclegear.com. Anyone that has ever gotten on a bike, and squinted as they headed toward the rising or setting sun could use this product. It makes daytime riding easier on the old peepers as well, and can still be used while wearing sunglasses, but makes the most marked difference during the dawn and dusk hours.

Installation takes all of 10 minutes, and is ridiculously straight-forward even if I could not remove all of the air bubbles. It installs on the inside of your shield with only soap and water, and is said to be transferable if you get a new visor, or a new helmet.

The tint strip placed at the top effectively reduces light intrusion, and casts a shadow over your eyes even though you hardly ever look through it. The directions say it can be trimmed if it mounts too low, or you feel like you are looking through it all the time. This may happen on sportbikes, or any other machine in which you tilt forward and look through the top part of your helmet’s visor. I’d recommend test fitting the Sunblocker first, using scotch tape (please do not go for a ride with tape covering your visor), and determine if you’d be better served trimming it up a bit to make it narrower. I mounted mine on a Shoei RF-1000 without trimming it, and only ever look through it when going up hills. Looking through it occasionally doesn’t bother me as it can easily be seen through…if I only got rid of all of the air bubbles.

During the first few miles I noticed it there, and was looking for it to bother me. After a few more miles, though, I forgot all about it, and now only notice it on my 7am commute when it is working as designed blocking light and UV’s; the rest of the time it disappears.

It improves dawn and dusk riding dramatically, makes daytime riding more comfortable, and eliminates being caught out with a tinted visor if your day time ride stretches unexpectedly into the night; which, needless to say, is a serious safety concern…and something that has happened to almost every rider I know.

Helmet Head’s motto is “Products that make Sense,” and after a few weeks with the Sunblocker visor I can say that it does…it is an affordable accessory that would improve any rider’s vision and comfort. While it will not totally replace a tinted visor if you are used to riding with one, it will greatly extend the utility and range in which your clear visor is useful, and keep you from being caught totally in the dark at night.