Why Do Dirt Bike Helmets Have A Visor?

Dirt bike helmets look a little weird. They usually feature an open face design, a visor, and a pointed chin. The helmet does look totally different from normal bike helmets. So, why do dirt bike helmets have a visor? The visor on the dirt bike helmet helps protect riders from tree branches, mud, rain, sun, and debris. It ensures riders enjoy maximum protection without adding helmet weight.

Join me as I discuss the main purpose of the visor in dirt bike helmets.

Article Summary:

• Dirt bike helmets lack a full face to prevent fogging which can obstruct a rider
• They feature a visor that offers protection against rain, debris, tree branches, mud, and other weather elements.
• There are two types of helmet visors. These are built-in and removable visors.
• The better visor depends on the trail or tracks you’re riding.

Are Dirt Bike Helmet Visors Necessary?

This is a common question especially if you’re getting your first dirt bike. Yes, dirt bike visors are absolutely necessary. The visors play a crucial role in protecting you against weather elements. Additionally, the visor offers protection against mud, hanging branches, and gravel.

You can be sure of keeping your eyes safe from the harsh rays of the sun. When shopping for a dirt bike helmet, you’ll notice helmets with a visor and those without. So, the big question is whether the visor is necessary.

If you’re into off-road biking, then a visor is mandatory. However, when riding on the road, the visor is not necessary as long as the weather is great helmet visors can block your vision and slow you down.

However, when there is glare from the sun’s rays, the visors play a crucial role. In general, dirt bike helmet visors are necessary and serve a crucial purpose. These helmets are usually paired with goggles or glasses to ensure a great fit. The visor fits tightly against the goggles ensuring optimal protection.

In general, there are various circumstances where the visor is a must. As mentioned earlier, the main purpose of helmets is to offer protection. Let’s see some of the reasons why dirt bike helmets have a visor.

Why Do Dirt Bike Helmets Have a Visor?

Dirt bike helmets have visors to ensure good protection from elements when riding off-road. Riding on a rough off-road is different from riding on a smooth road. There are multiple obstacles on off-road terrains that can affect your ride.

If you’re an avid off-road rider, then you’ll encounter many obstacles that can harm your eyes and face. Below, I’ll discuss some of the main instances where a visor is crucial.

Sunny Areas

The visor comes in handy when riding in pretty sunny conditions. Ever ridden a dirt bike on a mountain when the sun is rising? The glare can be a big issue. You need a dirt helmet with a visor to block the sun’s rays and heat from landing on your eyes and face. Without a helmet with a visor, the sun will directly land on your eyes affecting your visibility on the road.

However, a helmet with a visor allows you to ride directly toward the sun without any problems.

Areas With Frequent Shade And Sunlight Conditions

A visor on the dirt bike helmet also makes sense when riding in areas that frequently change between shade and sunlight. The sudden change from shade to direct sunlight can be blinding. However, with a visor, you can be sure of protecting your eyes from sudden changes.

A dirt bike helmet with a visor allows for easy transition between shade and sunlight conditions. This is a great feature that maintains your balance and ensures you focus on the trail.

Under Tough Weather Conditions

The visor also helps when riding in tough weather conditions. In adverse weather conditions, elements like snow, mud, and rain can be annoying. Rain, mud, and snow can easily get into your eyes in bad weather. Remember, visors on the helmet stretch on the front side protecting your face and eyes from such elements. Rain and snow can especially be damaging to the scalp if it’s left exposed for prolonged hours.

Biking under such tough conditions can be unbearable. You need a dirt bike helmet with a visor to ensure maximum face and eyes protection.

Roost

You also need to wear the dirt bike helmet with a visor when there is a roost. Roost encompasses objects like dirt and debris. As you ride, these objects are usually thrown up by the tires. The situation becomes serious when there is another rider in front of you. In such situations, you need a visor to protect your eyes and face. The last thing you want is dirt and mud getting to your goggles.

Tree Branches

The visor is also important when there are hanging tree branches on the road. Thich branches and bushes close to the road can get in your way. Be keen when riding off-road and lower your head as much as possible when you come across hanging branches. However, wearing a helmet with a visor ensures you remain protected.

Why Do Dirt Bike Helmets Have Peaks?

Dirt bike helmets have peaks to help protect against the glare of the sun. The peaks protect riders from direct sunlight on the face. The situation can become worse when riding on dusty roads. The glare from the sun gets worse when goggles are dusty.

When riding as a group, the rust from the riders in front of you can be a nuisance. You need the peak and the visor to ensure optimal face protection. If you’re riding in the woods, tall branches and brush can get in your way. However, the peak offers protection and allows you to plow through the thick.

A peak works in a great way of keeping thick brushes and branches off your face. It can take more beating as opposed to the goggles which deal with small items. The peak also plays a crucial role when it’s raining. It helps keep the helmet liner and face dry. In the same way, as a baseball cap blocks direct sunlight and rain, the peak protects the face the same way.

Overall, you need a helmet peak for multiple reasons. The unique shape of the peak ensures there is less drag. Furthermore, most peaks are removable and pretty easy to replace.

Are Dirt Bike And Street Bike Helmets Different?

I’ve already shown you how dirt bike helmets look different from street bike helmets. If you’re a new rider, you’re probably going to make several mistakes in choosing the right helmet. However, knowing the major differences between these helmets will help you make a wise purchase decision. The two helmets are designed to serve different purposes.

So, what is the difference between a dirt bike and a street bike helmet? The main differences between a dirt bike helmet and a street bike helmet are the protection ability, ventilation, weight, padding, grips, and comfort.

In this section, I’ll discuss the major differences between a dirt bike and a street bike helmet. Let’s get started. Table showing the differences between a street bike and a dirt bike helmet.

Major Differences	Dirt Bike Helmets	Street Bike Helmets
Weight	A little light than street bike helmets	Slightly heavier than dirt bikes helmet
Ventilation	Excellent ventilation	Poor ventilation
Impact Protection	Moderate protection	High level impact protection
Visors	Large visors	Small visors
Sound Dampening	Poor sound dampening	Excellent sound dampening
Cleanability	Easy to clean	Not easy to clean
Padding and Grips	Less padding and soft	Good padding and gripping

Weight

While both helmets are designed to weigh less, dirt bike helmets are a little lighter than street bike helmets. Heavier helmets exhaust riders faster. Dirt bike riders are more physically involved hence the need for a lightweight helmet. Dirt bike riding is extremely exhausting. You don’t want to be carrying more weight on your head.

However, the weight differences are always small and negligible. Overall, the helmet weight depends on the construction materials. Street bike riding requires stronger and fitting helmets due to the high riding speeds.

Ventilation

Ventilation is another crucial difference between these helmets. Generally, dirt street bike helmets offer better ventilation than that of street bike helmets. Dirt bike riders tend to sweat a lot due to the physical effort applied. This is the opposite of street bike helmets where riders don’t deal with many obstacles. Dirt bike helmets usually feature larger vents and a more open design.

Impact Protection

The next difference is the impact protection between the two helmets. It’s important to note that both helmets are designed to offer optimal protection. Street bike riders are at a higher risk of accidents due to the high speed. Consequently, their helmets tend to offer better protection than dirt bike helmets. The risk of serious injury is usually lower in dirt bikes than in street bikes.

Visors

Dirt bike helmets have larger visors than street bike helmets. This is understandable considering the role of visors. Dirt bike riders have to deal with debris, tree branches, dust, and much more as opposed to street bike riders. Therefore, they require helmets with large visors to offer added protection.

Sound Dampening

Street bike riders usually ride at high speeds at long distances. They require more sound dampening capabilities than dirt bike riders. You’ll find most of their bikes with excellent soundproofing features keeping you safe when riding at high speeds.

This is not the case with dirt bike helmets that feature an open design. However, you don’t have those high speeds when riding dirt bikes.

Cleanability

Dirt bike helmets are easier to clean and maintain. They feature an easy-to-clean design because of their trails. You encounter a lot of mud, dust, and debris when riding. Street bike helmets on the other hand don’t require an easy to clean design. They rarely get dirt as riders don’t encounter many elements. Most dirt bike helmets feature removable liners for easy cleaning.

Padding and Grips

Both helmets feature soft padding and grips. However, the padding in street bikes is more and a lot softer for added protection than those in dirt bike helmets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do Dirt Bike Helmets Have a Long Chin?

Dirt bike helmets have a long chin to help your chin in case of accidents. The extended protrusion is designed to let in more air and ensure you remain cool. Additionally, the long chin works as a shield protecting your face and chin. They can deflect branches and other debris coming your way.

Why Don’t Dirt Bike Helmets have Face Shield?

They don’t have a face shield to prevent fogging. Face shields are great for protection but can affect visibility due to fogging. Moisture getting inside the shield can create fog which affects visibility.

Can You Wear A Dirt Bike Helmet On The Road?

In most cases, yes, you can wear a dirt bike helmet on the road. Dirt bike helmets are designed with necessary safety features, therefore, meet all safety requirements for road riding. However, the extent of protection and comfort they can offer depends on the type of street riding you engage in. For example, helmets can work perfectly at low speeds and moderate temperatures.

Final Words

Well, that’s it from me! Owning a street bike or a dirt bike is a great experience. However, you need to choose the right helmet for the specific type of riding. Safety is crucial when riding on the road or off-road. Now that you know the major differences between the two helmets, it is a lot easier to choose the right helmet.