What is a Pinlock visor and how does it work?

What is a Pinlock visor?

A Pinlock visor is an additional inner visor with anti-fogging abilities, which you mount to the inside of your visor using 2 pins. This is where the brand name: Pinlock comes from.

If you ride during cold or humid weather, there is a high chance that your breath will fog up against the visor. This is due to a temperature difference between the outside and inside of your motorcycle helmet, causing the water particles in your breath to condense against the visor. A fogged up visor means you can’t see what’s happening on the road. It’s not only bothersome, but it also leads to dangerous situations.

These were the frustrations that Derek Arnold and other riders experienced alongside him. Various things were tried to prevent a visor from fogging up, but nothing had an optimal result. He decided he wanted to solve this problem. Thanks to the invention of the Pinlock visor, this is a thing of the past and you’ll always have a clear view. Today, most helmets are equipped with the ability to install a Pinlock lens. If you don’t yet know how well a Pinlock visor works, we recommend that you try it. The Pinlock motto is: Go Fast, Go Safe.

How does a Pinlock lens work?

Pinlock visors are made of synthetic materials, have a silicone edge on one side and the other side of the visor has an anti-fog structure. The silicone edge is placed on the inside of the visor. It is important that the silicone edge fits perfectly, as this provides the same insulating effect as double glass. This air chamber prevents the lens from cooling as quickly as the outside of the visor and ensures that no vapor can get between the visor and Pinlock. The other side has a very fine structure that absorbs the water particles. This way, your visor won’t fog up and your vision stays clear. At both ends of the Pinlock lens, there is a recess. With this, you can secure the lens in the visor with the help of the Pinlock pins. These are eccentric pins that come installed on a “Pinlock prepared” visor.

A Pinlock for every type of helmet

Pinlock is so well known that most brands have already partnered with it. Thanks to the option to mount a Pinlock, you can find plenty of examples for every type of helmet where your visor will never fog up. With Full-face helmets and Modular helmets, the need for a Pinlock is highest. Because the helmet is sealed, your visor without Pinlock will quickly fog up during cold or humid weather. For Jet helmets, a Pinlock will only be needed if you have a helmet with a visor that covers your entire face. With Dual-Sport helmets, you will definitely need a Pinlock as you mainly wear such a helmet if you are adventurous. Even some of the helmets suited for kids can be equipped with a Pinlock!

3 different anti-fog levels

Pinlock visors come in 3 Fog Resistance levels. These levels can be seen as the sponge structure of the Pinlock that absorbs more or less to prevent the visor from fogging up. The levels can be distinguished by the suffix in the name. There is Pinlock 30, 70 and 120. This stands for the time it takes for the anti-fog layer to become saturated under constant exposure to vapor and condensation. These levels often correlate with the price category of the helmets and sometimes they are even supplied as standard. For instance, a Pinlock 30 lens will often fit in a starter helmet, while you’ll find the Pinlock 70 and 120 lenses in mid-range up to more expensive motorcycle helmets.

Max Vision, ProtecTINT and colored lenses

It doesn’t stop at the Fog Resistance levels, Pinlock continues to innovate and has brought new variants to the market. We’ll tell you more about it below.

Max Vision

By closely collaborating with various helmet manufacturers during the development of new models, the Max Vision lens was introduced. By providing a recess in the visor where the lens fits nicely, it is possible to install the lens as close as possible to the edge of the visor. This results in a larger Pinlock lens with improved vision. Because the lens fits nicely into this, it cannot get stuck on the rubber seal of the helmet. Pinlock Max Vision is only available as Pinlock 70 and 120 lenses.

ProtecTINT

ProtecTINT lenses are photochromatic. They adapt according to the amount of UV light that the lens captures. When the sun is bright, it will darken to protect your eyes. It only takes a few seconds for this visor to respond to the light. If you ride out of a tunnel into bright sunlight, this visor will go from clear to dark so that this change remains comfortable for the eyes. However, be aware, if your visor has a UV-blocking function, the lens will not be able to react to sunlight.

Colored Lenses

Pinlock has 3 types of colored lenses. Each type has its own advantage with which you can upgrade a transparent visor. Light smoke is designed to keep the view pleasant in light cloudiness. Dark smoke will assist you in bright sunlight and clear weather. The yellow lens provides increased color contrast so that you can better distinguish everything on the road in rain, fog, and gray weather. The yellow lens is very useful if you are going to ride track.

Pinlock pins

Pinlock lenses are held in place by 2 pins. These are not included with the lens, but can be found on every visor that is “Pinlock prepared”. Only these visors can be equipped with a Pinlock system. They are eccentric so that the tension on the Pinlock system can be adjusted by slightly adjusting the pins. You start mounting the lens with the arrows on the pins pointing outwards. Over time, the lens will shrink slightly, which may cause the silicone edge to fit less well. By turning the arrows inwards, you increase the tension on the lens, which will make the silicone edge fit better again.

4 types of pins

Standard is the push pin, which is the most common. Push pins can easily be pushed out of the visor so that you can rotate them to adjust the tension. Then there is the two component pin, the evolution of the Push Pin. This pin consists of two plastic parts that fit together, thanks to the intuitive design it’s very easy to adjust. Then there is the three component pin. This pin consists of two plastic parts and a small screw to secure them. Thanks to this screw system, there is more grip on the lens. By turning the screw, you can easily regulate the tension on the lens. Finally, there is the Tear Off Pin. This handy 2 in 1 pin holds both your Pinlock lens and your Tear Off system in place. This way, you always have a clear and clean visor. Just like with the three component pin, you can easily adjust the tension.

How to install a Pinlock in 4 steps

1. Clean

Detach the visor from your helmet according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use lukewarm water and a soft cloth to clean your helmet visor. It is best to use a microfiber cloth for this. Otherwise, there is a risk that you will leave light scratches. Check if the arrows on the pins are pointing outward.

2. Flex

Remove your Pinlock from the packaging and ensure that you do not leave any fingerprints. Bend your visor as flat as possible by placing it on a soft protected surface. You can also clamp the end of your visor behind your hip and open the visor along your arm by hand. Now you can place the Pinlock on the inside of the visor with the silicone seal (the thicker edge) facing the visor. Place the lens with the notch in one of the pins and then in the other. Make sure the Pinlock will follow the visor and allow the visor to bend back to its original shape.

3. Check

Check if the silicone seal fits properly. You can do this by holding the visor in natural light and follow the outer line of the silicone seal. If you see an interruption in the seal, it is not properly placed and there is a chance that moisture can get in between. Remove the Pinlock from the visor and reposition it until it fits properly. If necessary, you can point the arrows slightly more inward so that more tension is put on the lens for a good seal. Do not twist the pins while the Pinlock is mounted. With a Max Vision Pinlock, also check that the Pinlock is properly seated in the provided recess.

4. Remove the film

The absorbent side of the Pinlock lens is fitted with a coloured protective film. As soon as you remove the film, the anti-fog function is activated. Mount the visor back into the helmet according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once everything is installed and checked, your job is done. All you have to do now is start your bike and discover how useful a Pinlock visor really is.

Maintenance of your Pinlock

If your Pinlock is dirty, you can remove it from your visor and clean both sides with lukewarm water and a clean microfiber cloth. Under no circumstances should you use cleaning agents or products containing alcohol. This can damage the material and potentially harm the anti-fog side of the lens. Allow the visor to dry nicely after cleaning. By removing your Pinlock from your visor and cleaning it every 3-4 months, you prevent the silicone seal from reacting to any potential coating on the visor. This reduces the chance of the silicone seal starting to stick.

How long does a Pinlock last?

Pinlock visors are usable for at least 1 year. If you use them longer than a year, it may be that their effectiveness will decrease. With proper maintenance, you can enjoy the anti-fogging effect for up to 2 to 3 years. Logically, the lens of an intensively used helmet does not last as long.

Frequently asked questions about Pinlock visors

Which Pinlock do I need?

If you visit our Visors and Pinlocks page, you can filter by brand and model. You will see a selection of available visors and Pinlock systems that fit your type of helmet. You can also look up your helmet in the Pinlock Lens Finder. Some lenses fit into different visors.

My transparent Pinlock is yellow/blue and the view is blurry

This indicates that the protective film has not been removed yet. Try to peel it off at the edge of the lens and remove the yellow/blue film. Now the anti-fog function is in effect and your lens will be transparent.

Vapour is getting between my Pinlock, how does this happen?

Possibly the silicone seal on the visor does not fit nicely, causing condensation to get between the lens and the visor. Follow the imprint of the silicone seal by holding it up to the light and check if there are no interruptions. If you see an interruption, you have found the cause. By turning the arrows on your pins slightly inward, you increase the tension on your Pinlock, causing the silicone seal to fit better. Do not twist the pins while the Pinlock is mounted. Remove the lens, adjust the pins and put the lens back in the visor. Check the seal in the light. If you still see any interruptions, you may repeat this action. Are both arrows pointing inward and is the silicone edge still interrupted? Then your lens has shrunk too much as a result of age and needs to be replaced.

I still have a fogged visor even though I have installed a Pinlock

A Pinlock visor is available in 3 anti-fog levels (Pinlock 30, 70 and 120). If your lens is saturated, there will be fog. To prevent this, it is important that the water particles can evaporate. Check if all the ventilation in your helmet is open, this has more impact than you think. Also, wearing a thick scarf can cause less airflow in your helmet. The presence of a nose guard or breath deflector in your helmet will ensure that your breath is less likely to fog up the visor by diverting it. If you have a Pinlock 30 lens, this problem can be solved by upgrading to a better Pinlock 70 or 120 lens.

My Pinlock folds at the edges or displays colored interferences in the image

We call the bending of the edges “Buckling”, the colored ring-shaped distortions are called “Newton rings”. Both of these problems can be solved by reducing the tension on your lens. Remove the Pinlock from your visor and adjust the pins so that the arrows point slightly more outward. Place the lens back in the visor. This distortion will disappear by reducing the tension.

I bought a Pinlock but it doesn’t fit

Check if you have purchased the correct Pinlock lens for your type of helmet. The packaging of each Pinlock lens states which helmets they are suitable for. Each lens has its own DKS code. Using this code, you can check the compatibility. If you have the correct lens for your type of helmet, but it still does not fit, check if you are trying to mount the lens upside down or with the silicone seal on the wrong side.

My Pinlock fogs up during the winter anyway

At freezing temperatures, a Pinlock works less effectively because the water particles in the visor start to freeze. This prevents them from evaporating. At temperatures from 0° to -5°, the performance of the Pinlock depends on the temperature inside the helmet compared to the outdoor air. At freezing temperatures, Pinlock does not guarantee anti-fog performance. Only a heated visor can provide relief at these temperatures.

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If you have any further questions about Pinlock lenses or need advice, you are always welcome in our RAD stores. Here we can quickly help you with the assembly of your Pinlock lens. Helmets that are sold with additional Pinlock are on display with the lens already mounted. You can also always send an email to info@rad.eu where we are happy to assist you further. This way, you can drive on your motorcycle without a fogged up visor in the future and you will always have a clear view of the road.

Related links:

• Our range of helmets
• Pinlock